Ilse van Staden: Prop, Butcher, Biltong Maker

 

Meet Ilse van Staden…

Ilse van Staden is a rugby player, butcher, chef, language teacher and biltong maker from South Africa.

Since moving to Northern Ireland in 2011 she has played for Ulster Rugby, and represented Ireland in the Six Nations as prop.

Along with her partner Alannah, Ilse also set up Ke Nako: an award-winning artisan food business that specialises in South African cuisine. Fast-forward a few years later and their high-protein biltong has earned them a cult-like following across the UK — and is without a shadow of a doubt one of the tastiest things we have ever tried.

In today’s episode we chat about:

  • The art of butchery

  • How meat can be sustainable

  • Managing playing professional rugby while running a business

  • Thinking in two languages

  • Moving from South Africa to Northern Ireland

  • And the greatest highs/lows experienced along the way

Check it out!

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  • One thing most people don't know about you: I’m an arachnophobe.

  • Favourite Book: Rook en oker - Ingrid Jonker

  • Favourite Quote: The mind is everything. What you think you become - Budda

  • Anything you'd like to promote: We are all about local and community. We are based at Ballylagan Organic Farm where I am the butcher (day job). Our ethos is all about everyone in our chain should win.

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Today's episode is part of our collaboration with NI Connections where we catch up with someone incredible from Northern Ireland doing interesting things overseas on the last Monday of every month.

To discover more amazing diaspora stories, check out their website niconnections.com where you can also sign up for their free, monthly newsletter.

How To Listen

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Thanks again to Ilse van Staden for taking the time to share his story with us.

See you next time.

— Matt

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Matthew ThompsonNIC