Jhb North - Feb 24

JOBURG NORTHERN SUBURBS 

MELISSA EBLEN 

Family, food, and a home 

built for entertaining 

The most 

charming and 

delicious cook 

books ever! 

WIN ... 

Kate Spade 

Bloom & a luxe 

city staycation 

A 

LOVE 

AFFAIR 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

FEBRUARY 24

Love cooking 

Page 20

GET IT 

Editorial 

Caxton House • 368 Jan Smuts Avenue 

Craighall, Joburg 

Instagram: @get_it_joburg_north 

Facebook: Get It Joburg North Magazine 

Website: getitmagazine.co.za/ 

joburg-north 

National Group Editor & National Sales 

Kym Argo 

kyma@caxton.co.za 

Facebook and Instagram: 

Get It National Magazines 

Website: getitmagazine.co.za 

Workflow & Studio Manager Megan Brett 

Contributor: Lisa Witepski 

Joburg Hub Sales 

Norman Dawe 010-971-3601 

Distribution 

Get It Joburg Northern Suburbs is 

distributed free of charge. For a full list of 

where it is available phone 010-971-3605 

Published by CTP Limited 

Competition rules 

The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be 

transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions 

are not open to the sponsors or Caxton 

employees or their families. Get It Magazine 

reserves the right to publish the names of 

winners, who will be contacted telephonically 

and need to collect their prizes from Caxton 

Northern branch within 10 days or they will be 

forfeited. Prizewinners’ names are published on 

our social media pages monthly. 

CONTENTS 

THIS MONTH 

04 Love, laughter and live hits 

06 Book Club ... scandals and spicy wine 

08 Wishlist ... so much to obsess over 

PEOPLE 

10 The Eblen family’s love affair for food and get-togethers 

14 Ana Maria Panait’s creative take on everyone’s favorite treat 

BEAUTY 

16 Dazzle and shine ... beauty products we adore 

18 Self-discovery. Self-acceptance. Self-love 

FOOD & WINE 

20 Five pretty delicious cookbooks 

22 Smashed, whipped or diced … we adore avo 

DECOR & GARDENING 

26 Invite sweet embrace into your home 

28 Adapt to growing trends 

30 Forgiving house plants that survive neglect 

TRAVEL 

24 Luxe city living at Voco The Bank 

WIN 

24 The perfect date night stayover for two 

34 A bottle of Kate Spade Bloom 

COVER PHOTO 

Photographer: Nicole Moore. 

Details: nicolemoorephotography.co.za 

Make-up: Makeup by Ryno, 

Details: 071-688-0242 

FEBRUARY 24 

30 

February 24 Get It Magazine 03

A hot date! 

Get ready for love, laughter and live hits 

If you have a date for the Get It diary page, email the info at least a month in advance to megan@caxton.co.za 

Let’s moonwalk into the year ... honouring the one and only King of Pop. 

Michael Jackson HIStory tribute concert will be on stage for 10 performances 

only. A celebration of Jackson’s creative genius and unsurpassed talent with 

riveting live performances evoking his early days as a member of the Jackson 5, 

his ground-breaking theatrics in the 80’s and his continued domination of Pop 

culture into the 21st century. Songs include Thriller, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal, 

Beat It, ABC, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough and many more. We. Can. Not. Wait. 

Joburg Theatre at 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 2pm on Saturdays until 

February 4. Tickets cost from R180 through www.joburgtheatre.com 

04 

07 

Alan Committie screeches 

across the stage using his 

lighting fast wit to fuel laughter in 

his new stand up show Fast and 

(Reasonably) Furious. What to 

expect? A flipchart filled with flagrantly 

flippant fun facts, Johan van der 

Walt extemporizing about eggs and 

chickens and rants and ruminations 

around Coronations, World Cup fever, 

Artificial Intelligence and so much 

more. February 7 to March 3. Pieter 

Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre. Tickets 

from R120 to R280 via webtickets.co.za 

10 

Craft a candle infused with 

love. Join Enjoyment Co for a 

Valentine’s Day Candle Making Class 

for two. All necessary candle-making 

supplied are included and you get to 

take your handmade creation home. 

Cash bar and food available to order. 

1pm to 4pm on February 10 at Joons 

Art Bar, 57 3rd Ave, Linden. Costs R700 

per couple, book through quicket.co.za 

13 

Ladies, here is your chance 

to curate a new wardrobe. 

Your Favourite Clothes Swap is in 

Midrand this month and ready to 

organise you a new set of clothes. 

Take 10 items of clothes or shoes to 

swap with their selection of items. 

Kids clothes are accepted. February 13 

from 10am at Plantation Café, Midrand. 

Tickets at the door are R160 or R140 

through webtickets.co.za. Follow 

@swapmovement_za on Insta. 

CHECK OUT OUR NEW 

ONLINE STORE FOR THE 

EATERY AND MARKET. 

Same day delivery for orders 

placed before 3pm. 

www.jacksonsrealfoodmarket.co.za 

SCAN 

NOW

17 

With plenty new music to 

bring to the stage, the return 

of Milky Chance and their new 

tour Living in a Haze is promising 

an eclectic day out. Milky Chance 

originated in Kassel, Germany, where 

childhood friends Clemens Rehbein 

and Philipp Dausch formed the indiepop 

band and rose to fame with their 

breakout folk hit Stolen Dance. Their 

latest album released mid last year so 

expect some new tunes to groove to. 

February 17 from 11am until 7pm at 

Marks Park, Emmarentia. Tickets from 

R595 via breakoutevents.co.za 

17 

Experience a taste of 

Valentine’s magic at the 

Parkhurst 4th Ave Bubble and 

Berries. Everything from mouthwatering 

deli stands and handcrafted 

treasures to local restaurants serving 

up street food. Kids can have a blast 

in the play area and adults can book 

a bubbly tasting and sip Prosecco’s, 

champagne, sparkling wine as well 

as non-alcoholic bubbly drinks. 

February 17 from 11am until 5pm at 

4th Avenue, Parkhurst. All welcome. 

For the bubbly tasting, tickets cost 

R350 through quicket.co.za 

29 

Put your swing into action and 

do something extraordinary 

by giving a child the head start 

with good quality early education. 

Cotlands 3rd Annual Charity Golf 

Day promises a day of camaraderie 

and philanthropy. Four-ball team 

format with exciting prizes up for 

grabs. Country Club Johannesburg 

in Woodmead on February 29. Costs 

R5500 per four-ball. All proceeds 

benefit Cotlands’ vital toy library and 

playgroup programmes. For enquiries, 

email marketing@cotlands.org 

Big screen celebration 

The iconic British synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys’ celebrates four decades 

of musical innovation with an exclusive two-screening concert film of 

DREAMWORLD: The Greatest Hits Live. Screen electrifying magic from the 

Royal Arena in Copenhagen on July 7, 2023 featuring primary vocalist Neil 

Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe in an uplifting performance during a stage 

show with full back-up band and mesmerising visual backdrops, performed to 

a sold-out audience. Also catch Pet Shop Boys’ classic songs from the catalogue 

of hits they have released since their first single in 1984, including West End Girls, 

Suburbia, Left to My Own Devices, Rent, Love Comes Quickly, Always on My Mind, 

It’s a Sin and more. February 4 at 3.30pm at Ster-Kinekor’s Rosebank Nouveau in 

Rosebank Mall. Book through sterkinekor.com 

Watch and discover the life of the 

legendary reggae musician who inspired 

generations through his message of love 

and unity. Bob Marley: One Love is 

powerful story of overcoming adversity 

and the journey behind his revolutionary 

music. Produced in partnership with 

the Marley family and starring Kingsley 

Ben-Adir as Bob and Lashana Lynch as 

his wife Rit. In cinemas from February 14. 

