South African Cooking Class Dublin | The Long Table Experience

Jul 1
2 min read

South African cooking class in Dublin with guests learning and cooking together

A Celebration of Food, Culture and Connection

On the 27th of June, Dine With Lelo Ireland hosted a vibrant Long Table Kitchen Experience — an immersive South African cooking class and communal dining event in Dublin that brought strangers together to cook, connect and share a feast inspired by home.

From the moment guests arrived, the room filled with laughter, curiosity and the unmistakable aroma of South African spices. This wasn’t just a cooking class — it was a

cultural gathering, a storytelling session, and a long‑table celebration of community.

South African Cooking Class Dublin: What Guests Cooked

This event featured a hands‑on cooking session where guests learned how to prepare true South African classics, guided by Chef Lelo.

Guests preparing South African dishes during the Long Table cooking class in Dublin

Starter: Boerewors & Onions in Sauce

Guests began by preparing a warm, comforting starter of boerewors simmered with onions sauce — a dish that instantly transported everyone to South African braai culture.

Boerewors simmering in onion sauce as part of the South African starter cooked in class

Main Course: Hardbody Chicken (Umleqwa) with Pap

The highlight of the day was cooking umleqwa, the traditional hardbody chicken stew known for its deep flavour and cultural significance. Guests learned:

How to clean and prepare hardbody chicken
How to build flavour slowly
How to cook pap, the essential South African staple

This was the moment where everyone truly felt connected — cooking a dish that carries generations of heritage.

Traditional umleqwa hardbody chicken stew cooked during the South African cooking class

The Long Table Feast: Eating Together as a Community

After cooking, everyone gathered at the long table — the heart of the experience.

A Table Full of Flavour

The feast included:

Boerewors & onion starter
Umleqwa with pap
A curated cheese board
Fresh juices and refreshers
A selection of South African wines
cheesecake dessert

The table looked beautiful, colourful and full of life.

Long table feast with South African wines, juices and cheesecake at Dine With Lelo event

Meeting New People & Making New Friends

The long‑table format encouraged guests to:

Meet new people
Share stories
Laugh together
Learn about each other’s cultures
Build new friendships

By the end of the afternoon, strangers were talking like old friends.

Guests connecting, cooking and making new friends at the South African cooking class

What Guests Learned

This wasn’t just a meal — it was a learning experience.

Guests learned:

How to cook umleqwa
How to prepare pap
How to make boerewors & onion sauce
How South African flavours work together
The cultural meaning behind each dish
The importance of long‑table dining in South African hospitality

They left with new skills, new memories and new connections.

Participants learning South African cooking techniques and preparing dishes together

Why This Experience Is Unique in Ireland

Dine With Lelo Ireland is Ireland’s home for authentic South African culinary experiences, offering:

South African cooking classes
Private dining experiences
Corporate catering
Cultural supper clubs

No other experience blends cooking, culture, storytelling and community quite like this.

Guests enjoying a communal South African long‑table dining experience in Dublin

Book Your Next Experience

If you missed this event, more are coming soon. Join us for the next South African cooking class or long‑table dining experience in Dublin.

Cook. Connect. Dine — with Dine With Lelo.

Umleqwa chicken dish served at the South African cooking class experience

South African Cooking Class Dublin | The Long Table Experience

A Celebration of Food, Culture and Connection