Curry complements cultural delights
Joburg’s ’burbs do it like Durbs
AS the sun set on Tuesday, we made our way to the leafy northern Johannesburg suburb of Craighall Park for the launch of “Bunnies in the ’Burbs”.
The idea, the brainchild of communications fundi Vanessa Perumal and her husband, Dees Harilal, is to serve bunny chow and spicy curries in the suburbs. The event was held in a garden setting at the African Media Resource Centre for Excellence in the grounds of their home.
Comfortable chairs and simply decorated tables stood around a fire bowl that complemented the beautiful, warm ambience. About 30 people attended, among them South Africa’s first lady of song, Sibongile Khumalo, whom we spotted at the buffet eager to taste the bunnies.
Renowned praise singer Jessica Mbangeni kicked off the evening with a powerful welcome, her voice echoing through the night.
Perumal spoke about how she based the concept on her cultural heritage and had decided to fuse culture, creativity and cuisine.
Born and raised in Johannesburg, she dispelled the notion that “all Indians come from Durban” and that Indian curries and South African Indian traditional foods, like the bunny chow, should be only a Durban experience.
Daniella Munsamy, 16, of Natya Anjali dance school, enchanted guests with her performance of the traditional classical dance bharatanatyam.
Fana Ensemble provided lovely music for the evening.
Fashion designer Rayana Edwards showed off her range of Eastern-inspired outfits, made from saris, in an informal fashion show.
After the formalities were completed, the guests lined up at the buffet.
It was the perfect night for a hot and spicy curry. Hot pots of meat, vegetables and rotis were set out. The scent of the food made mouths water and Harilal, who had cooked the dishes, hit the spot with them.
The food was divine and it was a lovely evening spent in the company of interesting people, with enjoyable entertainment to boot.