A weekend away in the Channel Islands where culinary wonderment and comfort won hands down. Huge thanks goes out to the Jersey Hotel Club and Spa, Chef Steve Smith and our own South African Pastry Chef, Ellen de Jager.

It all seems to be happening with a variety of events coming up for South Africans in the UK! From a potjie competition and bring and braai, and of course opportunities to socialise, exercise, and meet new people.

All of us deserve to feel royal, even if it is just for one night.

It couldn’t be a better couple weeks coming up in the UK. With folktronic music, an arts and culture exhibition and a whole lot of wine – it’s time to get involved.

For uber cool decor and small dishes – some being delightful; go and test out this restaurant in Bethnal Green, London. See what you think, as I am still undecided..

A few more braais going on in the UK this month, plus a high tea for the ladies, a choral performance, and finally a festival.

There are plenty of braais going on in the UK this month, as well as a dash of jazz-electro-hip-pop, theatre and story inspiration, and a festival or two.

Bring a little home and South African flavour into your hearts and calendars. From dark comedy to gospel, braais to music; there’s always something going on for us South Africans living in and around the UK.

Bring a little home and South African flavour into your hearts and calendars. From wine to comedy, food to music and dance; there’s always something going on for us South Africans living in and around the UK.

Perhaps a little forthright; but I was raised in South Africa to be bold, open and honest. And so sadly in my opinion, Central London’s Bad Egg was just undeniably bad.

Bringing a little home reminiscence into your hearts and calendars. From wine to comedy, food to music and dance; there’s always something going on for us South Africans living in and around the UK.

Sniffing out the best food in London is easy when the hand that feeds you is testament to those personalities you grew up knowing back home in South Africa.

Wondering where to go and what to do in Franschhoek? These seven gems and a must have are just the thing if you’re as yet undecided on what to get up to in the winelands.

Blacklock is all about chops. And only chops. Cooked over the charcoal and flattened with a vintage flatiron so the taste of the meat is pure and the smokiness of the coals brings back memories of your summer barbecue.

Get our of your post code ‘bubble’, embrace local life and head out to chase all the street food festivals you can!

With my passion for food and travel growing deeper and deeper alongside the beckoning of the London summer, a summer trip to Europe was due. Picking a destination was easy for me.

Ever wondered where to find the best mac and cheese, Japanese food and cocktails in London? We answer your foodie questions

Breakfast is a phenomenon rather than a meal. It can be served at any time of day. Tastes can be accentuated by the comfort of being served in bed, or as the cafe opens its doors with a cinnamon infused aroma, or at midday at one of these top finds in London.

After being in London for over a year, I finally committed myself to finding a Barclays, otherwise known as the Boris bike, docking station and losing my ‘Bori-ginity’!

A month on crutches taught me the wonder of the London bus system — and I haven’t looked back

It is the NHS… so not exactly new, hip and stylish.

There is one word that fills every Saffa’s heart up with the quintessence of home…Potjie

Our beloved perforated glad wrap has arrived on the shelves of M&S.

While there are the joys of rubbish duty brought about by these weekly antics, I have proudly demonstrated my top tip for overcoming bin bag scavengers.

Do not get sucked into the confines of the inner walls of offices and hotels. Rather set your mind to the exploration of places after hours — it may even help with your body clock and its welcoming of exhaustion, forcing London’s normal waking hours into a forgotten routine

How it happened I’m not sure, but in two weekends, I managed to stumble across two places of heavenly indulgence.

Before I knew it, the sun had started to shine and blossoms and bulbs sprouted on random trees and fields of green. Spring is teasing the Londoners! Despite taking the pre-warned caution that this might be only a momentary thing, South Africans instinctively race to their webers and braai tongs.

