Artisanal foods, referring to anything that is hand-made or handcrafted in the style of an artisan, are made in small quantities and typically adhere to traditional methods and recipes, using high-quality and unprocessed ingredients. They are allied to the slow and local food movements and are usually produced in a sustainable manner.
Drew Warner, co-founder at Just Good Chocolate says, "Artisan food is unique; it's defined by the fact that nothing else on earth exists that is exactly the same. Artisan food is created with love, with attention to detail, not mass produced on factory lines with only quantity in mind rather than quality."
Artisan producers understand and respect the raw materials with which they work; they should know where these materials come from and what is particularly good about them. They should have mastered the craft of their particular production and have a historical, experiential, intuitive and scientific understanding of what makes the process that they are engaged in successful. They should know what tastes good and be sensitive to the impact of their production on people and the environment.
Visitors, pressed for time, can visit the Franschhoek Village Market on Saturdays, a popular showcase for many of these fine foods.
For more information, go to www.franschhoek.org.za.
