Like many other Bailliages around the world the Bailliage of Cape Town has learnt to be very flexible when organising a Chaîne event.

Our June dinner started unusually early due to a change in curfew times which meant we had to be at home by 9pm.

We returned to TV Chef Jenny Morris’s culinary school to prepare under her expert guidance a lavish multi course dinner influenced by her many travels around the world.

Our group comprised of expert chefs, good cooks and non-cooks.

After our welcome drink of Kir (white wine with a dash of De Kuyper Crème de Cassis) - which was new to several of our local guests - Jenny gave a brief explanation about the evening.

Guest were then encouraged to “volunteer” to choose which dish they would like to prepare. Aprons on. Multi-tasking began. During the next hour the room was a hive of industry. Questions asked. Wine drunk. And of course, lots of laughter.

Timing was critical. We had to finish in time to enjoy what had been prepared, acknowledge Jenny and her staff AND get home before the curfew. This was all achieved with time to spare!

Here is the sumptuous dinner that we co-prepared:

China: Chicken Dumpling Soup
A delicious homemade chicken broth scented with fresh ginger, garlic, star anise and coriander with chicken dumplings, a splash of sesame oil, garnished with spring onions, fresh chilli and coriander.

China: Spicy two pepper oyster chicken
Served with egg fried rice.

Thailand: Red Chicken Curry
Tender morsels of chicken in a coconut sauce with fresh lemon grass, Kaffir lime leaves, basil and coriander.

India: Butter Chicken
Tender chicken breast cooked in an aromatic tomato sauce with curry leaves, cardamom and our special masala. Accompanied by Jeera rice and Naan bread with garlic butter.

Morocco: Duck Tajine
A fruity duck tajine flavoured with preserved lemons, whole dried apricots, cumin, cinnamon with our secret jewelled couscous topped with pomegranate rubies.

France: Dessert
Orange pancakes filled with berry coulis served with vanilla ice cream.

All in all it was another successful Chaîne des Rôtisseurs dinner enjoyed by everyone despite the restricted circumstances.

Vive la Chaîne!

Barbara Smith
Acting Bailli