The brave, bold and reckoning force of Adelaide is coming to Auckland this Restaurant Month for a sharing style feast at city centre locale, Odettes Eatery. Duncan Welgemoed of Africola is teaming up with Odettes Eatery Executive Chef Jonah Huang at this bustling inner-city oasis as they pair up and present a menu showcasing a harmonious blend of the Mediterranean, Levantine and African flavours. Innovation from these two accomplished chefs meets seasonality and locality at this exclusive dinner collaboration.

The story of Africola goes like this: In a turn of events, chef Duncan Welgemoed found himself homesick and lost within the hype train of Michelin star kitchens. He wanted to cook the food he grew up with, to showcase the nostalgic flavours of South Africa and the discipline and techniques learnt from his family kitchen and cooking – and found joy doing just that. ‘Deliciousness’, ‘African accented’, ‘Flavour bombs’ are terms you’d use to describe the experience at Africola and Duncan Welgemoed is bringing his A-game to Auckland as he pairs up with head chef Jonah Huang of Odettes Eatery to bring you a four course sharing style menu that focuses on bold flavours, married with Duncan’s African-accented cooking style featuring notes of woodfired char and smokey hints of Mediterranean meets African spices.

As many chefs would agree, the best ones don’t arrive fully formed, they are typically nurtured. Often requiring a need to work from the ground up, gathering experience, learning, growing and pushing the boundaries of one’s comfort zone in the kitchen. This sums up Duncan Welgemoed’s culinary career – an ambitious Egyptologist in his late teens who found himself in an uncanny situation when he moved to London – he was robbed, had no dollar to his name and because he grew up in a hospo family, he knew how to work a fry pan so he picked up a kitchenhand role to make ends meet. 

Menu
Aperitif
Saffron French 75, Aimery Cuvée Cremante

Wood Fired Focaccia Canterbury Perigord Truffle, Whipped Feta
Africola Hummus & Ezme Pomegranate, Sumac
2022 Two Rivers Convergence Sauvignon, Malrborough

Yellowtail Kingfish Dashi Vinaigrette, Pickled Plum & Finger Lime
Cloudy Bay Clams Fermented Chilli, White Peas, Roti
2021 Elephant HIll Le Phant Blanc Pinot Gris & Viognier, Hawke’s Bay

Lake Ohau Wagyu Op Rib Thoum & Afrikake
Grilled Zucchini Lemon Braised Chickpeas, Hellfire Oil
Coconut Golden Dahl Spiced Butter, Turmeric
Whole Cauliflower Tahini Créme & Agrodolce
2020 McManis Family Vineyards Petit Syrah, California

Dark Chocolate Mousse Crispy Buckwheat, Créme Fraîche
Bacardi 8YO Rum Old Fashioned

About Duncan Welgemoed
Duncan worked his way in kitchens across London, and a couple of years later was awarded the first Michelin star at The Greedy Goose (Oxfordshire), just a mere eight months in working with Michael North. He excelled in his culinary game at notable restaurants such as Fat Duck and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay before moving down under to open acclaimed-Bistro Dom before finally opening Africola and it’s sister restaurants who continue to remain Adelaide’s top dining establishments. 

French trained, South African born and Australian chef Duncan Welgemoed is a force to be reckoned with. He is regarded as one of South Australia’s best and when he opened the renowned Africola in 2010, he was highly recognized at putting the lesser travelled South Australian state on the must-dine-at culinary lists of Australia. This ‘ugly delicious’ establishment is unapologetic in producing flavour explosions of African-accented food, a nod to his culture and has been featured in numerous publications, TV shows and frequented by the glitz and the glam alike.

Special Thanks to Restaurant Month 2023 Partners

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IMPORTANT – Strictly R18. Host responsibility limits apply.

NOTE ABOUT DIETARY REQUIREMENTS:  As this is an exclusive event, we regret to inform that alternative dietary requirements are not able to be accommodated.

Details are correct at the time of publishing – subject to change and availability.
Event tickets are strictly limited and may sell out, see heartofthecity.co.nz for up to date information.

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Part of Restaurant Month in the Heart of the City