This experience begins with a relaxed stroll through the colourful streets of Salt River, where we’ll shop for ingredients at local businesses. We’ll then make our way to our home for the cooking class. Our meeting point is Fargo Trading, one of Cape Town’s oldest and most underrated spice shops, the perfect place to set the tone for this authentic Cape Malay/Creole cooking experience.
After exploring one of Cape Town’s most iconic spice shops, we’ll continue shopping for ingredients for our meal as we take a relaxed walk through Salt River. Along the way, we’ll see striking street art created by both the Salt River Heritage Society and the International Public Art Festival. You’ll also learn about African immigrant communities who run local grocery shops, as well as Cape Malay/Creole food vendors. We’ll end the walk at our home, where we’ll cook and eat together.
You’ll get to cook and share an authentic three-course Cape Malay/Creole meal. Experience true 'Kaapse Kos' while learning about its rich history and heritage, and connect with local home cooks who are known in their communities for their incredible cooking and baking.
It felt like a family dinner! Shihamm and her partner made us feel so at home I wanted to kick off my shoes and stay! the food was wonderful and we learned so much about the spices that we used. the best part was all of us sitting down to a fantastic lunch. after lunch lunch we sat on the sofa and listened to stories of Cape Town.
Our Cape Malay Cooking Experience with Shihaam and Janop was absolutely phenomenal and a highlight of our time in Cape Town. The experience started with a wonderful mini-tour of the vibrant Salt River neighborhood. Stopping by the local butcher and neighborhood grocery store to gather our fresh ingredients added such an authentic, local touch. Shihaam was incredibly patient and knowledgeable, answering all of our questions about the different spices and unique items we spotted on the shelves. Once we got to the kitchen, it was time to get busy! Cooking alongside Shihaam and Janop was both educational and incredibly fun. They are a true wealth of knowledge when it comes to the history and traditions of Cape Malay cuisine. As a huge bonus, Shihaam was exceptionally well-researched on adapting the traditional recipes to meet gluten-free dietary restrictions, making the entire meal seamless and stress-free for us. To top it all off, the final dishes were absolutely delicious. And to make the experience even better, they followed up by providing us with the recipes and a wonderfully curated list of books to read and places to visit across Cape Town to continue our cultural journey. If you are looking for an immersive, deeply authentic, and warm cultural cooking experience in Cape Town, do not hesitate to book with Shihaam and Janop!
It would be hard in a review to convey what a wonderful day I had with Shihaam and Janop at the Cape Malay cooking class. Actually to call it A cooking class is a bit of an understatement. This is definitely a cultural immersion. I was looking for a more authentic experience to add to my first trip to Cape Town and I certainly chose the right one. Shihaam was waiting for me at the old biscuit Mill where we took a stroll met some of the vendors, visited a vintage shop and basically learned the history of this interesting neighborhood as we walked back to the home. Learned about spices and technique, made the most tasty three course lunch. most rewarding was spending the day with Shihaam and her assistant Janop. They shared their heart, their food and their culture, it was definitely a highlight of my trip.
This was a wonderful day. We know how to cook but going through the steps of making a Cape Creole curry, folding the samoosas and rolling out the rotis was great fun, and the food was all delicious. The best part was the time spent with Shihaam and Janie. They were warm and generous ,and hearing about their lives and the history of the neighborhood was incredibly informative and moving. We can’t recommend this experience enough for everyone, tourists new to Cape Town as well as Capetonians who have grown up here. An experience not to be missed.
Our day qas perfect with the two hosts!!! The experience was supposed to end at 3pm, but at 4:30 we were still there talking and sharing stories and food recipes!! We learn how to fold samosa, how to appreciate different ingredients and my fav, the roti! Not a tourist trap at all
If you're looking for a cooking class, this is your best bet. I got to be in one of their cooking classes and it was way better than I expected. There's nothing like learning about a local's history through their food. I had a blast cooking with them, just like when your grandma teaches you at home.
Such a warm and welcoming class. Shihaam was a great guide and instructor. After our walking portion, we were greeted with a warm bite which we later learned how to make. It was a nice inversion at the beginning of the class to break up the eating. Cooking the main dishes was hands on and everyone got their turn to learn and cook. Phenomenal food! We made a perfect swordfish curry that I'm excited for recreating at home. I'm addition to the apps, main, bread, and dessert, they were great conversationalists and provided recommendations for our continued journeys in Cape Town. Thank you again for an incredible afternoon!
