From My Travel Diaries: Singapore 🇸🇬

There are some trips that stay with you because of the places you visit, and others because of the people who make the journey special. My trip to Singapore in 2012 was both. After saying goodbye to the Philippines, it was time for the next stop on our Southeast Asian adventure, Singapore 🇸🇬 Even beforeContinue reading "From My Travel Diaries: Singapore 🇸🇬"

From My Travel Diaries: The Philippines 🇵🇭

Rediscovering my 2012 adventure through the Philippines, from the vibrant streets of Manila to the unforgettable sunsets of Boracay. Over the past few weeks, I've been digging through old hard drives and photo folders, rediscovering memories I hadn't looked at in years. It made me realize just how many adventures happened long before Cocoa GirlContinue reading "From My Travel Diaries: The Philippines 🇵🇭"

A Little Taste of Home 🇿🇦

There are certain foods and drinks that do more than satisfy your appetite. They transport you back to another place and time, bringing with them memories of family, traditions, and moments you didn't realize would stay with you forever. Over the May long weekend, we made a visit to Hyperama and Lekker Meat Shop. WalkingContinue reading "A Little Taste of Home 🇿🇦"

🐟 Pickled Fish, Easter & My Cape Town Roots

The tradition I didn’t always love, but never left me. Easter growing up in Cape Town, in a Coloured family(a South African cultural identity), meant one thing… pickled fish time. It wasn’t something we planned or questioned. It just arrived. And once it did, you knew Easter had officially started. This was a tradition thatContinue reading "🐟 Pickled Fish, Easter & My Cape Town Roots"

Black History Month, Through My Own Lens

In South Africa, I am not racially classified as Black. I am a Coloured woman, a race and culture with its own complex identity, history, and heritage. Many of us are deeply mixed, like I am. Our identity is layered, shaped by Indigenous, African, European, and Asian ancestry. It carries its own language, humour, traditions,Continue reading "Black History Month, Through My Own Lens"

Buttery Cranberry & Almond Cookies

This was an unplanned bake, the kind that happens when you’re tired but still craving something comforting. Using a few pantry ingredients I had on hand, these cookies came together quietly and simply. They’re buttery, lightly crumbly, and just sweet enough, with little pops of cranberry tartness balanced by sliced almonds. Perfect with a cupContinue reading "Buttery Cranberry & Almond Cookies"

You Don’t Move a People’s History

Photo: “Kaapse Klopse 2011” by Felix König, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Growing up, Klopse was simply part of what we knew. I had family who participated, and it was woven into the background of our lives, even though I was never someone who marched in the streets or planned my yearContinue reading "You Don’t Move a People’s History"

What I Eat When I Visit Cape Town 🇿🇦

Whenever I visit Cape Town, I don’t arrive with a strict plan. I always arrive with a mental foodie list. These are the foods I crave almost immediately. Not fancy. Not trendy. Just familiar, comforting, and deeply tied to home, especially the ones that don’t quite taste the same in Toronto. The welcoming sign atContinue reading "What I Eat When I Visit Cape Town 🇿🇦"

This Christmas 🎄✨️

This Christmas feels quieter. Not in a way that feels empty, but in a way that feels settled. After years of Christmases shifting and changing, this one feels very much rooted in the present. This year, we kept some of the traditions that now feel familiar. Creating a Christmas menu. Writing a letter to Santa.Continue reading "This Christmas 🎄✨️"

Buttery Chocolate & Nut Christmas Cookies

These buttery chocolate and nut cookies are simple, cosy, and exactly how I like to bake at Christmas. Not overly sweet, not fussy, just soft, comforting cookies made with dark chocolate and nuts. Perfect for sharing, gifting, or leaving out for Santa with a glass of milk. This is truly a recipe I created myself,Continue reading "Buttery Chocolate & Nut Christmas Cookies"