Everything A Cool Restaurant Owner Buys In Her Weekly Shop
FRUIT & VEG
Tenderstem broccoli: My children call them ‘mini trees’ and they’re one of the few vegetables they will actually eat. I usually buy two or three packs a week because we go through so much of it. I like sautéing them in olive oil with a little chilli and chopped garlic for a quick side dish, or tossing them through pasta for an easy midweek dinner.
Grapes: I love snacking on grapes. Sometimes I’ll put them in the freezer for a little frozen treat – they taste like sweets.
Apples: Apple pie baking has become a weekly tradition in our house. It’s a nice way to slow down, especially during the autumn months, and it always makes the kitchen smell incredible. Plus, it’s a good way to get my kids to eat fruit.
Courgette: Whenever I can’t think of what to cook, I like stirring grated courgettes into orzo with a little lemon zest, grated parmesan and fresh herbs like mint or basil, or peas for extra greens. It’s one of those simple, go-to dinners that feels effortless but satisfying.
Berries: I always keep a mix of berries in the fridge – strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. They’re my favourite topping for morning yogurt and granola.
FRIDGE STAPLES
Cream: I always have a pot of cream in the fridge for my special carbonara. It’s a nostalgic recipe for me that my mum made for us growing up, and a dish my kids now ask for all the time.
Eggs: An absolute essential, both in our house and on our weekend brunch menu at Kudu. We go through so many – fried for breakfast, scrambled for the kids or poached on toast with avocado and pickled cucumber for a quick lunch.
Butter: You can’t beat salted butter, especially when slathered on toast. I can’t live without it.
Smoked salmon: I used to live in New York and developed a real weakness for smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, piled high with capers and red onion. It’s become one of my favourite easy lunches – and a little nod to that chapter of my life.
Parmesan: We’re a family of pasta lovers. I usually cook one meal that all of us, kids included, can enjoy together, and pasta always wins – always sprinkled generously with parmesan cheese.
CUPBOARD ESSENTIALS
Honey: My kids love porridge in the mornings, always with an extra drizzle of honey.
Soy sauce: For soy-baked salmon with rice and veg. It’s one of my favourite go-to dishes for a quick and simple dinner after a busy day at work.
Monkey gland sauce: It’s a sweet, sticky, tangy South African condiment and a Kudu favourite. I always make sure to have a bottle on hand for adding to grilled meats or adding to marinades for depth of flavour.
Olive oil: We get through so much olive oil in our house; I use it for just about everything – from cooking and making salad dressings to finishing dishes. My favourite brands are Napolina and Filippo Berio.
Cajun spices: My kids love fajitas – they’re a weekly staple. Cajun-spiced chicken with wraps never fails.
SNACKS & TREATS
Ouma buttermilk rusks: We make a monthly visit to The Savanna in King’s Cross to stock up on all of our South African favourites, and these biscuits are an absolute essential. We can’t have our morning tea without them.
Breadsticks: I’m addicted to the Crosta & Mollica Torinesi Parmesan & Poppy Seed Breadsticks. So good for nibbling on their own or for dipping into cream cheese or hummus.
Olives: Nocellara olives are my weakness. My daughter Luna loves them too.
Biltong: It’s a must-have in our kitchen and on the Kudu menu since we opened. We make our own in-house at the restaurant, but I also love Ember Biltong for snacking at home.
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DRINKS
ProNutro Hot Chocolate: Another staple on our shopping trips to The Savanna in King’s Cross. We have this every night before bed. It’s hands down the best hot chocolate.
San Pellegrino: I love sparkling water – it’s the only way I manage to drink enough water throughout the day, so I get through a lot of it.
Graham Beck Sparkling Wine: We always keep a bottle of this on hand for special occasions, or for a little celebratory glass on a quiet night off.
FREEZER
Sweet potato fries: My kids are obsessed – they’ll eat them with anything and everything. They’re a weekly staple in our house.
Coconut mochi: I love Little Moons and the coconut flavour is my absolute favourite. I always keep a pack in the fridge ready for whenever I’m craving a sweet treat.
Chopped onions: A lifesaver for busy parents. There’s never time to chop onions when you have three kids, so having them ready to go is a total game-changer.
For more, visit KUDUCOLLECTIVE.COM
SHOP AMY'S FAVOURITES
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