Guests I would invite to my fantasy lunch:
• Paul Bocuse, because he put French cuisine on the map and has inspired young chefs all over the world. My grandmother, who was a chef and shared her skill with me and developed my passion for food.
• President Emmanuel Macron, who is bringing in a new political approach.• The late Léopold Senghor, a Senegalese poet who served as the first president of Senegal. An African socialist, Senghor was associated with the Négritude movement and was the first African elected to the Académie Francaise. He was regarded by many as one of the most important African intellectuals of the 20th century.• Dick Foxton, my most loyal customer who is now a friend. He supported me from the first restaurant I worked at and I have named a dish after him, "Foxton Pie".My customer Dick Foxton has always been "the" person that I seek advice from first. For the first time I will share with him how I make Foxton Pie ...
Who else would be there:
My wife and two children, Wendy Luhabe, Mbhazima Shilowa, Janine Walker and David Greenleaf, Benjamin Binet, Frederic Dioré, Jonas Gwangwa, Bruce Sebitlo, my nephew, and his mum Kedibone.What I'd serve:
• My favourite dish from my granny's days, French onion soup;
• A classic blanquette de veau (veal stew);
• I would leave my son Bruce, who is a pastry chef, to surprise us with dessert.
AU REVOIR BISTRO MICHEL
"It has been a very important decision to make, to close down my restaurant, Bistro Michel in Illovo, Johannesburg," says Morand.
"The last couple of months things have not been going well - there has been a drop in business and increasing costs have forced me to sit down and take stock.
"I've grown tremendously in the two-and-a half years since the bistro opened. In a restaurant business you need passion and when the passion becomes bitter, the cooking is bitter ... I'm starting a new business and will be doing catering and pop-up events."..