Tashas's founder talks favourites dishes, food trends & global growth

07 April 2016 - 02:00 By Catherine Black
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Natasha Sideris.
Natasha Sideris.
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

Started by Joburg local, Natasha Sideris, just 10 years ago, the Tashas chain of upmarket boutique cafes is a great South African entrepreneurial success story.

Late last year, Sideris tackled her most ambitious venture yet: opening the 13th – and largest – Tashas in the heart of upmarket Nelson Mandela Square.

We caught up with her to find out more.

How has the response been to the new store? 

It’s been unbelievable – our customers and the surrounding community have been very supportive. It’s amazing to see people’s faces when I tell them that 98% of the store was designed and manufactured in South Africa. 

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How is it different from you other Tashas restaurants? 

Each Tashas has its own inspiration that informs both the design of the space and the “Inspired by” menu. The theme of our Sandton store is African Glamour. This is epitomised in our privé dining area, The Flamingo Room, as well as in the amazing Donald Greig sculpture of animals perched on counter tops, the “duck feet” lamps on the bar, and the “Baobab Flower” installation above the bar area. 

What's your favourite dish on the menu?

That’s a difficult question to answer, so I will give you three: the sea bass fillet with fennel and leeks, the creamy truffle pasta and the burrata is also very special. 

How do you manage to keep consistency and quality with such a large space to manage?

As our biggest store so far, we have a huge team to run it, and they trained a month longer than for any other location. Also for the first time, we’re taking reservations for the Flamingo Room, which allows for a much easier rhythm than our normal cafe business.

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What's your take on the current hottest food trends?

A trend that I think is here to stay is the concept of “clean, healthy” food.  People are acutely aware of what they should and shouldn’t be eating, and how it affects them.

What are your future expansion plans?

I’ve always said that we would stop at 15 stores in South Africa. We are now at 13, and opening one more this year. Internationally, we’re looking seriously at further expansion in the Middle East, Australia and the United Kingdom.

 

This article was originally published in one of the Sunday Times Neighbourhood: Property and Lifestyle guides. Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za, like YourNeighbourhoodZA on Facebook and follow YourHoodZA on Twitter.

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