Jill Roberts Van As, a chef and rape survivor, has launched a cookbook detailing the highs and lows of her life experienced through her love of food.

The book idea was birthed during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown with an American friend, Clint Alexander, who captured most of the pictures in the book with the rest captured by Jill's husband, Garry Van As.

Jill is hoping the book will an inspiration to women and especially rape survivors.

Cape Town, 31 January 2023: Jill Roberts Van As last night launched a cook book on her 43rd birthday at Balena Blu restaurant in the Cape Town CBD. Van As who is rape survivor has written the book as a journal of her life’s high and lows and how those moments were experienced through her love and interactions with food.

The evening was celebrated with Jill’s family, friends, colleagues and media personalities. Tarryn “TK” Trussell Van Louw acted as the MC for the event in which Jill shared experiences not only of food but family and traumatic experiences.

The book idea was birthed during South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown with an American friend, Clint Alexander, who captured most of the pictures in the book with the rest captured by Jill’s husband, Garry Van As. Jill is hoping the book will an inspiration to women and especially rape survivors.