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About Cariema
AUTHOR | CHEF | ENTREPRENEUR
“I have always maintained that to be great at anything, you need two things: passion and aptitude. Not only do you need to be good or skilled at what you do, but you have to love what you are doing as well. I believe that this is what was subconsciously inculcated into Cariema at a very young age. For her, as for both my grandmothers and our father, cooking is a labour of love, an opportunity for sharing with family, with friends, and with strangers. And this is important for it is in the act of sharing, of giving of ourselves that we create precious moments which bind us together and brings us closer to our creator”.
— BIENYAMEEN ISAACS
Bo-Kaap | The Heart of My Lineage and Culinary Heritage
“It takes a village to raise a child”
— AFRICAN PROVERB
(article below written for VISI © by Cariema Isaacs)
‘It takes a village to raise a child’ is a concept I learnt growing up in Bo-Kaap, the Malay Quarter in Cape Town. It’s the spirit of the community that is aptly depicted in the brightly coloured houses of my Bo-Kaap.
If you are curious about the history of the Cape Malays, all you have to do is follow the long (and winding) road up Wale Street in the beautiful city of Cape Town. You keep on going and before you are tempted to ask for further directions you will be greeted by a kaleidoscope of pastel-painted houses.
The homes I love most are the ones that still reflect the past, my past. I remember my grandmother’s stoep on Yusuf Drive in Schotsche Kloof, the afternoons spent just watching the world go by, being greeted by passers-by with the latest gossip to share. The picturesque houses represent a mixture of the classic Cape Dutch and British architecture – some features, especially inside the living quarters, reflective of the historical Malay homes in Southeast Asia. In addition, elements of the ornate and decorative intermingle with Georgian influences.
Double storeys and balconies were common for those who could afford them, often with stairs leading up from the street. The more affordable homes had only one floor, a small lounge and dining area, a main bedroom and a smaller bedroom. Kitchens were small and simple, with coal stoves that often warmed the entire house during the cold winter months. In earlier times kitchens doubled as bathrooms, and I recall how my Ouma would heat water on the stove in a big kettle, then decant it into a vessel already half filled with cold water as I prepared for my ablutions.
My grandmother’s front door would be wide open during the day, enticing neighbours and guests over for a cup of cardamom tea or a comforting plate of food and good old Cape Malay banter. This was the energy that permeated the community. It was the spirit of ubuntu, and many residents who have moved on and even those who are still residing there will concur that in the good old days life was simpler, kinder and more wholesome than it is now.
Bo-Kaap was home to the first Muslim community in South Africa, which explains the minarets you notice. The architecture of the mosques is representative of our forefathers and the regions they came from. Many arrived as slaves from various Southeast-Asian places, political nonconformists and Muslim religious leaders who opposed the Dutch presence in what is now Indonesia and were sent into exile. Many of them took up occupations as cooks, kitchen hands, tailors, seamstresses, builders and labourers. The Cape Malay culture and cuisine’s roots are largely influenced by its Indonesian, Javanese and Malay forefathers, some of whom were prominent Muslim clerics, passionate about preserving their Islamic faith in a Dutch-dominated environment. It is also religion that united the community and inculcated key fundamentals that are still reflective of the Cape Malay community today. These principles are based on the Islamic teaching of sharing, caring, charity and giving thanks to God.
The brightly coloured homes in Bo-Kaap signify hope and unity, commemoration of a happier and wholesome time. Those vibrant colours with their nuances of a glorious past life make me proud to be associated with my birthplace. Pastel-painted homes that whisper, “Welcome; come on over.” As the aunty opens her front door to her modest home, you will be greeted with the universal Islamic salutation of peace, “Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh” (Peace and Blessings be upon you). I’d like to extend this greeting further if I may and invite you to enter into my past, my history, my Bo-Kaap:
“Ahlan wa sahlan”
(You’ve come to stay with family).
*all rights reserved to VISI magazine
MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BO-KAAP AND THE CAPE MALAY QUARTER
Cape Town | The Essence of My Life
“The best journey takes you home.”
My heart starts racing as the plane begins its descent on my picturesque home city, Cape Town in South Africa. I feel giddy about the thought of seeing my loved ones and being on home soil. It is the familiarity of a place that is every bit a part of who I am.
I am welcomed by bright blue skies and the crisp fresh air that is so characteristic of the Mother City. The first sight of Table Mountain is testament to the fact that I have arrived in majestic Cape Town. I heartily participate in familiar banter with my family. It’s at this point when the conversation moves from casual chitchat to a more serious discussion, one which describes the meals and menus that have been prepared in anticipation of my arrival.
My time in Cape Town always flies by, as one day fades into another. The welcomes and laughter slowly transform into farewells and tearful goodbyes. A part of me always feels empty when it’s time to go, a dull ache for the home I have to leave behind. The sun sets on an enchanted time, moments spent in love, in friendship, in family. I see glimmers of myself in everyone and everything around me! As I leave traces of myself behind, I have just one request…wait for me…until we meet again.
Dubai | A Tapestry of Arabian Nights and Days
Dubai has been my home since March 2010. I find myself in one of the most multicultural cities in the world, an expats paradise. A city that was once surrounded by desert sands now sprouts a multitude of high-rises, apartment buildings and towers – nothing short of the New York skyline. It’s frequently bustling, both day and night. So much so that it’s not impossible to forget which day of the week it is; that’s how quickly time flies in Dubai.
It’s easy though to fall in love with this city, its people and its lifestyle. It’s simply impossible not to be tempted by Dubai’s cuisine, from the food truck scene to the high-end, very sophisticated restaurants in and around the city. Dubai is a haven for any foodie seeking to explore world cuisine. I adore the concept of “communal feasting”, a Middle Eastern style where there are no formalities when sitting down for meals and guests are held in the highest esteem. Then there are the late afternoon snacks that intrigue me, known as mezzes or mezzas. Delicious morsels to tide you over to supper time. An array of olives, humus, Arabic bread, tabbouleh, fattoush, grilled halloumi and shish tawouk. The breaking of bread and dipping it into something saucy and nibbling whilst leisurely watching the afternoon go by.
I think Dubai has given me what many of us seek later on in our lives, that second chance at life. The opportunity to have a clean slate and say:
“let’s see where this will take me”
I’m not saying I wouldn’t have had that in Cape Town. All I am saying is that there really is truth in:
“change is as good as a holiday”
