Uhuru Café, a shrine to a blend of freedom and culinary creation

A new inner city shrine to the engagement with all that is fresh, natural or organic on a plate has thrown open its doors to Polokwane food lovers this past weekend. And with it embodies a commitment to the concept of freedom as encapsulated in a word borrowed from the Kiswahili language.
Uhuru Café is the newest kid on the local culinary block and aptly encompasses the life story and creative genius of owner and entrepreneur Mmabogoshi Msiza. The interiors speak of a feminine but bold inspiration as silvers and florals mingle with purples, maroons, teals and royal blues to offset previously-loved furniture pieces, which were remodelled to now sit pretty amid leafy greenery and alongside white and wood tables and chairs under turquoise umbrellas in the spacious outside room. Without a doubt the striking tulip custom-made wallpaper would most likely be a conversation starter over breakfasts or lunches respectively served from early mornings to late afternoons.
The 51-seater eatery is a continuation of Msiza’s solidified presence in the hospitality industry and forms part of the greater Uhuru Lifestyle Emporium in the making. It already includes a conference venue, manufacturing jewellers, a spa for body treatments and nail therapy, a hair salon, a clothing range and a printing concern. Within the next few months an adjacent restaurant, a wine emporium and even a chocolaterie are expected to be added to the list of offerings.
Following Friday morning’s opening, Msiza explained that despite a career in finance and accounting she has always visualised having a hotel, where guests could arrive and have a memorable time, as well as a lifestyle centre to be construed as a safe and exclusive space where one could secure different services located in one place. As owner of Limpopo Guest Manor she has partly achieved her dream of the past 15 years.
By acquiring the lifestyle emporium she has gotten closer to turning her dream into reality. The name for the development was chosen for the connotation of freedom of mind and spirit, based on her belief that freedom allowed the mind to dream and the universe subsequently conspiring to bring the picture to fruition. The end result was eventually much more impressive than imagined, she conceded.
She described food as a source of joy and comfort and added that there was pleasure to be found in enjoying a meal in the right company and while sharing gratifying conversation. The café was about bringing people together to appreciate food that would extend the bond between them, about the vibe, the preparation phase, sharing dishes and taking into account the surroundings, she explained.
The menu, which caters for vegan and vegetarian requests, is an ensemble that brings together robust breakfast combinations, sumptuous salad varieties and hearty lunches of handhelds and plated grills. It simultaneously produces surprising twists and is indicative of the expertise that was imported from Gauteng along with three young chefs who have taken charge of the on-site kitchen. Msiza underscored the Egg Royale consisting of an English muffin, smoked trout and poached eggs in a Hollandaise sauce as her menu favourite.
As testimony to all attention to detail it was learnt that the colours for the inside and exteriors have been chosen to introduce a closeness with nature and, as Msiza remarked, in a way evident of the beautiful things one admired when travelling and wanting to take back home and share with others.
In coming up with the concept she looked inward when sourcing the elements constituting the X-factor to suit the glory of a former residence that now serves as a bustling business hub and holds the promise of becoming the venue of choice in Polokwane. And all the same carrying that favoured Limpopo stamp of approval.
Locate Uhuru Café on the corner of Burger and Grobler Streets and find them open Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 16:00 and Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.
Contact them on 066 474 9074 or Uhuru Lifestyle Emporium on 015 065 0878. Email them on info@uhurucafe.co.za or otherwise visit www.uhurucafe.co.za and like, share and repeat by going to their facebook and instagram pages.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
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