Maybe it’s because of her background in conflict management and resolution, but Kate Abbott of the Cape Town blog Cooking Through the Seasons tells you straight off the bat that you won’t find any deliberately weird conflicting flavours on her blog.  Don’t you love an About page that tells you: ” To make these recipes you will not have to buy a myriad of different items, neither will you have to spend hours arranging them daintily on a plate and you won’t be left wondering what all the complicated flavours add up to, and you won’t find odd mixtures of chocolate and blue cheese, or coconut ice cream and fried onions.  There are no long lists of peculiar ingredients, and no need for complicated equipment.”  Sound like your kind of blog?  Then read on to get to know Kate a little better with our Q&A session:

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

I live in Clifton, Cape Town.

2. Since when have you been blogging?

I started blogging about 9 years ago on various topics which also included food. In 2011  I decided to start a new blog with the focus solely on food.

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

I enjoy blogging about my journey with food. I absolutely love to cook, and I love to write about it too.  For me it is a wonderfully creative process.

4. Any downside or frustrations?

None that I know of.

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

I have a love affair with food. Some say it is in the blood. I come from a long line of Hoteliers, Restaurateurs, Confectioners, Publicans, Chefs and great cooks. My family heritage and wonderful Chefs such as Michel Roux (Senior and Junior), Raymond Blanc, and Roger Vergé, inspire me constantly.

6. Where and when do you like to blog?

From my study which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean; usually in the morning.

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

I have three simple yet brightly flavoured pasta dishes that are my trump cards when serving up food where there is a combination of meat and non-meat eaters at my table.

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

Maggie Beer, Raymond Blanc, Chefs Warehouse, Nomu, BBC Food, Rick Stein, to name but a few.  I visit the SA Food & Wine Blog Directory page to breeze
through local food blogs and I also visit the food bloggers that come to or frequent my site.

9. Favourite restaurant?

There are a handful of very good restaurants in Cape Town/Winelands that I enjoy, who serve memorable meals. Which one to choose on the day would depend on what my eclectic taste buds are seeking, or how far I want to drive!

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

the most delicious, freshly laid organic poached egg, served on toasted sourdough that has been generously buttered; a garnish of fresh young rocket leaves, drizzled with just a touch of olive oil, sprinkled with a little black pepper and the best sea salt flakes to be found.