Midlands Steak & Chimichurri with Andy Bam
“With the announcement that the current Grade 12s’ results will only be released on 23 February 2021 I shall be enrolling next year’s intake on their Grade 11 marks. Many parents are concerned about their children’s futures and I am pleased to be able to offer a little relief.”
We, at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine, look forward to welcoming those interested in a career in the culinary industry.
Andisile Bam, or Andy as we call him, is another of our first-year students. There was a bit of a run-around with his enrolment. After being accepted at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine, he had to inform his business partners of his career move and relocated, with his girlfriend, from Jo’burg to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Fortunately, they found accommodation a few houses up the road from the school, and that’s when synchronicity told Andy he’d made the correct decision.
From an early age, food played a very important role in Andy’s life. “Other than the obvious - needing food to stay alive - food was an ever-present catalyst in many of my life’s great moments,” he says, as he recalls how, for him, there was never a choice between watching Saturday morning cartoons or helping his mother on her weekly grocery runs. “I always chose the latter,” he explains, adding that it was probably because there was a sweet reward at the end of the shopping spree. “I was always fascinated by the fact that all the ingredients were going to turn into my breakfast, lunch or dinner.”
Years later, Andy left home to attempt the ‘adult thing’ and found himself following a career in writing. He recalls meeting many ‘weird and wonderful’ people on this journey but, vocation-wise, he was not satisfied. Enter a man who would become his closest friend, and who was working in the hospitality industry. “We often joked about how cool it would be to open a restaurant, one day,” he remembers. “Fast forward 10 years and that conversation is soon to become a reality.”
With a little pushing, and significant support from friends, family and his ‘amazing’ girlfriend, Andy found himself at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine. “It’s the perfect place for me to start my journey, our journey, to finally opening that restaurant we spoke of so many years ago,” he says, the image of success glowing in his brown eyes.
Andy has chosen to share his Midlands rump steak with chimichurri sauce and chorizo with white bean fricassee. This is for serious meat lovers. After Andy had cooked the dish, I took one little sliver to taste, and the next time I looked the students had left empty platters. I am always impressed with their healthy eating habits and their appreciation of new flavour combinations takes me back to my student days when my palate had a little party, every day.
The inspiration behind this dish comes from a time when Andy’s girlfriend – knowing his appreciation of good beef - took him to an Argentinian restaurant in downtown Jo’burg. “We ordered starters and, unfortunately, the meal ended there because the meat-and-cheese board we shared was so large, there was no space for mains.”
Undeterred, they returned the next day and that was Andy’s introduction to chimichurri. “Life changing,” he says. “Since that day I’ve been chasing every chimichurri-based recipe and this one has become a firm favourite. Thanks to the cheese-and-meat-board episode, I learned a lot about portion control.”
You can take Andy at his word - this chimichurri is delicious. Please try making it and let us know your opinion.
My thoughts go out to everyone over these uncertain times – particularly those who have lost their jobs. My hope is that the hospitality industry will be opened and allowed to trade – soon… And that we all come out stronger.
Explore www.jackiecameron.co.za to find out more about my Women’s and Men’s Chef Clothing Range. Remember Jackie Cameron Cooks at Home and Baking with Jackie Cameron – the books highlight all my foodie adventures. I always look forward to hearing from you so please communicate via email: jackie@jackiecameron.co.za.
Jackie Cameron - owner of Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in Hilton, KZN - for enquires email admin@jackiecameron.co.za.
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Food assistant and recipe developer: Andy Bam
All photos by Kathy Pitout Photography