Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.2 Autumn 2018 | Page 10

DEPARTURE LOUNGE // AUTUMN 2018
INSTAMUNCH
@ annacarolinaalberts
Love and butter : two ingredients that make for a delicious life , according to Cape Town-based chef , food stylist , TV presenter and cookbook author Anna Carolina Alberts . Well , that and travel . Alberts got her start at the acclaimed Le Quartier Français restaurant and owned her own successful bistro in the busy town of Piet Retief . Now she ’ s just wrapped up the filming of the first season of her own cooking and DIY show , Koskaskenades , and is packing her bags – and her appetite for international flavours – to gain inspiration for her recipes . We caught up with her as she waited to board a flight to Mauritius :
How does travel influence your recipes ? Travel influences my recipes big time ! Every time I travel I pick up new habits , new ingredients and new ways of doing things . I am also more alert and open-minded when travelling , so I guess new tastes leave behind a greater impression and fondness . I make a point of incorporating them into my day-to-day life back home . Using exotic flavours in your home cooking is an excellent way to add a story and a bit of class to every meal .
Where ’ d you get your passion for food ? It runs in my veins . I grew up in the kitchen – both my grandmothers were avid cooks and bakers . I also grew up on a farm and did homeschooling , so I had lots of time to play – and I found playing in the kitchen especially satisfying .
Do you play it safe when trying new cuisine or are you adventurous ? I am quite adventurous . I have often travelled in countries where I can ’ t speak the language , see an interesting dish but don ’ t actually know what it is : to taste
Where in the world ?
© PHILIPUS / ADOBESTOCK

ROUTE 66 !

The famous Route 66 stretches across eight US states , from Chicago to Los Angeles , taking in weird and wacky attractions alongside vast natural beauty . This is one journey that should be on every serious roadtripper ’ s bucket list . In Fanning , Missouri , one of Route 66 ’ s most famous attractions will be near impossible to miss – a 13-metre-tall rocking chair . While the rocking chair actually rocked at one stage , it was decided to secure it in a stationary position for safety reasons . A bizarre sight can also be found in Amarillo , Texas – a colourful burial ground for cars known as the Cadillac Ranch . The ranch consists of 10 Cadillacs that are partly buried front-first in the hard , flat earth , their iconic tail fins pointing toward the Texan sky . You will never have to travel Route 66 on an empty stomach , especially in Texas . At the Big Texan Steak Ranch you may even get your steak for free . The catch ? You have to finish a 2kg steak in one hour . You will get your own table , though – in the middle of the restaurant , so everyone else can watch your attempt . Another landmark is the Wigwam Village in Holbrooke , Arizona , where each room is a faux tipi . While in Arizona , don ’ t forget to pop in to the town of Winslow to stand on the corner made famous in the 1977 Eagles classic Take it Easy . And if you ’ ve ever wondered what a honky-tonk is , you ’ ll find out at the
or not to taste ? To taste always wins and I have had some surprising dishes . One such dish was in the Amazon : a bowl of soup I bought on the banks of the Amazon River , in a little village named Gurupá . It was a sweet , sour , slimy broth – the sliminess comes from tapioca flour – with some shrimp or prawns . It was 10 years back so I am sure I am forgetting some part of it , but it was a very exciting moment in my foodie life .
Your book Butter & Love is proudly South African . Which part of South Africa ’ s foodie culture do you think the rest of the
© MIKE / ADOBESTOCK
Museum Club in Flagstaff , Arizona . Opened in the 1930s , it was built to be the biggest log cabin in the world , housing its then taxidermist owner ’ s collection of stuffed animals . It later became a place to gather and drink , and eventually country-western music and dancing were added . Over the coming years , the club got wilder and earned its title as a honky-tonk – a bar that features country music , low-cost drinks and wild behaviour . While still lively , today it ’ s far more respectable . Now do you see why The Rolling Stones say this is where you ’ ll get your kicks ?

Q

BOOK IT : Make your travel all about the journey and experience this famous highway with Trafalgar ’ s 15-day Route 66 package . Ask your Sure Travel consultant for details , or visit www . suretravel . co . za / call 0861 47 48 49 .
world needs to know about ? Wow , what a question ! We all borrow from each other so there are similarities across the board . For example , our classic milk tart is quite similar to the Portuguese custard tartlet pasteis de nata . Maybe rusks ? Rusks are always a winner and such a big part of our culture . I baked a batch or two last night to take with to Mauritius .
Follow Anna on @ annacarolinaalberts for mouth-watering recipes , inspired by home and abroad .
10 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE