Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos
You are here: Home / South African blog awards / Fame at last in the first the South African Blog Awards!

Fame at last in the first the South African Blog Awards!

by Jeanne Horak on February 21, 2005 11 Comments in South African blog awards

Cooksister-tomato

Well, South Africa’s most significant vote ever was the first democratic election held on 27 April 1994.  Now, it’s tme for another different but almost as significant event – the first South African Blog Awards!  OK, maybe I’m being a tiny bit facetious, but let’s face it, how many other African countries do you see holding their own weblog awards??  Damn, I’m proud of us!! I think the increasing number of weblogs in South Africa (and Africa as a whole) is a hugely positive development, particularly at a time when there is so much concern being expressed at the threats facing the free press.  So anything that is done to raise the profile of bloggers and blogging in SA can only be a good thing in my book!

The nominations process took place about a month ago and the nominees were announced this morning – and Cooksister! is immensely proud to say that she has been nominated for:

– Best SA Food Blog

– Best New Blog

– Best Writing on a South African Blog

– Best Overseas South African Blog

There are a host of fabulous co-nominees out there – among them Kitschnzinc (I do believe Brian and I are the only two South African food bloggers – so when I say I’m an endangered species, I mean it!!), A View From the Other Side and Cherryflava – all of which fine blogs I link to from my blog – and Redsaid who is a regular in my comments box.  I also discovered the utterly hysterical Boernaal which is in Afrikaans and therefor lost on many of you, but oh what lovely use of the language and oh how funny he is!! I’m honoured to be nominated amongst you guys – may you all go from strength to strength.

ANd now, on to the voting – you can vote here, and apparently you may vote once a day until 4 March.  Clearly all my husband and all blood relatives have already been instructed to do so on pain of death 😉 but as for the rest of you, I would be most honoured if you took five minutes to vote for me even once.

Erm, why are you still here?  Go and vote!

More deliciousness for you!

  • Saturday Snapshots #69Saturday Snapshots #69
  • Confetti rice salad – celebrate!Confetti rice salad – celebrate!
  • Prawn and lemon pepper risottoPrawn and lemon pepper risotto
  • Souskluitjies (South African cinnamon dumplings) for IMBB #7Souskluitjies (South African cinnamon dumplings) for IMBB #7

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« A barrel of South African reds – WBW#6 round-up, Part II
Deep-Fried Mars Bars for IMBB #12 »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Moira says

    February 21, 2005 at 9:58 pm

    Done! I hope you get all four!

    Reply
  2. Jeanne says

    February 21, 2005 at 11:51 pm

    Awww, *blush* – thanks Moira!!

    Reply
  3. Boertjie says

    February 22, 2005 at 6:16 am

    Dankie vir jou positiewe kommentaar op my blog. Verplig my om vir jou te stem! En mag ek sê jy is ‘n heel aantreklike dame (ek neem aan dis jou foto hierlangsaan?)! Ek sien vanoggend op Sky News julle het so ‘n onverwagse kouetjie net so voor die herfs!

    Reply
  4. redsaid says

    February 22, 2005 at 10:10 am

    Heyta! Talk about fame… To be nominated is one thing, but to be mentioned in your blogalicious abode..! THAT’S the real deal. I feel as if I’ve finally arrived.
    Congrats to you as well! I honestly can’t believe that I’ve been nominated alongside the likes of you, Cherry, et al. I’m clearly the imposter!
    Love,
    R

    Reply
  5. Jeanne says

    February 22, 2005 at 11:06 am

    Boertjie,
    Dankie vir die kompliment *bloos weer*!! Ja, dis ekke hierlangsaan – van my uitrusting kan jy seker aflei dat ons darem hierdie jaar so 3 dae somer gehad het… nie dat enigiemand kan onthou nie!! En toe gister, net toe die arme affodille begin kop uitsteek, begin dit sneeu! Letterlik asof iemand ‘n donskussing op die dak begin uitskud. Groot pret – tot die hele spul begin smelt het en almal moes vanoggend so glip en gly langs die sypaadjie af werk toe. Sterkte met die Boernaal – en hou ons op hoogte van die bure se sake – hulle klink heel interessant!
    Hi Red,
    You deserve your nomination 100%!! And I love the “blogalicious abode” line – maybe that should become my new tagline?? Have already cast a vote for you and hey – there are another 10 voting days to go!! Thanks for your very kind words and keep the SA flag high in the blogosphere!

