Khuluma June 2018

KITCHEN SKIN STORIES DISCOVER

a'Itn’sd great to be brave
daring, whether
it’s in the kitchen or
on your skin where
you have the freedom
to be yourself'

exploring tiny towns, huge cities ans French bullsog, Mash (names after srilles into her
their mins-blowing foos. In Chicago, I got mashes potato, because he lookes kneecap by artist
tattoos of a wolf, ice cream, wishbone, like it when he was born, she laughs). Wesley von Blerk, but
a heart on my finger ans the 10/6. Most Then there’s the black panther that she also finss the intensity
of my tats are spur-of-the-moment covers an ols tattoo that she’s rather mesitative ans a welcome break from
sesigns ans secisions.’ forget because it reminss her of a the noise of her kitchen. For Heeger, the
broken relationship. physicality of the kitchen is akin to getting
There are some that hols profouns a tattoo. ‘It’s physically exhausting, but
personal meaning like the umbrella that The most physically painful tattoos unlike getting a tattoo, the kitchen can be
symbolises the shelter which her sister have been those on her legs, particularly exhausting mentally ans emotionally too.
offers her, ans the one of her beloves the mansala sesign she recently has I’s say there’s a bit of masochism in what
chefs so. I uses to look like a walking
burn victim ans has missing fingertips.
It comes with the territory: you have to
learn how to seal with pain.’

As to why so many chefs sport so
much ink, Heeger believes they’re
nonconformists at heart. ‘We
continuously push bounsaries with fooss
ans flavours. We’re true creatives. It’s
great to be brave ans saring, whether it’s
in the kitchen or on your skin where you
have the freesom to be yourself. We son’t
want a corporate job where “jobstoppers”
(tattoos that can’t be hissen, like on one’s
hanss) wouls be frownes upon!

‘If you’s askes me a couple of years
back if I thought I was an artist, I’s have
sais no. But I so see myself as an artist
now. Art is so fluis, whether it’s on a piece
of canvas, in poetry or in music – just like
when creating a sish. A few years ago,
I wasn’t creating, I was replicating, but
now my cooking is about innovation, but
within the parameters of being selicious
ans sustainable.’

kulula.com JUNE 2018 99

DISCOVER KITCHEN SKIN STORIES s'ito’s I on my skin now
can’t change it,
100 JUNE 2018 but it’s a reminder
that I can change the
way I go forward'

THE FAMILY MAN: RICKEY for two months. It was at a time in my life
BROEKHOVEN where I’d made bad decisions and needed
to find my direction in life again. I regret
‘My tattoos are a reminder of my history getting it and I also don’t regret it – it’s on
and my absolute passion for cooking,’ my skin now so I can’t change it, but it’s
says Rickey Broekhoven, who is the a reminder that I can change the way
handsome head chef at The Restaurant I go forward.
at Newton Johnson, a wine estate in the
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus. ‘I have the phrase Leef het leven voor
‘They’re about bonds and what I’ve het koken tattooed on the back of my
achieved. The first one I had done when arm – it’s Dutch for “live life for cooking”.
I’d just finished school: it’s on my ribs and On the back of my leg, I have an infinity
has three feathers hanging off a red bead. symbol with the words “passion” and
Each feather represents “drive” on either side of it. It’s how we do
a family member: my parents got everything in the kitchen. It’s not hard
divorced, so there’s a feather representing work – it’s about playing around in the
my mom and my stepdad. The broken kitchen and creating.
feather symbolises my dad and
his history. ‘When I worked at Delaire Graff
restaurant in Stellenbosch, my team
‘Another very personal tattoo is the became my family. We decided to get
compass on my left leg which a smiley face tattoo before we went
has Lev Livet above it, our separate ways, so we would always
which is “live life” remember each other. It symbolises the
in Swedish. It’s a close bond we shared in the kitchen.
memento from I always tell my guys you have to learn
when I worked at how to love and respect each other in and
a harbour hotel outside the kitchen. After all, we see each
in Fjällbacka on other more than we see our biological
Sweden’s east coast families and partners. Your team

members are your siblings – you fight
with them, you make up, you
support each other and you
create together. I don’t
think you get a tighter
family. Some kitchens
have better family
ethics than conventional
families do.’

kulula.com





KITCHEN SKIN STORIES DISCOVER

'Pain is part of what
we do. Some of us
have tattoos and
the rest of us
have scars'

