So, you’ve followed that chocolate soufflé recipe word for word and it emerges from the oven perfectly puffed up. There’s no way you’re not going to humble brag with an Instagram post, but no matter what filter you use, it ends up looking, well, pretty amateur. There’s a course for that, you know. Nina Timm, award-winning blogger of My Easy Kitchen, cookbook author and hands-down one of South Africa’s favourite foodies, has turned styling and photographing her culinary creations into an art.

And, guess what, she’s not shy to share the tips she’s spent years figuring out herself. If your level of cooking isn’t quite that of a MasterChef contestant yet, she can help with that too. This June, Nina will return to African Relish for a weekend course to help food enthusiasts take their cooking and food photography into a whole new league – and to prove that you don’t need to blow the budget in the process. All done the easy way, of course. In her trademark laid-back, friendly way, she’ll spend the weekend guiding you step by step through making the kind of food every dinner-party guest – and Instagrammer – dreams about. And eating it, obviously.

Ravioli and gnocchi, quiche, roast seasonal vegetable salad, a lattice tart… the type of dishes that looks and taste amazing, but are deceptively simple to make. In between all the cooking and nom-nomming, Nina will show you all the ins and outs of plating, styling and shooting your food to transform it into the stuff of trendy lifestyle blogs. No filters in sight.

A creative weekend of cooking and foraging with legendary Karoo born Chef Chris Erasmus, owner of restaurant Foliage in Franschhoek. Join him in celebrating organic food from farm and veld to plate. Meet local Prince Albert food heroes and spend time in the kitchen cooking with foraged ingredients. Chef Chris will have you foraging in veld and town gardens, reworking classic recipes, making ciabatta from acorns (say what?!) and pickling and preserving. You will even do a bit of cheese curd making.

Chris was taught to cook by his Mom and the most important lesson he learned from her was how to make a little go a long way. At first he studied chemistry and dentistry and only later pursued his dream to become a chef at the Elsa van der Nest Academy. After his internship at Five Flies in Cape Town he went abroad and met his food mentor Shane Osborn in the UK. Here he was taught urgency, precision and skill and was allowed to explore his interest in chemistry and analysis of all cooking techniques. He returned home and put his valuable knowledge and experience to work as Executive chef at well-known restaurants, giving new life to old recipes. Pierneef received Eat Out top ten award in 2013 and wine destination two years in a row.

Chris’s global experience have taught him discipline, respect and passion for many different styles of cuisine. What excites him the most is being part of a new food awakening in Africa. He is determined to promote the local food community to diners and industry alike and is confident that our true haute cuisine have only just begun.