KNYSNA NEWS - Eighty days after the fire, professional chef Daniela Dotan and her team are still producing meals to assist victims.
By Friday, August 25, Ningmo Foods had delivered 18 338 meals to victims and those in need since the advent of the fires.
This dynamic entrepreneur, who hails from Durban where her macaroon manufacturing business is located, has moved to Knysna and is intent on doing what she can to contribute positively to the town she now calls home.
She and her team have been a godsend to many of the tired mothers who, after a full day of working, find it too daunting a task to head to the kitchen to cook a full meal.
Extra portions are also available to those interested, at R20 per portion. This money gets ploughed back into buying ingredients to make more meals, in addition to the regular meals prepared by Ningmo to order.
After a plea put out on social media, the private relief initiative Knysna Fires 7th June donated R10 000 to the delighted Dotan and her team on August 28, which means that she can contiinue to supply the meals to fire victims for the time being.
Dotan has stated that she will continue her efforts for as long as she gets support and donations. To those wishing to continue to donate to the relief effort, any items are welcome, from a packet of onions to a tin of bully beef – anything food-related helps.
Dotan says she could use more volunteers to help with food preparation – or, as she put it, she would welcome the assistance of anybody with “a keen interest in peeling potatoes and carrots”!
Those who help may well get to pick up a few useful cooking tips.
How can you help?
Order food… All profits from orders received this week go towards our Ningmo Fire Relief Efforts.
For this week, Ningmo will be doing Roast Tuesday and Curry Thursday only, at R50 per portion.
On both options there is a vegetarian and low-carb option in addition to their "all the trimmings" option.
Tuesday: Roast pork with pot-roasted potatoes, carrots, rice and gravy. If you don't fancy pork, there will be chicken and vegetable option for the roast available too. Low-carb options will replace the potato with sweet potato and the rice with some extra greens.
Thursday: Flavourful Durban chicken curry and rice, with a potato and chickpea option for vegetarians. Served with basmati rice and sambals. (Low-carb option will include caulirice.)
Remember to place your order by 09:00 on Tuesday/Thursday for that day's meal. Meals will keep in the fridge for three days and both options this week are freezer friendly.
Collect 14:00 to 16:00 on both days from the factory, or 17:00 to 18:00 from Daniela Dotan's house on Leisure Isle (by prior arrangement only).
Read more about it on Facebook/Ningmo Foods.
Read more articles about the Knysna fires here.
ARTICLE: JULIE JEFFERYS, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