REAL FOOD 

OD 

MARKET 

071 146 9151 

Text for more info

Book club 

Scandal. Lovers. The wedding of the year. And a lovely new wine. 

From a teenager in wartime England to a veteran of 

modern-day London, via 1950's New York, the Swinging 

Sixties, Cold War Berlin, Venice and Vietnam - Ruby 

Devereaux has lived one hell of a life. Parties, scandals and 

conflict zones, meeting men and adventure along the way. 

In a writing career, spanning seven decades and more than 

twenty books, she's distilled everything into her work. Now 

beyond her 90th year, Ruby's energy is ebbing and her 

beloved typewriter put away. Until a call from her publisher 

presents Ruby with an ultimatum, and the impetus to 

embark on one last book - warts and all. Even in her 

dotage, Ruby M Devereux has the power to surprise! One 

hell of a life. And one hell of a book ... The Scandalous Life 

of Ruby Devereaux by M J Robotham Head of Zeus 

Paris, 1923. The city is a Bohemian paradise for beautiful and 

wealthy foreigners seduced by the promise of a different 

life. Pablo Picasso is already famous, and anything seems 

possible in the name of art. Switch, in Jeanne Mackin’s 

Picasso’s Lovers, to New York, 1953. For aspiring journalist 

Alana Olson, there's always been something about Picasso. 

Her fascination leads to a series of intimate interviews with 

Sara Murphy and Irene Legut, two women from Picasso's 

once-vibrant French social circle. But as Alana is pulled 

deeper into the glamorous and tragic stories of the past, 

she begins to uncover what really lies beneath the canvas 

and a disturbing convergence with her own life that brings 

her closer to Picasso, and those who loved and loathed 

him, than she ever could have imagined. Headline 

All books available at Exclusive Books or online at exclusivebooks.co.za 

06 Get It Magazine February 24

It’s set to be a perfect day, 

until the chauffeur is asked 

to keep driving the bride 

around the church. And 

that’s not the only surprise 

in Jill Mansell’s The Wedding 

of the Year. Headline 

In the lovely Cathy Kelly’s 

Sisterhood, two sisters go 

on a life-changing journey, 

that takes them through 

Ireland’s wildest coastline 

to Sicily’s rocky shores. 

HarperCollins 

In Magnolia Parks: 

Into the Dark by Jessa 

Hastings, a couple reeling 

from a devastating loss 

try to plan what’s been 

dubbed the wedding of 

the century, Orion 

In Nita Prose’s 

The Mystery Guest, 

a famous writer drops 

dead in the grand 

tearoom of a fancy 

hotel, leaving head 

maid Molly with an 

unusual clean-up on 

her hands. HarperCollins 

A fake dating pact for 

as long as it’s mutually 

beneficial - the perfect 

solution for the air-traffic 

controller and pilot who 

don’t want a relationship, 

but do need a date. Love 

at First Flight is Jo Watson’s 

latest romcom. Headline 

Evie Porter has everything 

a girl could want. A doting 

boyfriend. A house with a 

picket fence. A fun group 

of friends. The only catch 

... Evie Porter doesn’t exist. 

First Lie Wins by Ashley 

Elston is a breath-taking 

thriller. Headline 

Spice up your life - and your next Book Club - with Spice Route’s Saffron Rosé 2023, 

one of the three spicy wines in the estate’s new Spice range. The pale coloured wine, with 

delicate aromas of pomegranate and summer berries, sensual floral and honey like notes, 

and subtle oaking which gives a delectable creaminess to the palate, has flavours of crunchy 

melon and a tarty freshness with a saline finish. Tarragon Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2023 

and Chakalaka Rhône-Style Red Blend 2021 complete the trio of wines. 

R150 to R195 from spiceroutewines.co.za/shop 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO 


Wish list 

Loving life this February 

Loving life this February 

Vibrant, joyful, full of energy, DKNY 

Be Delicious Orchard Street is 

pure mouth-wateringly pink 

deliciousness. Sweet (Pink Lady 

apple and pink grapefruit) 

and spicy (pink pepper), 

you’ll find it for R945 at 

DisChem. 

Coconut water and frangipani. 

Orchids and jasmine. Sandalwood 

and exotic vanilla. Rich and heady 

and seductive notes make up this 

new Chimmy Choo fragrance, 

Rose Passion. From R1099 at 

DisChem, Woolworths and Edgars. 

Tree Hut Tropic Glow 

whipped shea body 

butter ... which firms 

as it glows. R420 from 

medhealthsup.com 

Take the mission 

out of making your 

mojito, the drama 

out of preparing 

a daiquiri. These 

new Luckybird 

Cocktail Mixers 

are premixed and 

ready to serve. 

Simply add your 

favourite alcohol 

for the cocktail ... 

mojito, strawberry 

daiquiri, margarita, 

cosmopolitan and 

paloma. It’s all 

about quixology 

... a mixologist at 

speed! R119 from 

luckybirddrinks.com 


Stop and smell the roses. Each of the bottles in the 

Robertson Winery 

sparkling wine range showcases 

one of the roses grown specifically for the Robertson 

valley ... from the cluster of snow white, semi-double 

bloom iceburg to the graceful pink Simplicity. A glorious 

selection of bubbles ... from sweet to dry, alcoholic to 

non-alcoholic ... almost too pretty to drink. Buy in store 

or online on robertsonwinery.co.za 

Sculptural corsetry and 

touches of lingerie ... this 

H&M range is intensely 

desirable. The timeless 

appeal of a slip dress. 

Peek-a-boo necklines. 

Cropped corset tops. 

And this voluminous tulle 

ball gown. All balanced 

out with masculine 

oversized tailoring. 

Dramatic reds, slinky 

silver. Blush pink. In lace, 

tulle and silk. A night out 

never looked this good. 

H&M available exclusively 

from superbalist.com 

Tika The Iggy has (with a little help 

from Thomas Shapiro) just released 

her book - Lessons in Life, Love, and 

Fashion. From fashion to activism, 

travel to entertaining, this is your 

guide to living your best life from one 

of the most stylish social media stars. 

With more than 1.2million followers 

on Instagram - @tikatheiggy - this 

Italian Greyhound gay icon from 

Montréal has been called ‘A new 

fashion It girl’ by Vogue, has sat in 

the front row at Milan, Paris, London 

and New York Fashion Weeks, and 

has collaborated with iconic fashion 

houses like Valentino. Besides dishing 

out advice, she also shows off her 

marvellous wardrobe ... we’re green 

with envy! Orion, R360 



Homestyle 

happiness 

When a Lebanese man and a Portuguese woman fall for each 

other, the love affair is bound to include food. 

That’s exactly the case for Melissa and Emile Eblen, 

whose legendary get togethers are a celebration of life. 

“Food is a big thing for us,” laughs 

Melissa. And it always has been – both 

she and Emile spent a lot of time in 

the kitchen, even as kids. 

For Melissa, it was all about trying 

to replicate her granny’s cooking, 

especially her cal verde and 

tuna soup. 

