When you’ve fed thousands in one day, a national cooking show should be easy … right? Step into the slightly chaotic, always delicious world of Kokkedoor’s fun mother and daughter duo, Caroline and Anél – the snoepietannies who prove that laughter, love, and good food are always better served together.
The first thing you notice about Caroline Linde and her daughter, Anél van Niekerk, is their energy – the kind that makes you smile even before a single dish hits the table. Known across Pretoria as the beloved snoepietannies – Caroline at Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool and Anél at Laerskool Tygerpoort, they are the school tuckshop aunties who feed thousands of learners with heart and humour – proving that good food, big laughs, and a shared love of life are better when seasoned with family.
The mother–daughter duo didn’t just stroll onto Kokkedoor: Son & See for a casual cook-off. They threw themselves into the competition with a dash of bravado and a lot of love. After reaching the top three, they became household names for their infectious chemistry, culinary courage, and, of course, a healthy side of chaos.
“We would do everything we love – entertaining, cooking, baking, and making snacks,” Caroline says. “And Anél and I? We work at separate schools, but when we cook together, the main priority is always our people. The ones we want to keep happy.”
It is this devotion that makes the snoepietannies so beloved. Caroline has spent decades feeding Affies’ students, mastering comforting, hearty boerekos. Anél is equally fearless in the kitchen, often experimenting with daring flavours and techniques – keeping everyone on their toes along the way.
Their kitchens are battlegrounds of love, laughter, and the occasional culinary mishap. One legendary event had them preparing more than 2 000 of their famous curry sosaties for Affies’ annual Grey Derby.
“We nurtured them for more than five days in the sauce,” Caroline recalls. “On the last mix, it was chaos, and Anél didn’t realise her engagement ring had fallen off. Needless to say, we were standing there with all those sosaties and sauce, sifting through our hands to find the ring. Luckily we did. We never told anyone. Help was offered – but we insist on doing it ourselves.”
“When everything gets overwhelming, it’s good to take a step back,” Anél adds thoughtfully. “Be hard on the work and soft on people. That is something I will carry with me forever.”
‘‘The whole experience of Kokkedoor was one of the craziest things we’ve ever done”
Their bond is evident in how they describe each other. Caroline likens herself to a trifle – “more than enough space for everything and everyone, fully loaded with love” – while Anél is a chocolate lava cake, “always layered with a surprise in the centre.” Together, they are a perfect mix of nurturing warmth and playful unpredictability.
“My mum is like a bottomless, comforting stew,” Anél says. “She keeps giving and making everyone happy. Her door is always open. Nothing is ever too much to ask.”
If Anél could bottle the smell of her childhood kitchen with her grandmothers, what would it be? “My grandma, who lived on the farm, would definitely be vetkoek. She used to make it with Lena at least every second day. My other gran would be the smell of sweet pumpkin and cinnamon. Put the two together and you get pumpkin fritters – warm, hearty, welcoming, and very much loved. That’s what made me love cooking, seeing people happy over a good plate of food,” Anél says.
Caroline adds, “It’s all about sharing. Whether it’s at home with family, at the tuckshop, or on Kokkedoor, we try to make everyone feel welcome. That’s what food is for us – it’s love on a plate.”
For all their experience feeding thousands, Kokkedoor tested them in unexpected ways. Caroline says the real challenge was the “man up” moments – high-pressure rounds, complex plating, and proving that even after decades of running huge events, there is always something new to learn.
“The whole experience of Kokkedoor was one of the craziest things we’ve ever done,” Caroline admits.
Anél echoes the sentiment with humour and humility. “I sometimes think I am too honest. My facial expressions give me away more than my words,” she says. “But I love working under pressure. It keeps me sharp and creative. I learnt a lot about myself and about my mom during the show. And to plate food so that it is Instagrammable!”
Despite their busy schedules, their favourite mother–daughter time is simple … window shopping and dreaming about their ultimate kitchens, with laughter and daydreams flowing freely.
When asked what home-cooked dish best represents ‘love lives here’, Caroline and Anél have no hesitation. Hearty, comforting classics. Caroline’s family favourites include lamb chops, crispy roast potatoes, and sweet pumpkin. Anél’s husband Burger cannot resist her bacon, butternut, and gorgonzola pasta – the ultimate expression of her care.
“We feed thousands, but it is the little things. The smiles over a toastie or a warm plate of bobotie that really matter,” Caroline says.
Humour and humility blend naturally in their everyday lives. Butter over olive oil? Check. Cook rather than bake? Check. Team vetkoek all the way. Guilty pleasure? Always a second dessert. If Pretoria had a signature flavour, they agree it would be steak, generously buttered, naturally.
From tuck shop counters to prime-time kitchens, Caroline and Anél prove that food is about connection, courage, and a dash of chaos. They have stirred more than pots, they have stirred hearts.
“It is about making people feel welcome,” Caroline says softly. “Whether it is 40 000 meals or one plate, it is the love you put in that counts.”
Equal parts laughter, love, and just a hint of controlled chaos – that’s Caroline and Anél, proving that the best recipes are always shared.
Follow @snoepietannies on Facebook or @snoepie_tannies on Insta.
