TV REVIEW. Food Network's Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is a magnificent magical delight

by Thinus Ferreira

9¾ TVs

Is there still something like television for everyone? Something that any combination of people, any combination of ages, any family members and any person can plop down for, switch on, watch, and instantly will love and watch to the end? Yes. And Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking on the Food Network is it. 

And it's perfect.

The very idea and conceptualisation of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking on the Food Network (DStv 175) is genius. So is its television production. How did nobody think of this years ago?

In a muggle world so divided, so hurried, so angst-filled, so full of stress and in-fighting and people scattering to their own screens, the cake-make show is a delightful, utterly magical, extremely unifying TV watching experience perfect for any combination of family members to watch together, or just a magical treat for yourself. 

Within the hallowed halls of Hogwarts (the "real" one at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios that was never struck after the films were completed and is a studio tour experience by day), Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is Netflix's Is It Cake? on a flour and icing sugar high.

With the beloved Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef as judges, keep the remote control close: You will want to press pause and also press the rewind-and-play buttons as you stare, and stare again, at what's possible when muggles are able to create magic.

In Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking that transports you to another world - literally - nothing is ugly, as a piece of television that truly transfigurates the viewing experience. Watch just an episode - any episode - and you cannot but go away and be left inspired.

Extremely talented cake makers and pastry artists (of course one will even have an architecture background!) craft the stuff of dreams. 

Here, for an hour, the only challenge is really just themselves to conjure up cakes that truly defy belief but really exist, as if by magic, within a real world bound by things like time, gravity and the stickiness (or not!) of chocolate viscosity. Will it hold?

The Food Network's latest series is a spellbinding culinary TV adventure for any age and any person who just needs that moment of escapism, that moment of getting filled up again, and to literally see that there are still many people aspiring to achieve, be better, and to make beautiful things in a fractured world.

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking will obviously captivate fans of the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling, but baking enthusiasts alike, as well as ordinary viewers who might care not for cake baking or the Potterverse.

While this enchanting competition series brings together the magical realm of Harry Potter and the art of baking, resulting in a truly unique and captivating viewing experience, its viewing impact and ability to surprise, stretches much wider than Potter or cake dough.

The attention to detail from both a production design perspective to the detail the creators bring to their cakes are superlatively impressive. 

If you dream of making things - anything - this show and the people in it will inspire you to dream bigger and be better at what you can or want to do.

As an immersive experience, colourful and well edited, the 6-episode Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking crafts and presents an enchanting environment that perfectly captures the whimsical spirit of the Harry Potter world.

The contestants, all skilled bakers and Harry Potter fans, bring their A+ game to the competition.

Throughout the episodes they face challenges that test their baking skills, creativity, and knowledge of the wizarding world. They don't bake - they overwhelm you with head-shaking, jaw-dropping, visually stunning impossibilities.

Of course Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is an owl-delivered love letter to the Harry Potter franchise, with clever references and nods to the beloved books and films. 

At the same time, it's a celebration of the art of baking, with creative challenges and mouth-watering creations that will inspire viewers to get baking. 

It's also a love letter to the better part of what television is capable of and the better part of humanity: Of upliftment, of inspiration, of TV that brings joy. 

Watch Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking and be inspired by seeing people who don't just have big dreams but practically work to turn their magical aspirations into reality.

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is on The Food Network (DStv 175) on Wednesdays at 17:00, from 4 December 2024

CORONAVIRUS. TV chef Jenny Morris loses husband David (69) to Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

The celebrity chef Jenny Morris recuperating from Covid-19 has lost her husband David who died on Tuesday evening from the coronavirus. He was 69.

The two were virtually inseparable as they built Jenny Morris's celebrity cooking business over decades. 

As two peas in a pod they published half a dozen of her sought-after recipe books, opened two restaurants, and started a cooking school and catering company in 1997, currently situated in her CooksPlayground in Green Point's Cape Quarter in Cape Town, where they've taught thousands of people to be better in the kitchen.

Over decades Jenny became a celebrity chef with programmes and appearances on radio and TV and writing newspaper and magazine columns and in 2011 she became the first South African with a cooking show on Discovery Inc.'s Food Network (DStv 175) broadcast globally as she continued doing presentations as a regular food festival fixture.

In June the beloved TV chef and her longtime husband both fell ill from Covid-19 as South Africa is in the grip of a vicious third wave of the global coronavirus pandemic fuelled by the more contagious Delta variant as the rate of crucial vaccinations by the South African government lags and is far behind schedule.

