The V&A Waterfront has announced an initiative aimed at highlighting the neighbourhood’s many positive initiatives involving food.
The launch event of the initiative, called Neighbourfood, was held at a restaurant in the Victoria and Alfred Mall on Friday June 24, and was hosted by celebrity chef Siba Mtongana and local artist Mandisi Dyantyis.
Neighbourfood puts a spotlight on the food offerings at the V&A Waterfront, as well as its social impact initiative launched in partnership with feeding scheme Ladles of Love.
The Waterfront’s executive head of marketing, Tinyiko Mageza, said everyone needs food, and it symbolises opportunities and new beginnings.
“Food has the universal power to break down barriers, and it is also an important part of our neighbourhood’s offering.
“We are seeing a worldwide revival in community and reconnection after a period where we were required to isolate and remain distant from each other. This goes against our very natures and, in fact, research shows that eating alone is inherently bad for us – and food has the power to nourish us, energise us and connect us to our humanity.
“We want to bring people of all walks of life together with the power of food.”
Waterfront’s social impact and food ecosystem head, Henry Mathys, said the Waterfront has developed a food ecosystem approach, where they seek to entrench and increase their contribution to the movement for positive change.
“Our recipe is to develop a sustainable, locally-based, authentic, and culturally diverse food ecosystem that supports lives – livelihoods, health and well-being.”
Neighbourfood will also address the need to care for those who work in the precinct’s food sector. “For many in our neighbourhood, making and serving food is what puts food on the table at their own homes,” said Ms Mageza.
“With the upcoming Neighbourfood initiatives, we aim to help our eateries and their staff recover from what has been a very challenging period.”
Neighbourfood also includes a sandwich drive called Neighbourfood Fridays, held at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront Cruise Terminal on Friday nights.
At the launch event, guests helped Ladles of Love make 500 sandwiches for the needy.
Ladles of Love founder Danny Diliberto said he was grateful that the Waterfront was once again coming onboard to help the needy. “Food is really life. During lockdown, I experienced both sides – kindness and hardships of people who don’t have food, and we don’t know what it means to the little children who get to eat a sandwich because of your help. Food is really love.”
Neighbourfood Fridays is an opportunity for the public to assist in making sandwiches for those in need, before joining a communal food table serving a local-inspired menu. The events will include food talks and dialogues.
The initiative will run until Friday August 26, with the first weekly Neighbourfood Friday taking place on July 8, and the community table events taking place on July 8, August 5 and August 26.
Tickets can be booked at Quicket.
For more information, visit www.waterfront.co.za
