Migrant Cuisine Storytelling Dinner

A magical evening of storytelling combined with delectable food and drinks. A most memorable evening in the city, discovering the history and cuisines of some of Johannesburg’s most prominent migrant communities. Presented by JoburgPlaces at its Thunder Walker venue on Gandhi Square. Storytelling in the Scatterlings Restaurant, dinner in the Zwipi Underground.

A food safari that takes guests through different spaces, experiencing migrant cuisine at each stop.

Joburg is a city of migrants. In its short 130-year history, the city has been rebuilt six times. Each era has seen a host of new migrants from all over the world flocking to Johannesburg. On the tour, guests encounter the stories of countless migrant communities, as well as being able to share their food with them.

While the storytelling includes many more migrant cultures, the menu is made up of Chinese, Cape Malay, Mozambican, Zimbabwean, Syrian and Indian cuisine. Guests also enjoy two paired drink tasters with the meal (one a beer and the other coffee liquor). Guests can buy other drinks on the tour too.

Guests arrive and mingle at the bar in the Zwipi Underground

Guests gather in the Scatterlings Restaurant for the introductory story: the six phases of Johannesburg (each of which brought a new wave of migrants).

Asian-inspired starters served in the Zwipi Underground (1st Starter: Cape Malay soup, 2nd Starter: Chinese beef dumpling)

Storytelling: Johannesburg’s Asian communities during the Gold Rush and later (Cape Malay, Indian and Chinese).

Guests walk outside to view the Gandhi sculpture and learn more about the founding of the Satyagraha/Passive Resistance Movement in Johannesburg.

Guests gather back in the Scatterlings Restaurant for the story of Pan-African migration and an introduction to the main courses.

Pan-African mains (1st Main: Zimbabwean sadza, chemolia & tomato, 2nd Main: Mozambican carapau with tomato, onion and peppers)

Guests gather in the Main Vault Room for storytelling (Chef Princess Bulelwa Mbonambi elaborates on the menu and ingredients)

The story of the United Safety Deposit vault, Somerset House and the Thunder Walker project, including the Thunder Walker Poem

Desserts are served (1st Dessert: Ethiopian/Indian Mango Lassi with Vodka, 2nd Dessert: Mediterranean Baklava with seeds) 

19h00
Guests gather in the Scatterlings Restaurant for the introductory story: the six phases of Johannesburg (each of which brought a new wave of migrants).

19h35
Asian-inspired starters served in the Zwipi Underground (1st Starter: Cape Malay soup, 2nd Starter: Chinese beef dumpling)

19h50
Storytelling: Johannesburg’s Asian communities during the Gold Rush and later (Cape Malay, Indian and Chinese).

20h10
Guests walk outside to view the Gandhi sculpture and learn more about the founding of the Satyagraha/Passive Resistance Movement in Johannesburg.

20h20
Guests gather back in the Scatterlings Restaurant for the story of Pan-African migration and an introduction to the main courses.

20h40
Pan-African mains (1st Main: Zimbabwean sadza, chemolia & tomato, 2nd Main: Mozambican carapau with tomato, onion and peppers)

21h15
Guests gather in the Main Vault Room for storytelling (Chef Princess Bulelwa Mbonambi elaborates on the menu and ingredients)

21h30
The story of the United Safety Deposit vault, Somerset House and the Thunder Walker project, including the Thunder Walker Poem

22h00
Desserts are served (1st Dessert: Ethiopian/Indian Mango Lassi with Vodka, 2nd Dessert: Mediterranean Baklava with seeds)