There is something quietly luxurious about a day built entirely around slowing down, and that is exactly what cookbook author and food stylist Elsa van der Nest is offering guests this August. On Saturday, 22 August 2026, she will open the doors of her Constantia home for A Day with Elsa, an olive oil masterclass created in partnership with Rio Largo Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
A full sensory experience
The day has been designed as far more than a cooking demonstration. It begins with a sparkling welcome and seasonal bites, setting a relaxed tone before guests move into a guided tasting of Rio Largo’s extra virgin olive oils. Tasting olive oil properly, much like tasting wine, reveals layers of flavour and aroma that are easy to miss in everyday cooking, and it is this kind of detail that runs through the entire experience.
From there, Van der Nest takes centre stage for a three-hour cooking demonstration, sharing the techniques and instincts that have shaped her career as a stylist and author. Guests can expect practical tips on cooking with quality ingredients, along with styling and entertaining advice suited to a home kitchen rather than a professional one.
What is on the menu
The masterclass menu leans into fresh, seasonal flavours with olive oil woven through each course. Guests will be treated to a herb-crusted rack of lamb, alongside olive oil creamed potatoes with dill. Heirloom beetroot arrives with a lime leaf sauce and a ginger and yoghurt dressing, while a whole roasted cauliflower is finished with rose harissa and chilli butter. Dessert comes in the form of a fragrant lemon olive oil cake, a fitting close to a menu built on the ingredient at the heart of the day.
Once the demonstration wraps up, guests sit down together for a leisurely shared lunch, giving the day a social, unhurried rhythm that feels more like a gathering than a class.
The details
A Day with Elsa runs from 9:30 am to 3 pm and costs R1 650 per person.
The ticket price includes refreshments on arrival, the guided Rio Largo olive oil tasting, the full cooking demonstration and the shared lunch. Spaces are limited given the intimate, at-home setting, so early booking is recommended for anyone keen to spend a day immersed in good food, good company and the kind of thoughtful detail Van der Nest is known for.
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Featured Image: Supplied
