Flavours from the Farm: A Zimbabwean Dinner with Neels

About

Born and raised on a farm in Zimbabwe in an Afrikaans family, Neels invites you to reminisce with him and explore the food and drink influences of this distinctive culture.

Afrikaners are descendants mainly of Dutch settlers, with significant Belgian, German, French and Portuguese influences. Their cuisine draws on these European roots, enriched over time by the cooks who prepared the food — many of whom were Cape Malays, Muslim descendants of enslaved people brought from Indonesia. They introduced the aromatic spices that remain a hallmark of traditional Afrikaans cooking today.

When Afrikaners left the Cape and migrated north — strongly "encouraged" by the British — life on the move demanded adaptation. This shaped both the ingredients used and the methods of cooking. Game was plentiful, and to this day meat remains central to Afrikaans cuisine, whether grilled on a braai (barbecue) or slowly stewed in a potjie (a small, round cast-iron pot).

The Great Trek took families to the Free State, the Transvaal, and, for the more adventurous, to Rhodesia — later Zimbabwe — where these culinary traditions continued to evolve.

With Neels as your guide, this evening's menu brings that journey to life — from farm and fire to table — through the stories, traditions and flavours of Afrikaans cooking.

 

What's Included:

✔️ Multi-course Zimbabwean dinner with South African influences

✔️ Optional South African wine flight available for an additional charge

✔️ Personal stories and cultural insights shared between courses

✔️ A welcome taste of Southern African hospitality, right here in Keswick

Tickets: £55 members / £60 non-members (it's free to become a Dining Club member).