Books
Through my cookbooks, I explore the deep flavours, aromas and memories of Cape Malay heritage. Each book reveals another layer of our culture – from the kitchens of Bo-Kaap to the spice trails of Makassar and Tidore – preserving the stories, rituals and journeys that have shaped our community.
My debut, Cooking for My Father In My Cape Malay Kitchen, is a cathartic tribute to family, memory and healing. Spice Odyssey travels through the world of spices, celebrating their origins and cultural significance. Curried pays homage to the art of curry, while Modern Cape Malay Cooking reimagines tradition for contemporary kitchens. In my latest release, The Cape Malay Culinary Masterclass, I trace a personal journey across Indonesia, Malaysia and Europe before returning home to Cape Town, reconnecting the flavours of the past with the stories of today.
Together, my books invite you into a world of flavour, nostalgia and cultural richness – a living archive of Cape Malay identity.
Explore the full collection through Penguin Random House and bring the taste of heritage into your home.
“Modern Cape Malay Cooking, Cariema’s fourth cookbook, is a celebration of food and feasting, providing a contemporary view of Cape Malay cuisine and simple home cooking. Though traditional Cape Malay cuisine and recipes have stood the test of time, adaptations have given rise to a culinary fusion. This is especially thanks to the Cape Malay millennial generation that craves popular dishes from the East and West, such as a comforting pasta or a quick stir-fry, but with a Cape Malay twist – this means it must be spicy, it must be saucy and it must be packed with flavor! In Modern Cape Malay Cooking, Cariema shares the recipes and influences that have inspired these modern dishes, with simple ingredients and vibrant aromatics for anyone who is curious and courageous enough to create flavor.”
- BARNES AND NOBLE
“Curried is an homage to one of the world’s most beloved and versatile dishes and is inspired by Cariema Isaacs’ memories of the slow-cooked Cape Malay curries of her childhood, as well as the fast-paced landscape of the Middle East, where she now lives.”
- TANDY SINCLAIR
“From the author and chef of Cooking for my father in My Cape Malay Kitchen, comes a cookbook that chronicles her adulation and reverence for spices. Cariema Isaacs’s affinity for spices emanates from her Cape Malay heritage and time spent cooking and baking in her grandmother’s kitchen in Bo-Kaap, the Cape Malay Quarter in Cape Town. Thus, at a very early age she understood the tastes derived from cumin and coriander, the pungency of fennel, cloves and star anise, and the piquancy of chilli powder, cayenne pepper and masala blends. Spice Odyssey showcases a multitude of beautifully written recipes with some familiar spices from her Cape Malay heritage and fresh aromatics from her travels to India, Turkey, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Middle East.”
- GOODREADS.COM
“This book I believe, is Cariema Isaacs’ humble attempt in dealing with the loss of a man who was dear to all of us and whose passing left a gaping hole in her psyche. In her soul. So in many ways, the writing of this cookbook was cathartic as it allowed her to better make peace with my father’s passing through the gentle healing that often comes from the creative process. From recalling meals and moments shared. The breaking of the fast together in Ramadaan, the Eid lunches, and the quiet meals, just the two of them. A thought, a word, an action, all part this merry dance we call life, or love or cooking.”
- BIENYAMEEN ISAACS
