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If you missed it, catch up on our previous edition of #FreshlyPlated here.
Another feather in the Tashas cap
A round of applause for Dr Natasha Sideris! The founder and CEO of the Tashas Group has been awarded an honorary PhD in Philosophy (Honoris Causa) in Management Studies: Entrepreneurship by the University of South Africa. Sideris opened the first Tashas café in Atholl Square, Sandton, in 2005 and with time this number has increased to 15 locations nationally, six in Dubai, and one in London. With ambitions to expand to other global regions, we wish Sideris and her team every success. We credit her with "inventing the salad" in Joburg ... her Atholl Square restaurant changed forever the way that Joburg looked at leafy greens.
The union of Casquette and Fab & Co; new home in Parkhurst
If you’ve been wondering what became of Rosebank's cycling café Casquette after they apparently packed up shop, look no further than Fab & Co. The two restaurants have merged and moved into a new space across the road from the old Fab & Co location on 4th Avenue in Parkhurst. We have it on good authority that the pizza oven is in and ready to be cranked up so pull through, see the new place for yourself, and grab a slice of that oh-so-yummy pizza.
Dineplan’s 20 'most favourited' restaurants
Earlier this year, Dineplan released a list of the 20 top restaurants marked as 'favourites' on the app for 2023. Most of the restaurants on the list are Cape Town-based but a few Joburg establishments made the top 20: Marble was ranked fifth most popular, Saint 15th, and Aurum 20th. It seems a shame with so many great Joburg restaurants to choose from – just look at our very own We Eat Out Awards to see where we think you should be eating out in Joburg.Fourways Mall Speciality Coffee Expo
Described as a “festival of coffee”, The Specialty Coffee Expo at Fourways Mall takes place from Fri, May 24 – Sun, May 26 and brings coffee snobs and industry professionals together to celebrate all things coffee. Discover speciality coffee roasters, cutting-edge machinery, and the best in brew tools at this year's event, plus a selection of pâtisserie, gelato, and free tasters at the Brew Bars to round out the sensory experience. Book your tickets for the Speciality Coffee Expo here.
Maximillien Restaurant wine pairing dinners
If you consider yourself a wine connoisseur and you like hanging out in Sandton, you no doubt know about the wine pairing dinners held at Maximillien Restaurant at the Da Vinci Hotel and Suites. If you don’t, that’s why we’re here. We had a grand time wining and dining at one such dinner held in partnership with Louisvale Wines last month. The next one takes place on Fri, May 31. It costs R645 p.p. and includes a four-course pairing dinner with wine pairing presented by winemaker Michael Langenhoven from Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek. For bookings, phone +27 11 292 7131 or email jradel@legacyhotels.com@Sandton Hotel has a new exec chef
With stints at The Dorchester, Savoy, and Beverly Hills hotels, Tony Kocke is ready to add @Sandton Hotel to his resume as he joins the culinary team as executive chef. Apparently, his signature dish is duck breast with port and sour cherry reduction. It sounds like a dish worth visiting for.Zimtoti Bakery garden tea parties
If yoga, bottomless tea, and a plant-based lunch sounds like your kind of Saturday, perhaps it’s time to check out Zimtoti Bakery. Based in Orlando East, Soweto, it sounds like a delightful way to spend a weekend afternoon. The next Garden Tea Party takes place this Sat, May 18 from noon. At just R200 per ticket, inclusive of a session of kundalini yoga, tea, and lunch, it’s something that sounds worth making time for.
New offerings at old favourites
AURUMAnother winter menu we think you might want to tuck into soon comes from the Aurum team at The Leonardo in Sandton. Think wholesome salads, hearty pasta and risotto, comforting mains, and delectable desserts. The Aurum Magnum is perhaps the least winter-sounding dessert of all, but we promise it’s a surprise well worth ordering. It was a highlight on the night we sampled the new menu.
CHUNKY CHAU SANDTON
Fancy yourself someone ready for delicious pan-Asian flavours any time of day? Chunky Chau in Sandton has added breakfast to the menu. We hear you can start your day with Asian-fusion-inspired breakfasts and classic dishes set against the signature splash of colour Chunky Chau has become known for. Try a Koreanish egg drop sandwich or their take on eggs Benedict. The menu is available from 08:00 daily.
CULINARY TABLE
The temperatures may soon be dropping but things are warming up in the Culinary Table kitchen in Lenasia. This month, the team introduces a new winter breakfast and lunch menu which features updated flavours and seasonal ingredients from the garden. With dishes like polenta funghi, Jerusalem artichoke soup, and lemon and saffron squid, we bet you’ll feel cosy in no time. Top tip: if you like bubbles with your brunch, they serve bottomless mimosas on weekends from 10:00 – noon.
SOLO SANDTON
ZIOUX
Get ready for a new chapter at Zioux. Having worked with Chef David Higgs in conceptualising the offering, Japanese Chef Katsuhiko Miyamoto is dishing up a new menu showcasing Asian-inspired cuisine. Whether it’s sushi, dim sum, wood-fired grills, or poke bowls, if Asian-inspired is your vibe, it’s a booking that's probably worth making.
New restaurants and cafés
AKTIThe drive for a taste of the Mediterranean from Akti is about to get a whole lot shorter for Joburg residents living in or near Rosebank. First opened in Bedford Centre, Akti will soon launch in Rosebank. Keep an eye on their Instagram page as the details are yet to be announced.
CLUB COMO
From one Mediterranean spot to another, Club Como is Morningside Shopping Centre’s newest addition serving modern Mediterranean fare. Describing themselves as a mixture of Greek, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish cultures, they serve a wide selection of food, from small plates to meat, seafood, and pasta.
MATH RESTAURANT
Before you ask, this has nothing to do with the school subject. Opened in Waterfall Corner this month, we recently visited Math Restaurant. It's the brainchild of Puleng Mathabatha who used the inspiration of his family’s hardware store in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, Math Electrical Hardware Store, as the inspiration for the name he settled on. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s laid-back and inviting. The menu is small but offers a range of options, from surprising starters to vegetarian mains, standard burgers, or bougie whole lobster.
OBSCURA COCKTAIL BAR & EATERY
For a taste of the newest cocktail joint in Rosebank, head to Obscura in Oxford Parks. Opened last month, award-winning mixologist George Hunter (previously from Sin + Tax, Saint, and Marble) showcases his experience in a cocktail menu that seems exciting, out of the ordinary, and downright delicious. Pick from signature, classic, or non-alcoholic options or settle on a glass of wine over a small plate or one-bite dessert.
THE LIBRARY FOOD CLUB
This one has piqued our interest – perhaps because not much has been revealed about this new, intimate dining experience in Birdhaven. What we do know is that the restaurant will transform its offering each year to introduce a new culinary experience. Kicking off this month, the first exploration is Mexican cuisine. Bookings can only be made online. If you do go, let us know what you think!
Our latest reviews
GLORY
It’s safe to say that Glory is always a good idea. This one-of-a-kind dining experience finally has a permanent home and we visited them to get a taste of the new offering. Read our review here.
HIGH TEA
Time for tea, anyone? In case you missed it, we shared our round-up of High Tea in the city last week. The pictures are as pretty as anything; have you saved the list?
MIHA EATERY
On a lunch visit to MiHa Eatery in Melrose Arch earlier this year, we discovered a wild ride through world cuisines. Read about this diverse halaal restaurant and the woman who drives it all in our MiHa Eatery review.
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