About
Ilse van der Merwe is a Stellenbosch-based recipe developer, award-winning author, food content producer, stylist, television presenter, and entrepreneur. Her popular food blog, www.thefoodfox.com, has cultivated a loyal global following since 2011, establishing her as one of South Africa’s most influential and respected culinary voices.
She is the author of four cookbooks published by Penguin Random House South Africa: Cape Mediterranean (2019), which earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Simply Seasonal (2021), Easy Al Fresco (2023), and Timeless South African (2025). Ilse has hosted two television series and is a regular guest on various South African food programs.
