#This Is the East

I used to write about food in the East Rand – the municipality just to the east of Joburg, officially called Ekurhuleni – all the time. (For a few examples, see here and here and here.) But it’s been far too long since I’ve recommended a food spot in the East, so I’m dropping in quickly to tell you about Zani Eatery in Katlehong.

Tomorrow is the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Rabbit – and this is my first Joburg post of 2023. In celebration of both these facts, I’m thrilled to tell you about Tea and Antique, a brand-new Chinese establishment in Bedfordview.

Several months ago I spotted a post in the @WhatsOnInJoburg Instagram feed. “Africa’s tallest Shiva Shakti Statue is in Benoni”, the post read, with a photo of the biggest, boldest, most colorful Hindu deity I’ve ever seen. I made a mental note to visit the Sivan Alayam Temple, a.k.a. the Shiva Temple, as soon as possible.

Seventh in my “Roadhouses of Gauteng” series. Browse all of my roadhouse posts or view a map of the roadhouses I’ve visited.

Yesterday I made a quick solo lunch run to Senhor Galo’s, a brand-new roadhouse in Edenvale.

Twelfth in an occasional series about my favorite coffee shops in Joburg.

I’d nearly forgotten about the chilly day, more than two months ago, when Gail and I had a spontaneous coffee and lunch at Red Door Café in Edenvale. We had just gone shopping for knitting supplies at Elli’s Needlework and realized Red Door was on the next block.

My friend Ryan recently started a thrifting side business. She travels around, visiting second-hand clothing markets and charity shops around Joburg, picks up quirky and fabulous clothes at rock-bottom prices, then advertises her best finds for sale on Instagram at @ThreeDogsThrift. (The account is named for her three tiny dogs: Jozi, Bobby, and Dash.)