Jhb North - Feb 24

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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. February 24 Get It Magazine 11
Page 1 and 2: JOBURG NORTHERN SUBURBS MELISSA EBL
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Page 7 and 8: It’s set to be a perfect day, unt
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Page 13 and 14: Say goodbye to the formal plated st
Page 15 and 16: making, she’s always been fascina
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