TasteBuds tantalise

As the wind blew with a biting chill on Saturday evening, August 1, a lucky party of about 50 guests were welcomed into the Brettenwood Estate clubhouse and treated to a feast of hot curries, fine wine and animated conversation.

The ‘Taste of Durban Curries’ event was the first of its kind to be launched in the Ballito area. The brainchild of Brettenwood resident Stephanie Walker, who has started a new business called ‘TasteBuds’, through which she plans to host intimate and interactive dining experiences and share with the public her passion for everything spicy.

“I have always loved spicy food, particularly curries, and I wanted to share with guests the exciting flavours of Durban curries and North Indian cuisine,” said Walker, who hopes Saturday’s inaugural event is the beginning of many more like it.

The food provided included a starter, a choice of six different curries and a choice of Indian deserts, while on arrival guests were offered a selection of luxury wines by Distell Wine.

“It is important to me that the flavours are authentic and that diners enjoy the best Durban curries in our area in a relaxed and engaging environment,” said Walker, who hired a cluster of local curry experts to turn up the heat for her guests.

Indian cuisine specialists from Gorimas Spices as well as Thava, Spice and Impulse restaurants cooked a delicious array of vegetable, chicken, lamb, beef and prawn curries for the guests.

The event was a great opportunity for curry enthusiasts and passionate foodies to improve their own cooking skills, as guests were encouraged to engage the chefs for tips and tricks on making that perfect curry.

As the evening drew on and the laughter mingled with aromas of masala and jasmine, the room of diners sat with satisfied appetites, empty glasses and broad smiles as they shared with each other their favourite dishes of the night.

“I am thrilled with the turn-out tonight and look forward to hosting the next event,” said Walker, who plans to host a Mexican themed evening in the near future as TasteBuds embarks on its journey through the flavours of the world.