Dinner on the Diner: Dorinda Hafner in South Africa

Writing in VL-11/98, I raved about a melting pot cooking video called United Tastes of America, hosted by the wildly charming Dorinda Hafner. Now, in this food meets the road travel tape, Dorinda is back, and we've got some advice for Rick Steves: you'd better learn to cook, buddy! Realizing a childhood fantasy, Hafner boards a beautifully restored stream train for a 6 day/800 mile journey through South Africa, happily zig-zagging across some of the most breathtaking landscape in the world. On a speeding train, teaming up with the train's chefs in a very small galley, Hafner shares a recipe for African spoon bread that will feed about 50 passengers (warning viewers not to try this at home). In addition, we visit the wine-making hamlet of Portville and the lighthouse of Mossel Bay, and watch our fearless host board an elephant, fall off, break a nail, and visit a local medicine woman for her sore behind--as well as pet a beautiful live cheetah, and literally walk on egg shells (ostrich eggs, that is). The enthusiasm Hafner brings to each new experience is contagious and we begin to see the turbulent past of this country melt into a land brimming with natural beauty and great promise. The three other tapes in the Dinner on the Diner meals-on-wheels series (series price: $59.98 or $109.95 w/PPR) are: Graham Kerr in Scotland, Mary Ann Esposito in Spain, and Martin Yan in Southeast Asia. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (N. Plympton)