Everything came together one Sunday morning. The clouds burst into tears as my throat challenged what felt like, the swallowing of an acorn. Those pesky squirrels had come back to haunt me after my spreading of chilli powder on their soil to protect my bulbs. Curled up on the couch with a week ahead of tracksuit pants, slippers and Strepsils; I quickly realised seven essentials I would willingly sacrifice a healthy day for if I could teleport back to South Africa to collect

For a weekend in Dublin, be sure to pack any form of rehydration, a few liver recovery pills and a whole lot of stamina. The Irish proved to be the comical twin of a South African mentality i.e. moments are seized by one’s love of pubs, beer and rugby.

With pending South African elections and expats dodging between the guilt trip to voting or the keen responsibility, I decided to accompany my sister to the voter registration at South Africa House.

Tasting and testing restaurant menus throughout London has become my mission. In doing so, I was swept off my feet by the 40th floor of the Heron Tower. With a panoramic skyline of London and chic design, Duck and Waffle is my top discovery to date.

Having been in London now for six months, there are a number of random traits that I have come to realise. Those of you living here will know exactly what I am talking about and those of you who simply pass through, take note.

With the festive season coming to an end; clearly evidenced by the pork stuffing bloated stomaches and Christmas lights being pulled down from the trees, I decided to turn the conditioned indulgence cravings into active baking experiments.

The combination of unusual tasting fillings, set amongst a milk chocolate casing and placed in a strikingly designed box; makes you think you just entered the golden door to the bespoke end of Willy Wonker’s Chocolate Factory.

Today being the day of the memorial at FNB stadium, I saw it perfectly apt that the clouds in Johannesburg shed their tears too.

In the midst of cooling London and radiator extractor fans blowing the streets of South West London, I managed to find a restaurant winning the trade in my books. The Powder Keg on St John’s Hill, on the outside; looks like your average Keg or Baron back home in South Africa. However, walking through the doors, which are gracefully opened by the lovely Ken, you are taken to a 1920’s marriage of sherry, delicacy and old school music.

After nine months away, it was back to South African soil for ten days. The countdown to the flight home started far in advance and the anticipation of home, sun, friends and familiar culture danced within me as I sipped on prosecco and gnawed my way through edamame beans at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

A tribute to the person who showed me around Braunton (North Devon). Seeing the passion with which this person showed me an area he spent a year living in, I felt it only fair to write an ode to what I undertstood to be his inner memory.

It was time for a trip. A simple four and half hour journey to what I never knew existed. Some will tell you adamantly that North Devon is home to one of the biggest surf hubs in Europe. With doubt in my mind and the cold winter approaching, I wasn’t finding myself convinced. However, I would very soon eat my words with satisfactory delight.

I am a firm believer that no satisfaction is more personally gratifying than a perfectly cooked egg, accompanied with a little sweet and savoury combination. Breakfast to me is a phenomenon. It can be eaten at any time of day. It can be combined with a flat white or champagne.

It was finally time. With my job in full swing and the minute the first pay cheque arrived, I took the plunge into Headmasters hair salon.

My jaw dropped as I watched the herds of people ploughing themselves into the buses and trains like their contents were as big as a Mary Poppins’s bag. Every time I convinced myself there was no possible way someone else could squeeze in, I was proved wrong.

Coming back into London, the rain spat in my face reminding me that the sun will not always shine and holiday time is over. The final stage interview was a little more ruthless in a meeting room and questions being asked by the head of department. Despite the minor stress and anxiety planting itself in red patches on my neck and cheeks (praying the lighting in the room softened it), I was phoned the next morning with the offer.

When the job hunting continues, pockets of time are seized to discover the excitements, simplicities and tastes of London.

With bank accounts opened and the adjustment to the soles hardening on your feet from pavements, I accomplished some ground breaking milestones within month one of London.

After six months of travelling in Central American humidity, I couldn’t have been more excited to land at London Heathrow. Butterflies leaped inside me as the thought of warm water, laundry and cooler air; leaving my hair to stay in the positions I intended it to. It all awaited me.