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March is the month we celebrate International Women's Day, and in Durban, one restaurant has found a particularly meaningful way to honour the women who have shaped the country’s culinary heritage for generations.
The award-winning restaurant, LivingRoom at Summerhill (Cowie’s Hill in KZN), has launched a new series called MATRIARCHS – Preserving the Flavours of our Heritage. The series brings local mothers, gogos and aunties into the kitchen to share recipes that have defined South African family tables for decades.
For hungry guests, the result is a special Sunday lunch experience that blends heritage cooking with contemporary cooking techniques.
What is MATRIARCHS about?
Cookbooks or culinary archives are set aside for the MATRIARCHS series, which instead captures food traditions directly from the women who keep them alive.
Each event focuses on a different cultural heritage, with the featured matriarch spending time cooking alongside the restaurant’s chefs, sharing recipes, techniques and food memories. These sessions are documented through photography and film, creating a living archive of South African food culture.
The first event took place on 8 March, featuring 94-year-old Durban Indian matriarch, Dolly Govender, who worked with the kitchen team to demonstrate the foundations of traditional Durban curries, spice preparation and classic desserts.
Meet the chef
The series is led by chef Johannes Richter, the head chef at The LivingRoom.
Born in Germany but raised in Durban, Richter trained in some of the world’s top restaurants before returning to join the family-run guest estate in 2017 with his wife Johanna. His cuisine focuses on local ingredients, sustainability and the diverse food traditions of KwaZulu-Natal.
For Richter, the MATRIARCHS series is about learning as much as celebrating food heritage.
What guests can expect
Each MATRIARCHS Sunday lunch offers:
- A heritage-inspired, multi-course menu
- Unique stories behind the recipes
- A curated beverage pairing by Johanna Richter
- A chance to experience South Africa’s culinary traditions in a refined setting
What you need to know
- Venue: The LivingRoom at Summerhill
- Address: 9 Belvedale Road, Cowies Hill, Durban
- Bookings: +27 63 529 1966 (call or WhatsApp)
- Email: info@summerhillkzn.com
- Instagram: @thelivingroomatsummerhill
The MATRIARCHS series will continue to highlight culinary traditions from across South Africa, so don’t miss out on this delicious celebration of South African heritage!
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