[caption id="attachment_39679" align="alignright" width="405"] FOOD IDENTITY: Karen Dudley exercises 'every molecule of her creativity' in her Woodstock eatery, The Kitchen[/caption]
IT'S hard to tell if Karen Dudley loves food or people more, but they are intrinsically linked in the bubbly chef's mind.
A woman who exudes warmth and fun, Dudley uses food as a metaphor for many things – togetherness, nourishment and sharing – so it is fitting her famous sandwiches have been dubbed Love Sandwiches.
It is these little packages of joy that the Cape Town chef will prepare for foodies from across the country at next week's Plett Food and Film Festival.
Owner of Woodstock eatery The Kitchen, Dudley's Love Sandwiches became famous when US first lady Michelle Obama and her daughters dropped in for a bite while on an African tour in 2011.
Obama's daughters ate Love Sandwiches while the first lady dived into the likes of beetroot apple coriander salad, as well as falafel, hummus and aubergine ratatouille.
The Obama adventure aside, Dudley's life has not been boring.
A girl "who did well at school" and faced the expectation that she would go to university and choose a career, Dudley floundered somewhat when expected to make that choice.
She chose a BA, looked at the possibility of becoming a social worker and decided against it because, "I realised it wasn't for me. It would have been all flat shoes and no passion".
Demoralised she headed overseas never to return to university but rather to start on a path that at times must seem surreal. Growing up in a food-loving family where everything special was celebrated with heaving tables, Dudley learnt an appreciation for good cooking.
"I developed an appreciation for delicious things. Not necessarily pretentious food – just good food."
Her journey to becoming a celebrated chef and the author of two popular cookbooks saw her working at The Cedars on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington as well as in London.
And while social work wasn't on the cards for Dudley, her dreams of connecting people, fostering goodwill and celebrating South Africa's diversity are still top of mind.
This, she says, is what she is most looking forward to at the Plett Food and Film Festival.
"As a country we are finding our identity and at the same time we are finding our food identity.
"I'm so looking forward to talking about flavours and how they connect all of us. How they connect people."
She explains that food, when made with intention and with a person in mind, "becomes amazing".
When making her Love Sandwiches, Dudley makes sure she asks the right questions.
"I ask people how they are feeling so I know what to prepare for them. I ask if they need comfort or nurturing, feeling adventurous or conservative and then I know what to make. Anyone can make Love Sandwiches at home. All they need to do is make them with attention and love."
Speaking about love, Dudley enthuses about her life. "I'm living my dream, a dream where I get to exercise every molecule of my creativity." - Angela Daniels