Coco’s cuisine
Chef Coco is a trailblazer in putting a spotlight on African food and has run the successful Epicure restaurant in Johannesburg, South Africa, for 5 years. Dorothy Walker finds out more.
words: Dorothy Walker
photos: Dan Carter and Theana Calitz
I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Chef Coco last year in Livingstone, Zambia, when Exalt Africa hosted the Greatest Party of All in Zambia’s tourist capital. He was busy preparing to cater for the party, but still had time for everyone with his polite, easy-going demeanour. This is the first thing that will strike you about the revered Chef.
Epicure is a one-of-its kind restaurant, serving dishes from across the entire African continent. It’s not hard to see where Chef Coco’s inspiration comes from since he has visited almost every country on the map – he only has 14 more to go!
He says that when he travels, he will not eat food that isn’t indigenous to the country and prefers seeking out local and traditional food to understand the country through its cuisine. This perfectly explains why his restaurant has such a diverse menu with inspiration from his travels and experiences.