Gauteng’s Slow Food Guide

In today’s world, living and eating consciously can be challenging. Hence the global movement to embrace ‘Slow Food’ – good, natural food that is produced fairly and respects the environment.

As South Africans, we are fortunate to have so many local families and groups of friends creating businesses, which allow us to know the story behind our food. This awareness enables us to make healthier, sustainable and more convenient decisions – for ourselves, our families and our planet.

GANICO ORGANIC ESTATE

Ganico is a family-run organic estate in the heart of Muldersdrift. As first generation farmers, Laiken and Jason are passionate about their produce and have come to know that humour is the best way to soften any learning journey.

After experiencing how difficult it is to obtain organically grown produce as well as discovering the health benefits of pomegranates, they decided to turn some fallow land into a farm. They are proud to say that they are not just supplying the market with another fruit, but a superfruit – organically grown pomegranates.

In 2018 Laiken and Jason decided to add additional crops to their estate to transform their monoculture farm into a biodiverse food forest. As a result, their offering now includes seasonal produce as well as some amazing treasures, which they have created or curated. Their seasonal fresh produce include gooseberries, garlic, lemons, beans and granadillas.

If you love G&Ts and nature, then why not join one of Ganico’s Foraging for the Drinking Glass events. You will learn about organic farming techniques, while foraging for your own garnishes. Consult their social media for more information.

Ganico is certified organic and offers you the old-fashioned opportunity of truly knowing where you food comes from, and possibly even meeting the family behind it all. Their produce can be found on their website as well as at Jackson’s, Leafy Greens Cafe, Food Lovers Market and Farm to Table.

Where: Online | Various stores across Gauteng

Contact: [email protected] | 084 853 8130
Website: ganico.co.za
Facebook: helloGanico
Instagram: helloganico

THE MUNCHING MONGOOSE

The Munching Mongoose is a young passionate company, which delivers organically-grown, sustainable produce to your door every week. They are all about health, family, convenience and the good things in life.

The Munching Mongoose does not only focus on the well-being of your family and that of our planet, but also of the produce suppliers. All of their produce comes from local farmers, giving the consumer an opportunity to support them and their communities. The Munching Mongoose team considers the entire supply chain and ensures that the producers earn what they deserve.

Their produce includes veggies, but also breads and baked goods, eggs, Mooberry dairy products, meat products and pantry staples.

You can order a variety of different produce boxes – their Mini Bag, Midi Box, Maxi Box, Low-Carb Box and their No-Veg Bag. After choosing your box, your can set up an account in order to customise your box, choose your delivery schedule and make an online payment. You can choose from weekly, bi-weekly or monthly deliveries. Depending on where you live, you can then expect a delivery on either Thursdays or Fridays.

To find out more and see Brad’s TED talk, go to The Munching Mongoose website.

Where: 250 Tuohyvale Rd, Muldersdrift, Johannesburg

Contact: [email protected] | 079 910 0682
Website: munchingmongoose.co.za
Facebook: munchingmongoose
Instagram: munchingmongoose

BOOMPLAATS

Boomplaats is a family farm in the picturesque Maluti Mountains of Zastron in the Free State. They produce ‘regte egte’ certified organic, 100% grass-fed, free-range beef, mutton and pasture raised pork. They are one of the few farms in the country which practice holistic regenerative farming.

Boomplaats is passionate about organic farming – a cycle of optimal health that starts in the soil and ends up on your plate and in your body. As a result, they do not vaccinate or dip their animals. They animals are not given antibiotics or growth hormones and graze on 40 rotational grazing camps to avoid selective grazing. Furthermore, Boomplaats does not use any herbicides, fungicides, pesticides or chemicals on their crops and soils.

Boomplaats animals live life to the fullest – in sunshine, fresh air and wide open spaces. This, as well as their grain-free diet, results in meat that is low in unhealthy Omega 6 fatty acids and high in all the good things – Omega 3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, antioxidants, Vitamin A and Vitamin E.

Boomplaats is all about creating living soils and lush pastures, in order to ensure happy animals and vibrant humans!

They also have accommodation available on the farm for those who want to see where REAL food comes from.

Boomplaats products can be found at Impala Butchery in Northcliff.

