Adding flavour to Durban’s vibey fast food industry

SAY the words “fast food” and your mind is flooded with images of mass-produced burger patties and greasy chips served with loads of salt.

Slowly but surely Khutso Masethe, 36, is changing Durban’s mainstream fast food industry, one wholesome burger at a time.

Masethe recently opened D’urban Co, based on Lilian Ngoyi Road, Windermere. It is a fast food restaurant and takeaway specialising in burgers, where everything is made from scratch.

“Everything, from the burger patties to the sauces, is made in-house. We mix our own spices here and the patties are made by hand. All our suppliers are strictly Halaal-certified,” says Masethe.

He attributes his love for Durban cultures as the main inspiration behind the idea.

“I’m so inspired by the different flavours of Durban, so here we serve Moroccan-style food and try to provide a good range of authentic recipes using fresh ingredients,” he says.

The burgers are scrumptious bulky, hand-made patties, spiced to perfection, served with french fries and a hearty salad. Variations include, chicken, lamb and beef.”

As for the decor, customers can expect an urban vibe true to Durban with ample space and excellent, friendly service with a greeting as you walk in.

“I explore a lot of ingredients from all over, I was in Zambia a month ago.

The cultures inspired me. The food, especially their veggies and fish, was amazing. I’ve also travelled to Gabon and Swaziland,” he says.

Masethe was born in Pretoria and grew up in Newcastle, where he went to school. He then studied food and beverage management at the Durban University of Technology.

While a student, he worked as a waiter at the Havana Pub & Grill and at the Diakonia Council of Churches, where he met renowned chef Peter Venter, who would later become Masethe’s mentor.

During his in-service training, he worked at the five-star Addo Elephant Game Reserve and Woodhall Spa.

It was this experience that inspired Masethe to think about the food and catering industry in a different way and sparked the thought of starting his own business.

After graduating, he went straight into industry, working long hours and spending little time with his family. He soon grew tired of the lifestyle.

“Being in industry was very difficult. I didn’t have time for myself and my family, for anything. It was fast paced and I soon realised I couldn’t go on like that,” he said. So he decided to start his own venture.

In 2007 he started elangelihle, a small company that focused on catering for social and corporate events.

In 2013 he decided to try a different route, starting My Gourmet pop-up shops and selling at local markets.

Masethe hit on something: at the Good Food and Wine Show, the gourmet pop-up sold steadily for 10 days running.

Three years later, D’urban Co was born. Masethe attributes his success to his faith.

“I have no regrets. Most chefs don’t have time to recharge; they don’t have time for God. It’s a new beginning for me, to interact with people and the community around me. I get feedback right away. That helps me to grow. It’s more of a lifestyle. It’s my dream come true,” he says.

“My goal is to create a single taste that connects all people regardless of their culture. Food is the only language that connects people, and I created this brand with that sole purpose,” he says.

Loyal followers and new customers can find D’urban Co at local markets.

“We will also be at this year’s House and Garden show, with a pop-up for 10 days. People can find us at the I Heart market on the first Saturday of every month, the Musgrave night market on the first Friday of every month and on the last Friday you can find us at the Morningside night market,” he says.

Customers can order D’urban Co food delivered using the Mr Delivery service.

As for the future, Masethe says he plans to nurture and mature the branch until it’s strong enough to become a franchise, keeping in mind the ever-changing trends in the hospitality industry.

“One of my dreams is to merge wholesome food in a fast food setup, changing the industry so that it moves in a healthier direction without compromising taste and flavour,” he says. Email: info@durbanburger.co.za Facebook:@ durbanburger031 Address: Shop 2, 219 Lillian Ngoyi Road, (Next to Bread Artisan Bakery).