Words: Catherine Black
Let’s be honest – it can be hard to find soul in the middle of Sandton. Then again, in all its glitz and glory, Sandton is an integral part of Joburg, which is an unmistakably African city. So it’s fitting to have a restaurant like Épicure – which is all about infusing traditional African food with modern international cooking techniques – in the heart of the suburb.
Head chef Coco Reinarhz hails from Burundi and spent his childhood at his mother’s restaurants in Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital, as well as in Kinshasa in the DRC. With his love for African food firmly established, he received formal chef training at Belgium’s Ecole Hotelière Provinciale de Namur, before returning to Africa and working at Sel et Poivre in Morningside and Ma Passion in Greenside. Épicure opened its doors in March in Central Square, and we chat with Coco to find out more.
What’s your vision for the restaurant?
There are many exquisite and graceful customs, as well as unique and glorious flavours that should put African food on the world culinary map. It’s my vision to create a space where the true elegance and delicious taste of Africa can be served in a relaxed, unpretentious environment.
What are some notable dishes on the menu?
The food we serve changes regularly, but it consistently offers a taste of Africa’s current time and space. Our coconut-basted crabs, for example, pay homage to the wonders of West African seafood, while our slow-cooked Nguni oxtail is all about South African comfort and luxury.
What is your aim with the adjoining Cure Deli?
Our deli serves an array of fresh salads, sandwiches, smoothies, juices and a “cake of the day”. It’s open from 8am until 9pm every day, so it serves the large surrounding corporate market, as well as the nearby gym and Central Square apartments.
In addition to the restaurant and deli, there’s also the Epic Bar, which focuses mainly on rum. Why is this?
In rum, we recognise the role of the African diaspora, as many fine rums come from the Caribbean. The African continent boasts some fine rums, including quite a few new artisanal rums on the market, so we serve a delicious selection of rum cocktails. The Epic Cocktail, for example, is perfectly curated with Bacardi 8, tropical pineapple, smoked pili-pili and sesame, and is served up spiced, balanced and smoky.
For more information on Épicure, phone 072 268 0353 or visit their Facebook page.
