Durban - South Africa has become one of the foodie centres capitals of the world and Durban has taken to it with gusto.
There are always new places to find really great food in the city. The craft beer market is doing great and coffee – well we have some of the best in the country.
Which brings us to the Good Food & Wine Show, which takes place from October 30-November 1 at the Exhibition Centre.
Having been to the show a couple of times, I look forward to the demonstrations by the chefs. I’m no foodie, but I love cooking. I believe in honing my skills in the kitchen by cooking simpler dishes than trendy Instagram-ready morsels. I’ll leave that to fine dining establishments.
This year’s list of celebrity chefs includes: Rick Stein, Brent Owens, Reza Mahammad and Renae Smith, as well as some of the best local chefs – Jenny Morris, Asha Maharaj, executive chef of Hartford House, Constantijn Hahndiek, Durban Curry author Erica Platter, executive chef of The Oyster Box Hotel, Kevin Joseph, head chef of the Sun Coast Towers Hotel, Sandren Govender, Sheila Somers, and Peter Ayub.
One of the star attractions this year will be Mi Casa’s J’Something. I found out that he can cook in 2013 during a soundcheck for the house band’s performance at the first Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards. We had been talking about how hungry we were and J’Something said if he was home, he’d be making a killer sandwich. “You can cook?” I asked. “Yeah,” he said. “But I do it as a passtime.”
Word got out that he can cook (other than make a sandwich) and soon he had a show on Mzansi Magic, called Something’s Cooking. This year he got his second show on SABC 3 – What’s For Dinner, which sees him cooking with fellow celebrities and other personalities in their homes. About food he said: “It’s not necessarily about the cost, the complexity or the look but what’s in your heart when you are making the dish.”
J’Something has also become interested in his own nutrition and has learnt to find a balance between good food and good health; his goal is to make food that is delicious yet healthy. So what will he be cooking at the show?
“It’s a surprise,” he says, “but it will be delicious and simple. It will be down to earth and – more than anything – my demo will be the most fun out of all of them.”
Another highlight is the sixth season winner of Masterchef Australia, Brent Owens. After he won last year, he released a book, Dig In which, unsurprisingly has garnered high praise and become a hit. I’m expecting some cool recipes at his presentation.
For those looking for an intimate food experience, Stein will be hosting an Eastern Mediterranean-inspired breakfast – based on his recent television series and book, From Venice to Istanbul, at the Oyster Box. It’s bound to be a popular, especially since he and the Oyster Box’s Joseph are drawing up a menu that promises a feast.
“Guests are going to be surprised and delighted with what we have planned for the menu. I promise they won't be disappointed,” Joseph said.
Sunday Tribune