Today I went to Yeoville and spent the afternoon at a place called Food.
Food (28 Rockey Street) is more than a stall but not quite a restaurant. Food is a kitchen with a glass counter and two benches, presided over by a man named Sanza.
Sanza is an extraordinary person who creates extraordinary food. After spending three hours with him, I can confidently say that Sanza is among the top five most interesting people I’ve met in Joburg. (And that’s saying something.)
If you want the full story on Sanza, check out this blog post by my friend Caroline or this Mail & Guardian article by my friend Eve. Both stories are great and I see no reason to recreate them. Sanza is famous already anyway: He’s been featured on CNN and Anthony Bourdain and in lots of other places, and I have a feeling this is just the beginning for Sanza.
I’ll save my own Sanza stories for another time. Right now, I just want to show you some photos.
Sanza at Food.
Falafel with carrot salad, hot sauce, and chilies. One of several delicious things I ate at Food.
A soft-serve ice cream truck that pulled up outside Food when I was there. The guys who run the truck are from Sanza’s old neighborhood in Soweto.
Sanza was really excited about the ice cream. He had a right to be because it was really delicious. Also, this ice cream truck is rad.
Sanza and his friend Criminal. (That’s right, his name is Criminal. Although he is extremely non-threatening.) Criminal is a rap artist originally from Malawi but he speaks with an authentic American accent. I would have bet money that Criminal was from Atlanta.
Sanza said many thought-provoking things to me today, but my favorite thing was: “I value my lifestyle more than my life.” I never thought about it before, but I totally agree.
Expect more from Sanza in future 2Summers posts.
How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?
I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.
I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.
Given this week’s political nuclear bomb blast, it feels like a weird time to publish a light-hearted post about my recent (pre-election) jaunt through the United States. But I’m hoping you’ve have had enough of the U.S. election horror show – I know I have – and are ready (at least temporarily) for some wholesome American travel adventures. If so, please read on about my four-day visit to Maine, the northeastern-most state in the lower 48, with my sister, Susanna.
Use the share button below if you liked it.
It makes me smile, when I see it.