South Africa
Where you’ll find me, by chef Vusi Ndlovu
An insider’s guide to Africa with Vusi Ndlovu
Vusi Ndlovu is a chef and entrepreneur who brings the heat to Cape Town – literally. Ndlovu, along with Absie Pantshwa, opened Edge Restaurant with the vision of honouring African flavours and using fire, not only as an element of cooking but as an ingredient. He is inspired by African cuisine and doesn’t want to pimp out African food but rather wants to showcase these dishes in a more minimalist form.
Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Pretoria, Ndlovu has worked in the top kitchens of South Africa and Europe (also ranking amongst the top seven chefs at the San Pellegrino Young Chef finale in 2018). An environment, he says, can be hardcore and strict, which led him to run his kitchen in a more gentle, educational way. For him, it’s important that their work environment is open. He encourages his team to learn and make mistakes. Ndlovu also emphasises how important it is for him to not only use African ingredients but also to learn about the background of the ingredients.
Here, Ndlovu shares the places, flavours and cultural touchpoints that shape his sense of Africa.
Top photography courtesy of Edge
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“What I like about Senegal is how the people are really welcoming and very open.”
In Africa, my favourite country is …
… Senegal. What I like about Senegal is how the people are really welcoming and very open. They were keen to share their knowledge on how they like to eat and how they like to move about their food. They’re very generous with their knowledge, so I think for me, that’s why Senegal is my favourite country.
For a dose of urban pulse, I head to …
… Johannesburg. Johannesburg is always busy. There’s always something happening and there’s always someone doing something new and exciting. So there are always so many things to look out for when you’re in Joburg. Like in Cape Town, you kind of know, like, the same people and the same vibe. So I think in that sense, it’s always an exciting opportunity to experience something new in Joburg.
“It’s a very peaceful place to be, where you could just actually hear your thoughts for once.”
For the perfect close-to-nature experience, I visit …
… Inhaca Island in Mozambique. It’s peaceful and away from the rush of Maputo, but not too far, just an hour away from Maputo. It’s a very peaceful place to be, where you could just actually hear your thoughts for once. We just had a good time here and good memories.
For a memorable getaway, I check myself into …
… anywhere in Cape Saint Francis in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. I’m not really a hotel guy, I prefer local stays and booking Airbnbs or local homestays. I like the small town, local atmosphere, the location and the natural surroundings. I also love visiting my favourite restaurant there – Nevermind. Nevermind is cool and Wesley is doing some amazing things there.
Photography courtesy of Nahyeeni Lodge
“I feel like [La Trip] a hidden gem in Cape Town and I like the laid-back vibe.”
For a great meal, I go to …
… a dibiterie in Senegal. There is a dining concept in Senegal, they’re called dibiteries. The idea is that you walk in there and then there’s a lamb hanging in there and then you can choose your cut. Then they will grill it for you over an open fire. It’s very cool, you just sit there and watch it cooking.
For a fun night out, I head to …
… Anthm. It’s a cocktail bar that opened recently. I like how passionate and serious the bartender is about his craft and how it’s authentically Japanese. I’m not really in the club scene anymore, so my go-to for a night out is La Trip. I feel like it’s a hidden gem in Cape Town and I like the laid-back vibe. I usually go for either a Caipirinha or a Margarita.
Photography courtesy of Evan Snug and La Trip
“When we walk back home from work, we walk past all these art galleries, so that’s, like, pretty much our cultural experience, if you will.”
For a dose of retail therapy, I shop at …
… Kitchen Samurai. As a chef, Kitchen Samurai is my go-to retail spot. It’s great to go in there and look at their collection of knives. I’m not a big shopper, you’ll mostly see me in a black T-shirt. But I like going to markets and I like the cool vintage shops in Observatory. Oranjezicht City Farm Market is one of my favourites, I like the fresh produce there.
For a dose of culture, I head to …
… The Athletic Club & Social or The Blue Room. I like the authentic jazz experiences here, for me, that’s a dose of culture. We also have all of these art galleries down the street. When we walk back home from work, we walk past all these art galleries, so that’s like pretty much our cultural experience, if you will.
Photography courtesy of The Blue Room and Oranjezicht City Farm Market
“If you can get a chance to go to a homestead or one of the villages, that’s a real quintessential African experience.”
For a hidden gem, I recommend …
… Píri Píri in Mozambique. Píri Píri is quite fun because it’s very unassuming and the food really exceeds all expectations. Even though it’s in Maputo, it’s not a tourist hotspot – yet.
For me, a quintessential African experience is …
… spending the day at a local homestead or African village. If you can get a chance to go to a homestead or one of the villages, that’s a real quintessential African experience. Experience the local life and the African celebrations and traditions. Nothing too curated. It’s like real life and it’s how people live. It’s not sugar-coated or anything like that. Just a way to experience African roots and the local community.
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