Last week Jenny Morris who also appears frequently on Expresso on SABC3 and who is known as "The Giggling Gourmet", said that she and her husband are both in the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital since they had tested positive for Covid-19.

"We have been hospitalised. I'm in Covid ward at Christiaan Barnard hospital with the best doctors. My husband in ICU. He needs oxygen. Thank you for your prayers for our recovery," Jenny wrote on Instagram on 30 June.

A few days later she said that "David is still under the caring hands of the doctors. Heart is a little better... kidney a little better and infection markers are a little better. My heart is singing. I shall pray all night long no matter how small the better is, I'm praying for every single little bit of better".

Now David has died. "It is with great sadness that the Morris family announces the passing of David Phillip Henry Morris at the age of 69," the family said in a released statement.

"David passed away on Tuesday evening due to Covid-19 complications. He was a husband, brother, uncle, father, mentor and role model. He will be sorely missed by his family and close friends. David's family requests privacy during the time of mourning."

Earlier this month Jenny Morris warned the public about the dangers of Covid-19 and the vicious Delta-variant, saying "The third wave is upon us! Remember, your actions have a direct impact on those around you. Mask up, disinfect, and maintain social distance protocols. Covid does not discriminate!"

ALSO READ: CORONAVIRUS. Covid is real. So warns the growing number of hospitalised South African celebrities like TV chef Jenny Morris, Lieb Bester and Emma Sadleir.

Food Network adds Inside Job with chef Katlego Mlambo on Saturdays at 7pm from 13 March as a new South African series exploring his love for local ingredients.

by Thinus Ferreira

Discovery Inc.'s Food Network (DStv 175) is adding a new local South Africa show to its culinary schedule with Inside Job presented by chef Katlego Mlambo that will make its debut today, Saturday 13 March at 19:00 on the channel.

Inside Job was commissioned and filmed later in 2020 in Dubai when Katlego Mlambo jetted to studios in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to complete the episodes. 

Inside Job follows the boisterous chef - who grew up in Eldorado Park south of Johannesburg where he spent most of his time in the kitchen with his grandmother and where he developed his passion for cooking - on his journey to create gourmet food with South African flair and a taste for Africa. 

Each themed episode showcases his love for local ingredients and fine dining culture, while he dances through to his favourite playlists.

During a virtual media launch event for the show Katlego Mlambo said "A lot of people ask what is South African cuisine? So what is South African cuisine? It's got no boundaries. Inside Job is about showcasing how great and diverse we are".

"Secondly it's for your mumzo, it's for your gogo, it's for your teenager, it's for your chefs, it's for your home-cook. Inside Job is literally for everyone".

About filming Inside Job in Dubai he says "working with a different crew was challenging but also exciting. The language barrier was exciting, nerve-wracking and spicy. You're saying 'tamatie', they're saying 'tomato', but plenty, plenty of highlights!"

Henry Windridge, senior director: marketing, digital and creative at Discovery Inc., says "Nothing quite hits the spot like local cuisine and the same can be said for local talent and entertainment".

"Food has always brought people together – especially during 2020 with extended lockdowns, social distancing and the inability to break bread with those closest to us. Food is how South Africans come together. The personalities and themes of our two new shows are geared to do just that!"

"Sharing a meal has always been deeply rooted alongside sharing stories, cultural experiences and traditions. As the world adapts to new practices and ways of being, the common denominator remains our love for food and experiences with those we care about," says Henry Windridge.

"While much has changed in the world in recent months, the power of food and how we connect over a plate has not. We’re sure viewers will be as captivated by the flair and charisma of chef Katlego Mlambo as they welcome him into their homes this March."

Inside Job is on Food Network (DStv 175) on Saturdays at 19:00 with repeats Sundays at 13:55 and Mondays 22:05

TV CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: Mortimer Harvey dropped as Discovery Networks International moves the repping of its Scripps-acquired Food Network and Travel Channel to FleishmanHillard.

FleishmanHillard in South Africa has taken over the PR and repping for the Scripps' Food Network (DStv 175), Travel Channel (DStv 179 / Cell C black 255) and Fine Living HD (StarSat 281 / Cell C black 251) with the channels that were abruptly left rudderless since the end of May.