Emile, meanwhile, was also influenced 

by his family’s recipes, although he 

found his true culinary calling on the 

coals. In fact, his talent with tongs 

earned him an entry on The Ultimate 

Braaimaster last year – which he 

admits took him by surprise, especially 

when he was announced the runner 

up. “I know the basics – when the 

coals are ready, how to rest the meat 

– and I love mixing up my own spices. 

But I never thought I’d get so far in a 

competition like that!” he laughs. 

Braaing is, in fact, the secret to the 

Eblens’ effortless entertaining. They 

agree that the formal plated style of 

hosting, with hors d’oevres, mains and 

dessert served separately, is rather old 

school – and so much more stressful 

than lighting the fire as guests arrive, 

allowing them to mill about and snack 

10 Get It Magazine February 24 

and, most of all, give you time to chat 

with them. “We’ve found that the key 

is to make sure you dish up before 

your guests have had time to lose 

their appetite,” Emile says. 

The best way to make sure you’re able 

to do that, he continues, is by keeping 

things simple. Emile is a big fan of 

homestyle cooking. “There’s really no 

need to reinvent the wheel. Just stick 

with what works.” And what works, for 

him, is mixing a few flavours together, 

making sure the meat, or fish, is well 

seasoned, then tasting as he goes. 

“People often don’t taste their own 

food, and that’s a problem – you don’t 

actually know if it's good,” he points 

out. He’s not a stickler for ingredients, 

nor does he follow recipes rigidly. 

Although he might consult a cook 

book for inspiration, he finds that 

international chefs develop recipes 

for taste buds which prefer food that’s 

far more bland. “We love spice!” Emile 

says. “We put chilli on everything.” 

Of course, drinks are just as much a 

part of the perfect day as the food. 

“Keep them flowing!” Melissa advises. 

Her own preference is for bubbles – 

although, since she’s pregnant with a 

sibling for Juliana (8) and Daniella (5), 

she’s sticking to water at the moment. 

She’s also in charge of music, typically 

choosing an 80’s inspired playlist 

including the likes of Fleetwood Mac 

and Elton John. 

Melissa gives just as much 

consideration to the crowd, taking 

care to invite people she knows will 

get on. Since the Eblens are familyoriented, 

they like to start their 

gatherings early in the day, so that 

there’s time to swim and for the kids 

to play together. 

The Eblens’ home lends itself to this 

kind of laidback get-together. They 

designed the house with an eye to 

making entertainment easy, with 

the kitchen flowing seamlessly into 

the gorgeous outside area which 

is, undoubtedly, the hero area. “We 

love being outdoors – we even nap 

out here sometimes – so we wanted 

to make it as homely as possible,” 

Melissa says. 

The home includes two braai areas 

- one with a full outdoor kitchen (it 

even has a smoker and a herb garden,

The Eblen family ... Emile, Melissa, Daniella 

and Juliana with a baby on the way. 

so that Emile can pick the flavourings 

he needs while he’s cooking), while 

the other is a more casual set up for 

the nights when the family feel like 

eating something cooked al fresco – 

which they do at least once a week. 

“The girls like braais as much as we 

do,” Melissa says. 

Her final tips for a gathering where 

guests feel feted, spoiled and loved? 

“Pick the right day,” Melissa says. It 

may sound simple, but weather can 

have an enormous impact – there’s 

nothing worse than having your 

outdoor party sabotaged by a storm. 

More than that, the weather will also 

influence what you serve. A spread 

of tapas guests can pick at is great on 

a sunny day, for example. She adds 

that it’s important to make sure the 

kids are happy. She loves putting 

out floaties in the pool, or letting the 

children wander up to the creek near 

her house to catch crabs. Above all, 

keep it casual – that’s the key to being 

a chilled, gracious hostess, rather 

than one who fusses over whether 

everyone’s glass is topped up, the 

children are hungry and the guests 

are happy. 

Text: LISA WITEPSKI • Photographer: NICOLE MOORE. 

Details: nicolemoorephotography.co.za • Make-up: MAKEUP BY RYNO, 071-688-0242. 


Turn your outdoor area into a 

haven for entertaining. 

Heather Salomon, an interior designer 

and the creative force who designed 

Melissa and Emile’s stunning outdoor 

area, gives these tips for creating a 

space that’s perfect for entertaining: 

HARMONISE NATURE 

AND DESIGN 

Embrace the natural elements of your 

outdoor space and integrate them 

into your design. 

FLEXIBLE SEATING 

ARRANGEMENTS 

Versatility is key when it comes to 

outdoor entertaining. Invest in high 

quality, relaxed soft cushioning to 

make your table seating and sofas 

alluring. Use other functional pieces 

like ottomans and benches that can 

be easily moved around to cater for 

varying activities and group sizes to 

effortlessly transform the space from 

an intimate gathering to a spacious 

soiree with minimal effort. 

ILLUMINATE AND ACCENTUATE 

The interplay of light and shadow - 

from downlights, candles, lamps on 

servers and accent lighting from the 

cocktail bar - not only enhances the 

aesthetic appeal but also extends 

the usability of the space well into 

the evening. This is the essence of 

creating a space filled with ambiance. 

Interior designer Heather Salomon says to mix and match different decor 

items from different stores is the art of decorating. Natural dried grass 

and flowers combined with fresh flowers in different vases make stunning 

outdoor table centrepieces. 

Don’t be afraid to mix and match when laying out 

your dinnerware placement. You will find both leaf 

and woven placemats from Mr Price. Makro stocks 

a lovely array of decorative plates. The bronzette 

wine glassware is from Weylandts while the Nicolson 

Russell Dubai Gold & Black Titanium Cutlery is from 

Yuppiechef. And always add some local pieces to your 

home like this gorgeous Table Glass Lamp from The 

Trend. Details: thetrend.co.za 


Say goodbye to the formal plated style of hosting and light the fire for effortless entertaining 

GIANT TIGER PRAWNS WITH A GARLIC BUTTER BASTING SAUCE 

Melissa and Emile love to serve up prawns alongside a fresh green salad. They 

get their giant tiger prawns from Pescador Superior Seafood at Leaping Frog 

Shopping Centre. 

Preparation: Butterfly and clean prawns 

Ingredients: 1 clove of garlic, Robertson peri peri spice to taste, Salt to taste, 

prawn spice to taste, ½ a block of butter, lemon juice to taste, 250ml cream 

To make: Crush garlic with salt. Add some butter to a pan and fry garlic on a 

low heat. Add spices and fry for about 2 min. Add the rest of the butter. Once 

melted, add lemon juice and cream. Cook for about 10 min on a low heat. 

Once thickened, take off heat. 

Allow to cool down and blend the sauce. 

Take the prawns over hot fire or gas and place them shell down. Brush the 

sauce on the prawns and keep basting to get the full flavour in. Once the 

prawns change colour they are done. 

To serve: Warm the left over sauce from the basting and use it to pour over the 

prawns as a sauce. 

Drizzle garlic butter sauce over your prawns just before serving. 

HOMEMADE BREAD SIDE 

Making bread is a labour of love but 

so worth it once your guests smell the 

aroma of freshly baked bread. 

Bread ingredients: 2 cups bread flour, 1 

packet instant yeast, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, 

30ml oil, 1 cup water, a tsp parsley 

To make: Mix all ingredients together until 

the consistency is not sticky to your hand. 

Add more flour if needed. Once right, 

knead for 10 min. 

Grease a large bowl with oil or cooking 

spray and place the dough inside, turning 

to coat. Cover with a dish towel or cling 

wrap and allow to rise in a warm place 

until doubled in size, about 1 ½ hours. 

