Dirk of Kosserasie Stories is a rarity in the SA food blogging world on two fronts.  Firstly, he is (gasp!) a man in a blogging scene that is largely dominated by women; and secondly, he blogs in Afrikaans – which I love.  Does the fact that he is a bloke make any difference to the content?  Well, there does seem to be a distinct preference for cooking over open fires in cast iron potjies (pots) – but there is also an inspired recipe for a soufflé in such a pot, which is one of many good reasons to visit his blog.  Here are some little-known facts about Dirk:

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

Cape Town – Constantia 

2. How long have you been blogging?

Only about two years. I started the blog as a collection of the once-offs that are too good not to tell about and to have record of it to come back to. But now I keep the camera handy to take a picture or two to put on the blog if something nice comes about. I also try not to just fill up the blog with the usual stuff, there are millions of recipies for the same thing out there. I also try to impart some of my experience in and around preparing the specific dish or at least something interesting about it.

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

Getting feedback without a doubt. Finding out that friends are actually reading my scribbles. I also enjoy the writing.

4. Any downsides or frustrations?

I would love to know when somebody read the blog and enjoyed it or found something interesting, but people not used to blogging are usually too scared to leave comments, so blogging sometimes is a lonely exercise.

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

For cooking it is the food itself and people that I love and that like my cooking.

6. Where and when do you like to blog?

My blogs are usually not done on a specific time or place. I might take some pictures of a dish and only weeks later write a blog about it. I do not blog as often as I would like and I do not want to write about the eggs and toast I had for breakfast, so I will only blog if I feel that I want to share this one.

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

Potjiekos. I just love cooking in a potjie over an open fire. And bredies. Same thing actually. And maybe my braaibroodjies.

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

There are quite a few that I read sporadically. I enjoy the personal element that food bloggers put into their blogs, it is not only about recipies and they give a lot more value than just reading a recipe book. If I want to make something nice I usually do my research and reading about it on food blogs.

9. Favourite restaurant?

A restaurant for me all depend on the occation and atmosphere more so than the food. Recently I enjoyed Blond in Cape town and if I do not want to cook it is the Eastern Bazaar in Cape Town for take-aways.

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

I hope I do not really have to choose as it would take me a couple of days to decide. But it would probably be braaivleis. Porkrib or lamb loin chops and a nice boerewors… and braaibroodjies… and ice cream. Ok stop now.