Isla cooks Cape Town

25/03/2026

This is what I mean when I say sunshine food—fresh, vibrant, and made to share ☀️

These are the kind of canapés I love to serve at gatherings… light, colourful, full of flavour, and just a little bit indulgent without feeling heavy.

Crispy brioche prawn toast with that perfect golden crunch, and delicate mirin-marinated salmon with avocado and Japanese mayo, served in the lightest rice paper crisp.

The kind of bites people hover around… and keep coming back for.

I cook everything fresh in your home, creating relaxed, beautiful dining experiences that feel effortless but still really special ✨

Private chef dining & events in Cape Town
www.islacookscapetown.co.za
WhatsApp to book

24/01/2026

I’m Isla – a private chef, recipe developer and restaurant consultant based in Cape Town, and the woman behind Isla Cooks Cape Town.

My food philosophy is what I call Sunshine Food – joyful, seasonal, flavour-forward dishes that feel nourishing, generous and a little bit special. Think modern comfort food with elegance, colour and soul.

I create intimate, restaurant-style dining experiences in people’s homes – the kind that feel relaxed, beautiful and quietly luxe, without any of the stress of hosting.

My style leans into:

• Refined South African flavours with a modern twist

• Mediterranean & French-inspired comfort food

• Sharing feasts, elegant small plates & fine-dining menus

• Playful but polished desserts (my true love language)

I take care of everything – menu planning, dietary needs, shopping, cooking, plating and cleaning down – so you actually get to enjoy your own dinner party.

Perfect for:

• Birthday dinners

• Romantic nights in

• Anniversaries

• Small celebrations

• Hen dos

• Intimate dinner parties

• “We just want something special” nights

Alongside private cheffing, I also run a recipe-led food website and work as a restaurant consultant, helping brands and restaurants develop menus, concepts and dishes that feel modern, soulful and commercially smart.

A little personal note: I’m also a mum to twins, so I really understand the magic of gathering people around the table and making moments feel easy, warm and special.

If you’re looking for a private chef experience that feels warm, stylish and deliciously memorable – I’d love to cook for you 🤍

Instagram:

Website (recipes + info): https://www.islacookscapetown.co.za/

Or message me here to chat menus and dates

19/01/2026

I recently had the joy of cooking this birthday menu and wanted to share it here with fellow Cape Town food lovers

We started with a spread of canapés designed to feel light, generous and celebratory:
– Crispy zucchini fritters with whipped feta and herb oil
– Fresh tuna tartare spoons
– Beetroot & goat’s cheese cheesecake finished with microherbs
– Bruschetta with mushroom pate, sautéed mushrooms and a cherry gel

For mains, the table shared a Middle Eastern–leaning feast. Harissa & rose–roasted chicken, served with lemon yoghurt, olive oil and fresh herbs, alongside a whole-roasted cauliflower as a vegetarian centrepiece with tahini, pine nuts and parsley.

Everything was paired with preserved lemon couscous, cumin-and-honey charred carrots with yoghurt, and simple lemony greens — vibrant, comforting, and made for sharing.

Dessert was a birthday entremet to finish, because every celebration deserves something a little special. The Entremet consisted of a sable base, earl grey mousse with a lemon curd centre garnished with edible flowers as I can’t help myself

This is the kind of food I love cooking: seasonal, elegant but unfussy, and designed to bring people together around the table.

If you’re planning a birthday, intimate dinner or special gathering in Cape Town, feel free to reach out
www.islacookscapetown.co.za

21/12/2025

Savoury doughnut with biltong mousse, blueberrry and buchu gel.

20/12/2025

Ostrich tataki with naartjie ponzu and crispy leeks

16/12/2025

Private Chef Proposal Dinner | Hout Bay

This proposal dinner was planned months in advance — he first got in touch in August to create a considered, elegant evening in Hout Bay for his partner. The brief was to mark a significant moment with food that felt classic, refined, and quietly luxurious. The beautiful set up was done by the incredibly talented Picnics by Luthando

They selected my French Fare menu, beginning with butter-poached prawns on a smooth cauliflower purée with pickled fennel and fresh dill fronds, served in a scallop dish for a subtle retro touch.

The main course featured chicken ballotine filled with mushroom duxelle, accompanied by roasted carrots, wilted spinach, a golden fondant potato, and finished with a truffle velouté.

Dessert was white chocolate crémeux with crisp meringue shards, a light dusting of beetroot powder, black pepper, rose-marinated strawberries, and toasted pistachios.

An intimate but meaningful celebration, thoughtfully planned from start to finish — and a privilege to cook for such an important moment.

For private chef bookings, proposals, and intimate celebrations:
Website: www.islacookscapetown.co.za
Mobile: 071 478 7332
Email: [email protected]
Airbnb Experiences: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/services/6058133?viralityEntryPoint=179&s=76

11/12/2025

05/11/2025

A bright start to the day — flaky pastries, creamy yoghurt, ripe strawberries, golden granola, and savoury bites to balance it all. Designed to be shared and lingered over — the kind of breakfast that fills a table (and your morning) with sunshine.

Private breakfast services and weekend spreads available in Cape Town.
✨ www.islacookscapetown.co.za

01/09/2025

Courgette Fritters with Whipped Feta & Herb Oil
Spring on a plate
To celebrate the first day of spring, I’ve paired crisp courgette fritters with whipped feta, vibrant herb oil, delicate courgette ribbons and a scattering of crispy shallots.

It’s fresh, bright, and full of texture — everything I love about this season.

Here’s to longer days, lighter meals, and celebrating what’s in season.

29/08/2025

First breakfast service in my brand-new chef jacket (a 40th birthday present from my husband ☺️)And what a dreamy setting to debut it: an Airbnb in Camps Bay with the ocean just beyond the kitchen.

I put together a menu that felt fresh and colourful. What I like to call my version of sunshine food.
Chia pots with poached nectarines & toasted coconut
A rainbow seasonal fruit platter
Homemade petit croissants & danish pastries
Breakfast pannacotta with crunchy granola and blood orange segments
Poached eggs on sourdough with avocado, rooibos dukkah & cherry tomato

Simple, vibrant food to start the day the right way.

If you’re hosting guests in Cape Town — or just want to treat yourself at home — I’d love to bring a breakfast like this to your table.

isla cooks cape town | south african chefs | Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/services/6058133?viralityEntryPoint=179&s=76

21/07/2025

Smoked trout, crème fraîche, trout roe and crisp potato — a dreamy little mouthful that’s simple but feels just the right kind of fancy. I love serving these chilled on scallop shells over ice, with a sprig of dill for freshness. Light, salty, creamy, crunchy… everything you want in a first bite.

Perfect for a summer lunch or passed around with something bubbly