In Johannesburg we offer four different options for private storytelling dinners:
- Public Storytelling Lunches at Sadies Bistro (last Sunday of the month)
- Private Penthouse in Maboneng
- Private room in a restaurant of your choice.
- Historic Red Room at JSE Newtown.
Storytelling:
A JoburgPlaces Storytelling Lunch or Dinner involves captivating storytelling by Charlie Moyo, detailing the history of Johannesburg in its 7-phases of development. It provides you with a comprehensive overview and thorough understanding of the city. From the 1886 goldrush, and the history that preceded that, all the way through to the Anglo Boer War, the city during the Union, the advent of apartheid and the struggle against that. Including the rapid decline of the city during the 1980s sanctions against apartheid and on to the advernt of democracy, the regerneration of the old city and the birth of the newer Sandton. Up till current day Johannesburg with its incredibly diverse, migrant population.
1. Storytelling Lunch at Sadies Bisto (last Sunday of every month)
LocalPlaces is excited to announce its new season of public Sunday Storytelling Lunches at Sadie’s Bistro, overlooking historic Main & Hollard Streets in Marshalltown. An extraordinary indoor/outdoor bistro under the trees, in the city.
Hosted on the last Sunday of every month, as of 29 September. Join us for an extraordinary lunch, combined with captivating storytelling by Charlie Moyo on the 7-Phases of Johannesburg’s history and development.
The experience
A LocalPlaces Storytelling Lunch at Sadie’s Bistro does not only involve delectable cuisine. Instead, it is an integrated experience, involving astonishing storytelling, an exceptional city venue, and the extraordinary food of proud Joburger, Chef Julian Ribeiro.
This is not merely another restaurant meal, but a feast eaten together in the heart of the city. The cuisine inspired by Johannesburg’s migrant culture and the South African chef’s Lebanese ancestry. It is entertaining and inspiring and will leave you with a new perspective of South Africa’s extraordinary diversity, heritage, people, places and cuisines. It is simply a must-do experience for anyone living in or visiting Johannesburg.
Charlie’s storytelling delves into the astonishing events that have shaped Johannesburg as it is today. It makes you understand the incredible City of Gold & Migration. A place that has evolved from ancient times through the 1886 gold rush to its glory days of fast growth. On to rapid sanctions-induced decline during the struggle against apartheid, and its re-emergence since democracy. A city that is still facing enormous challenges, trying to find its way to becoming a thriving metropolis once again .
It is the story of Johannesburg, South Africa and Africa, set within the context of international relations in the world. It is astonishing, perplexing, shocking and inspiring all at the same time!
About Charlie
Charlie is a renowned storyteller, public speaker and city guide, handling all LocalPlaces activities in Johannesburg. With his velvet voice and in-depth knowledge of the history of the city, he presents the most captivating and entertaining storytelling.
Charlie joined Gerald Garner at JoburgPlaces in 2016. Since then, this tourism and storytelling business has evolved into LocalPlaces with branches in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Together Charlie Moyo (based in Johannesburg) and Gerald (based in Cape Town) operate one of the most respected guiding and storytelling operations in South Africa.
About Sadie’s Bistro
Located in a modernist building that hosted the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in the 1960s and 70s, is one of Johannesburg’s trendiest casual restaurants: Sadie’s Bistro. Popular among corporate office workers and city residents, Sadie’s is famous for its outdoor seating under the trees on a city square, as well as its eclectic, migrant cuisine.
Talking about his restaurant, Chef Julian states “My grandmother, Sadie Ribeiro (Nee Naddaf) was proud to be born in Mzansi, and equally proud of her Lebanese heritage. Sadie was larger than life and loved to be surrounded by family and friends. Everyone was welcome in her home. People were almost amazed by her delicious food. But there was something more, something special. They knew it was her way of expressing love for others. She inspired me to become a chef. We are proud to honour her, and her devotion to food and people.”
Menu:
Starters:
Lebanese mezze platter.
Hummus Bi Tahini, Labneh, Falafel, Kafta (Flame Grilled Minced Beef Kebabs), Grilled Halloumi, Olives, Syrian Flat Bread.
Mains:
A series of famous bowls in the middle of the table from which guests dish their choices.
Pulled chicken, halloumi, avocado, grilled onion and savoury rice.
Halloumi, avocado, red pepper, baby spinach and savoury rice (Vegetarian).
Teriyaki salmon, basmati rice, avocado, spring onion and toasted sesame seeds.
Grilled rump, chimichurri, house cut fries and bearnaise sauce.
Lebanese tabbouleh: Fresh parsley, tomato, spring onion, fresh mint, bulghur wheat, lemon juice and olive oil (Vegan).
Lebanese Batata Harra: Crispy cubed potatoes, paprika, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil dressing (vegan).
