“Don’t cover your pot. No-one is putting eyes on your food”... Yudhika Sujanani brings Durban curry heritage to KZN

From left: Beverly Hills Hotel Executive Chef Hagashen Moodley, Yudhika Sujanani and Darren Maule.

Chef Yudhika Sujanani shared family recipes, curry techniques and stories of Isipingo at her sold-out Royal Feast masterclass at the Beverly Hills Hotel in uMhlanga.

There was plenty of laughter, learning and, most importantly, good food at the event.

It was a celebration of Durban’s rich food heritage, childhood memories and the recipes passed down through generations.

Women and men filled the venue, eager to learn the tips, tricks and secrets that have helped Sujanani turn familiar Durban dishes into culinary experiences.

With Darren Maul keeping the afternoon lively as the MC, guests were treated to a hands-on experience that combined cooking techniques with the stories behind the food, while the Beverly Hills Hotel ensured that the hospitality matched the occasion.

“Food doesn't come from me. I'm telling a story. I'm sharing the recipes of my childhood. It comes from a little town in the south of Durban called Isipingo. You would think curry and rice would limit you. And it sets you free,” she said.

That connection to her roots was evident throughout the masterclass, as Sujanani opened up about the food she grew up with and the lessons she inherited from the women in her family.

The menu was nothing short of a royal spread, featuring Royal Parda Lamb Biryani, Shahi Masala Chicken, Tamarind and Tomato Prawn Curry and Burfee Soji.

Each dish carried its own story, but it was the little details that appeared to fascinate guests most.

Many of the women in the audience shared how they prepare their food differently at home, but were equally invested in understanding the small changes Sujanani suggested could make a significant difference to the final dish.

Some of the techniques she explained were the kind traditionally followed in many South African Indian homes, often without question, because that was simply how mothers and grandmothers had taught their daughters to cook.

From left: Darren Maule, Beverly Hills Hotel Executive Chef Hagashen Moodley and Yudhika Sujanani.

With her characteristic humour, Sujanani encouraged guests to question some of those long-held practices.