Mortimer Harvey that did the PR for the Food Network since around July 2011, and added the Travel Channel in early-2013, got dropped after 7 years with no word as to who would be taking over.

TV critics and journalists covering television stopped getting programming information at the end of May without as much as a goodbye and with nothing issued in advance for June, July or August (the month we're in now), making it impossible to cover the Food Network or Travel Channel during this time period.

Back in March Discovery Communications completed its acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive, with the press assuming even before the acquisition was completed, and also asking, whether Scripps PR would be folded into Discovery's public relations efforts.

After silence of over a month and a half and various journalists asking each other and not knowing what's going on and not being communicated with, TVwithThinus made the effort to reach out in mid-July - something you'd think a PR company would do - to try and find out what's going in with the PR of the Food Network and the Travel Channel.

I emailed and spoke on the phone to reps at Mortimer Harvey, MultiChoice and FleishmanHillard (doing the PR for Discovery Networks International's existing Discovery channels portfolio), to try and find out what's is happening and why there's no programming publicity information for these channels anymore.

I was told Mortimer Harvey isn't involved with it anymore and no longer has the contract.

On Thursday morning FleishmannHillard sent an advisory to South Africa's press, officially noting that the firm's team has now taken over from Mortimer Harvey in repping the Food Network and Travel Channel, with these channels now folded into the existing Discovery Networks portfolio's publicity work.

After 7 years a proper goodbye - any kind of goodbye - from Mortimer Harvey (that works in the public relations business) would have been nice.

Anthony Bourdain trashes Scripps Networks' Food Network and Travel Channel: 'Must be hard to make Burger World or World's Best Roller Coasters year after year after year'.

The caustic chef and telenality Anthony Bourdain now seen on CNN International (DStv 401) was full of praise for CNN but totally trashed The Food Network (DStv 175) and The Travel Channel (DStv 179) from Scripps Networks from the stage at this weekend's Produced By Conference New York.

Although he didn't have to, Anthony Bourdain slammed The Food Network and The Travel Channel where he previously did TV shows like No Reservations, and he had no reservation in telling the public exactly what he thinks of these channels.

No doing Parts Unknown on CNN International, Anthony Bourdain pushed the butcher's knife in to the hilt, saying executives at Scripps Networks, The Food Network and The Travel Channel "have this perverse desire to undermine their brands and saw us as a way to do that".

"In the Food Network's case, to do penance for some of the utter shit they've been unloading for years," Anthony Bourdain said.

"And with The Travel Channel, it must be hard to make Burger World or World’s Best Roller Coasters year after year after year. We went in assuming the worst and knowing it was going to be war."

In South Africa and across Africa The Food Network and The Travel Channel are seen on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, packaged and distributed by Scripps Networks Interactive.

Second season of Siba's Table with Siba Mtongana starting today on Food Network at 20:00

The new second season of Siba's Table with Siba Mtongana starts today on Food Network (DStv 175) at 20:00 as the celebrity chef gets to work on a new series of recipes.

In the second season of 10 episodes, viewers can watch Siba Mtongana prepare chicken salad vir bacon wrapped greens for her musician friends in the first episode, as well as showing her culinary talent with everything from seared tuna to roast pork in subsequent episodes.

Siba Mtongana will give advice, share ideas and show how viewers how to do several themed meals, ranging from anniversary dinners to colourful African celebrations.

Scripps Networks International shares programming highlights of September to December for Food Network and Travel Channel - but not with South Africa's press & TV critics.

Scripps Networks International that runs the Food Network (DStv 175) and the Travel Channel (DStv 179) on MultiChoice's DStv, announced highlights for September to December for the channels at the MultiChoice Content Showcase held at the Outrigger Mauritius Resort & Spa in Mauritius.

South African press and TV critics were not invited, nor told beforehand that the 5-day presentation and programming upfront for various TV channels available on the DStv platform would be taking place.

Scripps Networks International didn't share the information made available in Mauritius to the media there with South Africa's press and TV writers.

Yet the programming information on the Food Network and the Travel Channel is as relevant to South African viewers on DStv as for those elsewhere in Africa.

In Mauritius, Scripps Networks International ironically directed African press outside South Africa to the Food Network's South African web page at foodnetwork.co.za for TV listings, chef biographies and recipes.

