Isabella Niehaus
Stylish, successful, an entrepreneur, blogger and talented cook – these are the words generally used to describe Isabella Niehaus, our cook of the month.
Isabella lives on the Dune in Langebaan where she hosts “langtafel” dinners for up to 40 people at a time. With a never ending view over the cold Atlantic ocean her venue has a magnetic attraction for a circle of well-known celebrities, captains of industry and famous chefs who celebrate their birthdays and weddings at her house.
This grande madame of the Market at the Palms in Woodstock, Bella, as she is known to her friends, started her career in media in 1987 when she became beauty editor of the Rooi Rose magazine. A seven year stint as fashion editor for Sarie magazine followed, then many years in the fashion business working for Men’s Health, Shape,Top Billing Magazine and eventually also as presenter of fashion inserts on the TV-programme Pasella.
Blogging became the next love in her life – that is apart from her kite surfing champion son Taro and her polka dot dog Sa Vu and her cats. Sarie Magazine saw her talent and in July 2010 she launched her blog on the magazine’s website. Topics include life on the West Coast, French food, her family and the joys and tribulations of making a life surrounded by beauty, grace and love.
With fashion and style always part of her career, Isabella seamlessly moved to embrace her inborn love for food, flavours and cooking. Ten years ago she discovered a latent talent behind the stove, and since then, launched her Bella’s food label at various markets and trendy food events such as Kamers vol Geskenke.
Her outstanding quiches, bottled chilli sauce and West Coast mussel dishes form the base of her offering at markets.
Two years ago she started The Market at the Palms where a year ago, the first Spekko Celebrity Chef Cook-off pop-up events launched. These monthly events see consumer magazines’ food editors, celebrity chefs and street cooks compete for the title of the Spekko Celebrity Chef of the Day.
The next event is on 14 February at The Market at The Palms.
To see more of Bella, or contact her for events, find her on Facebook.