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Joanita loves making people happy

Joanita loves making people happy

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2017-09-22

Meeting Joanita Venter was truly inspirational. So seldom now do we find craftsman who still enjoy their craft and look forward to the day ahead, Joanita is one of these rare specimens who loves what she does and does it truly well.

Joanita is the Executive Pastry Chef at the Beverly Hills Hotel, she exudes the air of a professional, one who is completely consumed by her trade. Speaking about her illustrious past, her career is dotted with some of the finest kitchens in the country. Joanita is already thinking about a new sweet delight that is going to feature at one of the wine diners that Beverly Hills is famous for.

"I love the Beverly Hills," she tells me with sincerity, "I love the fact that when you're here you feel like you're somewhere in Paris, this hotel has a classical feel to it, which compliments my style of pastry making."

Combining tradition and over twenty years of experience, Joanita prepares sweet sensations in her kitchen and displays them daily at the opulent breakfast table, decadent High Tea and the a la carte menu. However her favourite kind of pastry creativity lays in the celebrated Wine Dinners and Ladies Lunches.

"I love pairing sweets to menus and wine." Joanita told me, "There is a sense of freedom in letting my imagination to flow freely and allowing the magic to happen."

This Heritage Month, Joanita has prepared a unique High Tea menu that represents our rainbow nation; it will feature her mother's famous healthy rusks (Please check Foodie Recipe Section on page 15), Melk Tart, Bran Muffins with cream cheese and biltong shavings and Scones with her home made fig jam.

There is something beautiful in the art of pastry makingit is a fine art to understand the chemistry of the baking ingredients, the timing and the environment it needs for everything to come together. Joanita has mastered this craft and personalised it to perfection.

Yoou're invited to come and taste Joanita's delectable sweets and bakes. Book your High Tea or a scrumptious breakfast or pop in and ask for a slice of one of her delectable cakes out on the terrace.