    Reply
  6. foodwizard says

    February 22, 2005 at 5:23 pm

    Jeanne
    Congratulations on being nominated in 4 categories, you really deserve it – may the sauce be with you.
    Brian

    Reply
  7. anthony says

    February 22, 2005 at 11:35 pm

    Well done and all the best for it. I’ve been impressed with how you could have just been swallowed up by the whole London thing (I’m assuming the food’s got better in the last 15 years)but instead maintained a strong South African identity.

    Reply
  8. Jeanne says

    February 23, 2005 at 11:52 am

    Brian,
    No, no, may the sauce be with YOU! I stand constantly in awe of your regular and quality posts. I can only aspire to your near-daily contributions to the blogosphere… May the best blog win! 😉
    Anthony,
    A food blog being “swallowed up” – hahaha, Puns-R-Us!! Thanks for the compliment though. I think it’s important to assimilate into your country of residence, but at the same time I think that losing touch with your roots is fatal. I’m South African, first and foremost, in all my attitudes including my attitude to food. And that’s not going to change, wherever I live.

    Reply
  9. Reid says

    February 23, 2005 at 1:59 pm

    Hi Jeanne,
    CONGRATULATIONS! I’m sure you’ll do well in the awards! When’s the party? =P

    Reply
  10. anthony says

    February 24, 2005 at 1:41 am

    nah subliminal fixation than deliberate.
    “losing touch with your roots” however. Where’s that black book?

    Reply
  11. Sally says

    February 26, 2005 at 7:09 am

    Congratulations on the nominations. I’ve just finished voting.

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Get my latest recipes delivered by e-mail!

Search over 500 recipes

Recently on Cooksister

  • Masalchi by Atul Kochhar – Indian street food in Wembley
  • Barbecued salmon with blood oranges and capers
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta, pomegranate and pine nuts [GF, V]
  • Love Yourself healthy meal delivery [Review]
  • Antillean
  • Festive roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
  • Rustic blood orange and pistachio galettes
  • Cauliflower steak Welsh rarebit

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Oxtail and red wine potjie
Gem squash 101: how to find them, how to grow them, how to eat them!
Nigella's Bakewell slices & the Big Bakewell Taste-off
Cranberry pistachio Bircher muesli - a Pret-a-Manger fakeaway
Jan Ellis pudding - a classic South African dessert

Featured on

Also available on

Anybody for South African chocolate-studded malva Anybody for South African chocolate-studded malva pudding? Think a lighter version of sticky toffee pudding with melted chocolate chunks drenched in a  creamy syrup... heaven 😍🇿🇦 #malvapudding #southafricanrecipes #southafricanfood #southafricandesserts
🌸🌸🌸Waltz of the cherry blossoms 🌸🌸🌸

#cherryblossomtree #londoncherryblossom #cherryblossomseason #sakuraseason #cherryblossoms2022 #floweringcherry #prettylondon #londoninbloom #springinlondon #blossomwatch #blossomseason #pinkpinkpink #mydarlinglondon
London cherry blossom season 🌸🌸🌸 My favou London cherry blossom season 🌸🌸🌸 My favourite time of year! 

#londoninbloom #springinlondon #blossomwatch #sakuraseason #blossomseason #londoncherryblossom #londonsbest #floweringcherry #explorelondon #mydarlinglondon #prettycitylondon #pinkpinkpink #londonbylondoners
🌷🌷🌷 It’s tulip season in London! Every 🌷🌷🌷 It’s tulip season in London!

Everywhere you look, these long-legged floral supermodels are adding a splash of colour to parks and gardens and I just can’t get enough of them! It’s easy to see how they inspired a collective buying frenzy in 17th Century Holland, called “tulip fever”, but today there are less dramatic ways to enjoy them. Here are a couple of suggestions of where to see them at their best:

🌷 The ultimate tulipalooza is the annual opening of Keukenhof gardens outside Amsterdam where 7 million (!) bulbs burst into life each Spring. This year the gardens are open 24 March-15 May (click on the link in my bio for FAQs and my top tips for visitors)

🌷In London, Kew Gardens always has spectacular displays of tulips; but you can also see excellent and free tulips in most of the Royal Parks such as Regents Park. 

🌷The Hampton Court Palace tulip festival is on until 2 May and the Hever  Castle’s Tulip Celebrations until 24 April - both within easy reach of London.

🌷The Morges Fete de la Tulipe in Switzerland takes place every year against the spectacular backdrop of Lake Geneva - it is on until 8 May this year.

