First, explore the beautiful Bo-Kapp as you wander its cobblestone streets on a cultural walking tour. Discover some of its oldest historical buildings and learn about the culture and traditions of the local people. Learn about 0the first and oldest mosque in South Africa as well as the cultural museum. Make your way to the spice shop and learn about the variety and health benefits of different spices. Return to the home of your host and begin preparing a traditional Malay meal. Help fold the first course, samosas. Prepare the main meal which is chicken curry and roti flatbread. Make samabal better known as salsa salad. Then, sit down to enjoy your meal, followed by a traditional dessert of koesisters, which are spicy savoury donuts served with cardamon tea. Leave with a full belly and all recipes of what you have prepared.

A local food-lover, Faldela Tolker, will be waiting to greet you on the doorstep of her neat, lilac-colored house. She’ll welcome you into her kitchen where a large metal pot simmers on the stove, emitting a spicy aroma. Chef Faldela conducts cooking classes in her home in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. The food cooked in this predominantly Muslin neighborhood is as piquant as the hot pink and burnt-orange painted houses that rise gently up the lower slopes of Signal Hill, part of Table Mountain. Unique to the Western Cape of South Africa, Cape Malay cuisine fuses African tradition with that of Malaysian and Indonesian slaves, brought over by the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries. A blend of spices — ginger, fennel, star anise, tamarind, and, most importantly, turmeric — gives the food a distinct aromatic quality. Stews, roasts, and sauce-heavy curries are popular in Malay cuisine, as are meat patties, milk, and bread puddings.

Join a local resident for a traditional cooking class in the heart of the Bo-Kaap neighborhood. During the 2-hour interactive session, prepare a popular, three course Cape Malay meal from scratch, using authentic spices and fresh ingredients. Once the food has been cooked, sit down with your host to enjoy the true taste of Bo-Kaap, while engaging in some good, hearty conversations on family, local traditions, and the community. From a starter to a main meal, hone your cooking skills, and enjoy a truly local experience.