Clack Wally - Be My Guest

Dedication

Be My Guest is dedicated to Linda de Villiers (Publisher, Struik Lifestyle, Random House Struik) in celebration and appreciation of her commitment and contribution to the world of publishing in South Africa for over 25 years. I respect Lindas exceptional qualities of leadership, her unassuming and just approach to her responsibilities and her long service to the industry. I am proud to call her a role model and friend.

To say this work is the result of a team effort would be an understatement. It is the product of a true collaboration between esteemed colleagues and dear friends.

I record my thanks to Cecilia Barfield for your precise editing of the manuscript and your even-keeled guidance throughout the project. Thanks also to Joy Clack for your eagle-eyed proofreading and thorough indexing.

My sincerest gratitude to Helen Henn for the elegant and striking design and for involving yourself with the whole look of the book. Thanks too for your conscientious input at so many of the photographic shoots. I so appreciate you involving me along every step of the design process.

Neil Corder, a true gem for your superlative photography, tireless efforts, and for bringing Helens vision and my food to life. Thanks for looking at each photograph in a uniquely creative fashion. I truly appreciate the personal sacrifices you made for the sake of the book.

Wally Clack of Gideons Flowers & Functions, for your imagination and style in creating these spectacular table settings. Thanks for your friendship and loyalty and for the heart-warming experience of creating a book with you.

Justine Kiggen, for your friendship, sensitivity, and intuition and for conscientiously attending to every detail in such a loving and professional manner. It is always a privilege to work with you.

Lisa Clark, for being the link between myself and Neil. Your understanding of composition and food fashion was invaluable during the shoots.

Katherine Freemantle, for helping in a million different ways and for making everyone smile.

Emma Wilson, for preparing the food with such loving care, calmness and attention to detail.

Jessica de Bruin, Paul Shiakallis (digital photographic assistants) and, in particular, Bernard Bronn for assisting Neil in such a professional manner and for being such an integral part of our food and design team.

I wish to thank Naomie Blom for everything and more. Shereen Fihrer for the sourcing and loan of an extensive range of local and imported goods. Eric and Rona Ellerine, Martin Ellert, Ita Stern and Elize and Dons Volschenk for all their assistance and support.

The author and publishers also wish to thank the following persons and companies for their kind assistance and/or loan of props for the photography:

The management and staff of Head Interiors; Lauren Abelheim of Apsley House for the generous loan and transportation of numerous goods; Karen Short and Wendy Tayler of Hazeldene Hall, Parktown; the directors and staff of Lejwe La Metsi Game Farm, Bela Bela; Lisa Clark and her husband Anthony Dyason; Gideon du Plessis, Pieter and Dalene van Niekerk, Richard Segerman, Corn Khler, Anton van Zyl, Elias Teffo and staff of Gideons Flowers & Functions.

Cover photography shot at Morrells Boutique Venue, Northcliff, Johannesburg. Sincere thanks to Bernice Morrell and Sabine Seeger.

Published in print in 2009 by Struik Lifestyle (an imprint of Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd) Company Reg. No. 1966/003153/07
First Floor, Wembley Square, Solan Road, Cape Town 8001
PO Box 1144, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
www.randomstruik.co.za
This ebook edition published in 2012

Copyright in published edition: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd 2009
Copyright in text: Fay Lewis 2009
Copyright in photographs: Fay Lewis 2009

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and the copyright holders.

Publisher: Linda de Villiers

Editor: Cecilia Barfield

Designer: Helen Henn

Photographer: Neil Corder

Photographic assistant: Bernard Bronn

Dcor stylist: Wally Clack of Gideons Flowers and Functions

Project co-ordinator: Justine Kiggen

Food stylist: Lisa Clark

Food stylists assistant: Katherine Freemantle

Food preparation: Emma Wilson

Proofreader and indexer: Joy Clack

ISBN 978-1-77007-780-5 (Print)

ISBN 978-1-43170-275-6 (Epub)

Epub 978-1-43170-276-3 (PDF)

M y love of entertaining started in my teens when my family or friends gathered to enjoy good food, as well as one anothers company. I am delighted that trends are swinging back to those days, and that there is a return to home entertaining. The word entertaining is often associated with hard work and stress, but the table settings and recipes in this book will fill you with so much creativity, reflecting who you are and making every occasion a memorable one!

I have grouped the ideas and recipes into themes, but these are by no means prescriptive shuffle them as you like to suit your personal style. I hope you will be inspired to have people over more often.