Have you watched any of the episodes of Food Trail: South Africa with chef and cookbook author, Warren Mendes? We’ve been watching, and we’re hooked.
The first 10-episode series is on Food Network Africa on DStv, and it’s a brilliant warm, visually rich and deeply personal exploration of the country’s food culture.
Warren journeys through South Africa’s diverse terrain, exploring the regional flavours, traditions and stories that shape the nation’s identity. “Everywhere we went,” Warren shares, “I was reminded how deeply food is woven into our sense of place. South Africans don’t just cook, we tell stories through our food.”
For Warren, Food Trail: South Africa is more than a television series … it’s a return to the country that shaped his earliest food memories. Born in South Africa and raised in a family where cooking was a shared language, Warren later trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney, Paris and London before building a successful career as a recipe developer, food stylist and culinary storyteller.
Filming the series brought him full circle. “Coming home to make this show felt incredibly special,” he says. “I’ve travelled and cooked all over the world, but there’s something about South Africa. The generosity, the laughter, the way people welcome you into their kitchens that you don’t find anywhere else.” His warm, familiar presence on screen, paired with a thoughtful voice‑over, guides viewers through each region with curiosity and heart.
Across ten episodes, Warren travels through some of the country’s most iconic destinations, each offering a unique window into local life and flavour. From the bustling Oranjezicht Market and spice‑laden kitchens of Bo Kaap to mussel foraging along the Cape Coast, Pinotage tastings in the Winelands, and sunset potjies in the Kalahari, the series captures the breadth of South Africa’s culinary landscape.
Warren describes the experience as “a reminder of just how diverse this country is not only in its food, but in its people and landscapes. One day you’re cooking fish on a cliff overlooking the ocean, the next you’re learning Zulu recipes in a rural village or baking Koeksisters in the Union Building gardens. It’s impossible not to fall in love with South Africa all over again.”
Other highlights include Bunny Chow explorations in Durban, Shisa Nyama feasts in KwaZulu‑Natal, Amarula‑spiked desserts in Kruger, and a Soweto tuk‑tuk tour ending with Warren’s take on Chakalaka.
Warren’s cookbook, Food Trail South Africa, is available nationwide, allowing viewers to recreate the dishes they see on screen. Every recipe featured throughout the season appears in the book, from Braai Mielies with spiced butter and Durban‑style Bunny Chow to Dombolo with spiced fried chicken, Peppermint Crisp ice‑cream sandwiches, chocolate vinegar puddings, South African pavlova and his signature chocolate milk tart. “The cookbook is really an invitation,” Warren explains. “I wanted people to feel empowered to cook these dishes at home, not just admire them on TV. These are recipes that celebrate who we are as South Africans.”
A remarkable blend of influences, including Cape Malay, Indian, Zulu, Afrikaans, and indigenous traditions, has shaped South African cooking for generations. Food Trail: South Africa embraces this diversity with genuine curiosity, shining a light on the people who grow and prepare the country’s everyday meals, the customs passed down through families, and the landscapes that give each region its character. As Warren reflects, “Our food tells the story of our country. It’s layered, it’s diverse, and it’s proudly ours. That’s what makes this series so meaningful to me.”
The series has just premiered on Food Network channel 175 … catch it every Sunday at 11.30am until 21 June … each half‑hour instalment offers a fresh look at the people, places and plates that make South Africa one of the world’s most exciting food destinations, inviting viewers to travel, taste and celebrate alongside Warren.
Warren’s cookbook, Food Trail South Africa, by Penguin Books is available nationwide, allowing viewers to recreate the dishes they see on screen.