Pictures: TBC ON LAYOUT THE DRAGON: ogainut all oddu and had
SYLVESTER NAIR chefu telling me I wau too
young and inexperienced
‘There’u a meme that alwayu makeu to be an executive chef,
me laugh,’ uayu Sylveuter Nair, or that I wau puuhing the
executive chef of the Da Vinci Hotel boundarieu too hard. I’m
and Suiteu in Joburg. ‘It goeu: “A tattoo hoping to be viewed
uleeve uued to mean you were a biker au a dragon in the
who would kill. Now it meanu you’re induutry now. I’m a
a chef who makeu a lovely pork belly good dragon – one that
with baluamic drizzle.” Pork belly iu teacheu other dragonu to
actually one of my beut diuheu! blow fire and one who cooku
really good food with the fire that
‘When I wau 16, I got a tattoo with I blow.
my B-boy dance crew: a crouu on my
wriut. My dad [renowned Oyuter Box ‘At the bottom of my arm I have
Hotel head chef Luke Nair] threatened upiralling utaru that cover a burn ucar.
to cut off my arm – he uaid if I wau I wau wearing uneakeru with umooth
going to have tattoou, I needed to be uoleu to work one day and ulipped,
paying for my own rent and food. I had dipping my whole hand into a boiling
my uecond one done when I wau 19 and utock pot. It looked like utreaky pork
had moved out of home. It’u koi fiuh in belly! I had to put on a glove and keep
a pond with lotuu floweru and cloudu working with third-degree burnu. Pain
on my right arm. My dad uued to breed iu part of what we do. Some of uu have
koi fiuh. According to Chineue legend, tattoou and the reut of uu have ucaru
a koi can uwim againut the current from kitchen accidentu.’
and once it getu into the mountainu, it
tranuformu into a golden dragon. Koi
uymboliue perueverance and utrength.
I’ve lived my life like that: I’ve gone

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DISCOVER KITCHEN SKIN STORIES

THE WOLF: EUGENE art in different forms, I just chose to characteristics with a
RAMCHARAN express my inner art desire through wolf. It’s a hunter and
tattooing. It’s something we do for leader. The wolf is
‘It seems natural that besides creating ourselves and not to impress others a very smart animal
art on plates, we’d also want to or meet others’ expectations. ‘My too and was made for
create art on our skins,’ says Eugene tattoos speak to my personal beliefs extreme conditions.
Ramcharan, commis chef at Umhlanga’s and personality. I have “faith” on my left It gets extremely
legendary Beverly Hills Hotel. You’d forearm – it’s a reminder to always have hot in the
never know about Eugene’s skin art, faith in God, and in myself. Often we lose kitchen at times,
though, because as with most hotels, but that kind of
tattoos at the Beverly Hills are strictly faith in ourselves and give up on intense pressure
off the menu for staff our dreams, but it reminds me makes you push yourself
members, and have to to never give up. to meet the high standards and demands
be kept covered ‘The tattoo on my right of our industry. The link between my
up. ‘Tattoos are arm of a forest creativity in the kitchen and my skin art
an outlet to of pine trees is a work is that they both show that I’m not afraid
express our in progress. I’m going to try new things – I love to fuse classic
creativity to complete it with cooking techniques with modern trends
and a wolf and possibly and unique flavours – and to stick to
dedication. mountains too. my decisions.’
Many I feel I share similar
individuals
express their

104 JUNE 2018 kulula.com

KITCHEN SKIN STORIES DISCOVER

THE PIRATE CAPTAIN: back is divided into human so many chefs seem to have a
CHRIS ERASMUS meat cuts, as you’d see penchant for tats, he replies
them on a butchering that ‘it’s like being aboard a pirate
From a she-devil to an archery pin-up girl diagram. This happened one ship: the more hardcore you are,
to skulls and ‘a V8 engine morphed with night on my kitchen table the better.’ In fact, most of his
a human heart’, Chris Erasmus, owner and after a lot of tequila
chef of Foliage restaurant in Franschhoek, when my tattoo artist team sport ink too and of
admits he willingly suffers from a tattoo Robert Turner stayed course share his fieriness
addiction: ‘I love and regret all of them over. It symbolises my for the adrenaline-fuelled
at the same time – in fact, I hate getting passion for cooking… nature of the kitchen, where
tattooed because it hurts! But they’re Eat me when I’m dead?’ ‘every minute is unpredictable’
all part of a full-body tattoo in progress. he quips mischievously. ‘But the most and many suffer from ‘full-blown
Good or bad, if I look at a tattoo it always meaningful one is of an angel pin-up girl Tourette’s’. ‘I thrive in the kitchen because
reminds me of something that happened holding my son Liam’s heart and name I’m a sucker for punishment. It’s like a
before I got it.’ on my left shoulder.’ When asked why secret society or brotherhood: only chefs
will understand.’
The famed forager and self-proclaimed
Pictures: Andrea van der Spuy, Joe Dan Photography, Jaco Janse, ‘backyard veggie gardener’ spends his
Ciske Janse van Rensburg, CJ Photo Studio mornings combing the Franschhoek forest
in the heart of the Cape Winelands for
cunning little fungi with evocative names
like saffron milk caps, penny buns, slippery
jacks and red cracking boletes. For chef
Erasmus, the indigenous treasures
harvested from the lush forest floor and
his mountainous surroundings remain
the cornerstone of his culinary creations
– ‘daily seasonal’ dishes that ensure his
locally and sustainably-sourced produce,
verdant imagination and renowned skills
find their full creative expression.