Dennis and Shihaam were amazing guides who made this cooking class such a memorable experience. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate throughout the tour. Even after living in Cape Town for 14 years, I learned so much about the city through this experience. Based in Woodstock, we enjoyed great coffee, rooibos tea, and made a delicious vegetarian curry. I highly recommend Unexplored Cape Town to both locals and visitors looking for an authentic experience.
I've lived in this country for over 15 years, but the team always makes me discover a new gem in Cape Town (and even beyond – shout out to Ishavara in Johannesburg!). I had enjoyed Malay dishes before, but had never been involved in the cooking process. The ladies made us feel like family; the house felt like home and was so peaceful. I enjoyed the art, the colors, and the stories. They even shared fascinating stories and nuances about the very spices we were using to cook. I recommend not only this experience but all of Unexplored Tours. It has a unique twist that gives you a different perspective with each visit. I will definitely do it again next time I am in Cape Town. — Vanessa
Loved this experience! Great way to see some local culture and learn to cook some devine cuisine. My guide(s) were as lovely as they were great teachers; as well as gracious and thoughtful in every detail. Very highly recommend!
This is an exciting and informative experience. You are with people who have deep understanding having lived in the neighbourhoods we walked. It great to see life through their eyes as well as visit a host of shops all operated by small businesses. A great highlight is learning how to cook and then also sitting down and enjoying delicious food. Great company and thoroughly recommended. I can't believe how I as a South African took so long to get here.
I so enjoyed my afternoon with Shihaam and Zeinab. We started the tour with a visit to the meat market and spice shop, with co-host Tawanda showing off local murals along the route. Starts and cool drinks were ready when we got to the house, and after a short rest, the cooking began! The house smelled so delicious with different spices blooming, roti raising on the griddle, and chicken sizzling in the pan. The spice level was perfect -- I ate the chicken curry until I couldn't take another bite. Then came dessert and Shihaam's special tea. We discussed the medicinal characteristics of food, traded stories about our families, talked about local birds, and laughed at each others' jokes. A perfect day!
I had SOOOOO much fun !! The hosts were lovely. I felt at home and at the same time I learnt a lot about Capetown cuisine, spices and history ! I highly recommend 👌
This cooking class was a wonderful way to connect with local people and the other participants and to enjoy food and stories together. Our hosts Shihaam and Janop were so welcoming and informative, sharing their cooking knowledge and some life stories. After the initial shopping trip to local stores, we arrived at the home where we enjoyed delicious starters before we moved to the kitchen. Shihaam firstly described the uses and properties of the most commonly used spices. She showed us the preparation of a versatile Cape Malay chicken curry recipe and an aubergine dish. Janop helped us to roll and cook roti. The atmosphere was relaxed and we were encouraged to participate, if we wanted, and to ask questions. We sat down to enjoy this feast together followed by malva pudding and masala chai. It was an experience of learning, conviviality and insight into Cape Malay culture. I would thoroughly recommend you try it.
The Cape Malay/Creole cooking class has been one of my favourite memories and experiences in Cape Town so far! The experience began with our wonderful guide, Shihaam, took us on a tour of a spice shop and the oldest butcher shop in Salt River. Learning about the spices and their health properties was very informative. After shopping, we arrived at a lovely home, which was the best location for a cooking class. We were greeted with a starter consisting of a split-pea soup, samosas, chilli bites with a mebos (an aprioct sweet, sour, and spicy sauce), and Falooda (a refreshing dessert). After this, we helped Shihaam and Janop in the kitchen and made a chicken curry, eggplant, roti and it was all incredibly delicious! We ended our three course meal with a malva pudding dessert and a masala chai. While everything (and I mean everything) about the food was beyond delicious, the stories from Shihaam and Janop helped us learn more about Cape Mala/Creole culture, food, and history! I ended the cooking class with a full stomach and a full heart! It was the perfect way to spend the day and I would highly recommend this immersive experience for anyone wanting a unique cooking class experience. If you are keen to learn more about Cape Malay/Creole food and culture in Cape Town, I'd recommend doing it with Unexplored Cape Town!
This experience is much more than a cooking class. I'd go so far as to say that the cooking lesson is almost the least important part of the experience. What I loved was the integration between shopping, walking through the local area, visiting in a local home with local people and then finally the cooking and wonderful food flavours. It was a stylish, friendly and tasty day. Highly recommended.
A Wonderful Cape Malay/Creole Cooking Experience I had a fantastic time with Shihaam and Janop during the Cape Malay cooking class. The visit to the Salt River spice shop and Woodstock butchery was informative and added a great local touch. Shihaam’s spice presentation was amazing, and I’ll definitely use some of the spices and recipes she shared. We enjoyed delicious starters, a flavourful main course, and a lovely dessert in a warm and welcoming home. A truly authentic and memorable experience—highly recommended!
