About

email: anelpot@telkomsa.net

I grew up with three elder brothers in a very small Free State town Wepener – there were no luxuries when it came to food, no restaurants or fancy bistros. We grew up on meat, rice and potatoes. But Sunday was cake day!  People came to our house every Sunday after church to have some tea and cake – So my first memory of food and the kitchen started at the tender age of 8 when my mom told me I must bake a “dadelbrood” (date bread) for the next day.  After that I had to do it every single Saturday. Later when I was 11 the ladies at the “kerkbasaar”(church fates) always asked me to taste the curry “right”.  I had to stand on the chair lean over these “gasstofies” (gas stoves) and peep in the pots and shout out what they need to give me so we can “fix” the taste of the curry.

In 2012 … I was so depressed after my “Masterchef Rejection” episode (Made the Top 35) A few weeks later I woke up one morning (12th April 2012 to be exact) and decided enough is enough, I needed to write about food and so I started this blog… then called lifeisazoobiscuit.

Well, since then nothing has been the same. I have won the Dinner Divas Series 1 on national television and my blog has won the 2013 + 2014 Eat Out Best Local Food Blog of the Year award. I am now a TV Chef on Expresso Morning Show, Content Producer for Expresso Morning Show + Afternoon Express, the food writer for Rapport  (the largest Afrikaans Sunday Newspaper), styled Anatoli’s recipe book (which I am very proud of) and do demo’s + inspirational talks.  Can you believe it? My heart has healed and the goddess of food has opened her arms to me. My life is now happy, colourful and full of joy and excitement.

Thank you!

Anél Potgieter

47 Responses »

  1. Hallo daar,
    Ek geniet jou artikel in die Rapport baie. Ek wou die resep hou vir die Cremora trifle maar tussen my en my man het dit in die asblik beland. Is daar ‘n kans dat jy dit vir my kan epos asb? Of laat weet my net as jy dit op jou webblad sit.
    Sal dit baie waardeer.
    Groete
    Monica

  3. Anel, jy het so ‘n paar maande gelede ‘n “scone” resep in die Rapport gehad (nie die “sprite” een nie). Dit is my vrou se gunsteling maar die koerant uitknipsel het ongelukkig verlore geraak. Kan jy ons dit dalk weer laat kry.

  6. Hou baie van jou storie oor Kwela! Jou passie is aansteeklik. Baie geluk met jou sukses tot dusver en mag jy nog vele hê in toekoms. My vrou se grootste swakheid is melktert en ek gaan miljoene brownie points bymekaar maak met daai melktert in tee koppie en kaneel twirlies. Hoop dit gaan soos joune lyk

  7. Hou baie van jou storie oor Kwela! Jou passie is aansteeklik. Baie geluk met jou sukses tot dusver en mag jy nog vele hê in toekoms. My vrou se grootste swakheid is melktert en ek gaan miljoene brownie points bymekaar maak met daai melktert in tee koppie en kaneel twirlies. Hoop dit gaan soos joune lyk

  8. Ons is trots op jou !!!

    Wepener se grondslag het baie sukses behaal!

  11. Anel ek het die insetsel op kwela gesien dat jy die prys vir die beste blog gewen het. Baie geluk. Ek het nou vir die eerste keer na jou blog gekyk en is regtig verras en baie be-indruk met die blog. Gaan definitief van jou resepte gebruik om lekker slaai en andere te maak.

    Sal jou blog dophou.
    Ns.
    My bynaam is Sagie al naam wat ek ken

  12. Hi there! Is there any way I could contact you? I would like to talk to you about maybe doing a guest post… if you would be at all interested in that… 🙂

  17. Drooling for daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayzzzzz!!!! 😛
    Why are you not catering for our opening? hmm?

  21. I love your recipes…. and so easy…. Good luck for the future and yes I will keep using your blog.. 🙂

  23. Liewe Anel…ek hoop jy onthou my uit laerskooldae??? My ma my vertel van jou en ek is so trots op jou!! Ek hoop jy sal nog hoogtes bereik en gaan defnitief jou resepte op die proef stel!! Groete…

  25. Hello Anel,
    Your blog is an absolute joy. Happy, happy days!
    Warm regards,
    Debs

  27. Hallo Anel

    I’ve come to know about you via Dinner Divas – I think you are awesome!
    Today I am quickly looking for a fun idea for something new to make for tomorrow – we don’t do the Christmas thing .. but thought since it is a holiday and we all are overworked and stress, will have a fun dinner!

    I am a Potgieter too by birth and every time you girls cook, I hold thumbs that you come out tops!! Though all the Dinner Divas and Gentleman Rocks! You all have a lovely spirit!

    Looking forward to next week to see who is no 1, but my vote is for YOU!

    I write as Ah,Willa! but my real name is Willa (nee Potgieter) Truter 🙂
    http://www.willa.co.za

  29. Hi Anel, (my head is hanging in shame as i write this message” till today i did not realize you had this blog–i aways just looked at what was on Food24. It is amazing and well done!!!

  32. What a surprise! Rick loved your message – so thank you for sending and thank you for the follow. We are going to Dublin in Dec – perhaps we can get together?
    Love
    A

  34. Hi Anel, As background I worked with Rick for a number of year’s at STWS. Just discovered your lovely food blog and have really enjoyed literally dipping into it this morning. Zoo biscuits are always on our SA grocery list (we now live in Dublin) – loved your story. I can’t wait to try your recipes and I was particularly interested to read about white peppers comeback. Best wishes and fond regards to Rick too. Susan

  35. You have my mouth watering and my feet are itchy to get up from my desk and rush over to the kitchen to get cooking!

  37. Hello Anel 🙂
    So lovely meeting you at lunch today!! And now that I know you are the lovely lady behind the ‘zoo biscuit blog’, I’ll be stopping by more regularly!!

    All the best,
    Tessa xxx

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