Where: 30°17’26.7″S 27°20’28.9″E | Impala Butchery

Contact: [email protected].za
Website: boomplaats.co.za
Facebook: BoomplaatsOrganicFarm
Instagram: boomplaatsorganicfarm

JACKSON’S REAL FOOD MARKET

Jacksons Real Food Market is a small family run business, showcasing local farmers and producers. The founder, Gary Jackson, is an advocate for the real food movement and feels strongly about including organic, naturally grown produce, containing zero chemicals, into the daily diet. The goal is simple: nutrition for you and your family at an everyday low price.

Jackson’s Real Food Market buys food based on taste, quality, nutritional value and price. They work to consistently find the purest products, free from growth hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, and false or misleading ingredients or flavours.

All of their products are supplied by local small-scale farmers, with honest, old fashioned, organic and biodynamic principles and ethos. Through job creation and valuing ongoing win-win partnerships with their suppliers, Jackson’s Real Food Market creates fair and transparent sharing agreements. As a result of prioritising the relationship, Jackson’s Real Food Market can ensure real good food at competitive prices.

At both their Bryanston and Kyalami stores, The Jackson’s Eatery serves guilt-free, gourmet breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Their menu includes real food and many plant-based options.

Where: 300 Bryanston Dr, Bryanston, Sandton | Kyalami Corner Shopping Centre, Crn Main and R55, Kyalami, Midrand

Contact: [email protected] | 011 463 1598
Website: jacksonsrealfoodmarket.co.za
Facebook: jacksonswholefoodsmarket
Instagram: jacksons_real_food_market

BRYANSTON ORGANIC & NATURAL MARKET

Bryanston Organic & Natural Market, a leading light in all things organic and natural for the past 43 years, is transforming into Bryanston Market at Michael Mount – a place for conscious living, sharing, learning and belonging.

Alongside their Thursday and Saturday market days, they are opening a convenience shop and social WiFi Café. It will offer daily access to the organic fresh produce and delicious delicatessen and bakery goods, which is available on market days. The market’s online shop will also be expanding to include a fresh food delivery service. Furthermore, Bryanston Market at Michael Mount will be hosting regular demonstrations, talks, presentations and workshops related to conscious living and a healthy lifestyle.

Their Slow Food offerings are many and varied, including Braeside Butchery’s certified free range grass fed meats, south Indian doshas from Meera’s, a signature melktert from Bettina’s Café and a Nigiro Tea Merchants tea ceremony. Their fermenting specialist, Kraut & Krunch will get your gut health in peak form, and The Keto Kitchen offers delectable treats to support your paleo or banting eating plan. This is just a taste of all the other delectable deli and bakery goods on offer, as well as a range of organic fresh produce, the cornerstone on which the market was established all those years ago.

Their Moonlight Markets run every Tuesday evening, from 19 November to 17 December. The market takes place from 5pm to 9pm.

Where: 40 Culross Road, Bryanston | Thursday and Saturday from 9am to 3pm

Contact: [email protected] | 011 7063671
Website: bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za
Facebook: bryorgmarket
Instagram: bryanstonorganicmarket
Twitter: BryOrgMarket

COUNTRY MEAT

Country Meat is a constituent of a family owned and managed business – the Sernick Group. Their farm is located just outside of Kroonstad, a region renowned for exceptional beef farming. With humane, sustainable farming practices as their priority, Country Meat ensures the highest standards and quality products.

Country Meat believes that caring for the environment ultimately means caring for their livestock. Therefore, they proudly produce their own natural grain in order to ensure a balanced eco-system on their land of more than 5600 hectares. There are no animal by-products added to their grain and their Bonsmara cattle never receive routine antibiotics. Furthermore, their state-of-the-art Country Meat abattoir is just down the road. This is in order to reduce the stress which animals feel during transportation.

With the aim of setting a foundation for the highest standards in the market for the meat and deli industry, Country Meat has formed a butcher group which offers the full chain of production, delivery and presentation. In partnership with friends and family, they sell products which are sourced from suppliers across South Africa.

The Country Meat stores are located in Kroonstad, Lonehill and Linden. They pride themselves in being one of a select few value chains that can claim true farm-to-butcher status.

For information on their catering and restaurant, The Braai Room, visit their website.

Where: 33 Buitenkant St, Kroonstad | 22 Lonehill Blvd, Lone Hill | 44 1st Ave, Randburg