Knead again for 10 min, then rest for 

an hour. 

Filling ingredients: 1 packet diced bacon, 1 

onion (chopped), 150ml balsamic vinegar, 

Gouda cheese. 

Method: Fry the bacon and remove from 

pan. Using the fat from the bacon, fry 

the onions. Once golden brown, add the 

balsamic vinegar and reduce. Return the 

bacon to the pan and mix and set aside. 

Roll out the bread dough flat until thin. 

Top with a 1/3 of the bacon and onion 

mixture and add grated Gouda cheese. 

Then fold dough in half and top again 

with 1/3 of the bacon and onion mixture. 

Repeat this once more so that you 

have three layers and your bread is in a 

rectangular shape. Place in the oven at 

170°C for about 25 to 30 min. Serve warm. 

A refreshing snack to put out is watermelon fries sprinkled with Tajin spice and a coconut and lime zest dip. To make 

the dip, mix double thick coconut yoghurt with the juice of one lime and grate over some lime zest. For a sweeter 

version, add a tsp of coconut sugar. • Making fancy ice cubes takes time. You can now order Fruitful Ice Spheres, 

handcrafted with fresh fruit and herbs to use in drinks or display in a clear ice bucket. Order them from craftice.co.za 

• The smell of freshly baked bread will get your guests appetite going. 


Joburg’s answer 

to Willie Wonka 

Spekboom, hibiscus and sweet potato might not sound like common flavours 

for chocolate. But then there’s nothing common about Rrraw Chocolate, 

Ana Maria Panait’s creative take on everyone’s favorite treat. 

Text: LISA WITEPSKI • Photo: MEGAN BRETT • Makeup: LOYISO MANGE, loyisomange@gmail.com 

If you had to choose one word to 

describe Ana, it would be curious. 

It’s curiosity that encouraged her to 

leave her home country of Romania 

to study in Italy, and curiosity 

again that saw her leave Europe to 

take up a position in marketing in 

South Africa. 

For her, it was a no-brainer. “I think 

life is more interesting in developing 

countries,” she says simply. “Wherever 

you go in Europe, there’s a set way 

of doing things – this is how you 

make carbonara in Italy, for instance, 

and you’d better not try anything 

new or different! I like being open 

and being challenged – it leaves 

room for you to find new influences 

and innovation.” 

That same attitude made her choose 

to move from Durban to Abidjan 

– where she quickly started a love 

affair with French-speaking Africa, its 

people, its music and its food. Since 

West Africa is home to 70 per cent of 

the world’s cacao, it’s also where she 

encountered the chocolate industry 

– and became alarmed by its dark 

side - child labour. The scary truth is 

that since farming and harvesting 

cacao, the main ingredient in 

chocolate, is a costly exercise, any 

manufacturer who slaps a cheap 

price tag on their chocolate isn’t 

paying their labourers properly. And 

that means that children are often 

roped in to do the hard work. 

Although Ana had no previous 

experience with chocolate 


making, she’s always been fascinated 

by food. It’s often an entry point 

into a culture, she explains, and it’s 

bound up with our history in ways 

we often don’t think of. That’s why, for 

her, any adventure in a new country 

starts with a cooking course. This 

has left her with an impressive set of 

culinary skills which, combined with 

her natural tendency to question, 

probe and generally find a better 

way, meant that she was all set 

to start experimenting with her 

own chocolate. 

“My favorite is 70 per cent 

dark chocolate, which 

is made to be savoured. 

You need to let it melt in 

your mouth so that all the 

flavours you can develop 

over time. Good chocolate 

has a journey – a definite 

beginning, middle, and end.” 

temperature that destroys all the 

quirks and nuances of flavour. They 

have to, though, in order to create a 

standardised product. That’s where 

Ana is lucky – with a craft product, 

there’s far more leeway. 

This applies to flavours, too. While 

most supermarket shelves will offer 

up old faithfuls like nut and mint, Ana 

loves drawing inspiration from what 

she sees around her. For example, 

Rrraw’s spekboom flavour was created 

after a friend at Ana’s cooking club 

introduced her to this quintessentially 

South African ingredient, while the 

cardamom and matcha spice of her 

Sweetmeats variant was inspired by 

Indian dessert. 

Ana has spent a lot of time playing 

with chocolate to find combinations 

that hit right. That’s why the product 

you’ll find at markets, online and in 

shops like Pantry, The Farm Table, 

Thrupps, Jacksons and health stores 

looks very different to what she first 

she launched. “Although we started 

in 2019, we took the Covid year out 

to learn more about the market. I 

originally wanted Rrraw to be a naked 

chocolate, without wrappings, served 

in cubes – like the kind of treat you 

receive when you order a cappuccino.” 

What hasn’t changed, though, is the 

attention to quality. Ana admits that 

she was lucky to have developed a 

network during her time in West Africa, 

which allowed let her track down the 

kind of suppliers that would fit her 

exacting standards. 

Although she found what she was 

looking for in Uganda, she says that 

her experiments with Rrraw are far 

from over. “We’re still in the trial and 

error stage,” Ana says. “Craft chocolate 

is still a new concept in South Africa 

– it’s where coffee was about 10 

years ago, when people thought 

that beans from Brazil tastes just like 

beans from Uganda – so we need to 

do a lot of education to help people 

understand what makes Rrraw 

different and special.” 

She doesn’t expect this education 

to take place quickly, nor does she 

expect the market’s tastes to change 

overnight – and she wouldn’t want 

it to, either. “The plan isn’t to grow 

this company until it can’t get any 

bigger. The craft mindset is completely 

different: we’re catering to people 

who want something interesting, 

something indulgent, and who 

understand that when something is 

a little more expensive, it means that 

the product is benefits everyone in the 

value chain.” 

Details: Follow @rrraw.choco on Insta, 

Facebook and TikTok. 

This wouldn’t be just any chocolate, 

though. For a start, Ana was 

determined that her product 

would benefit all involved, from 

the producers who earned a fair 

wage to the fans who got to enjoy a 

superior taste. That taste is decidedly 

unique, because Ana’s chocolate is 

made from raw beans. “Most people 

don’t realise that chocolate is as 

complex as wine. Cacao beans taste 

different depending on the region 

they come from, and that taste can 

be affected by everything from the 

time of harvest to the weather.” It’s a 

pity, then, that most manufacturers 

roast their cacao beans at a 

Fancy something different that is proudly local, try the Rrraw Coconut 

White Chocolate Spekboom with zesty flavours. For Valentine’s Day, the 

Rrraw Coconut White Chocolate Red Tart with Hibiscous and Strawberry is 

a real treat. Ana Maria’s favourite is the single origin Uganda 70 per cent 

Cacao Darrrk Chocolate with fruity and citrus notes. All handcrafted with 

love. You’ll find the full range and stocklist at www.rrraw.co.za 


Shhhhhh... 

We’re sharing our beauty secrets! 

