Chef Chat: Perfect pastry takes the chocolate fudge cake

29 July 2015 - 02:21 By Shelley Seid

Joanita Venter is the executive sous pastry chef at the Oyster Box Hotel. Her culinary philosophy includes cooking from her heart and putting love on a plate. "I live by the three Ps: passion, patience and pride." What is currently in your fridge?Fresh fruit and veg, butter, eggs, cheese and garlic.The most annoying eaters?The lactose intolerant. Being a baker, eggs, butter and cream are my staples. I feel sorry for them as soya milk is not nearly as nice and changes the flavour of everything.Dumbest thing you have ever done in a kitchen?While baking my famous chocolate fudge cake, I put the dry ingredients into the mixer and didn't realise that I had it on the highest speed - I ended up with the entire cake all over me.Can your kids cook?Both my husband and I are chefs and we have 14 year-old twins. I cook with them all the time. They can whip up easy dishes such as French toast and make me special treats like cupcakes.Worst diet you've ever tried?A soup diet. It lasted a week and then I gave up. I lost quite a lot of weight and put it straight back on the moment I started eating normally again.Guilty pleasure?Good quality chocolate (Lindt).What dish would never try to master or have never been able to master?I have never made tripe and have no intention of doing so in the future.If you could only eat one food or dish for the rest of your life what would it be?Pasta.What food item would never be seen in your house?Chillies.What food are you currently craving?A big slice of my mom's milk tart. She bakes the best I've ever tasted.The oddest food request you've ever had?To bake a cake resembling a part of the human anatomy, which I would prefer not to mention in print. A mould was supplied for me to copy it from. ..

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