South Africa

@partsunknown
 on 2021.12.14
8 Places
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"In South Africa, just ahead of Nelson Mandela’s passing, Bourdain discovers how the diverse young people of this relatively young nation grapple with a lasting legacy of apartheid. One finds that legacy rearing its head in the chronic poverty still experienced by many, in the changing demographics of certain neighborhoods, and in food. Bourdain sits down for a meat-rich lunch at a delicatessen where they have preserved memorabilia and recipes that harken back to the nation’s troubled past."
explorepartsunknown.com/destination/south-africa/

Soweto

Soweto

“Now there is a definite cachet to living in Soweto. A very real pride back at having been at the very center of things back when it was hard and dangerous to have an opinion. Nelson Mandela lived here. Desmond Tutu. When you’re a certain age and you say you were born and bred in Soweto, it means something.” Tony watched a soccer game at Mawilies Inn (could not find on the map) in Soweto, a suburb of Johannesburg. The town name derives from an abbreviation of Southwestern Township. They ate lamb's head; mieliepap (sticky porridge made from maize); stewed beef, dumplings, stewed greens, carrots, beans, gravy.

Yeoville Dinner Club

Restaurant · Johannesburg

Chef Sanza cooked for Tony: A Nigerian dish of egusi and beef (cooked with melon and pumpkin seeds) futu (crumbly cornmeal porridge); basmati rice with rose water; achar (pickled eggplant and mango); Congolese cassava; and falafel. Menu changes daily.

Hillbrow

Johannesburg

"A notoriously dangerous district" where Tony met with DJ Les.

Sympathy's Restaurant

Restaurant · Johannesburg

Bourdain ate: fried chicken, greens, pap (sticky porridge made from ground cornmeal). Lunch date: DJ Les, musician and nightclub promoter.

Pretoria

Pretoria

Administrative center of South Africa and once "the heart of apartheid" 

Maders Slaghuis

Butcher shop · Pretoria

A butcher that sells biltong, a salted dried meat. Afrikaner paraphernalia hangs in the shop, which bothered Tony. For restaurant, you can go to the meat counter and order cuts of meat with "monkey gland sauce" on the side (barbecue sauce).

siyakhana food garden

Park · Johannesburg

Tony ate iftar (meal at sundown when fasting for Ramadan has broken) with the Rasdien family. Malaysian family, they prepare panang curry with beef, a chicken pie, traditional ramadan shake.

Neighbour Goods Market

Permanently Closed

Tony ate a Balkan burger here. It is a flattened ground beef patty with tons of cheese and your choice of toppings. There is a rooftop with a view where you can sit and eat.

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