Launching this month ... NUXE Merveillance 

Lift Glow Firming Radiance Cream for instant 

tightening and a healthy glow effect with 

a melting texture and universal shade. R925 

from orleanscosmetics.co.za • Gatineau PHA + 

BHA Glow Tonique ... a radiance boosting acid 

tonique to gently exfoliate, hydrate and refine 

skin. R595 from orleanscosmetics.co.za • From 

Sh’zen, this Illuminations Shimmering Cream is a 

subtle, sophisticated illuminating body cream with 

essential oils and light-reflecting micro-sparkles 

R239 from shzen.co.za 

Compiled by : KYM ARGO 

Dazzle and shine with WAXIT’s 

Glow Shimmer Body Spray ... 

feather light and quick-drying 

with a fine pearlescent shimmer 

for the ultimate illuminating 

glow. It’s not just shimmer, 

it’s stardust! R260 from 

waxit.co.za • Gatineau 

Collagene Expert Ceramide 

Smoothing Cream is a 

luxurious cream designed 

to target the early signs 

of ageing, plumping and 

smoothing and leaving your 

skin conditioned, hydrated and 

instantly radiant. R1650 from 

orleanscosmetics.co.za 

• Valentine. So kissing. Obvs. 

Ordo has just launched in SA, 

and we’re all over this Sonic + 

Toothbrush, which boasts a 

battery life of more than four 

weeks, has four brushing modes 

(clean, white, massage, and 

sensitive) as well as a two-minute 

timer with a quad-pacer. And 

it’s rose gold! There’s also a Pearl 

Violet shade, as well as black and 

white. R1199 from Clicks. 


Gatineau Collagene Expert Plumping Revival 

Mask - an intensely hydrating & plumping mask that 

helps to stimulate collagen production and even out 

fine lines and wrinkles. The luxurious mask can be left 

on overnight for an intensive treatment. R1050 from 

orleanscosmetics.co.za • This limited edition RVBLAB 

Illuminating Face Primer, with pina colada scent, 

gives a silky effect ... a soft and luminous golden film. 

The skin is immediately radiant. Can be mixed with your 

foundation. R595 from orleanscosmetics.co.za 

Of all our five senses, it’s our sense of smell 

that has the strongest links to our memory. 

Fragrance has the unique power to evoke 

recollections of a place, a person, or simply 

a feeling. Elizabeth Arden’s iconic Red Door 

fragrance, launched in 1989, has been 

revamped to embody the contemporary 

woman. It still carries the seductive signature 

floral notes - think freesia, lily of the valley and 

wild violets, red rose, Moroccan orange flower, 

ylang-ylang and jasmine, coupled with the 

opulence of sandalwood and sweet honey. 

You’ll find it in Woolworths, Edgars, Foschini, 

Truworths, Dis-Chem and Clicks stores, and 

online through Takealot and Superbalist, 

from R330 to R1085. 


First love yourself 

Be YOUR Valentine. Embracing #FLYFirstLoveYourself ... 

the 2024 trend that starts with self-love 

Complied by KYM ARGO. • Text: NICOLE SHERWIN, 

founder Eco Diva Natural Superfood Skincare. www.ecodiva.co.za 

In the season of love and Valentines, let’s embark on a journey that’s all about 

self-discovery, self-acceptance, self-celebration and self-love. Move over 

chocolates and roses and the desperate ‘will they love me won’t they love me’ 

thoughts; we believe the hottest trend for Valentine’s Day 2024 is all about 

embracing the #FLYFirstLoveYourself movement. Picture this. An oasis of 

self-love that radiates from within, creating a foundation for the most genuine 

connections with others. It’s time to prioritise yourself and let Cupid’s arrow find 

its mark in your own heart first before your soulmate manifests. 

In 2014, Eco Diva Natural Superfood Skincare created the hashtag 

#FLYFirstLoveYourself. 10 years later, this self-love movement is gaining more 

and more traction and is more relevant than ever when it comes to self-care and 

healing on an emotional, physical and spiritual level. 

The oxygen mask analogy - 

loving yourself to love others 

Just like the flight safety instructions 

remind us to secure our own oxygen 

masks before assisting others, the 

concept of #FLYFirstLoveYourself 

emphasizes the importance of selflove 

as a prerequisite for a fulfilling 

romantic journey. It’s not selfish. It’s 

strategic. By taking care of your own 

well-being, you’re ensuring that you 

can bring your best self to the table 

and offer genuine love to those 

around you. It also helps guide others 

in how you want to be treated. 

These are super important steps in 

every relationship. 

Tips for a self-love extravaganza ... 

Discover your passion 

Take the time to explore your interests 

and find what truly makes your heart 

race. Whether it’s art, music, literature, 

or dance, discovering your passion is a 

key step toward loving yourself. 

Solo dates. 

Treat yourself to a solo adventure 

Be your own date for a day – go to 

the movies, buy that large popcorn 

without sharing, and relish in the joy 

of your own company. It’s a fantastic 

way to connect with yourself. Or take 

a walk in the park, go to your fave 

restaurant with a good book and sip 

your fave wine, without feeling alone. 

Because you’re with yourself. 

Floral Love 

Who says flowers are only for special 

occasions? Gift yourself a beautiful 

bouquet or favourite plant every 

week - because you deserve it. Let the 

vibrant colors and sweet fragrance 

remind you of the beauty within you 

and that you are worthy every single 

day to be love, to be cherished and to 

be adored. 


Plant based, eco-friendly, 100 per cent 

bamboo MyEarth Bamboo Body 

Brush from to gently scrub, 

exfoliate, and clean skin on 

your back. R51.99 from Clicks. 

At home 

spa essentials 

At-home spa ritual 

Create a sanctuary at home with a 

spa ritual that pampers your body 

and soul. Indulge in soothing salt and 

essential oil baths, enjoy indulgent 

body scrubs, and face masks. Elevate 

your self-care routine with luxurious, 

clean, kind and ethical skincare 

products for your face, hair, and body. 

Treat yourself the way you would love 

others to treat you. 

Explore your desires 

Self-love extends to understanding 

and embracing your desires. Take the 

time to explore what turns you on 

emotionally, mentally, and physically. 

Knowing yourself better allows 

you to communicate your needs 

and desires to a partner without 

awkward discomfort. 

#FLYFirstLoveYourself – because 

you’re worthy 

In a world that often emphasizes 

outward expressions of love, 

#FLYFirstLoveYourself is a gentle 

reminder to turn the spotlight inward. 

Celebrate the unique, extraordinary 

person that is you. As the saying 

goes, “you can’t pour from an empty 

cup,” and by loving yourself first, 

you’re filling that cup with a love that 

overflows, enriching not just your 

life but the lives of those fortunate 

enough to share it with you. 

So, this Valentine’s Day, join the 

#FLYFirstLoveYourself movement, 

because you are the most important 

love story you’ll ever tell. Cheers to 

self-love, personal exploration, and 

the joy that comes from being your 

own valentine! 

Eco Diva 

Natural 

Ecofoliant 

Skin Polish - a 

gentle exfoliator 

with baobab, 

cranberry and 

oats. R450 from 

ecodiva.co.za 

Dr.Vranjes Rosa Tabacco Diffuser ... Skin Creamery Natural Wax Candle 

an extravagance of rose and tabacco. #1, with rosewood, coconut butter 

R1450 from skins.co.za 

and grapefruit, R455 from Takealot. 

Bamboo cotton towels, 

R389.99 from Mr Price. 


Love cooking 

Eating with your eyes. The prettiest - 

and most delicious - cookbooks of the season. 