I spotted these spectacular red frilly parrot tulips beside St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday 🌹 Where is the best display of tulips that you have ever seen?
Spring daffodils in London parks - can there be a Spring daffodils in London parks - can there be a happier sight?? 🌼 

#daffodil #daffodilseason #isitspringyet #yellowdaffodils #colourfuflowers #springbulbs #londoninbloom #springinlondon #narcissus #colourmylife #colourmehappy #colourinspo #spring2022 #londonparks #londonpark #blossomwatch
MASALCHI BY ATUL KOCHHAR - pan-Indian street food MASALCHI BY ATUL KOCHHAR - pan-Indian street food restaurant in Wembley

Remember to save this post so you can find it later! 🔖

[Invited] If you thought Brick Lane and chicken tikka masala or madras were all there is to know about the food of the Indian subcontinent, think again! In the shadow of the Wembley arch,  @chefatulkochhar has opened his first casual dining restaurant,  showcasing the rustic, spicy, diverse street foods of India. 

Highlights when I visited included:
1. Carrot halwa
2. Papdi chaat
3. Chicken 65
4. Tandoori broccoli
5. Smoky aubergine chokha
6. A snap of all our mains - you can read all about these and more in the full review on my blog - click the link in my bio or go to:
 https://www.cooksister.com/2022/04/masalchi-atul-kochhar-indian-wembley.html

What is your favourite dish from the Indian subcontinent? Let me know in the comments 🌶🌶🌶
Join me once again at my favourite (and London's b Join me once again at my favourite (and London's best!) supperclub 😍 #luizhara @thelondonfoodie

Last night we had an excellent 8 course Japanese comfort food menu, largely from Luiz's second book The Japanese Larder. Here's what was on the menu:
1. Grilled scallop on sushi rice with to wasabi tobiko, nori & Tobanjan spicy sauce
2. Mentaiko spaghetti with a spicy chilli, sake and cod roe cream sauce
3. Dango Jiru - Japanese chicken & dumpling miso soup with winter  vegetables 
4. Okonomiyaki, Osaka style - japanese pancake with cabbage, squid, pork belly, kimchi and bonito flakes
5. Kakiage & pickles - tempura of coriander, crabcakes, burdock & carrot tops, with pickled mustard greens
6. Iberico pork with a teriyaki butter glaze on nori blackened cauliflower
7. Nikkei Tai Goham - steamed sea bream rice with a yuzu & jalapeño dressing, cooked in a donabe clay pot
8. Apple tarte tatin with star anise, rosemary and almonds

At £60 per head, incl. a welcome cocktail and canapé, in Luiz's beautiful home, it is superb value and always super special ❤ Thanks for an amazing evening Luiz! 

#nikkeifood #londonsupperclub #londonsupperclubs #thelondonfoodie #japanesecomfortfood
🍒🌸 It’s cherry blossom season! 🍒🌸 T 🍒🌸 It’s cherry blossom season! 🍒🌸

There is no season in London that I love more than cherry blossom season! From March through to April, trees in various parks and gardens in London put on an amazing display of delicate pink and white blossoms - and everything in the city seems a little more magical. This particular tree near St Pauls must be among London’s most photographed, and it’s not hard to see why 💕

Did you know that...

🌸cherry blossoms are Japan’s national flower and are known as Sakura 

🌸In 1910, Japan sent the USA some cherry trees as a goodwill gesture… and the Dept of Agriculture inspectors nearly caused an international incident by burning them as they were carrying insects and diseases! But in 1915 Japan sent more cherry trees that survived the inspectors, and these marked the start of cherry trees in the USA.

🌸 Peak blossom season is usually only two to three weeks in March/April but is hard to predict as the weather and the subspecies of tree influence the timing.

🌸The cherry blossom capital of the  world is Macon, Georgia with 300,000 - 350,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees.

🌸 There are over 200 different varieties of cherry blossom and some are purely ornamental (meaning they produce no cherries)

Where is your favourite place to see cherry blossoms in London or around the world? Let me know in the comments and happy blossom hunting! 🌸🍒🌸

#pinkpinkpink
A wonderful lunch in at Masalchi - the new street A wonderful lunch in at Masalchi - the new street food restaurant by Atul Kochhar in Wembley. Highlights included the amazing kiwi fruit mojito; chicken 65; lamb chops; chargrilled broccoli; and carrot halwa. [INVITED]  #masalchi #masalchiwembley #londonrestaurants #atulkochhar #atulkochharrestaurants
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

Cooksister

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli
Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2022 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2022 · Cooksister on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT