A Durban chef moves his poké kitchen into the cowshed of a museum of African art
Thomas Wright started Poké Box from a friend's pantry the week South Africa locked down. Its third home is the Phansi Museum.
Durban — Poké Box, a small Durban restaurant that began in a friend's pantry at the start of the Covid lockdown, has moved into "the cowshed" at the Phansi Museum in Glenwood, Daily Maverick reports.
The museum, founded by the architect Paul Mikula, holds a collection of indigenous African art and draws tourists, school groups and researchers. The pottery studio of the ceramicist Sbu Mthembu is next door to the new kitchen.
The chef
Thomas Wright grew up in Glenwood and started cooking at 10 or 11, after his parents divorced and the three brothers were given charge of dinner.
He learned the trade in Australia, beginning as a dishwasher and working his way through a Malaysian restaurant, two years as sous chef at a Vietnamese one and a spell as head chef at a Sydney sports bar. He later spent ten years in London working with cameras in the film industry, and set up a noodle bar in Kommetjie.
He arrived in Durban the day before lockdown began and started making poké boxes for friends. The first premises were a converted garage offered by the architect Richard Stretton. The second were beside the Glenwood Bakery.
Wright is deaf in one ear and has difficulty hearing in the other. His service dog is called Mo.
The food
The menu is built on poké bowls, with ramen, Asian street food and Korean-style toasted sandwiches, and specials such as a "Durban curry with Japanese vibes".
Gloria Hoff, who worked at the KZNSA gallery shop for more than 45 years, championed the move to the museum.
This report is based on reporting by Wanda Hennig for Daily Maverick.
