South Africa’s culinary capitals, Johannesburg and Cape Town, soon play host to street food prepared by some of the country’s best chefs and food makers. We’re talking the type of food you’ll need both hands to eat: vinegary fish and slaptjips, gatsbys stuffed to capacity and braais straight off the fire.
This year’s Street Food Festival dishes up a new flavour in Cape Town. Not only will it launch its first ever night market, but its Business of Food conference brings together top chefs and speakers in a day of interactive tastings, workshops and demos.
Night market, street food, DJ’s, free talks
This fourth edition of the festival kicks off in Cape Town at the Side Street Studios in Woodstock on Saturday 2 September with the launch of the night market, and continues on Sunday 3 September with a full day of street food, live DJ’s and free talks. A week later, on Sunday 10 September, the showcase moves to Common Ground, 16 Staib Street, Maboneng in Johannesburg.
Informal dining
“The Street Food Festival is more popular than ever,” says director Hannerie Visser. “Street food is something everyone can relate with, and South Africans have always been fans of informal dining, whether it’s pancakes at a church bazaar or bunny chow in a corner shop. With more food trucks than ever popping up, the festival will not only give visitors the chance to taste all their favourite foods, but also create a platform where food makers can educate visitors.”
In the lineup of speakers at the Cape Town event are food blogger Ming Cheau Lin, pâtisserie chef Nikki Albertyn of LionHeart pâtisserie studio and pop-up supper club Third Culture Experiment.
In Joburg, festival-goers can attend talks by Jako van Deventer from The Rogue Cheddar, freelance food writer, recipe developer and food stylist Dorah Lydia Sitole, and small scale urban farmers the Kotze Rooftop Garden Co-operative.
In the Mother City Chefs Wesley Randles of award-winning The Shortmarket Club and Andy Fenner of Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants will offer a taste of their Convivium – a showcase of local food, chefs and producers – at the festival for the first time.
“This year we want to close the gap between real, authentic street food that’s being served on the side of the road in townships and fine-dining restaurants,” said Fenner. “We want everyone eating everything and learning from each other. Being involved in this event is a great way for us to do that.”
The Business of Food
On Thursday 31 August, a full-day food conference takes place at Workshop 17 at the V&A Waterfront. Aiming to empower food-makers with the necessary tools to transform their passion for food into a career, the hands-on conference will offer tastings, workshops, demonstrations and talks, and cover everything from sustainable food practices to get a new business off the ground. Tickets R1500.
What: Street Food Festival
Where:
Cape Town – Side Street Studios, Woodstock, Sat, 2 Sept, Sun, 3 Sept, 2017 Johannesburg – Common Ground, 16 Staib St, Maboneng – Sun, 10 Sept, 2017
Tickets:
Cape Town Saturday market (2 Sept), includes a night market, R50. Doors 5pm – 9pm
Cape Town Sunday market (3 Sept), includes vendors, free talks, DJ’s, R100. Doors 9am – 4pm
Johannesburg Sunday market (10 Sept), includes vendors, free talks, DJ’s is R100. Doors 9am – 4pm
Tickets: www.webticket.co.za and door
Info: www.streetfoodfestival.co.za
Social media: Facebook: @streetfoodfestivalZA, Instagram & Twitter @streetfoodZA
WS
