Tatin sisters' kitchen tradition

In the kitchens of their small countryside hotel in Lamotte-Beuvron, the Tatin sisters, Caroline and Stéphanie, prepare regional cuisine for travelers passing through. Their kitchen setup reflects traditional French cooking methods of the time, with copper pots hung on hooks along the wall.

The accidental creation of a dessert

One day in the late 1880s, Stéphanie placed a tart mold on the fire while Caroline attended to customers. She added butter and sugar before moving on, leaving the mixture unattended. The combination began to caramelize, producing a distinctive aroma that eventually caught Fanny’s attention.

A quick fix for a mistake

Fanny discovered that the mixture had burned, but she quickly remedied the situation by using pre-made tart dough. She cut the dough to fit the mold, placed it over the apples, and covered everything with a layer of caramelized sugar, creating a new dessert by accident.

The legacy of the Tatin tart

This accidental creation became known as the Tatin tart, named after the sisters who invented it. The dessert, with its caramelized base and inverted baking method, has since become a classic in French cuisine and is enjoyed worldwide.

A new media venture emerges

The Daily Maverick was founded in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, when its parent company, Maverick, a business magazine launched in 2005, faced difficulties. The editorial team decided to continue their work online, creating a bold and reactive webzine.

Rise of a South African publication

The Daily Maverick has grown to become one of the leading online publications in South Africa, known for its independent and investigative journalism. It continues the legacy of its predecessor while adapting to the digital age.