• Delicately floral and beautifully elegant, this Lavender Pavlova is a soft, cloud-like showstopper with a crisp exterior and marshmallowy centre. Infused with the gentle perfume of culinary lavender and topped with billows of whipped cream and purple-tinted berries, it’s a dessert that feels both calming and celebratory. Light, dreamy, and irresistibly pretty, it brings a touch of serenity to the table – the perfect purple-kissed treat to enjoy at home or share in a gesture of comfort and solidarity.

    Founders of A Mari Ocean Gin, Jess Henrich and Niel du Toit have returned to Cape Town after globetrotting for 14 years. Both enthusiasts of new ventures, these two entrepreneurs  met up over a languid dinner and started discussing the gin trend and its potential in South Africa. Fast forward to the early hours and the initial concept for A Mari Ocean Gin was born – the only gin in the world distilled with Atlantic Ocean seawater. From concept to A Mari Ocean Gin being on shelf took just 4 months. A Mari – originating from Latin, means ‘from the…

    This one is for those of you looking for more environmentally friendly options to everyday products. The Earthbound Wine range includes white and red wine varietals that are organic- and Fairtrade-accredited. Produced on the farm Papkuilsfontein outside Darling, Earthbound Wines exclude the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilisers or any other synthetic chemicals during its production. The initiative is also rooted in the Fairtrade tradition of sharing profits with workers to be used at their discretion to uplift the community; and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the wine industry through the transfer of skills. Earthbound believes that what is…

    This is a variation on a French classic, but few people know that it was quite possibly the English who first made it, in honour of Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, so it’s another case of a perfect international blend of culture and tradition that I love. You can use shop-bought lady fingers, but making them from scratch is much  more rewarding, and since this recipe produces more than you actually need, you get to enjoy them any time of the day. They also go well with zabaione, and they are happy to be frozen. Recipes by Melissa…