It Started in a Kitchen in Cape Town
On 4 February 2010, Jade de Waal gathered a group of friends, turned on some music, and cooked together in her parents' kitchen. No formal structure, no professional setup.
Just food, people, and the kind of energy that happens when everyone gets involved.
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That evening turned into a weekly gathering. The weekly gathering turned into a business. And the business grew into one of South Africa's most loved shared cooking experiences, having hosted thousands of guests across the country, with no two Jams ever the same.
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Behind the Apron
Jadeis a cook, creative, and experience-maker whose approach to food has always been rooted in play, generosity, and genuine human connection.
Her background in music gave Food Jams its rhythm: guests arrive as individuals, find their place in the kitchen, create something together, and leave as part of a shared story.
Jade de Waal
Cooking Up A Great Evening
Food Jams runs on a team of hosts, chefs, and coordinators who do far more than just cook. They read a room, bring people into the action, and make sure every guest, whether they've never held a knife or have been cooking for years, feels completely at home from the moment they walk through the door.
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Alison Smith
Supply Chain Sorcerer &
Liquid Architect
Keeps kitchens stocked and glasses full. Alison blends sharp detail with flair, making every Food Jam come together beautifully.
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Teekay Mabongo
Chief Vibes &
Secret Ingredient
The heart and secret ingredient of every Food Jam. Teekay turns kitchens into celebrations, bringing magic no recipe can capture.
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Vuyani Mgwali
Guardian of the Galaxy,
Health & Safety
Calm, watchful and dependable. Vuyani keeps our spaces safe, standards high, and the Food Jams universe spinning smoothly.
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Juanita van Vuuren
Balance Keeper &
Mind Reader
Our Head of Accounts, with an almost magical knack for numbers. Juanita keeps the financial heartbeat strong and balanced.
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Martin Daniels
Head of Culinary Creations & All Things Creative
Turns big ideas into delicious realities. Martin's creativity, chaos and craft shape every unforgettable Food Jams experience.
Why We Do What We Do
Around a Food Jams table, people talk differently. They help each other.
They laugh more. They try something they wouldn't normally try. And they remember the evening because they were part of making it happen, not just attending it.
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Food is one of the simplest ways to get people into the same moment.
We have built an entire experience around that idea.
Generosity
Food Jams Is Built On
Connection
Everything begins with people. The food is the vehicle, the kitchen is the setting, and the connection is the point.
Creativity
Every group brings its own energy, and every Jam reflects that. No two evenings look the same, and that is exactly how we like it.
Play
The best experiences leave room for surprise. We take the food seriously, hold the formality lightly, and always make space for a good laugh.
Food tastes better when it is shared. That belief sits at the centre of every experience we design and every table we set.
Fresh From The Kitchen
From corporate groups to birthday tables, here is what people say when they have experienced a Food Jam for themselves.
