Dialogues Through Food: The Wine Shaq, With Nomhle Zondani

ABOUT

ABOUT

A part of the Dialogues through Food series

THE EVENT

A five-course pairing of traditional isiXhosa dishes with black-owned wines produced in the Western Cape, presented by founder of the Wine Shaq, Nomhle Zondani, with food prepared by chef Cikizwa Galela.

The evening begins with a tasting of traditional ferments, setting the context for the wine exploration. Then the six course isiXhosa menu unfolds, each course paired with a wine from a black-owned wine label.

A selection of the winemakers will be in attendance to share their stories.

All food and drink included in the ticket price.

MENU

Welcome Drinks

* The Empress Cap Classique 2020 - Zoetendal Vineyards and River Estate

* Traditional Fermented Drinks including amasi, amarhewu and umqombothi

Course 1    

Vetkoek with curried potatoes garnished with shredded spinach.

Paired With Mosi Tinashe Chenin Blanc 2022

Course 2

iDombolo with shredded hardbody chicken (Umleqwa) topped with chakalaka garnished with spinach.

Paired with Aslina Chardonnay 2023

Course 3

Umleqwa on a bed of Umgqusho 

Paired with HER Chenin Blanc 2022

Course 4

Roasted Butternut with Spinach sprinkled with pumpkin seeds.

Paired with Three Quarters Rose 2024

Course 5

Beef Stew with umfino balls with sorghum salad.

Paired with Mysterious Red Wines - guests will blind taste a selection of reds and decide which best suits the course, with guidance from the guest wine makers

Course 6

A pumpkin based traditional dessert, whimsically re-imagined

Paired with traditional Ginger Beer

Wines from the following brands will feature:

Mosi Wines by Joseph Tinashe Dhafana

HER Wine Collection 

Aslina by Ntsiki Biyela

Zoetendal Vineyards and River Estate

Three quarters Wines by Mahalia Kotjane.

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THE HOSTS

Nomhle Zondani is a wine entrepreneur born on the outskirts of Cape Town. After a decade in insurance, her journey in wine began at the Township Winery based in Philippi in 2010. Her ex-boss, who later became her mentor, sent her to The Cape Wine Academy to study wine in all aspects - a journey she enjoyed thoroughly. She started as a receptionist and worked her way up to sales and marketing manager, a position that allowed her to travel extensively through Europe and Africa. In 2017 she ventured on her own to start The Wine Shaq, with the sole purpose of being a voice for black-owned wine brands, and to put them on the map locally and abroad.

Cikizwa Galela is the owner of Ciki Graceland Cafe. She began her journey in cooking at the age of 12 being taught by her aunt. Her dream was to open her own eatery and to be a leader in African Traditional Xhosa Cuisine. After taking an Entrepreneurship course, she began to realize that she would not be truly happy unless she began operating her own business. The joy she gets from sharing her love and natural talent for cooking with the public was fully recognized when she opened her growing catering business in 2017, offering beautifully presented, flavour-focused traditional dishes to a range of clients including government and corporate events, weddings, and funerals. Cikizwa is a graduate of Makers Landing kitchen incubation programme, and partly as a result of that programme she was able to expand her business by buying a food truck, operating from Old Mutual Head Office in Pinelands, serving traditional dishes daily. Cikizwa has been making significant inroads in mainstreaming traditional Xhosa cuisine.

DIRECTIONS