Like me, Stacey is a South African who finds herself transplanted to London and loving it! She blogs at Bakercourt (Twitter: @baker_court) and describes herself as writer, blogger, baker and crafter who'll try everything once. When not working, she is baking my way through Nigella Lawson's best recipes. Let's get to know her better:
1. Where are you - in South Africa or out in the wide world?
I've been based in London since 2009.
2. Since when have you been blogging?
I actually started my blog just before I left South Africa in 2009 as a way to record all the delicious foods and local restaurants that I didn't want to forget. Then, when I got to London, I started writing about my move there, and my transition into London life as a sort of 'journal' for my family back home. It turns out I really love food, and a blog is an excellent platform for sharing, discussing and show-and-tell!
3. What do you enjoy the most about food or wine blogging?
Ooh tough one. I love the challenge of photographing the food, the challenge of going out and finding something to write about, and of course - cooking or baking it too.
4. Any downsides or frustrations?
Sometimes when you are having a bit of a 'down' time you stop posting blogs as frequently and your followers simply melt away, but, on the flipside, you get some really nice friends that stick around and pull you through it. Hm, now that I think about it: no downsides! I love writing, I love food, and I love interacting with the people who visit me.
5. What or who are your inspirations to cook, drink and write?
I've always wanted to be a writer, and now that I am, I write about my favourite things in my spare time - food, restaurants, travel, crafts and baking. My whole family has always been into food and you won't find better cooks than my mom and her twin sister, so it was a natural progression into the 'family business'.
6. Where and when do you like to blog?
I like to write my blogs late at night when I'm rounding up the day's progress and I can enjoy an hour or so of sharing photographs and telling all the stories that go with them. Where: at home, all wrapped up in a blanket on a chair, or snuggled on the couch.
7. What's your signature dish or favourite wine?
Mm. Signature dish: braised cubes of beef tossed with pesto, roasted baby tomatoes and gnocchi, with a side of freshly-made bread.
8. What other food or wine blogs do you read?
This is going to be a long list. I think I'll give you my favourite five to read...
- http://www.sprinklebakes.com/ - adventurous baking with exceptionally beautiful photography. I feel like a little girl whenever I browse through her amazing baked goods!
- http://www.therecanbeonlyjuan.com/ - charming and wonderful, Juanita is a South African foodie after my own heart.
- http://foodsnots.blogspot.com/ - ignore the name: it's the perfect place to stop by and browse through some pretty pictures, nice recipes and friendly stories
- http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/ - Okay, a sort of mix between home-cooking, baking and knitting, but it's a lovely blog to visit and always so interesting to hear about what's going on back home!
- http://www.cooksister.com/ - of course, how could I not? I particularly love that it is just so easy to read - you sit down with a cuppa and end up staying for two.
9. Favourite restaurant?
Oh! Again, difficult to choose. Either The Fat Cactus in Cape Town, South Africa (the one in Town) or Giraffe in London. I like restaurants that are friendly and comfortable with an excellent atmosphere and lots to choose from.
10. For my last meal on this planet I would order...
My mom's lasagna served with a side of green salad topped with Greek feta and balsamic glaze, followed by my aunt's spicy carrot cake with zesty cream cheese icing and a Vida e Cafe mocha.
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