Rainbow Cooking is the food blog of two South African foodies living in New Zealand.  Marietjie assimilated her cooking skills from her talented grandmothers, while Jaco discovered cooking after he was wooed by Marietjie.  Let's find out a little more.

1. Where are you - in South Africa or out in the wide world?

We live in Christchurch, New Zealand.  Our family of three relocated in 2002 from South-Africa.  The family consist of Jaco, Marietjie and Mia (who was one year old when we arrived). 

2. How long have you been blogging?

Nearly a year. 

3. What do you enjoy the most about food or wine blogging?

It is nice to share your food with on-line and off-line friends. 

4. Any downsides or frustrations?

Feedback is always appreciated but often sparse – usually one do not get much feedback and it would be nice to hear if recipes worked for other people as well. 

5. What or who are your inspirations to cook, drink and write?

Marietjie grew up  with good food as her mom made delicious and flavourful food.   Marietjie's two grandmothers were  both excellent cooks although they had different strong points in food.  Ouma Corrie from the South-Cape was well-known for her egg custard, trifle, fudge and the way she had to change leftover food into delicious new creations.  Ouma  Babsie from the Boesmanland, close to Namakwaland in the Northern Cape, had attended a Home-Economics school and she was a whizz with food.  Her baking was unforgettable – whether it was biscuits, rusks, "skuinskoek", preserved quince or preparing the lamb and beef that they farmed with.

After Marietjie  lived in a youth hostel with food of varying quality,  she decided that life is too short to eat food that is not at least delicious. When she moved into a bachelor's apartment, she enjoyed cooking mainly for herself.   Marietjie's first romantic move towards Jaco was to invite him over for cinnamon pancakes.  After she lost her job at a company that went bankrupt, she baked designer biscuits from her kitchen in the bachelor apartment she lived in.  She asked her clients what sort of biscuits they do not eat, and then baked them a surprise batch of biscuits of the day.  (Artist like to have some freedom when they create).  

When Jaco and Marietjie got married, Jaco slowly got interested in cooking with Marietjie, enjoying the pleasure and relaxation of cooking food.  Nowadays Jaco is the main cook and Marietjie is mostly the baker. Mia, our 6-year old daughter, is both a cook and baker and helps us both. 

6. Where and when do you like to blog?

In front of the PC in the lounge. In the winter we usually have a woodfire going in here as well.  So in front of the PC in front of the fire ;-) 

7. What's your signature dish or favourite wine?

Bobotie is Marietjie's signature dish as she loves making it.  But each of our friends associate us with something else – we get special requests from different friends when they invite us to shared lunches or dinners.  For one set of friends our Tipsy tart is something special and for other friends the chicken-brocolli became a favourite.  Our South-African friends often ask for mosbolletjie-rusks.  Jaco's signature dish is oven-baked chicken followed closely by his Moroccan-inspired dishes.  

8.  What other food or wine blogs do you read? 

CookSister!, Simply Recipes, My French Kitchen, Bron Marshall, Tartelette, Foodblogga and more.

9.  Favourite restaurant?

Simo's, at the moment. Simo's is an amazing Morrocan restaurant here in Christchurch. Their philosophy is that eating should never be done alone or in a rush. It is essentially a pleasure to be shared. They have a website: http://www.simos.co.nz 

10.  For my last meal on this planet I would order:

Difficult one – Marietjie thinks leg of lamb, roast potatoes, green beans with potato and onion, sweet  carrots, green salad and a baked pudding dessert  the way her mother made it would be great for a last meal.   

Jaco says the concept of last meals is a depressing one, and he would probably not want to spoil his absolute favorite in such as manner 🙂