Soweto Kota Festival sizzles
Local is lekker as Queues to buy Kotas were never-ending
Any true ‘Kasi’ kid would know what a Kota is and some call it is ‘Sphatlho’ and some call it ‘Iskhambane’.
It is the popular local street food and the name ‘Kota’, comes from the word, ‘quarter’, referring to the quarter of a loaf of bread, hollowed and filled with layers of polony, cheese, eggs, fries, various sauces etc.
Kota has evolved over time with many exploring unique ingredients.
To celebrate the significance of Kota to the township, the Soweto born Sidwell Tshingilane decided to start the Soweto’s first Kota Festival, which took place on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17 at the Soweto Theatre.
The fun family day showcased vendors who put their remarkable Kota making talents to good use.
This wasn’t only for food lovers to enjoy various Kotas, but it was also meant to bring them together and served as an avenue of creativity for chefs.
Some attending the festival were looking for something more traditional but self-proclaimed Kota, but being open to new tastes is not such a bad idea, we need to allow evolution to take place.
Parmalat invited Emma Wilson of ‘Eat with Emma’ to go and demonstrate various ways of serving your slices with cheese at the festival. The South African Chefs Association also showcased a very impressive and creative Kota with mushrooms. there was also entertainment for kids.
The festival received an overwhelming response ever since they had first announced it a few weeks ago. Tickets were sold out days before the festival, thus no tickets were sold at the gate.
Queues to buy Kotas were never-ending, vendors had to prepare and sell Kotas until the end of the event. Some people came all the way from Sandton, Randburg, Alexandra etc. just for the Kota Festival.
With the positive feedback the festival has received, it is now set to be an annual event.
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News site 1: Westside-Eldos Urban News, News site 2: Soweto Urban News
