What are some of your most memorable catering experiences?
Many of my most memorable experiences stem from years back when my mom and aunts started Norma and Vilma Caterers. I was just a young girl, and we had the honour to cater for, and subsequently meet, Pope John Paul II when he visited South Africa. All our families had the honour to meet him, and it was the most incredible day.
What is your philosophy on food and catering?
You need to love what you do to provide food that tastes and looks good. We always try to create an environment at work with happy and fulfilled team members. A happy chef creates beautiful food.
What makes your catering business unique?
We take great pride in basing our business on creating relationships with clients. This has always been the cornerstone of our business, even when it started 30 years ago.
How do you stay up to date with the latest trends in catering?
Social media is a huge influence in my business. I am always getting new ideas online, but we also work with a wonderful bunch of event planners and coordinators who push us out of our comfort zone, often creating new and wonderful food and experiences.
What is your culinary guilty pleasure?
I am simple when it comes to food. I love a night out at a nice restaurant, not a fancy or expensive one. The local family restaurant in the neighbourhood with my husband and children is just perfect for me.
You are becoming known as an ambassador of local flavours in diplomatic circles. What is the major thing you want to teach diplomats about South African food?
I would not say we are gurus in local flavours, but we love to bring South African flavours into international dishes. We are blessed to be entrusted with some wonderful National Days, where we try new international cuisines that often become popular with our other clients afterwards. South Africans have a wide exposure to international food. We grew up with families that ate anything and everything, so we are very lucky to have been exposed to such a variety of flavours.
Who influenced you the most?
There is no doubt that my mother, Norma, has been my biggest influence in the catering business. She started and ran Norma and Vilma Caterers successfully for 25 years until COVID. Thereafter, she and I started Norma and Co on our own in 2021. Although she has taken a step back from the business, she still works and runs things in the background. She continues to have a big influence on the flavours and recipes we create and produce.
Your work involves a great deal of creativity. Where do you find your inspirations?
A lot of our setups and creations involve trial and error. We have wonderful suppliers, such as florists and equipment decor companies, who assist with beautiful equipment and flowers. Staying on top of trends in the catering industry worldwide also helps with inspiration. There are many caterers doing amazing things daily. Thanks to social media, we can now draw inspiration globally.
When did your business begin?
Norma and Co started in 2021 during COVID, on the backbone of Norma and Vilma Caterers. COVID hit our industry hard, and instead of closing our doors permanently, we decided to restructure, move premises, downsize substantially and start again. This was a huge leap of faith, but we are so grateful that we were able to remain relevant to some of our clients and have gained many more along the way.
Which was the first embassy you catered for?
I was still a young girl, but I remember my mom and aunts catering for the Embassy of Peru’s National Day, even before the business had official premises. Back then, the business was still being run from our kitchen in our family home.
How many embassies do you now cater for?
In diplomatic circles, there is always a regular changeover of staff, so we are incredibly grateful for our South African contacts who carry us through different missions. We currently work with a wonderful group of ambassadors, high commissioners, consul generals and many others. I would estimate we now work with approximately 25 embassies.
by Marion Kate
