Award-winning chef, author and television personality Neo Nontso invites readers into the most intimate chapter of her life with a beautifully crafted new cookbook that celebrates love, heritage and the meals that bring people together
Love may begin with a chance meeting, but it is often nurtured around a table.
Launching this Heritage Day, 24 September 2026, Love & Lobola: A Modern African Romance Told in Recipes and Rituals is the highly anticipated new cookbook from award-winning chef, television personality and digital food storyteller Neo Nontso, better known to her community of more than one million followers as @DinewithNeo.
More than a collection of recipes, the book offers a deeply personal glimpse into the moments, meals and traditions that shaped Neo’s journey from first dates to marriage. Through stories of cooking together, meeting the parents, hosting friends, celebrating milestones and navigating the significance of lobola, each recipe becomes part of a larger narrative about love, family and belonging.
At a time when modern life often feels increasingly disconnected from tradition, Love & Lobola demonstrates that the two can coexist beautifully. Neo’s approach to food reflects the reality of contemporary South African life, where cherished family recipes sit comfortably alongside global influences. Chakalaka shares a table with French-inspired dishes, while traditional favourites are woven seamlessly into modern entertaining and everyday cooking.
“These recipes show that you can be contemporary, well-travelled, curious and adventurous, and still be deeply rooted in tradition,” writes Neo in the book. “Our love is layered. So is our food.”
Neo’s debut cookbook, @dinewithneo: my insta feast, published in 2022, earned two prestigious Gourmand Awards and established her as one of South Africa’s most compelling culinary voices. Her latest work builds on that success, blending evocative storytelling, striking photography and accessible recipes that celebrate both heritage and innovation.
Published by Quivertree Publications, Love & Lobola is presented as a collectible hard-cover volume with debossing, spot bronze foil detailing and ribbon marker. Thoughtfully designed and beautifully produced, it is as much a keepsake as it is a cookbook.
Whether readers are searching for inspiration in the kitchen, exploring the richness of South African food culture, or simply looking for a story that speaks to the power of connection, Love & Lobola offers a heartfelt reminder that some of life’s most important conversations happen over a shared meal.