A memoir of the tables from my childhood and my journey to the Kalahari
By Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen
The inspiration behind Restaurant Klein JAN did not come from a desire to create fine dining in the Kalahari. Instead, it came from my heart and the tables of my childhood.
I carried these memories into an unknown land. Before visiting Tswalu for the first time, I had never been to the Kalahari. However, I instantly connected with this place.
At Boscia House, I felt my grandmother’s presence. I fell in love with the people of the Northern Cape. Their overwhelming hospitality touched me deeply. The more time I spent in the Kalahari, the stronger my roots grew in the endless red earth.
Klein Jan Cookbook as a tribute
This book is my tribute to losing your heart to a special place. It also celebrates making your dreams come true.
Chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen created Klein JAN as his great homecoming project. He grew up on a farm in rural Mpumalanga, South Africa. When he saw the vastness of the Kalahari, he felt an immediate connection.
At that moment, he knew the time had come to bring the spirit of JAN home. JAN, his Michelin-star restaurant in Nice, needed to return to South African soil.
Klein JAN stands on Tswalu Kalahari, one of South Africa’s top private game reserves. This refuge remains untamed, untouched, and unspoiled. It showcases the simple and authentic splendour of this magical region. Klein JAN tells the story of South African culture through food. It preserves traditions while embracing innovation.
About the author
Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen was raised on a rural farm in the north of the country. After completing an Advanced Diploma in Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch he furthered his studies with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Design and Photography.
He worked as a contributing food editor for ELLE magazine in South Africa and Paris before relocating to Nice to open his own restaurant called JAN. Since its humble beginnings in 2013, JAN has garnered a reputation as one of the top restaurants in the south of France. This is Jan Hendrik’s second book, which continues the journey first started in The French Affair, also published by Struik Lifestyle.
- PUBLISHER | Penguin Random House SA |
- ISBN | 9781485901839 |
- Recommended Retail Price | R550.00 |
- Classification | Recipe |
