The Blacker the Banana. The Sweeter the Mash!, with Chef Coco, Cherae Robinson and Portia Mbau

Still locked-down here on the Continent (and recording from my home office, not usual recording studio), due to Covid-19; Banana bread baking has truly gone viral!!! 

From Tiktok challenges, thanks to original sound from @Makayladid, to gymnast-nurses strutting and kicking and getting our "attention", everybody needs a sweet snack!  Banana bread!  But what of the humble Plantain? Blacker and sweeter and considered an African jewel.  But is it though?

This episode features, Restauraters Portia Mbau of @TheAfricaCafe, and Author of the new Cookbook, The Africa Cookbook alongside, Chef Coco (Fathi Reinharz) of @EpicureRestaurant, in Sandton, Johannesburg and Cherae Robinson of @tstmkrsafrica. We talk about aspirational travel and the evolution in African cuisine from the traditional to the modern, thanks to the question; are plantains for black people, while bananas are for whites?

"Chef Coco - So the goal of Epicure is really to travel. Epicure is not a concept that was created just for Johannesburg. We're now thinking of going and establishing restaurants like this one in other cities like Lagos, Addis, Nairobi, and couple of years going even over the continent to really showcase modern African cuisine."

"Cherae Robinson - ...Yes, you can go and book a tour on Tastemakers. The person you're booking that tour with is usually not a traditional tour guide.... they're usually leaders and Tastemakers; you know where the name comes from, in their own right in their own cities, you know, so we're tapping into people who are changing the face of the continent."

Come. Catch a buzz with me; You'll leave with the munchies!  Promise!!

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Yolanda Busbee Methvin
Yolanda@prosperityfood.co