Africa's press were also given a starting date - ironically - for Jenny and Reza's Fabulous Food Academy - Monday 2 November at 16:00 on the Food Network. A show filmed in South Africa with South Africans. (The starting date hasn't even been communicated to South African press yet.)


Here is the upcoming programming highlights for The Food Network and Travel Channel on DStv, given to African press, but not to South Africa (although its applicable and 100% the same channels seen throughout the entire Africa continent):


Food Network
Dinner at Tiffani’s
Starts: Friday 11 September 20:00
Tiffani Thiessen invites her celebrity friends over for good company, great stories and delicious food. With guests like Jason Priestley, Seth Green.

The Kitchen, season 3
Starts: Tuesday 15 September 09:00
Presenters Sunny Anderson, Katie Lee, Jeff Mauro, Marcela Valladolid and Geoffrey Zakarian are experts at fun conversation and sharing delicious recipes.

Man Finds Food
Starts: Tuesday 20 October 21:00
Adam Richman travels across America to find the hidden gems of the fast food scene.

Siba’s Table, season 2
Starts: Friday 16 October 20:00
Siba Mtongana shares the rich fusion culture of modern South African food.

Jenny and Reza’s Fabulous Food Academy
Starts: Monday 2 November 16:00
A new series in which six aspiring chefs are taken under the wings of the culinary duo. Jenny and Reza will be teaching six ambitious chefs to create delicious feasts and improve their cooking skills.

Guy's Grocery Games, season 4
Starts: Monday 16 November 18:00
Guy Fieri sends four talented chefs running through the aisles in a high stakes, high skills, grocery store cooking competition.

Grandma's Secret Cookbook, season 3
Starts: Tuesday 1 December 16:30
Blow the dust off your old cookbooks and join Mo Rocca in the kitchen, as he dons his apron alongside some golden oldies, who reminisce and reveal some treasured recipes from generations gone by.

Chopped, season 22
Starts: Wednesday 9 December 19:00
Four chefs call on their culinary skills as they face off against one another to prepare a spectacular three-course meal consisting of an appetizer, entree and dessert. The catch? In each round, they have to use all the ingredients the show provides them, however unlikely they might be.


Travel Channel

Expedition Unknown, season 1
Starts: Thursday 10 September 20:00
The adventures of Josh Gates as he investigates unsolved iconic stories across the globe.
Armed with a degree in archaeology and a passion for travel, Gates begins by uncovering recent developments in the story, then springboards into a fully immersive exploration.

Shed and Buried, season 1
Starts: Wednesday 2 September at 20:00/20:30
Motorcycle fanatic Henry Cole and friend Sam Lovegrove go in search of automotive bargains hidden away in people's sheds and garages.

Off the Map, season 1
Starts: Monday 5 October 21:00/21:30
Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills 90210, Charmed) and Holly Marie Combs (Charmed, Pretty Little Liars) are taking a break from Hollywood to go Off the Map in search of unfiltered adventure in America.

Mysteries at the Museum, season 6 (Halloween)
Starts: Sunday 4 October 21:00
Don Wildman visits America's museums, where strange and curious remnants of the past are revealed.

House Hunters International
Starts: Monday 5 October 18:00/18:30
From Denmark to the Dominican Republic, we follow home seekers around the world as they navigate the sometimes rough waters of buying real estate in other countries.

Worlds Greatest Motorcycle Rides – Balkans
Starts: Monday 2 November 20:00
In the 90s, Henry Cole was a war cameraman at the height of troubles in the Balkans. Viewers will follow Cole as he undertakes a 2000km journey through Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and finally into Serbia.

African Motorcycle Diaries
Starts: Monday 9 November 21:00
Join Spencer as he traverses the African continent by motorbike! Travelling from the UK to Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Senegal and back again, his journey is both challenging and beautiful.

Time Travel with Brian Unger
Starts: December
Time Traveling with Brian Unger goes where ordinary travellers can’t, using eye-popping CGI graphics to visually travel back in time and tell stories from yesteryear that tourists won't find in the guidebooks.

Monumental Mysteries, season 3
Starts: December
Don Wildman searches the U.S. to unearth the nation's most fascinating monuments and the incredible tales behind them.

BREAKING. America's Cooking Channel buys Scripps Networks International's Siba's Table with Siba Mtongana.

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The Cooking Channel in the United States has acquired the South African TV production Siba's Table with Siba Mtongana from Scripps Networks International, making her the first South African celebrity chef to present a TV series on an American TV channel.

