The Seedling Kitchen
Where plants become meals worth remembering — and the skills to make them at home.
The Seedling Kitchen is the heart of Old Joe's Kaia. This is where plant-based cooking stops being a compromise and becomes a strong statement. Since pivoting to fully plant-based in 2016, Marian has been proving — one meal, one workshop, one sceptic at a time — that food can taste as good as it gets.
This isn't about restriction. It's about discovery — finding out what lentils, spices, fermentation, and a bit of imagination can do when you stop treating plants as a side dish.
All meals need to be pre-booked as The Seedling Kitchen does not operate as a standard restaurant. We serve a daily set menu, based on ingredient availability. We require specific dietary requirements when you make a booking.
Breakfast is served from 07h30 – 09h30. Dinner is served promptly at 18h30. We look forward to having you seated at our table!
Cooking Workshops
Kitchen Resets
Starting from scratch — or starting over. A hands-on workshop for anyone curious about plant-based cooking but unsure where to begin. You'll leave with techniques, confidence, and a full belly.
Umami Workshops
The secret to plant-based food that satisfies is umami — the savoury depth that makes you forget the meat was ever there. This workshop dives into fermentation, mushrooms, miso, and the alchemy of building flavour without shortcuts.
Meal Planning
The weeknight problem, solved. Learn how to plan, prep, and batch-cook plant-based meals that actually fit into a real life — not the Instagram version. Practical, honest, and designed for people who are busy.
Customised Workshops
Got a group with a specific interest? Marian designs workshops around your needs — whether that's gluten-free baking, South African heritage dishes reimagined, or a team-building cook-off.
Workshops in Action
Catering
The Seedling Kitchen does on-site catering for events on the property and beyond. Whether it's a retreat lunch for twelve, a special celebration for eighteen, Marian brings the same care and creativity to every plate.
On-site catering
Full meal service for retreats, workshops, and events hosted at Old Joe's Kaia. From breakfast through to supper, every meal is plant-based, seasonal, and made from scratch.
Event catering
The Seedling Kitchen caters for on-site events — retreats, celebrations, and workshops. Get in touch with your idea and we'll make it happen.
Take it home
Not ready to leave the flavours behind? Our dehydrated and frozen meals, preserves, and pantry staples are available to order. Just add water to a Chickpea Breyani or Mung Bean Risotto and you've got a plant-based meal that tastes like it came from The Seedling Kitchen — because it did.
Browse the shopBook a workshop
Workshops run throughout the year for groups of 6–16 people. Get in touch to arrange a date.
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