‘Gauteng Taste of Africa Experience’ to ignite flavour at the 10th TOPS at SPAR Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival

Gauteng Tourism is bringing the ‘Gauteng Taste of Africa Dining Experience’  to the 10th TOPS at SPAR Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival (4-6 September) giving festival goers the chance to taste world-class cuisine available in Soweto and at the Maboneng Precinct.

The participating distinctly-African restaurants will be the House of Baobab, Blackanese, Kahawa Club, Roots Restaurant and Lapa La Rona, while the sounds of Africa will ignite the food-theatre space with performances by Senagalese and Congolese musicians.

Says Gauteng Tourism CEO, Dawn Robertson: “The Gauteng Taste of Africa Experience is about bringing the deliciousness of the Maboneng Precinct to Soweto so that visitors to the 10th TOPS at SPAR Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival can discover some of the amazing African-inspired cuisine being served by Gauteng’s hottest restaurants. What’s on offer from these restaurants is but a taste of what Gauteng has to offer when it comes to African cuisine.”

Meaning ‘Place of Light’ in Sotho, the Maboneng Precinct is a regenerated inner-city district that for years was declared a no-zone area due to urban decay and crime, but is now a thriving community of creative energy, featuring a mix of art galleries, private studios, theatres, markets, cutting-edge fashion and some of Johannesburg’s tastiest cuisine.

House of Baobab is one such restaurant located in the heart of the precinct. It is set to delight with its authentically-African food and drink, while Blackanese, one of Maboneng’s newest restaurants, will tantalise taste buds with African-Asian fusion cuisine. Kahawa Coffee Club is a promoter of all things African and will only be selling coffee made from Fairtrade African beans, served up with decadent sweet treats, at the 10th TOPS at SPAR Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival.

Soweto’s Roots Restaurant & Gallery and Lapa La Rona will be showcasing their five-star township-inspired cuisine to festival-goers.

Launched in 2005, the TOPS at SPAR Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival has evolved to become a celebration of Soweto’s sensational soul, helping to shape a new generation of black wine connoisseurs and wine producers, transforming the landscape of wine consumption in South Africa over its 10-year history and leading to an increase in domestic wine sales following years of decline.

The 10th TOPS at SPAR Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival is happening from 4 – 6 September, 2014 at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus. Festival opening times are: Thursday & Friday, 6 – 10pm; and Saturday 5 – 9pm. For more information and to book tickets go to http://www.sowetowinefestival.co.za.