Hands up if you love entertaining – but hate all the logistics around it? Natascha Le Roux’s The Nifty Pantry has you covered!
Natascha is the kind of person who makes any person walking into her home feel like a VIP – seemingly with very little effort. She’s also the kind of person who, rather than getting bored with her possessions, delights in finding new ways to use them, usually to very striking effect. Here’s an example. A few weeks ago, she found a still-life painting. It could have looked stuffy in anyone else’s home, but Natascha placed it underneath a glass table top, matched it with crockery, napkins and glasses, and voila – a tablescape quite unlike any other.
The result? Anyone lucky enough to receive an invitation to one of her dinners is certain to have an experience that will linger long in their memories.
That was certainly the case for the contestants who found their hosting talents pitted against Natascha’s when she entered the South African version of Come Dine With Me – a competition she won thanks to the combination of her cooking skills (guests were served a rainbow carrots and beetroot carpaccio with homemade labneh and Middle Eastern flatbread, seared salmon served with roasted cauliflower steak topped with homemade anchovy butter and minted pea puree for mains, and a dessert of blueberry jelly mousse with her own sugar edible flowers) and unbeatable flair for entertaining. After all, how many people do you know who can cut off the top of a champagne bottle with a sword?
Admittedly, Natascha had plenty of practise before she perfected the fine art of hostessing, as founder of the cooking club Messe and Forks. “It was back in the early 2000s, when everyone was joining a book club. I loved the idea of getting together to chat, drink wine and eat great food, but I didn’t necessarily have the time to read,” she recalls.
Everyone has time to eat, though – which is why she invited six friends (one each to cook up a starter, carb dish, veggie side, protein and dessert) to host a monthly dinner at each other’s houses. At the end of each dinner, members were able to vote for their favorite dish and rank their host on everything from the welcoming drinks they’d received to the table setting and the cocktails on offer and overall experience of the evening. “It grew rather competitive,” Natascha laughs.
And that meant that members were constantly trying to outdo themselves. So, when Come Dine With Me SA announced it was looking for entrants, Natascha was ready. Her success got her thinking … much as she loves the part of entertaining which is all about conjuring up a look and feel, there are people out there who don’t enjoy it, or who simply don’t have time for it. What if she created a service to help them? And so The Nifty Pantry was born. “My mother had recently passed away at the time, and that made me realise that life was short. I had created my business plan back in 2018, but I didn’t have the courage to leave me corporate job until that moment.”
Launched in November 2022, The Nifty Pantry – inspired by her friend’s giant pantry, which stores all manner of gorgeous items to set a beautiful table and is one of Natascha’s favourite places – is all about helping hosts and hostesses stage the perfect event, while saving them on the stress. It’s all about simplicity. Natascha has put together pre-designed table settings, including tablecloths, dinnerware, cutlery, glasses, candles and centrepieces and everything in between. Clients hop online, choose the look they love, let her know how many guests they’re expecting, and she’ll deliver everything they need to recreate the look at home, including instructions and a photo of what their table will look like once they’ve followed all the steps. “It’s a fabulous choice for people who aren’t really able to visualise all the elements together – we’ve done it for them. And it’s also great for people who want to offer their guests something new with every visit, but don’t have the space to store everything they need,” Natascha says.
Her table settings have added style and sophistication to all manner of events, from bridal showers to milestone birthdays and corporate functions. And it’s not just about setting a stage. Natascha’s keen eye for detail means that she’s able to remove the areas that typically cause stress for hosts, from coming up with an exciting theme to managing RSVPs.
One of the reasons she’s so passionate about the concept is because she has a real love of bringing people together. “When we’re with our friends and family, we’re able to share meaningful conversations and make memories. That’s what entertaining is all about – so you shouldn’t be put off just because you’re not mad about coordinating napkins and table cloths.”
Natascha is looking forward to growing the business so she can create more jobs and upskill her current employees – and, of course, to help more people spend time laughing around a table that looks just beautiful.
Details: www.theniftypantry.co.za, 083-365-3000.
Natascha’s tips for setting a beautiful table
- Start by selecting a cohesive theme or colour scheme that reflects the occasion or your personal style.
- Add depth and texture to your table setting by layering linens. Start with a tablecloth or placemats as a base layer, then add a contrasting or complementary table runner and napkins.
- Flowers needn’t be your go-to as a table’s centrepiece. Show off your creative side by selecting an item from your home that makes a statement or adds drama.
- Placement of tableware is important. Not only does it enhance the functionality of your setting, but done properly, it contributes to the overall aesthetics.
- Small, personal touches make your guests feel welcome and appreciated. A handwritten place card, for instance, or a menu card or even small gifts placed at each setting.
