Jenny Morris – known to all her fans around the country as the Giggling Gourmet – is one of South Africa’s most-loved food personalities.

The popular celebrity chef – who has the distinction of being the first South African chef to host her own show on the international Food Network channel – will be appearing at the Good Food & Wine Show which takes place in Durban from October 30 to November 1.

Morris admits that she’s going to be very busy at the show appearing at a number of the food extravaganza’s different theatres and stands including the Celebrity Chefs Theatre and Romancing the Stove.

“I can’t wait, I love interacting with an audience,” she says.

Jenny is delighted to be back in action at Romancing the Stove, in which couples are invited to come and join Morris for live interactive cooking lessons where they are shown how to create food that lifts moods, celebrates special occasions and adds a bit of spice to their love lives.

“Food is a love affair in the true sense of the word, one that employs all the senses”, says Jenny who admits that for her touch is vital.

“Feeling your food is important,” she says. “Caress it, stroke it and know it intimately. How you eat your food will reveal what kind of lover you are. You don’t want someone who eats a sosatie with a knife and fork,” she says with a laugh.

Jenny’s formula for success is to “entertain informatively and inform entertainingly”, something she does with flair. Although she has cooked for dozens of celebrities and royals, (including Prince Charles, Thabo Mbeki, Kenneth Kaunda, Charlize Theron and Al Gore), Jenny remains down to earth, and when she’s not wowing the public she can be found in her kitchen stirring a pot of something fragrant and delicious.

“Layer those flavours,” she advises, “and feel that dish come alive in your hands!”

Jenny also encourages audiences to come to the Good Food & Wine Show on Saturday, October 31, where the World Cup rugby final will be shown on giant screens.

“It will be a real jol. I will be giving out free champion boerewors rolls on a first come, first serve basis. See you there!”

Q&A with Jenny

Does Durban have fond food memories for you and what are they?
I was born in Durban and my love of food was born in my parents vegetable gardens, we grew and ate only our own veggies, that’s when I fell in love with food that is fresh and seasonal. I still have family living in KZN and visit them when I do work in Durban.
What has Durban contributed to SA cuisine?
Durban has a wonderful mix of nationalities so the food is quite global, but I always associate Durban with bunny chow and a darn fine curry. In fact when I visited my son Wade when he was in London the first thing I had to make him was a Durban curry.
You do everything from TV and radio to cookery tours, demonstrations and writing books. Do you have a favourite?
They are all my favourites, how can you ask me that! Let’s say I love to travel to new places, this gives me the inspiration to write my books and share my stories and experiences with the wonderful people who attend my food demonstrations.
What else do you still want to achieve?
I want to watch my children grow and prosper; I want to inspire and nurture the young chefs going forward; I want to write more cook books, travel and taste the world and make more food TV shows; I want to live to an old age with my husband. I want a grey Tom cat too!
What utensils can you not live without?
A really sharp knife, my pestle and mortar and my microplane.
Tell us a little bit about what’s hot in SA at the moment when it comes to food trends?
I think Asian food is here to stay, tapas is going to be in for a long time, and watch out for Korean food, I just love it, and I think people are also looking for a meal that is well priced and plentiful; value for money is what I hear on the streets.
How, as a chef, do you stay on top of what’s popular or do you determine what’s popular?
I have my own style and I create my own dishes and flavours but I listen to people and I like to give them what they want as well.

The Durban Good Food & Wine Show takes place from October 30 to November 1 at the Durban Exhibition Centre in association with Durban Tourism. There will be book signings with all the celebrity chefs at the show. The visiting chefs will be staying at the Oyster Box Hotel.

The Good Food & Wine Show Durban
Dates: Friday October 30 to Sunday, November 1.

Celebrity Chefs: Brent Owens, MasterChef Australia 2014 winner; Claire Allen, MasterChef South Africa 2014 finalist; Giggling Gourmet Jenny Morris; Ndumiso Mncwabe, MasterChef South Africa 2014 finalist; Penny Fitchet, MasterChef South Africa 2014 finalist; Renae Smith, MasterChef Australia 2014 finalist; Reza Mahammad; Rick Stein; Roxanne Wardman, MasterChef South Africa 2014 winner; Siphokazi Mdlankomo, MasterChef South Africa 2014 finalist and Yudhika Sujanani

Venue: Durban Exhibition Centre, 11 Walnut Road, Durban
Hours: Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 10:00-21:00; Sunday, November 1, 10:00-18:00

Ticket Prices:
• Adults: R 90 at the door
• Age 12-18: R 60
• Children under 12: Free
• Senior Citizens: R 60
• Purchase 10 or more tickets: R 80 each
• Wine Combo Ticket: R 115 (Includes show entry, wine tasting glass & 5 wine tasting vouchers)

Wine Tasting Prices:
• Wine Combo Ticket: R 115 (Includes show entry, wine tasting glass & 5 wine tasting vouchers)
• Wine Glass: R 30 (Includes GFWS glass to keep and 5 tasting vouchers)
• Additional Wine Vouchers: R 25 (1 booklet with 5 wine tasting vouchers)
Celebrity Chefs Theatre Prices:
• Local Chefs: Free, entry on a first come, first serve basis (GFWS entry not included)
• International Chefs: R 100 (GFWS entry not included)
• Kids under four who sit on laps: Free

Tickets: Available through Computicket (www.computicket.com) or at the door.

Go to:
• www.goodfoodandwineshow.co.za
• Twitter: @goodfoodSA
• Facebook: Good Food and Wine Show SA