Siba's Table, filmed in Cape Town, was shown in 2013 on the Food Network on MultiChoice's DStv with a Christmas themed special episode. Its her second TV outing, after doing Cooking with Siba for M-Net's Mzansi magic TV channel.

Siba's Table will start on 5 April on the Cooking Channel which is available in 60 million homes in the United States.

"I shared Siba's Table with our colleagues stateside and are thrilled for Siba that Cooking Channel will be premiering the series in April for American audiences to enjoy," says Nick Thorogood, the senior vice president of content and marketing for the UK and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for Scripps Networks International.

"I'm ecstatic about this wonderful news and really honoured to join the Cooking Channel in the United States," says Siba Mtongana. "This is great news for me, but more so for my beloved country, South Africa, as it will once again place the 'rainbow nation' on the map".

Discovery Communications considering buying TV channels such as Food Network, Travel Channel.

Discovery Communications is reportedly considering buying satellite pay-TV channels such as Food Network and the Travel Channel as ongoing consolidation is taking place in the pay-TV industry, according to the trade publication Variety.

Food Network and Travel Channel are part of a group of TV channels belonging to Scripps Networks Interactive which is looking for a possible buyer.

According to Variety, the possibility of Discovery Communications putting in a bid to buy Scripps Networks was discussed at a Discovery board meeting on Tuesday.

According to Variety, Scripps Networks Interactive's set of channels which include other channels not seen in South Africa or Africa, would make "a natural fit" for Discovery which already has channels such as TLC, Animal Planet and TLC Entertainment with an OWN block of programming..

BREAKING. Food Network producing a local South African version of Chopped; 10 episodes of Chopped South Africa coming in 2014.

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Food Network (DStv 175) is producing a local version of its international reality food hit Chopped for South Africa, with Chopped South Africa which will start on the Food Network during the second quarter of 2014 in South Africa.

In the 10 hour long episodes of Chopped South Africa with presenter Denvor Phokaners and judges and fellow Food Network personality Jenny Morris and Siba Mtongana, as well as David van Staden, Lindsay Venn, Rebecca Hurst and Reuben Riffel, four chefs will be tasked to try and try make a three-course meal out of everyday ingredients.

After every course a contestant gets "chopped", until the last person wins R40 000.

The first season of Chopped South Africa follows the growing slate of local South African productions on the Food Network such as Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco, Siba's Table and Reza's African Kitchen.

Chopped South Africa is produced by Food Network in response to the growing and passionate foodie scene which has seen other broadcasters finding continued success with shows such as MasterChef South Africa on M-Net, and Come Dine with Me South Africa on BBC Entertainment.

According to sources, M-Net is for instance working on not just a third season of MasterChef South Africa for 2014, but also a MasterChef South Africa Celebrity version, doubling up on the MasterChef SA content due to the success of the show for the South African pay-TV broadcaster.

Chopped South Africa is produced by Snelco Prod. with Sue Nell as executive producer, in association with Ukhamba Communications. Eugene Naidoo is the director of Chopped South Africa.

"Chopped is the most highly rated and popular series on Food Network in South Africa and this new local commission will give more than 40 home grown chefs the chance to compete for victory in South Africa's very own Chopped kitchen," says Nick Thorogood, the senior vice president for content and marketing at Scripps for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

BREAKING. South African cake reality show dumps SABC3 as Charly's Cake Angels moves to the Food Network for its new 2nd season.

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Charly's Cake Angels, the delightful South African cake baking docu-reality show set in Cape Town will no longer be on SABC3 and is moving to the Food Network for the brand new second season from September.

Charly's Cake Angels follows the cake baking adventures of cake momma Jacqui Biess and her cake baker daughters in South Africa's most famous and best cake shop and will no longer be on SABC3 as the show is moving to the Food Network for its second season.

The SABC and SABC3 is losing yet another high-quality local television production which used to be one of its first-run on-air TV properties, and I can reveal that the new first-run second season of Charly's Cake Angels will now start on the Food Network (DStv 175) from 16 September.

New episodes of Charly's Cake Angels will be shown on weekdays at 12:40 and repeated in primetime at 18:30.

TV critics and viewers raved over the well-received Charly's Cake Angels, produced by Cooked in Africa Films, when the first season was shown on SABC3 from the end of 2011. The Food Network subsequently picked up the show and also broadcast the first season globally since September 2012.

