Chef Errieda brightens a rainy day for 144 kids with a comfort food classic  

Food writer Errieda du Toit warms the tummies and hearts of 144 children at the Durbanville Children’s Home, as Feed Mzansi continues its inspiring journey of feeding hungry children across the country.   

Food Lover’s Market’s feel-good road trip, Feed Mzansi, is at full throttle, and this week food writer Errieda du Toit proves that although one person might not be able to change the world, an act of kindness can change the world of one person.  

Last week Chef Ayabonga Gope kicked off our road trip with a difference which sees local foodies and Food Lovers Market come together, to cook hearty, nutritious meals for needy children across the country.

With the cold weather showing no signs of slowing down, Chef Errieda braves the rain and heads to her local Food Lover’s Market in Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre, where she fills her trolley with crunchy vegetables, flavour-packed high-protein chicken and an abundance of fresh cream.  

A champion of South African home-style cooking, Chef Errieda prepares a nostalgic “home favourite,” together with a dessert recipe passed on to her by her mother. Any guesses about what’s on the menu?

This week, Chef Errieda lovingly cooks 144 comforting bowls of Chicken à la King, served with a side of steaming hot confetti rice – all prepared on a set budget – for the children at the Durbanville Children’s Home.

She says: “There’s a lot of goodness in the meal in terms of nutrients, but what it is about is when you see it together and it tastes like someone made it for you who cares.”

The Durbanville Children’s Home has been assisting families for the past 139 years, since opening its doors in 1883, and supports children between the ages of 2-18 from neighbouring farms, informal settlements, squatter camps, and towns, with the aim of restoring them to a healthy family relationship. 

Situated in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, not far from Chef Errieda’s Welgemoed home, the saying rings true: charity begins at home. And oftentimes, we don’t have to travel far and wide to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Today, as goodness and fellowship flow, the kitchen is the beating heart of the Durbanville Children’s Home. There’s a unique camaraderie that fills the room, as Chef Errieda is joined by the eager kitchen staff, who excitedly pass on cooking tips, and share their memories through food.

When the children arrive for lunch, their joyous faces show the power of cooking and eating together.

And although Chef Errida walked through the doors of the child and youth care centre armed with a generous heart ready to share her expertise, she walks away as the one with life lessons learnt.

At the end of the video series, one lucky chef with the most votes will receive R25 000 to donate to their featured child and youth care centre.