Food. Lots of food. Lots of Mozambican deliciousness. That is what awaits you if you decide to indulge in the Mozambican buffet currently on offer at Southern Sun at O.R Tambo International Airport. For only R290 pp, you can gorge yourself silly on a wide array of dishes, including fresh prawns and crayfish, grilled by the dozen, slices of roast beef with a trinchado sauce, chicken in the most delectable coconut sauce and for those of you not freaked out by seeing what your food looks like whole, suckling pig.
Look at all the food I ate.
When you think of Johannesburg, you think of tall buildings, loads of shopping centres and women in 4x4s who only use them to park on pavements. However, if you drive slightly out of this fascinating city, into the cradle of humankind, you are greeted by rolling landscapes filled with the wonders of nature.
If you like them big round and juicy (I’m talking about burgers), then its best you stop reading this right now and phone to make a booking at Dukes Burgers in Greenside, Johannesburg.
I’m not a big fan of Greenside due to the lack of any decent parking area, but if you are willing to brave a parallel parking, and are looking for something yummy to eat, then I would whole heartedly recommend getting a burger from Dukes.
They have the biggest selection of burgers I have ever seen, and you can choose from beef, chicken, ostrich, lamb and vegetarian. When your plate arrives in front of you, remember not to stare at it for too long, you can do it, you can eat that gigantic mound of food you are given. I ordered the “Hola Amigo” – A beef burger, with a Mexican twist. It came smothered in fresh guacamole, a tomato salsa, and cheese covered nacho chips. Since I was going all out, I add extra bacon. Because bacon.
Hola Amigo beef burger
Trust me, this is not a McDonalds or Spur experience, this is burger heaven, I love that you can tell with your first bite, that the patty is made from beef mince, and that you not eating some super processed disc of something. All the toppings are fresh, and the chips are crispy.
Mev Vark beef burger
Prices range between R52 and R115, depending on what you order, they have also recently added a Wagyu beef burger to their menu. I went for lunch on a public holiday and there were one or two tables open, but it’s probably best to book. Greenside gets really busy on a Friday and Saturday night, so if crowds are not your thing, I would recommend rather going for lunch.
Mielie poppers
Nitty Gritty:
Restaurant Name: Dukes Burgers
Website: http://dukesburgers.co.za/
Phone Number : 011 486 0824
Location: 14 Gleneagles Rd
Greenside,
Johannesburg,
Gauteng
My Rating: 8 out of 10
Kid Friendly: Kids are welcome, but the portions are huge, and there isn’t a play area.
Smoking section: Yes
Must try: Anything with bacon.
Good to know: You might walk straight past the entrance, so if you can’t find it, ask someone.
Do recipes that include the word bacon, even need an introduction? Probably not. Since I made this smokey bacon and onion marmalade, we have already demolished a jar of it. The sweet sticky smokey salty moreishness of this spread is hard to describe in words, you are just going to have to make it for yourself to see what I mean.
I don’t think I have ever met someone who has visited Mozambique (the country), and not enjoyed it. The talks of enjoying freshly braaied chicken, the white beaches, blue ocean and a drink fondly referred to as an R&R (Rum and Raspberry), leaves me suffering from serious FOMO. So for the plebs like me, who have yet to experience the magic of our neighbouring country, there is an option a bit closer to home.
Waiters write their names on the table cloth, upside down
I did it! I won! My Bobotie sandwich was voted the winner of the Capsicum Mzansi Gourmet Sandwich Competition.
I get a whopping R10 000 Yuppiechef voucher (probably the nicest prize I have ever won). I’m going to buy myself some Le Creuset pots 
Thanks Capsicum!
The recipe for this winning sarmie can be found here
I think I have gotten to the point when I can admit that I am totally obsessed with carrot cake. I’m not sure if it’s the fragrant spices that permeate through the house when it’s baking, or the fact that I can consider it healthy because it contains a vegetable. 
Which dish can be more ideal to turn into a sandwich for a Mzansi Sandwich Competition, than Bobotie. Instead of baking the bobotie with a custard topping, I used the custard mixture to make french toast. I piled on bobotie mince, tomato and onion, carrots and a yoghurt topping, to create the ultimate Mzansi sandwich.
I bet most people don’t know that there are groups you can join on Facebook, or websites that you can go to, which consist of thousands of people, who will vote for you in a competition, in return for a vote for them in another competition? Or, that Facebook likes, or retweets and followers on twitter can be bought for a small fee?
A simple googling of the term “vote for me and I will vote for you” yields this gem as the first result.
If you are lucky enough to be in a competition with people who don’t utilise services such as this, then you are in a constant state of begging for likes/votes on social media – which is more annoying than brands retweeting their every mention. (And I’m guilty of begging for votes too, but popularity has never been my strong point – so it is futile) read more…
