Zeek's Artisan Foods

27/02/2026

Celebrating international milk tart day: 27 February.

14/02/2026

14/02/2026

Verjuice:
Verjuice, from the French "vert jus" (“green juice”), is a bright, delicately acidic, non-alcoholic liquid made by pressing unripe, green-harvested grapes.

11/02/2026

My kind of washing.

11/02/2026

A labour of love—silky, creamy, and brimming with the freshest seafood—crafted for a very special friend, Sandra van Rooyen of Napier.

Begin by deshelling and deveining the prawns, and cutting the cod into small, delicate cubes. Reserve the shells and fish off-cuts; these will form the base of a rich, fragrant broth. Once the broth is ready, gently bloom saffron in it to release its golden aroma.

Sauté finely chopped shallots and Arborio rice until translucent, then deglaze with a splash of wine. Slowly stir in the warm broth, one ladle at a time, coaxing the rice to a perfect creamy consistency. About twenty minutes in, fold in the seafood and a generous grating of Stonehouse Alpino. Serve with a scattering of fresh garden arugula for a touch of brightness.

10/02/2026

“En croûte” literally means “in a crust” in French. For this lamb en croûte, a slow braised leg of lamb, thinly sliced, is wrapped in puff pastry—and baked until golden and flaky. The result is tender, flavourful meat encased in buttery, crisp pastry.

10/02/2026

A different take on the classic Beef Wellington — or in France, bœuf en croûte or filet de bœuf en croûte.

This version is prepared with leg of lamb. While the appeal of the original dish lies in its perfectly rare beef, that is not everyone’s cup of tea. This rendition was created with an older crowd in mind, who prefer a more tender, gently cooked cut of meat.

09/02/2026

Ham and Mushrooms
Very few culinary pairings complement each other as beautifully as ham and mushrooms. Together they become even more harmonious with the addition of dairy — whether a generous shaving of cheese or a splash of cream. Add a handful of fresh herbs from the garden, and you have the makings of a truly scrumptious meal.

06/02/2026