In the two years it traded, a vegan gem in Clarens earned its spot amongst the Top 100 Restaurants in South Africa. The chef behind that award-winning restaurant, Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay, has just released her first cookbook.
Free State, South Africa (18 February 2026) – NEKED Food has stepped into a new chapter with the launch of chef and now author Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay’s debut cookbook. It brings her award-winning restaurant’s cult dishes into the home kitchen.
The cookbook spills delicious vegan secrets, serves as a guide for learning about conscious-eating and plant-based flavour, and shares an inspiring glimpse into Vanessa’s world as a celebrity chef, cancer survivor, activist, entrepreneur and SAMA award-winner!
It also marks the start of a new chapter for Chef Jarvis-Findlay, after she closed the doors on a successful chapter with her restaurant in 2024.
“In a plot twist I could not have scripted, the very same week I received confirmation of our Top 100 status, I broke my foot,” she shares. “What was meant to be a three month recovery became six. I was forced to close the restaurant. Instead of fighting the pause, I used it. That season of stillness became the birthplace of the cookbook. When one door closed, I sat down and wrote.”
Vanessa used her time healing to dig into her obsession for plant-based eating and cooking, which started a decade before.
“When I transitioned in 2016 after a profound spiritual awakening, everything shifted. Removing animal products forced me to rethink texture, structure, depth and umami. It became a delicious challenge. What began as an ethical decision evolved into a culinary pursuit. I trained in my own kitchen through relentless testing, reading, experimenting and refusing to serve anything that did not make people close their eyes on the first bite.” she says.
After honing her vegan chops, Vanessa’s passion blossomed into the opening of her restaurant in Clarens. Even after NEKED Food closed its doors, the demand for those crowd-famous plant-based recipes grew. A cookbook made all the sense. One that proved plant-based eating can be exciting, delicious, and do-able at home.
“For years friends and customers asked for the recipes. At the same time, I grew tired of the narrative that plant based food is restrictive or bland. I wanted to create something unapologetically gourmet, indulgent and beautiful.” shares Vanessa.
Split into eleven sections, the book covers everything from the foundations of vegan flavour to small plates, sides, mains, sea-inspired, and sorbets. The braai gets its own chapter, there are endless options for dessert, and the book ends on a delicious note with three eight-course signature menus for when you really want to impress.
From first page to last, it’s proudly vegan and it’s proudly South African. The flavours we know and love work on a plant-based plate, too. You just need to know the secrets.
“What this book shows is that our beloved flavours do not belong exclusively to animal protein. Smoke, spice, sweetness and richness come from technique and seasoning. From Cape Malay influences to braai inspired dishes, I honour our culinary heritage while simply changing the source of the protein. The result is proudly South African and undeniably satisfying.” shares Vanessa.
The cookbook, NEKED Food Plant-based Gourmet Edition, is available to purchase here or at selected retailers across South Africa and online through Takealot.
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