Salwaa Francis Smith is a South African cook best known for her typical Cape Malay cuisine. Born and raised in Surrey Estate, Athlone on the Cape Flats to working class parents. She is the founder of Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights, a recipe sharing website founded in February 2011. The site currently attracts in excess of 290,000 visitors per month. June 2015 was the launch of her first self-published hardback cookbook.

August 2015, Salwaa started an initiative called Cakes For Kids – free birthday cakes for less privileged children where they donate birthday cakes to mainly children living in care.

October 2016 sees her first ready mixed spice range launched.

Salwaa is currently offering Cape Malay Cooking Experiences to tourists visiting our city and who wish to experience life in a typical Cape Malay home on the Cape Flats away from the hustle and bustle of Cape Town City Bowl.

Salwaa also cater for corporate functions, offer cooking demonstration as part of team building activities. Salwaa also offer cooking lessons to anyone who wants to learn how to cook Cape Malay food.

Her second cookbook will be release in May 2019.

Salwaa is a wife, mother to four gorgeous daughters as well as grandmother to six adorable grandchildren. Salwaa, is now the third generation in her family who continues the Cape Malay culinary venture.