Enjoy Durban’s Franco-fête
IRECENTLY got a message from a person who follows me on social media and what they said surprised me. “Why don’t I ever see you putting up pictures of your favourite food on Instagram? It’s always just you, your family and Rihanna.” Well, it’s either this person is super observant (read, stalkerish) or they believe my job dictates what I should have on social media. I’ve actually been entertaining a number of questions from people saying they didn’t know I was a foodie or even cared much about food. I always have the same answer – read my work in the paper where it matters.
See, my relationship with food is a very simple one. I cook to eat. It doesn’t take a special occasion for me to whip out the pots and cook. I always cook to de-stress. I’ve been cooking a lot these days because I am kind of exhausted and need a break and so to the pots I go.
I rarely go to foodie events because people don’t seem to enjoy their food, finding ways to nitpick even things they don’t need to. I do, however, love markets and festival set-ups because there’s always something new and delicious to try out. I remember when The Morning Trade first opened up – I was there every Sunday after church.
So since Tuesday is a public holiday and, while I will be at work, I will take a break to go to Alliance Française de Durban’s Franco-fête.
It’s the sixth time the event, which is free to the public, is taking place and as usual, will be held at Sutton Park in Morningside. There are two parts to the Franco-fête: a daytime family event from 10.30am until 4pm and an evening sundowner music concert featuring an array of Francophone music from 4.30pm until 8pm. So everything French-related will be at the Franco-fête on Tuesday.
During the day on the Assitej youth stage there will be face painting, gumboot dancing, a kiddies’ drawing corner, storytelling, dance and music. On the park lawns will be a series of activities, such as dance programmes featuring various groups and interactive workshops facilitated by rapper poet and actor Iain Ewok Robinson.
The evening concert features Malian band BKO Quintet, SA Roy and Forest Jam, a seven-piece innovative Swiss-malagasy music collaboration.
From Durban come The Mediators, performing their own brand of fusion reggae. The full line-up has come together to showcase collaborative musical talents and to bring people together through their music.
And now, for the food, which is my favourite thing about France, besides the film and fashion. Chefs Markus Banziger (Catering Concepts) and Gavin Munro Jnr (Fusion French Cafe) will be co-ordinating the KZN leg of the third Goût de France/ Good France which will celebrate French gastronomy in various locations worldwide on Tuesday.
More than 1 500 chefs on five continents are expected to join the event. Alongside the Goût de France/good France stalls will be the Swiss Food village which offers authentic French-swiss fare, a taste of home-made bakeries, French delicacies and local cuisine.