Food & Home Entertaining

RESTAURANT ROUND-UP
arge windows
slide open
to reveal the
electric Joburg
skyline; the pink and orange
sun disappears to the tempered
sounds of ‘rat-a-tat’ in the
background, swanky suits sit at
the bar, ladies in heels roll up
their sleeves as they dive into
a plate of smoky drumsticks
dripping in peri-peri... It’s
a multicultural mishmash
of business people, passersthrough,
the ‘in crowd’ and
enthusiastic tourists. But, more
than anything, it’s South African.
On the stairwell leading up to the
restaurant are the parliamentary rules:
‘Members will observe a tradition of
impeccable style... Members will be on
a constant lookout for new recruits who
will add value and help grow a diverse
member base...’ The whole place is a
little tongue-in-cheek, and they like it
that way. I sit with manager-and-chef
team, Elena Venzo (pictured above)
and Jennifer Marques, as they unravel
Joburg’s new hotspot: “It’s a meeting
place, a place for good food, for tasting
as many delicious things as possible,
alongside great
cocktails and
craft beers,”
says Jennifer.
Without trying to
sound pretentious,
it’s very ‘inner-city
Eurocentric’ – the
kind of venue you
would ind in a
cosmopolitan city
anywhere in the
world, but their style
of cooking is unique
to home. Jennifer
explains: “Our
concept is braaing
and smoking and
we’ve brought
that through in an
element of every dish.”
Elena nods and adds, “It’s a real
braai with wood and coals – there’s no
gas; so, when it’s busy here, the smell
of the wood drifts through, creating the
most fantastic ambience.”
Parliament is indulging Joburgers
with a kind of reined braai culture,
using fresh and wholesome ingredients
paired with punchy marinades, piquant
salsas and gorgeous aïolis that are all
a little bit wicked. The menu is small,
it changes often and everything is
made on site. The Sunday brunches
are becoming the talk of the town and,
with bottomless mimosas on offer, why
wouldn’t they? People lock here for
the T-bone, sliders and beef-fat fries –
thin, hand-cut chips with a lemon-andgarlic
aïoli. Elena smiles, “It’s a great
combination and probably the reason
my jeans are a little tighter.”
110 VICTORIA AVENUE,
PARKMORE; 011-783-1467;
PARLIAMENTRESTAURANT.CO.ZA
foodandhome.co.za JUNE 2016 67