Dessert:
Churros: Housemade Sweet Fritters, Cinnamon Sugar, Hot Dulce De Leche Or Chocolate Dip.
Vegan Chocolate Tarte.
Drinks:
The restaurant has a full bar on site. Drinks ordered and paid on site on the day of the lunch.
Running order:
12noon: Guests arrival, order drinks
12:30: Welcome briefing by Charlie
12:40: Starters
13:00: First storytelling
13:40: Mains
14:30: Second storytelling
15:10: Dessert
15:30: Final storytelling
16:00: Formalities end, guests linger for drinks
17:30: Venue closes
Scheduled dates for Sunday lunches:
Sunday 29 September, 12noon
Sunday 27 October, 12noon
Sunday 24 November, 12noon
Ticket price for Sunday lunches:
The cost is R700 per person (food and storytelling). Drinks are ordered and paid on site. To make a booking send a WhatsApp to +27 82 894 5216 or email to gerald@localplaces.co.za. We will respond with confirmation and payment details.
Note a booking is only secured upon full payment. Bookings cannot be cancelled or refunded after payment is received. Bookings can be postponed to another date until 21 days ahead of a booking date, but not any closer to the booking date.
Private group lunches or dinners can be booked for other days. A minimum spend of R7000 excluding drinks is required for groups of 9 or less guests. For groups of 10 or more, the cost is R700 per person.
2. Maboneng Penthouse
For groups of 20 or less, we can easily host you in a private penthouse in Maboneng for a stunning event, including food and storytelling.
The menu involves a delectable ‘Sidla Sonke’ (We eat together) meal of traditional South African food. The meal is presented in bowls in the centre of the table from where guests can dish up into their own plates, enjoying a wide variety of flavours and aromas. The menu includes the following:
Cape-Malay inspired fish curry
South African Apricot-infused lamb stew
African beef stew
Chinese chicken chow men
Chickpea stew with red kidney beans, samp, coconut milk, turmeric and paprika (Vegan)
Turmeric-stained yellow rice (Vegan)
African Dombolo (steamed bread) (Vegan)
African ipapa/sadza infused with tomato and spinach (Vegan)
Crunchy Coleslaw (Vegan)
Chakalaka (Vegan)
Green salad (Vegan)
Mango sorbet with pickled ginger and coconut milk (Vegan)
Malva pudding with custard
Cape Malay Koeksisters
In the case of a penthouse lunch or dinner at Fox Street Studios in Maboneng, typical costs for a group of 16 would be as follows:
Venue hire: R6000
Catering: R525 x 16 = R8400
Table setup and rental items (cutlery, crockery, glasses etc): R90 x 16 = R1440
Furniture rental (extra chairs and tables): R75 x 10 = R750 plus 2 x R150 = R300
Storytelling & hosting: R5500
Waiter service: R660
Total: R23 050
The minimum fee for hosting a private storytelling lunch or dinner in the penthouse is R15 000, regardless of the number of guests.
Note that it is a private penthouse and as such the venue does not have a liquor license. For this reason, guests can bring their own drinks along (wine, beer, spirits, softdrinks, waters etc). We will of course be happy to keep these in the fridge and to serve/pour for you.
2. Private room in a restaurant of your choice
We can book a private room for you in a restaurant of your choice. Various options can be considered such as Marble in Rosebank or Basalt at the Peech Hotel in Melrose. In this case you will pay the restaurant directly for your booking, including any venue hire that may apply, plus food and drinks. We will charge you for the storytelling part.
Costs:
Our fee is a minimum of R2600 for storytelling for a group of up to 7 guests. Or R330 per person if you are more than 7 guests.
3. Historic Red Room at JSE Newtown
The historic traders bar, where stock exchange traders queued at 10am in the morning for double gin & tonics before trading commenced is nowadays available for event bookings. It is perfect for a larger group storytelling dinner, such as a 50th birthday celebration of a corporate function.
It is a warm, comfy and intimate bar with linked dining room, perfect for events of up to 90 guests (seated dinner service) or 120 (canape service). Venue hire of R17 250 per full day applies. Additional charges for storytelling, staff services, catering, drinks service, furniture hire, decor etc. We will prepare a quote and proposal for you on request.
To make a booking, send a WhatsApp to +27 894 5216 or email to gerald@localplaces.co.za
Guests participate in all LocalPlaces – JoburgPlaces events at their own risk. Neither JoburgPlaces, nor its hosts or guides, accept any responsibility whatsoever for any injury, accident or death that may occur while participating in a tour or event such as a lunch or dinner, whether in a public or a private space.
If you urgently want to know about already scheduled open tours in a current week, which you could join, please WhatsApp us directly on +27 82 894 5216. We also run a WhatsApp Group where we post news on upcoming quick encounters, tours and events. send a message to us requesting to join this group.
WhatsApp us on +27 82 894 5216 or email us on gerald@localplaces.co.za to check availability.