Book Review: Kitchen Queen by Lucia Mthiyane

In Kitchen Queen, Lucia Mthiyane - Influencer par excellence - takes her followers on a very unique culinary journey by elevating the everyday to extraordinary. She shares her wisdom, stories and recipes with so much passion, its almost tangible. 


The Kitchen Queen is more than just another cookbook, this unique publication in itself is a trendsetter for other influencers. Lucia give us a ride on her personal and inspirational culinary journey. From being a teacher to an actress, singer and television personality, to a self-made foodie and social media influencer. She shares her favourite and most reposted receipes, weaving together her life story with her unique take on food. 

This book open up with a beautifully written introduction, this is where it all started. Umzinyathi, just north of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal. A village the author describes as one of the most luscious regions. "Within these pages you will find my secret to success: passion, purpose, preparation, persistence in pursuing the process until I reach perfection." Says Lucia in her "Once upon a time" foreword.

Maize Meal and Flour Bread

Kitchen Queen is full of new recipes that are easy to try and the ingredients are easily accessible. The dishes Lucia create in this book are nothing from the ordinary, but the recipes are just amazing because she added other ingredients you'd never thought could go together with the main ingredient. The maize and flour bread was a shocker but bafwethu as a big fan of bread, I tried this and was it nice? Did I mention that, as a big sandwich fan. This bread was one of the recipes I took home and did the pots. The book dishes out recipes for every occasion. From breakfast, quick lunches and hearty dishes perfect for branch, to smooth desserts coupled with tasty treats. 

Just when you think it's over, another shocker is food for the body and soul. A chapter that focuses on food to feed the skin. "The sense of touch is not just a sense of body, but also one of the languages of love. And each one of us needs to love ourselves." - Here the author pairs her love for music with food to feed the soul, and finally dishes out food solutions for taking care of your body. From skin and hair treatments, to marrying the perfect jams with the time spent cooking to set the tone for the atmosphere and create ambience.

This is a pefect kitchen table book, which every lady must keep close by for easy acces when you need to treat friends and family with a perfect dish to feed their body and soul. Or when you need to feed yourself and pamper body with homemade skin and hair treatment routines. It's also a perfect gift for your mum's, sister's, girlfriend or a female friend. It's a very sassy book with class and it embodies the feminine touch that every lady need to keep in touch with constantly. Thumbs up Mam Lucia Mthiyane.