MOSSEL BAY NEWS - There are six kitchen staff at the ACVV Kenani Service Centre for senior citizens.
It is said, "Too many cooks spoil the broth," but this is not the case at Kenani, where the food is so good, meals are now being sold to members of the public to help raise funds for the service centre.
The Kenani cooks say the favourites among the residents are the milk tart, sago pudding, chicken pie, potjiekos and Friday lunch braai.
With Mossel Bay residents, the favourites are the bobotie, sweet potato, pumpkin fritters and green beans. Residents must book their meals at least a day before and the meals are delivered on a Wednesday. Call Kenani (044 690 3204) to book your meals. The centre receives up to 130 meal orders per week.
All the food is made with love and care by Florence Zindlu, Kaylene Wildschut, Leona Oraai, Ronelle Mitchel, Anna-Marie Pikaan and Christina Flores.
Photo gallery: ACVV Kenani cooks with love
For the Kenani residents, there is a comments book in the dining room, where people can write remarks about the food. The cooks must know all the special diets of the residents. "Sometimes the diabetics decide they are not diabetics if there is something tasty on the menu," the cooks say with a giggle.
Besides the usual pressure of providing such a large amount of food at a seniors' complex each day, the cooks have good fun in the kitchen.
Florence Zindlu, Kaylene Wildschut, Leona Oraai, Christina Flores, Ronelle Mitchel and Anna-Marie Pikaan.
Joker
Two of them have been there for 16 years. Leona is the joker among the cooks. When the mood is a bit low, she breaks into song and everyone joins in. The cooks say she is the most colourful character in the kitchen. "You could write a book about her," they agree.
On a serious note, she burnt herself badly once in the kitchen.
The cooks say with a laugh: "All of us have slipped and fallen in the kitchen at some time and we cried and then laughed afterwards."
Anna-Marie can be quite strict about putting things back in the right place. She takes on a stern tone: "That goes there." But the women have got used to her.
One of them tripped over a pile of cans, sending them scattered all over the place, one day.
The cooks get on so well that there is no team leader among them. They are all equals, falling under Kenani management. "We have disagreements sometimes but we get over them really quickly," they say.
Some of the cooks at work.
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