52 weeks of cake. Could you ask 

for anything more? The Plain Cake 

Appreciation Society is home baker 

and photographer Tilly Pamment’s 

invitation to pause throughout the 

year, bake something delicious, and 

reflect on all that’s good in your world. A 

world made so much better with a slice 

of Chamomile Tea Cake, a Very Good 

Lemon Cake, a Cardamom, Rose and 

Poppy Seed Cake. Besides each of the 

cakes - all uncomplicated and easy to 

make - being a slice of joy, this is surely 

the prettiest book we’ll see this year ... 

scattered with glorious blooms along 

with the icing. Glorious! Murdoch Books, 

R610 from Exclusive Books 

In The South African Vegan 

Cookbook 2, Leozette Roode pays 

homage to the food that makes her 

happy, with 80 plant-based recipes 

like Aubergine and red onion sosaties, 

Refried bean and Avo Mayo Nachos, 

Mushroom Wellington, Cheese and 

Corn Polenta Bread. There’s a Berry Chai 

Pudding that looks almost too good 

to eat, and a Mermaid Smoothie that’ll 

have the youngsters begging for more. 

Gorgeously tempting photos of flowerscattered 

dishes that shouldn’t be kept 

strictly for vegans. Human & Rousseau, 



It’s all in the preparation. And Vickie de 

Beer does it so well. Clever Cooking 

shares her survival strategy for cooking 

and eating nutritiously when you lead 

a busy lifestyle. From flavour bases to 

cook-in sauces, soups and broths to 

one-pan meals, it’s all about preparing 

ahead of time, allowing you to quickly 

whip up something delicious on 

busy nights. Besides tasty recipes, 

there are loads of tips for freezing 

and defrosting food, batch cooking, 

as well as a sample seven-day meal 

plan to show how you can combine 

advance prep with dishes made 

from scratch on the night. Penguin, 


The problem with Every. Night. Of. The. Week. Veg is that it takes so long 

to make dinner. Not because the recipes are long or complicated. They’re 

not. It’s just Lucy Tweed is just so entertaining you spend far too much 

time reading and laughing, instead of just getting on with it. That aside, it’s 

brilliant! With a zero-tolerance approach to bland, it’s all Snipped Noodles 

in Vodka Sauce, Pizza Rice, Stacked Eggplant Parm and a glorious Cuban 

Arancini. There are family dinners and pre dinner-party snacks - like the 

fabulous Toffee Cheese and Fancy Crack, and a chapter of sugar and spice 

and all things nice. Murdoch Books, R525 from Exclusive Books 

This book, says cook, recipe 

developer and content creator 

Teresa Ulyate, is a reflection of her 

cooking and eating style - a happy 

combination of nostalgia-inspired 

dishes and achievable recipes. 

Cupcakes and Couscous is filled 

with healthy treats like this Berry 

Burst Bowl, comfort food like the 

Cheesy Fish Pie. Family dinners like 

this Parmesan Chicken Schnitzel 

with Smashed Potatoes. Weekend 

food for a crowd like the Gourmet 

Boerie Board. And sweet spoils 

like the show stopping six layered 

Celebration Cake. Human & Rousseau, 




Pulled pork tacos 

with green apple & avocado salsa 

paired with Spier Cap Classique Brut 

A medium pork shoulder transformed into 

a deeply aromatic tray of saucy pulled pork 

is one of life’s great pleasures. These pulled 

pork tacos are a great way to entertain - 

serve smaller ones as canapés or starters, 

or larger ones as main meals. Serve with a 

chilled bottle of Spier MCC Brut. Serves six. 

For the pulled pork, you’ll need: 

1kg boneless pork shoulder (or about 

1,3kg on the bone); 1 x 340ml lager beer; 

3 tsp brown sugar; 2 tsp ground paprika (not 

smoked); 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp dried 

origanum; 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar; 1/4 

cup tomato sauce; 1/2 cup good quality 

BBQ sauce; 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard; 2 Tbsp 

Worcestershire sauce; salt & pepper to taste 

To make: Preheat the oven to 160 °C. Place 

the pork in a deep cast iron pot or roasting 

tray that will fit it relatively snugly (it will 

shrink a little). In a large mixing jug, add 

the beer, sugar, paprika, cumin, origanum, 

vinegar, ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, 

Worcester sauce and a generous seasoning 

of salt & pepper. Mix well, then pour over 

the pork. Cover with a lid, then roast for 3 

hours or until very tender. Remove from the 

oven, then use 2 forks to pull apart. Taste 

and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Set aside, 

covered, until ready to serve. 

For the salsa, you’ll need: 1 or 2 (depending on 

size) Granny Smith green apples, finely diced; 

1 small red onion, finely chopped; 1 or 2 large 

ripe avocados, skin & pit removed, diced; 

a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice; 

a handful fresh coriander leaves, roughly 

chopped; salt & black pepper, to taste 

To make: Mix everything together in a 

medium bowl and serve at once, with the 

pulled pork & mayonnaise on tacos. 

For serving you’ll need: 6-12 medium size 

hard or soft tacos (corn or flour); good 

quality mayonnaise; fresh coriander leaves; 

lemon wedges 

To make: Arrange some mayo, salsa and 

pulled pork on each taco, then sprinkle with 

fresh coriander and a squeeze of fresh lemon 

juice. Serve at once. 

About the wine: Spier MCC Brut ... a vibrant 

light straw colour, the wine’s fresh, clean nose 

offers apples and biscuits, with a balanced 

mouthfeel and exuberant bubbles. 

Adore 

an avo 

We really do adore avos ... and these three recipes 

are shooting right to the top of our fave list. 


Smashed avocado & pea dip 

A quick (takes less than half an hour to make) and jolly tasty starter. 

Also brilliant as part of a mezze board. Serves six to eight. 

You’ll need: 250g baby peas or petit pois; 2 avocados, peeled and 

stoned, reserve 1/4 for garnish; juice and zest of 1 lemon; 60ml 

(4 Tbsp) freshly chopped parsley; 50ml avocado oil or extra virgin 

olive oil, and extra to drizzle; generous pinch of sea salt & freshly 

ground black pepper; roosterkoek or garlic bread for dunking 

To make: Boil the peas in rapidly boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain 

and refresh in cold water. When cold reserve 50g of peas for garnish. 

Place remaining peas and avocado with lemon juice, zest, parsley, 

avocado oil seasoning in the bowl of a food processor and whizz 

until smooth. 

Serve the dip in shallow bowls topped with diced avocado, and 

peas sprinkled with parsley and a drizzle with avocado oil, along with 

braaied roosterkoek or thick slices of crusty bread for dunking. 

Showstopper salad mousse 

Next time you have friends over for dinner, whip 

up this avo mousse, that’s almost too pretty to eat. 

Serves four to six. 

You’ll need: 2 avocados, peeled and chopped; 200g 

plain cream cheese; 50g plain low fat yoghurt; 

30g coriander, washed and chopped; 2 spring 

onions, finely chopped; 1 chilli, finely chopped; 

1 lime, juice and zest; generous pinch of sea salt 

and grinding of black pepper; 1 cup water; 1 packet 

gelatin (substitute 2 Tbsp agar-agar for vegetarian) 

To make: Place the avocado, coriander, cream cheese, 

spring onions, salt, pepper, lime juice and chilli in a 

blender and puree until smooth. 

Pour quarter cup water in a small bowl. Sprinkle 

the gelatin over the water and let it sit for a few 

minutes. Place the remaining three quarters cup 

water in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. 

Pour the boiling water over the softened gelatin 

and whisk until the gelatin has dissolved. Set aside 

to cool slightly. 

Add the gelatin to the mixture in the blender, 

pulsing until pureed and thoroughly blended. 

