A visit to Cyrildene's Chong Qing Hotpot reveals how owner Michael Wang and his family blend authentic culinary traditions with warm South African hospitality. A Hot Pot from Chong Qing in Cyrildene
Nick Hamman shaking hands with the owner of Solly's Corner - Yunus Akhalwaya
KZN Freshly harvested madumbis on a roadside stall in KwaZulu-Natal—a familiar sight along coastal roads where this humble root has been sold and shared for generations.
In "The Hands That Made Roti," Ivana Sanshia Austermayer reflects on how roti evolved from an imported staple into a uniquely South African symbol of heritage, resilience, and belonging. Through personal memories of her mother’s kitchen, she explores how food preserves identity across generations and oceans. South Africa didn't inherit roti. It made it its own.
Ivana Sanshia Austermayer is a chef, culinary author, food writer, and recipe developer whose career has spanned professional kitchens, television, cookbook creation, app development, and digital food media. Inspired by her South African, Indian, and German heritage, she believes that cooking knows no borders. Through recipes, articles, and storytelling, she explores the connections between culture, memory, tradition, and the meals that shape our lives. For Ivana, food is not only nourishment; it is memory, identity, and storytelling served at the table. Her work invites readers to cook with confidence, embrace curiosity, and celebrate food as a universal language that bridges cultures, preserves traditions, and brings people together.
If there’s one thing South Africans agree on, it’s that food tells our story best. That bunny chow from Durban, that shisa nyama around the corner, that family-run Thai spot that’s been spicing things up for generations, they’re all part of who we are.
The Hammy Eats Stamp of Approval is more than just a badge. It is a promise. When you see the stamp at a restaurant, café, food truck, or local kitchen, it means Nick Hamman and the Hammy Eats team have personally experienced it and can vouch for its flavour, quality, and heart. It is a sign of trust, rooted in real storytelling and lived food culture.
