Johannesburg - There’s a new foodie festival on the block or perhaps more aptly, in the neighbourhood. Think food and film. That’s what the organisers have partnered for The Hartiwood Food and Film Show this weekend.
It’s not too far to go, about an hour from either Jozi or Tshwane and to take the metaphor slightly further down the road, they’ve settled on a venue at one of our hottest film studios, situated on the same premises as French Toast Coffee Café on the R511 (main road) in Hartbeespoort.
Those who are into local movies will recognise French Toast as a recent one starring Lika Berning (daughter of Jana Cilliers) and now they have recreated the magic of the movie to capture good memories over coffee and croissant and so much more.
The festival is a combo of food and film with some fine local and international films paired with a gourmet artisan food and a wine market that spotlights both the best from the environment but also goes further afield. All this culminates in two gala gourmet dinners with renowned Burundian/Belgian chef Coco Reinarhz who has his own Joburg and Cradle restaurants.
In line with the Parisian-style architecture of the venue, the 2015 Hartiwood Food and Film Show has a Francophone flavour. Food films will have a French focus with the headline film being The Hundred-Foot Journey, which stars Helen Mirren and tells the story of an Indian family starting a restaurant in France. There are also wacky French cinematic treats such as vintage French silent movies accompanied by local pianist and composer Machiel Roets.
French Toast, Pretville and Vetkoek Paleis (for retro food charm) are some of the local movies on the menu.
Anna Trapido, who is part of the committee presenting the festival, says the tiny town of Harties is blessed with “natural beauty and agricultural abundance – all of which has resulted in a thriving artisanal food scene.
“It is also the epicentre of South Africa’s cinematic success story, Hartiwood Films”.
This production company not only makes movies, but urges fans to enjoy a cinematic epicurean experience. Former film sets from the Hartiwood classic French Toast have been converted into an elegant eatery on the main road into Hartbeespoort.
“This replica of a Parisian café – complete with the Eiffel Tower and retro-chic drive-in style screens – allows for the ultimate in dinner and a movie deluxe,” says Trapido who knows how to appreciate ingenuity when it comes to promoting both food and film.
During the day, stalls at the food market will be grouped according to French culinary categories – boulangerie (baked goods) and charcuterie (cold meats), for example.
There will also be specific spots for French products and products from French-speaking African countries including contributions from French-speaking African Islands such as Mauritius and Reunion.
The Francophone influence of Huguenot cuisine on South Africa will also be explored.
WHAT’S ON OFFER
FRANCOPHONE PRODUCTS AT THE FESTIVAL INCLUDE
Mrs O’s Sauces by South African Siphokazi Omoluwa and her West African husband who make ready-made versions of classic west African sauces. According to Trapido, while the cook-in-sauce concept is well established for European and Asian food genres, the Mrs O brand is path-breaking in the African epicurean arena.
Included are the palm-nut-based Banga sauce and the okra-and-spinach-based Ogbono sauce.
l Prue Leith Pastry School presents fine French patisserie – macaroons, almond tarts, glazed fruit tarts, brioche, croissant etc.
l Pepe Charlot French style goat’s cheese and garlic snails with baguette from Die Kooksuster (cooking sister) who promises food made with love including paté and home-made bread, posh hotdogs with freshly made French-inspired sauces.
l La Petite France cheeses with handmade brie and camembert produced in the KZN Midlands. Everything but the milk, which is locally sourced, is from France, from the rennet to the wrapping paper.
l Breyer’s Deli pates and terrines, always good to have some stock for unexpected guests.
l Mauritian-style pickles and chutneys.
l Belgian waffles.
l Cape Wildflower truffle honey, truffle mayonnaise and Kalahari desert truffle salt are all part of the Flavour Union and while not strictly French, with truffle as a flavourant, it was an easy French choice;
and organic absinthe from Jorgensens, which should add flair to any party.
NON-FRANCOPHONE BUT AS DELICIOUS:
l Palestinian breads and biscuits care of King Arabic Sandwiches, a shop in Mayfair. Trapido enthuses about their “light and bouffant pita filled with felafel and maqdoose (walnut-stuffed aubergine)”.
“They are brilliant bakers, producing disk-shaped, date-stuffed mamool biscuits, orange blossom syrup-drenched hareesah semolina cakes and rose water-infused rice puddings. Savoury treats include sunflower-shaped manakeesh zaatar flat breads.”
l Slow Food Magalies including charcuterie, cheese and olives.
l Organic sourdough breads from Penny Ziefert.
l Banting options.
l Organic nougat from Jakalshond, which heightens awareness of wild dogs who need our empathy and protection.
l Organic and free-range meat from Braeside butchery.
l Low and slow-cooked foods from Snorting Boar Smoker which goes American with burgers and dogs.
l DRINKS: French and South African wines; craft beer; organic gin, vodka and absinthe, all of which have established their own niche market; Sedgwicks (OBS) are re-inventing their “old lady” image with funky cocktails.
l Serbian cheeses made by Miryana Hristova includes sweet and savoury traditional cheeses. The sweet ones are almost like a block of cheesecake with orange zest. She also makes a cream cheese with sesame.
l Cooking Foodie offers craft chocolates; and red velvet cupcakes with cream frosting, homemade marmalade, cookie mixes in a bottle, cupcakes in a jar, custard fruit tarts and cake pops.
l Bisibean Coffee Roasting Company from the area sources the best possible green beans, which they roast to perfection.
l The Olive Pit from the area, which plants the trees from scratch.
l For more info or to buy tickets, visit www.hartiwoodfoodandfilmshow.co.za.
Diane de Beer, The Star