FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: Lise or Ian Manley
Tel: 0861 MANLEY (626 539)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.manleycommunications.co.za
THE TEST KITCHEN TAKES TO THE STREETS OF LANGA WITH POP-UP CHARITY EVENTS
South Africa, Cape Town, 10 April 2017; ON 27th and 28th May this year, the township of
Langa, in Cape Town, will play host to the top restaurant in South Africa, The Test Kitchen.
The Guga S'Thebe Cultural Arts and Cultural Centre in Langa, which is also South Africa's
oldest township, will see internationally acclaimed chef Luke Dale-Roberts and his stellar
team from The Test Kitchen, cooking two lunches in aid of the Noluthando Early Childhood
Development Centre and Project Archangel. The Test Kitchen X The Langa Project is set to
be a new benchmark in charity events.
The four-course menu hosted at The Guga S'Thebe Arts and Cultural Centre showcasing
Luke and his team's talents will provide a true The Test Kitchen experience. There are 140
seats available per day at a cost of R250 per person, which includes wines and craft
ciders sourced from local estates.
The impetus behind this exciting and meaningful event is Wanda Guma. Born in Langa,
but raised in the States, Guma returned to Cape Town in his late teens. His experience in
the past 15 years in the public and private sectors has focused around Business
Development and Strategic Marketing, and he is involved in various entrepreneurial
activities in Langa, from tourism to media and communications. He heard Dale-Roberts
speak at last year's Business of Design Conference, and immediately approached him
with the idea of doing a pop-up restaurant experience in a township.
“He was really excited about the idea of being involved in a township project of some
kind. We set up a brainstorming meeting with him and his team, and in the end came up
with the idea of doing two very affordable charity lunches,” Guma explains.
The idea is to make a fine-dining experience for people from the townships available; not
only will this create a unique dining experience for people from within and outside the
township, but the charities will benefit from the proceeds of the events and a great deal
of awareness will be raised around the township and the charities concerned.
Dale-Roberts is equally excited by the project. He says: “I've been wanting to get a
township charity project started for a while, and The Test Kitchen X The Langa Project is a
fantastic way to be involved. From sharing our food philosophy and taste experiences, to
placing the spotlight on worthy charities, this is a unique way to make a difference.”
Guma is collaborating closely with Dale-Roberts and his team, including sponsors and
volunteers on the days. Guests can not only expect the most sublime food and wine at a
fraction of the cost at The Test Kitchen X The Langa Project, but also hear stories from the
charities as well their plans on what they want to achieve with monetary and nonmonetary donations they'll be receiving from the events.
Guma sees multiple benefits stemming from The Test Kitchen X The Langa Project. “For
people from the townships to experience a true gourmet meal can be life-changing.
People outside the township have a chance to visit the township – over a phenomenal
meal and at the same time supporting charity. It will also have economic spin-offs on the
day and in the future, for example promoting township tours or the sale of arts and crafts
by artists who exhibit their products at the Guga S'Thebe Cultural Centre,” he says.
There are two charities that will benefit from The Test Kitchen X The Langa Project.
Noluthando Early Childhood Development Centre in Langa provides a safe, caring,
hospitable environment for children in the local and surrounding communities, with a
specific focus on good nutrition and early childhood development education. Project
Archangel raises funds and support for St Michael's Home for Abused Teenage Girls which
is based in Plumstead, Cape Town.
“The most exciting part of The Test Kitchen X The Langa Project and working with Luke
Dale-Roberts and The Test Kitchen, besides the fine dining experience, is the possibility of
raising funds for two worthy causes, thus allowing them to continue the excellent work that
they have been doing. This also means that they will also be able to accommodate more
people into their programmes. The charities we will be raising funds for having done
tremendous work over the years and I would like to ensure that the excellent work that
they have done for people in their own community and for those from other communities,
is recognised and rewarded. By making this initiative a success, it will allow us to make this
an annual event to ensure that the charities have funding and the equipment needed to
continue their work for years to come,” Guma says.
Dale-Roberts adds, “The Test Kitchen X The Langa Project is going to be a benchmark: not
only for how gourmet restaurants can play an integral part in raising money for worthy
charities, but also for the unique dining experience it will create.”
For booking enquiries, book online via www.thetestkitchen.co.za/online-booking/ or call
(27) (21) 447 2337 during office hours.
For press assistance contact Ian or Lise Manley of Manley Communications on 0861
MANLEY (626 539), email to [email protected], or visit the Press Room of
Manley Communications at www.manleycommunications.co.za
Editor's notes:
The Noluthando Early Childhood Development Centre is a registered Non-Profit
Organization, registered in terms of Non Profit Organizations Act of 1997. It was founded in
1990 by Mrs Thenjiwe Beauty Ngqakayi. The project was started with eight children in Mrs
Ngqakayi’s dining-room. Currently, it has about 104 young children. The mission of
Noluthando Early Childhood Development Centre is to provide an integrated package of
stimulating activities for early childhood development that include cognitive, physical,
linguistic, literacy, social and emotional development of young children from ages one to
six.
Project Archangel supports St Michael's Home for Abused Teenage Girls, a public benefit
organisation. For more information, visit https://m.facebook.com/archangelprojectza/
ENDS/