Sunday, July 1, 2012

Johnny's Roti's - A Rainbow Nation Microcosm


    The only place I've visited in Durban where people from every race, class, age and gender come together equally is Johnny's Roti's.  It is a literal hole in the wall on the side of a busy road with a kitchen, a window and a facade covered in loud, painted signs advertising "A Deal for Busy Housewives - 10 plain rotis for 10 rand!!!," "12 rand sugar bean rotis," and other meals for 10 to 50 rand.  One sign reads, "Feed the Hungry! 400 bunny chow's for 300 rand!"  (One American dollar equals about 8 rand, and a bunny chow is a quarter loaf of bread hollowed and filled with a meat curry, a unique invention of the Indian people in South Africa). 
    At the window a young Zulu girl takes orders and in the kitchen a colored man rolls mutton curry into a huge roti (which is similar to a chewy tortilla).  Waiting outside the window for their food you can find homeless black women, rich white business men, young indian surfers, mothers, children and tired construction workers.  Everyone goes there because you can buy a lot of really delicious food for a small price.  I take a bite of a warm chicken roti as I head back down the alleys towards my place, stepping over trash and enjoying the walk.

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