A Table in the Corner
A Table in the Corner is the space where Russel Wasserfall chats to people in the food industry about their passion and their take on the business of eating. Russel has worked in the media and food space for over 3 decades. He's run bars, restaurants and a confectionery factory, written for dozens of food and travel publications and made a bunch of cookbooks. His show is about the nitty-gritty of the food trade in all its forms. Top chefs, food artisans, proprietors, bakers, farmers, foragers, cheesemakers, writers, photographers, bloggers... you name it. If they’re involved in the food industry, you will meet them with Russel at A Table in the Corner.
Episodes
181 episodes
S2-29. The Kraal Restaurant - Susan Dehosse
At The Kraal Restaurant on Joostenberg Farm, Susan Dehosse is cooking from a place that predates current trends around farm-to-table experiences. In this episode of A Table in the Corner, we talk about how a working farm, a family lega...
S2-28. Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery - PJ Vadas
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I chat to PJ Vadas at his Smokehouse & Bakery on Spier Wine Estate. We talk plainly about what it actually costs to keep a restaurant running, and why so many operators are under pressure right now....
S2-27. Seebamboes - Adél Hughes & Liebet Jooste
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel Wasserfall sits down with chef Adél Hughes and artist-host Liebet Jooste, the couple behind Seebamboes. Their restaurant, tucked above Galjoen on Harrington Street, forms par...
S2-26. Belly of the Beast - Odette Olivier
On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Odette Olivier, head chef of the Harrington Street tasting-menu restaurant Belly of the Beast.Odette talks about how she found her way into profession...
S2-25. Ëlgr - Jesper Nilsson
On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Jesper Nilsson, the Swedish-born chef behind Ëlgr, his popular restaurant on Kloof Street.Jesper’s cooking carries the clarity and discipline often associated with ...
S2-24. Rykaarts - Ella Rykaart
On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Ella Rykaart, the front-of-house force behind Rykaarts, the small, atmospheric restaurant she runs with her husband, chef Alex Rykaart, on Longridge Wine Estate.Whi...
S2-23. Le Bistrot de JAN - Giles Edwards
On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Giles Edwards, a chef returning to the pass after time away, now working in collaboration with Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen at Le Bistrot de JAN. It’s a conversation abo...
S2-22. Mozambik - Brett Michielin
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Brett Michielin, the operator behind Mozambik, one of Southern Africa’s most recognisable casual dining brands. What began as a forty-seat restaurant in Ballito, KZN has g...
S2-21. In the Meantime - Sepial Shim
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Korean-born chef Sepial Shim, whose quiet, wandering path through Cape Town’s food world has taken her from cooking school to markets, pop ups and now a tiny sixteen seat restauran...
S2-20. Ouzeri - Aidan Zieff
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Aidan Zieff, head chef of Ouzeri, one of Cape Town’s most quietly influential restaurants. Aidan reflects on a fast-moving early career that took him from local fine dinin...
S2-19. Tomson - Andrew Kai
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Andrew Kai, chef and co-founder behind Tomson, Max Bagels and One Park, to talk about building small, culture-driven food businesses in a city increasingly dominated by scale.<...
S2-18. Lello's Deli - Chiara and Dani Turilli
In this Special Thursday episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with brother and sister team Danillo and Chiara Turilli, the operators behind Lello’s Deli, to talk about inheritance, identity and building something d...
S2-17. Arum - Travis Finch
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel travels to Boschendal to sit down with Travis Finch, head chef of Arum, to talk about cooking inside one of the Cape’s most ambitious agricultural ecosystems. Travis reflects on a career...
S2-16. Tashas - Natasha Sideris
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Tasha Sideris, founder and chief executive of the Tashas restaurant group, to unpack two decades of building one of the most recognisable hospitality brands to emerge from...
S2-15. Reverie Social Table - Julia Hattingh
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Julia Hattingh, chef and owner of Reverie Social Table, to unpack one of Cape Town’s most singular dining models. Julia talks through a career shaped by classical training...
S2-14. Bao Down - Philippa & Graham Oldfield
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Philippa and Graham Oldfield, the partners behind Bao Down, one of Cape Town’s most beloved independent restaurants. The conversation traces their parallel routes through ...
S2-13. Toevlug - Drikus Brink
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Drikus Brink, chef/proprietor of Toevlug, to trace a quietly serious cooking life shaped by farms, butcheries and long service beside Bertus Basson. Brink talks through hi...
S2-12. Wiggle Room - Lester & Fish
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down at the counter of The Wiggle Room on Bree Street with co-founders Lester Riffel and chef Ismael ‘Fish’ Amos to explore one of Cape Town’s most provocative new dining concepts. Built aro...
S2-11. Salon - Carla Schulze
In this week’s episode, Russel sits down with Carla Schulze, executive chef of Salon which is part of the Test Kitchen family of restaurants. Carla reflects on her journey from studying under Jackie Cameron in KwaZulu Natal to becoming a key cr...
S2-10. Mertia - Matt van den Berg
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Matt van den Berg, head chef at Mertia in Stellenbosch and one of the most quietly respected chefs in the Western Cape. Matt reflects on his unconventional path into cooki...
S2-09. Melting Pot - John van Zyl
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I sat down with John van Zyl, chef and co owner of Melting Pot, one of Cape Town’s most talked about contemporary restaurants. John reflects on his unconventional journey into food, from music ...
S2-08. Melfort - Tasmin Reed
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Tasmin Reid, the young, fiercely thoughtful chef behind Melfort, a seasonal farm to fork restaurant on Marianne Estate near Stellenbosch. Tasmin shares her journey from Si...
S2-07. TTK Fledgelings - Nathan Clarke
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Chef Nathan Clark, head chef of Test Kitchen Fledgelings. Apologies in advance - the sound quality is not the best, as I had a few technical challenges, but Nathan's story...
S2-06. Emotions of the Sun - Seth Shezi
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, we step into the golden world of Veuve Clicquot’s Emotions of the Sun, the global photographic exhibition created with the legendary Magnum Photos agency, now shining in Cape Town at Youngblood Gallery ...
S2-05. Galjoen - Anouchka Horn
Join me at my table in the corner for this incredible conversation with chef Anouchka Horn, co-owner of Cape Town’s acclaimed restaurants Belly of the Beast and Galjoen. In this episode, Anouchka shares her journey from her grandmother’s tradit...