Pour the mixture into prepared ramekins or a loaf tin 

lined with plastic wrap. Cover with plastic wrap and 

refrigerate until firm (about 2 hours). To unmould, fill 

a container with very hot water, dip the loaf tin or 

the ramekins into the water for a minute. Run a small, 

sharp knife tip around the edge of each mousse. 

Invert onto a platter, and serve with Melba toast, 

avocado shavings and grated radish. 

Complied by: KYM ARGO Recipes and images: SA Avocado Growers’ Associaltion, and Spier Wine 


City living 

City charm, exquisite wines and a superb date night spoil up for grabs 

Compiled by: MEGAN BRETT 

Once a bank built back in the 1970s 

and now an eco-friendly architectural 

gem that welcomes urban living, Voco 

The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank is 

more than just a tall, New York inspired 

face-brick building in the heart of 

Rosebank offering accommodation. It’s 

the perfect choice for city living where 

walk-work-play is made possible. 

Check-in begins with valet parking 

and the sweet whiff of freshly baked 

goods from Proud Coffee. The playful 

mix of vintage and modern finishes, 

calming colour pallet and quirky 

touches throughout the hotel wink to 

your fun side. 

Serious about sustainability, they are 

fully committed to recycling and 

have solar panels and generate gas 

for energy. 

The corridor walls and rooms are 

filled with more than 700 pieces of 

artwork by more than 40 local artists. 

So much art for visitors to enjoy that 

there’s an in-house art butler who 

can be booked for a tour. 

Bedrooms are symbolic to a night owl 

(tranquil and serene, well-groomed 

and encouraging of time alone) ... 

with floor-to-ceiling windows to let in 

plenty of natural light and show off 

the stunning cityscape views. To add 

to the comfort of your stay, a spacious 

bathroom with rain shower and allnatural 

Antipodes bathroom amenities. 

Nice additions … mini bar, work 

desk, coffee pod machine, hand-held 

clothes steamer and small magnifying 

mirror as well as a make-up face towel 

in the bathroom. And some humour 

... a checklist of things not to forget 

before leaving the hotel including your 

keys, chargers and kids! The inter-active 

TV is your navigation guide helping 

you spread your wings during your 

stay. Our highlight ... the birds-eye view 

while taking a bath and soaking up the 

buzzing night life from floor 10. 

24 Get It Magazine February 24

We have to boast about the gym facilities. 

At first it might feel like you are stepping 

into a club, but the energetic music and 

LED lights will get you in a pumping 

mood to train. For a more Zen workout, 

the upper-level out on the courtyard 

is the perfect spot to stretch and do a 

session of yoga in the open-air. 

And if you have to work (needs must), 

guests have access to Workshop 17, a 

flexible co-working space where you can 

get down to business. 

The hotel is in a prime location, just a 

golf cart ride away from the Gautrain 

Station and walking distance from 

shopping centres Rosebank Mall, 

The Zone @ Rosebank and The Firs. No 

need to order an Uber when you can 

take a quick stroll with plenty of dining 

options along the way ... including 

Fugazzi, Mamasamba and, just through 

the lobby of the hotel, Proud Mary 

Modern Eatery and Wine Bar. We love 

that this is where breakfast is served 

... so instead of the same old hotel 

continental buffet breakfast you have 

a selection of breakfast and brunches, 

smoothies and super juices ... think 

Belgian waffles, breakfast burgers and 

the tastiest Turkish eggs. 

The international brand Voco is owned 

by InterContinental’s Hotels Group & 

Resorts, a night’s stay at Voco The Bank 

Johannesburg Rosebank will start from 

R3300 a night for a standard room 

including breakfast. 

Details: www.vocohotels.com 

WIN, WIN, WIN! 

It’s the month to celebrate romance, 

self-love and caring for others. It’s also the right 

time for swoon-worthy spoils and since Voco The Bank 

Johannesburg Rosebank is celebrating their second-year 

anniversary since first opening their doors, they are in a loving 

mood ... giving one lucky reader a chance to win a night’s stay 

for two, including breakfast and dinner to the value of R1000 

at Proud Mary Modern Eatery and Wine Bar. To enter, pop 

over to @get_it_joburg_north on Instagram or Get 

It Joburg North Magazine on Facebook and 

follow the prompts. 

Liquid luxury 

Conversation flows best when 

shared over a glass of wine. At 

Proud Mary Modern Eatery and 

Wine Bar, there is a bottle to suit 

every taste. 

From small-batch, local 

and independent wines to 

champagnes, cocktails and 

coolers, this eatery caters to 

having a relaxed time in a 

comfortable yet trendy 

setting. Just one glance at the bar situated in the centre extending 

from floor-to-ceiling with a natural wood finish, teal accents and 

hanging greenery seating 20 people on plush cushioned chairs 

will make you admire how sexy this spot is. 

Here connections are made from flavours of cuisines taken 

from different parts of the world to the attentive staff 

engaging in conversations making you feel at home. 

And the food… fabulous! Eat with your eyes and feast on 

the portions. Popular menu items are the crispy squid and 

miso broccoli small plates and the seafood linguini and 

seared salmon café plates. We were most happy to tuck into 

their bowl of tomato & goats cheese risotto, topped with 

basil, dill, pecorino and mascarpone … love at first bite! And 

their dessert menu includes a few digestifs, dessert wines and 

dessert cocktails and even a cheese plate with smoked grapes, 

honey drizzled pears, tomato chilli chutney and crackers for 

those who don’t have too much of a sweet tooth. Reservations on 

Whatsapp on 061-585-1596 and through reservations@proudmary.co.za. 

Follow ProudMarySA on Facebook and @proudmary_sa on Instagram 


SWEET EMBRACE 

Take soft inspiration from Dulux colour of the year ... 

the gentle, warm and very sweet embrace. 

If there’s any colour that could give your home a hug, it’s Sweet 

Embrace - Dulux Colour of the Year 2024. The pastel pink shade ... all 

calm and welcoming and soothing, without being saccharine, works 

as a stand-alone shade, can be made warmer by mixing with shades 

of stone, soil and clay, calmer by blending with soft greens and blues, 

or more uplifting, with the addition of modern pastels ... think dreamy 

lilacs and fresh butter yellow. Details: dulux.co.za 

Glass vase with blush pink 

peonies, R349 from 

@home on bash.com 


Calm. Welcoming. Soothing. 


Blush hued Frances 

large vase, R1199 

from Country Road 

at Woolworths 

• Palest purple Le 

Creuset Shallot 

Mini Cocotte, R 479 

from bash.com 

Warm ... 

with shades 

of stone, soil 

and clay 

Uplifting ... with modern pastels 

Striped cotton seat cushion, 

R149 from H&M on bash.com 

Calm ... with soft greens 

Fluted Totem side table, 

R1749.30 from Woolworths 


Growing trends 

Resilience is the word that seems to crop up in most garden trend predictions for 2024. But 

the mood is one of eco-optimism, and the desire to respond creatively to climate change. 

Climate change is having a sobering 

effect on gardening. We are looking 

for plants that survive feast or famine, 

strategies for making every drop of 

water count and natural habitats that 

provide sanctuary for garden wildlife 

that is increasingly under pressure. 

In their 2024 Garden Trends Report 

the Garden Media Group have coined 

the term eco-optimism. Led by Gen 

Z, there is a swing away from ‘climate 

doomism’ and an approach that sees 

climate change as ‘an opportunity to 

make meaningful change.’ 