I had a wonderfull afternoon with Shihaam and aunt Janap, two lovely women that made me feel comfortable and home immediately. I booked a cooking class and even though I expected a lot from it, it was still better than I could have imagined. It was really special to be welcomed in an african house and to enjoy all the food - which was really delicious! I left with a belly full of treats and a head full of great memories.
My mom and two friends joined me at this fabulous cooking lesson. We met at a spice market and explored spices unusual for an American cook. On to the butcher shop to see local meats and how they are sold. Our cooking lesson started with savory treat, which we learned how to make. Nothing beats hands on. Fish curry for a quick weekday meal. Step by step, details on the spices used and how to bloom them. And it was delicious. Chai tea and malva pudding for dessert. Our chefs were knowledgeable, good teachers, and so interesting. Highly recommend. I’ve taken cooking lessons around the world while traveling and this is at the top of the list.
We had a positively lovely experience with Shihaam and Auntie Janie. We met Shihaam at the Old Biscuit Market, explored there for a little bit, then walked to the location where we made a wonderful (and very delicious) meal. We had the opportunity to learn a wide range of things about their experiences, as well as about the ingredients and prep for the Cape Malay meal. We were looking for the chance to connect with local individuals in a more informal setting than the typical "touristy" transaction, and this was exactly what we hoped for. We thank you both for your willingness to share! (Also, the dessert pudding was AMAZING!)
After the amazing storytelling food tour with Dennis, I immediately knew I wanted to book Unexplored Cape Town again! I had a full free day to myself in Cape Town, and asked Dennis if there were any cooking classes he could recommend. To my surprise, he said they had one! It only took me about 30 seconds of conversation to be convinced to sign up. Since I work in the food industry myself, I wanted to be as involved as possible… and they made that happen! We went to the spice shop, the butcher, picked up some ingredients, and made everything from scratch. Shihaam and Janop taught me how to make roti, chili bites, butter chicken, malva pudding, chai. We also enjoyed a very delicious split pea soup. All recipes were passed down to them, and I felt honored to be able to cook and bake by their sides. It was like I was in the kitchen with family members, learning how to make their precious family recipes!!! After 10 days of visiting different countries in Southern African, I can confidently say the Cape Malay/Creole cooking classes (and the food tour!) were one of the best experiences, ever. I felt super comfortable and happy to be there. I loved getting to know Shihaam and Janop—it was truly an honor I got to take their class. And the next time I visit Cape Town, I’m definitely booking both events again! Thank you Dennis, Shihaam, and Janop!
My husband and I participated in the Cape Malay / Creole cooking class during our week long stay in Cape Town. We have participated in cooking experience in other cities throughout our international travels and have enjoyed them. This class did not disappoint. Shihaam and “Auntie Jeanne” were our instructors and hosts. They were amazing pleasure to spend spend time with. From the hands on instruction to the great conversation, it was a wonderful time!!! I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about the food and culture of South Africa.
This was truly such a wonderful unique experience. Dennis took us on such an informative walk around salt river. From the spice shop to the street art and we even went inside one of the local mosques, where we were greeted with such warmth and hospitality. Next up was the cooking class, hosted in Dennis' home. We were greeted with delicious dhaaltjies(the best I have ever tasted and a hearty vegetable soup, perfect to warm us up on the cold rainy day. We learnt about the basic spices of Cape Malay cooking and then onto learning how to make a butter chicken and Rotis. It was hands on and I loved rolling out the rotis. We then were served a delicious dessert and a chair masala tea, absolutely heavenly I left feeling full, extremely happy and like I had made new friends. I highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Cape Town
The experience started with a tour of a spice shop and then a walk through Salt River to meet the chefs. We started with a tasting of a starter and then a introduction to spice mixes. We were guided though making a curry and rotis. After the meal we had Chai tea and dessert. During the experience we engaged with the cooks about culture and cooking.
Very interesting tour and Nadia is absolutely lovely! Great for anyone who wants to explore a different part of the city and appreciates street art
Considering we have lived in Cape Town for as long as we have and never explored the parts of the city that Dennis takes you on this tour was a really interesting and eye-opening experience! Dennis manages to weave interesting important history and facts about the lesser known but just as important parts of Cape Town with ease and every stop along the way was punctuated with delicious bites to eat. The exposure to the different diaspora of Africans in the CBD and thier cuisine was one of the best we have had in Cape Town!
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