Shane Sauvage
Owner of La Pentola (The Saucepan) and author of The Edge of Fusion

It’s a great honour and has been huge fun to watch a 20-something-year-old chef open his first restaurant, and then for the next 20 years witness him take off – reaching for the stars.

Shane Sauvage is that kitchen magician who turns food and the dining experience into all the fun it should be. There’s always a giggle on one of his plates, not to be taken lightly, because he is deadly serious about food. And he makes sure the diners are unaware of the toil in the kitchen, which is how it should be.

This is a chef who has always understood the showbiz and spectacle of cuisine. He instinctively knows that turning anything into a special occasion is what life is about – those special moments.

From the eye-catching couture of his staff to the drama of his interiors, nothing goes unnoticed and that’s why La Pentola, both in Pretoria and in Hermanus, has found its way into the hearts of its customers. But nothing of this would matter if the cuisine wasn’t the star of the show. This is where Shane has always anchored his passion – pleasing the palate.

In this, his third cookbook, he has captured the craft, the carnival, the charm as well as the abundance in his corner of the cuisine world. That is what fusion is all about – it’s much more than just what you see on the plate. Perhaps that’s also what caught his attention right from the start. He is a chef who embraces his world and in this way marries the best ingredients.

Run your finger down the contents page to see the different chapters included in the book – Magical Mystery Tour, Kitchen Karate, Just Because it’s Lekker, Life’s a Beach – to understand his philosophy. He doesn’t only show off his own prowess, but also showcases and highlights the success of his team and anyone he thinks needs the spotlight.

It’s about food, friends and family (all are involved in the restaurants, from his sister-in-law Sandra who guards his interest in Pretoria, to his wife Janet who, with the sweetest touch in the kitchen, has consistently been beside her man). With pictures that luxuriously illustrate the food he prepares, one thing I do know is that Shane would have made sure that what he puts out there is the best he can produce – and then he will blow you a kiss to add that personal touch.

It’s not only about the kitchen and what you can make for family and friends, it’s about excitement, energy, enthusiasm, exuberance and the will to make this world – even if just in your own small space – the best it can be.