A browse through Google offers plenty of creative ways to use less water and 

make every drop count. There’s a push to replace lawn with gravel, permeable 

paving, rainwater harvesting, and how to safely use grey water. Permaculture still 

leads the way with sustainable water use and re-use. 

Extreme weather? Be prepared by stocking up with shade cloth for heat, frost 

cover for colder winters and tuning into the shifts of the seasons by adjusting 

sowing and planting times. 

We’re adapting ... at every level of 

gardening, in our plant choices, garden 

styles, and how we garden. When 

choosing plants, labels count and 

words like heat or weather tolerant, 

low water use, disease resistant, non- 

GMO, pollinator friendly, make the sale. 

Guzmania bromeliads in tropical garden 

Grasses 

We’re planting ... 

gardens with hardier plants like perennials, succulents and 

grasses as well as tropical plants that cope with heat and a 

shortage of water. 

Tropical gardens have blossomed and one can only 

speculate that the popularity of indoor plants (mostly 

tropical) has something to do with it. Also, they are easy to 

maintain and are green all year round. 

Large leaved plants like Delicious Monsters and 

Philodendron, are back in fashion, and the brilliance of 

coloured foliage plants almost makes flowers obsolete. 

With tropical plants there is ample opportunity to play with 

texture, form and colour. Many can start as indoor plants 

before graduating outdoors. There’s also the aspect of 

hardiness, such as bromeliads that multiply quickly. Cannas 

are also making a comeback and coleus too. 


The design trend of naturalistic 

planting is gathering steam. It 

makes use of swathes of grasses 

and perennials that add movement, 

texture and colour, combining 

indigenous and exotic water 

wise varieties. 

In South Africa, succulents should 

not be left out of the mix and thanks 

to them we have developed our 

own style of naturalistic planting, 

together with indigenous grasses 

and perennials such as agapanthus, 

wild irises, kniphofias, crocosmia, 

indigenous daisies, gaura, daylilies, 

and salvia. 

While naturalistic gardens appear 

to be wild and free, they actually 

need careful planning and placing to 

achieve the desired effect. However, 

once established they are low 

on maintenance and sustainable, 

needing only to be tidied up in 

winter or spring. It’s all about 

diversity, working with nature and 

local conditions, letting nature take 

the lead. The fun part is when plants 

self-seed and each season brings 

new surprises. 

We’re going vertical ... 

with indoor plants that trail or climb. 

It could be that all available indoor 

table space has been taken, so we are 

left with air space. The bonus is that 

hanging plants are less likely to rot 

because of better air flow, and most 

are happy with minimal water. 

Naturalistic planting including succulents 

Bee-friendly flowers including Sunflowers and cosmos 

One of the stars of trailing plants are our own indigenous senecio String of 

Pearls. Also look out for trailing monstera Adansonii and Siltepecana, as well as 

trailing philodendron Minima and variegated Hoya. 

We’re nurturing ... pollinators and garden wildlife, and although this has been 

on gardeners’ radar for a while the threat to habitat posed by climate change, 

keeps this a priority. 

Dwarf mandarin 

And one can see this by the interest in 

naturalistic planting, the highlighting 

of bee friendly flowers and the move 

towards pollinator friendly organic 

and biological insecticides. The next 

time you visit a garden centre look 

out for pollinator plants like salvia, 

rudbeckia, buddleia, cosmos, yarrow, 

sunflowers, alyssum, single or double 

roses, lavenders…the list goes on! 

We’re cultivating ... edimentals, 

which is the term given to plants that 

are both ornamental and edible, such 

as the dwarf patio citrus, gooseberries, 

striking foliage plants like artichokes, 

rhubarb, and shrublike perennial 

herbs like lemon verbena, pineapple 

sage, rosemary and lavender. 

The nice thing about edimentals is 

that they are mostly trees, shrubs 

or perennials which are hardier, 

and easier to look after than annual 

vegetables. From an aesthetic 

perspective they can be easily 

incorporated into a garden, adding 

texture, form and colour. 

As you can see, plenty of room 

for eco-optimism! 

February 24 Get It Magazine 29 

Text: ALICE COETZEE

House plants with 

STAYING POWER 

If you have a busy year 

planned with work 

trips, holidays and 

getaways then these 

quick recovery steps 

and suggestions for 

forgiving plants that 

survive neglect will 

come in handy. 

The holiday feeling quickly evaporates 

when you arrive home to drooping 

houseplants. Not to worry because 

here are some simple steps that will 

perk them up again. 

• Give them a good soak. Put them 

into the bath filled with about 5cm of 

water and leave them in there until 

the potting soil is completely moist. 

You can speed up the process by 

moistening the topsoil. 

• Another option is to use a hand-held 

shower and gently soak the plants. 

This also washes off the dust that may 

have accumulated on the leaves. 

• If the rain is falling put the pots 

outside to soak. 

• Wipe the leaves with a soft, damp 

cloth to get rid of dust. 

• Allow the plants to drain well after 

soaking. Cut away dead foliage and 

flowers and trim into shape. 

• When you next water the plants, 

feed a liquid fertiliser at half strength 

and repeat every two weeks until you 

see new growth, then reduce feeding 

to once a month. 

Next time around, try these forgiving 

plants that survive neglect. 

Sansevieria (also known as 

mother-in-law’s tongue) has 

upright, sword shaped leaves that 

are marbled dark green with a 

yellow border (Golden Futura) or 

grey green. There is even a whiteleaved 

variety, Sansevieria Hahnii. 

Plants grow best in medium to 

bright light, but if you plan to be 

away for any length of time, move 

it to a position that receives lower 

light. If you give it a good soak 

before going away, it will survive a 

month without water. 

ZZ plant (Zamioculcas) is one of the hardiest plants around and stylish into the 

bargain. A stunning new variation is Raven ZZ which has almost black leaves. 

Plants grow in low to medium light and although they prefer regular watering, 

they can survive a month without it. In fact, the worst thing you can do is to over 

water a ZZ plant. The thick stems are a water-storage mechanism to help it get 

through seasonally dry times. 


Succulents like Kalanchoe and Calandiva, 

Echeveria, and Senecio ‘String of Pearls’ are 

able to survive periods of drought because 

they hold the water in their leaves. All like 

bright indirect light and should only be 

watered when the soil has almost dried 

out. Both Kalanchoe and Calandiva are long 

flowering plants that re-flower throughout 

the year if old flowers are cut off. Feed with a 

liquid fertiliser once a month. 

Anthurium is such a common houseplant and the reason 

is simple. It is almost impossible to kill, unless you make 

the mistake of giving it too much water or let it stand in 

water. These colourful plants like good light and a warm 

room. Look out for the mini’s that are great novelty plants. 

Wipe the leaves to keep them glossy and snip off the dead 

flowers to encourage them to re-bloom. 

The Split leaf 

Philodendron 

and Monstera 

(Delicious 

Monsters) are 

both big-leaved 

tropical plants 

that stand on their 

own as feature 

plants and are 

great space fillers. 

They like a warm 

room and medium light but 

will survive with lower light. 

They are surprisingly drought 

tolerant but if you are going 

away for some time, put the 

pot on a gravel or bark filled 

saucer so that any water that 

drains through can be drawn 

up again by osmosis while 

you are away. It also improves 

humidity around the plant. 

Details: lvgplant.co.za 

February 24 Get It Magazine 31 

Text: ALICE COETZEE

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