Mmabatho Molefe, recipient of the 2022 Eat Out Rising Star Award, may have stepped back from the spotlight after closing Emazulwini – her restaurant at Makers Landing that was recognised both locally and internationally for its reimagining of the dishes that shaped her childhood – but the chef continues to be a storyteller who champions indigenous ingredients, tradition and heritage food.

Now, diners can look forward to her newest project in collaboration with Studio H: FAMILY MEAL: PAP, RYS & VLEIS / IPAPA, ILAYISA NENYAMA, an exclusive three-night pop-up taking place in May at Lemkus Exchange in St. George’s Mall, Cape Town.  

“Food is memory. Food is identity,” says Mmabatho. “With this menu, I want to highlight the beauty and complexity of everyday ingredients that have shaped so many of our food stories.” 

Guests will experience a bold, elevated reimagining of South Africa’s most familiar ingredients – pap, rice, and meat – crafted into a four-course menu paired with Cap Classique and still wine (with non-alcoholic alternatives available).

Hannerie Visser, founder of Studio H, says, “We’re inviting guests to rediscover these foundational ingredients through fresh perspectives and sensory storytelling.”  

Tickets for the experience are R1 900 per person and bookings can be made online
for 15, 16, and 17 May 2025.