Viewers loved the well filmed and colourful drama behind the scenes of Charly's Bakery in Cape Town's Fringe district where Jacqui and her daughters together with a coterie of eccentric and hilarious characters create dazzling cake confectionery.

Production commenced on a second season of Charly's Cake Angels but SABC3 stalled on picking up the show. The Food Network however loved it and decided to take the new second season.

Asked whether SABC3 will be showing the second season of Charly's Cake Angels, Lefa Afrika, SABC3's acting channel head said SABC3 is not currently in any discussions to carry more episodes or seasons of the show.

BREAKING. Food Network gives second season to Jenny Morris; heading to France and Italy for Jenny Morris Cooks the Riviera.

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The Food Network (DStv 175) has given a second season pick-up to the Cape Town celebrity chef Jenny Morris who will do a second series entitled Jenny Morris Cooks the Riviera for the channel filmed along the French and Italian Rivieras.

Jenny Morris' first season of her show on the Food Network - the first South African commissioned TV production for the channel - debuted to boffo ratings when Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco started.

"Jenny's second series showcases one of South Africa's most loved chefs and her cuisine," says Sue Walton, the vice president for commissioning and original content for Scripps UK and the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

"Throughout the series, Jenny's journey through the Riviera's picturesque landscapes will be stacked with inspiration as she serves up menus inspired by the natural beauty and glamour of her surroundings."

In the second series Jenny Morris will journey along the French and Italian Rivieras, starting in the west of France and travelling east along the coast. Jenny Morris Cooks the Riviera will show viewers Saint-Tropez, Monte Carlo, Portofino and Cinque Terre, as well as discovering some of the less well-known tucked-away places while preparing French and Italian cuisine.

"Once again Food Network is feeding my foodie soul," says Jenny Morris. "I'm delighted with the new commission and look forward to an incredible journey and fun experiences I can share with viewers throughout the world," says Jenny Morris..

""From Jenny's Cape Town cookery school she has already had many Mediterranean influences," says Nick Thorogood, the senior vice president for content and marketing for Scripps UK & EMEA. "I'm pleased she will have the chance to travel to the Riviera and explore the cuisine in more detail."

Jonathan Phang goes on an exploration of Caribbean cuisine on The Food Network in Jonathan Phang's Caribbean Cookbook.

Jonathan Phang's Caribbean Cookbook starts on Monday 22 July at 08:05 and 18:05 on The Food Network (DStv 175).

In the show he goes on a trip through the Caribbean, meeting local food legends and contemporary chefs in various Caribbean island nations from Barbados to Tobago, Trinidad to Jamaica and St Lucia to Grenada.

Jonathan Phang serves up his own dishes in every episode in a Caribbean fusion of flavours, by combining European, Asian and African cuisine, as he uncovers secret island dishes which reminds him of his own family's Caribbean ancestry.

BREAKING. Filming of Siba's first Food Network series, Siba's Table, starts in Cape Town.

Filming has started on Siba's Table in Cape Town, celebrity chef Siba Mtongana's new TV cooking show for the Food Network which will be seen in South Africa as well as 85 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the United Kingdom.

It follows after The Food Network signed Siba Mtongana - known as Siba - to produce a brand-new South African cooking show for the channel last year, following her TV show Cooking with Siba on the Mzansi Magic channel programmed by M-Net.

The young black food editor became the second local South African chef to get her own Food Network TV show after Jenny Morris. Filming was delayed until early 2013 due to Siba Mtongana's pregnancy who gave birth to a healthy baby boy in September 2012.

Siba's Table will have 10 half-hour episodes in which Siba Mtongana creates a range of dishes for friends and family.

"Each episode of Siba's Table recreates a chapter of her Cape Town life, as she draws on influences from her childhood, her experience as a food editor, as well as vibrant local artisan producers and the local cutting-edge restaurant scene," says the Food Network.

"Part 'how to' and part lifestyle, Siba's Table is an irresistible half hour slice of recipe ideas, tips and inspiration for all occasions, from weekend brunch and instant suppers, to family feasts and beach braais."

"Siba epitomises the rich fusion culture of South African food today," says Nick Thorogood, the senior vice president for content and marketing at Scripps for the Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

"Siba is an exciting and charismatic talent and Siba's Table is the perfect way to showcase and share her inspiring and contemporary dishes across South Africa and beyond," says Nick Thorogood.