Chef Mercy Liswani believes that food is the heartbeat of a home, asserting that good meals not only bring joy, but also shape the health of a family. With a belief that transcends the kitchen, she emphasises the importance of preparing meals with passion and gentleness, viewing the kitchen not as a mere responsibility, but as a necessity that takes precedence over other tasks.

In an interview with VIBEZ, Liswani said the joy of seeing people ask for more of what she cooked sparked an interest to keep cooking different flavours from time to time. 

Her favourite dish is savoury rice.

“My husband loves cutting vegetables, especially cutting spinach. More of the collaborations are conversations while I do the cooking,” she noted.

Their favourite meal to prepare together is pap, which they call “Inkoko” in Subia, spinach, and liver.  Drawing inspiration from Siba’s Table! from a tender age, she would watch how Siba prepared meals and served them to her family and friends. She has always dreamed of having a cookbook, so she had to start creating or redoing her recipes. 

“My mom employed herself by using her talents. She baked fat cook/junkies or puff as the modern world calls it. From these earnings, she made a comfortable living for my siblings and me. When I went to varsity, I too, began to bake junkies and make earnings that topped up on my allowance from my father. These childhood moments made me realise that my talents will always make room for my survival,” she said. 

Her husband, Tetlow, said house chores are diverse and plenty. He enjoys being outside, tends to the garden, and supports his wife.

“Our meals are prepared by my wife. Dishwashing is within her spheres of responsibilities,” he added. 

Liswani is not only a chef, but also bakes. Her favourite thing to bake is homemade bread.

To advance her skills, she uses Instagram and TikTok. 

-priscillamukokobi@gmail.com