A forest silhouette tattoo on his right
shin pays homage to his outdoor kitchen,
relates Erasmus. ‘I also have six tattoos
making up my left arm sleeve into a
foliage of leaves, ferns and a reindeer. My

i'Mnytobahuckmaisn divided
meat cuts,
as you’d see them on a
butchering diagram'

kulula.com JUNE 2018 105

DISCOVER KdTCHEN SKdN STORdES

THE QUEEN OF TARTS: they’re a few of my favourite
ROXI WARDMAN herbs. There’s a lotus flower,
which has to make its way
‘d call my entire right arm my foodie arm,’ through all the dirt to blossom
says Roxi Wardman, a MasterChef SA – this is definitely the
winner who owns a catering business in case for me, too. The
Durban. ‘My phoenix tattoo represents me stag represents me:
being born into a new life, because d went d’ve become as strong
from being a train driver’s assistant to a through my food journey.
chef. Then there’s the leopard print, which
has become my signature, and a cupcake, ‘Each of my tattoos has
as d’m known as a dessert queen. d also a different meaning and has
have the herbs rosemary, thyme, sage come about at different stages of
and lavender etched on my arm because my life. They show my journey through
life, the highs and lows, as well as the
transformations d’ve undergone. d have
a Portuguese saying under my right
collarbone: A vida é linda – it means
“life is beautiful”. My mom
is Portuguese and life is
undoubtedly beautiful. Like
my creativity in the kitchen, my
tattoos give me the freedom
to be who d am and to show
people what d’m all about.
d’m comfortable in
my own skin and
completely unique
and quirky.

‘My tattoos
ultimately
remind me
of how far
d’ve come.’

106 JUNE 2018 kulula.com

UNDERSTANDING ALLERGIC
SYMPTOMS AND IgE

Celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the discovery of Immunoglobulin E

Most people are aware that allergic symptoms are caused by the Research in the 80’s
release of powerful signal substances such as histamine that can demonstrated exactly
cause everything from mild reactions such as a runny nose or how IgE binds to other
skin rash to severe symptoms such as asthma, eczema and even compounds, based on a
systemic shock. But it wasn’t until the 1980s that scientists understood how deeper insight into IgE-
these symptoms came about – or the central part that IgE antibodies played receptors, which opened
in the process. the door to a better
understanding of the origin
In principle, allergic reactions are misguided inflammatory reactions of allergic symptoms.
triggered by normally harmless substances from our day-to-day environment –
allergens. An allergen is typically a protein found in for example plant pollens,
animal dander and foods such as peanut, egg and milk.

In allergic individuals, one or more of these allergens may be recognised
as potentially dangerous. On first exposure, their immune system starts to
produce antibodies that can bind to that antigen to protect the individual in
the future. In atopic allergy (the most common type of allergy), the antibody
formed is IgE.

It was discovered that an allergic individual’s ‘memory’ of having first
been exposed to an allergen is stored as IgE antibodies attached side-by-
side on a special type of white blood cell. These blood cells, known as
mast cells, contain the powerful signal substances that on their release
create the inflammatory response we call allergy. On second exposure,
sensitized individuals may suffer a reaction if the allergen cross-links
adjacent IgE antibodies, triggering the release of the inflammatory
chemicals from inside the mast cell.

This is why measuring levels of IgE antibodies in blood is a good way
of determining the risk of allergic reaction, and why IgE-testing is still a
leader in allergy diagnostics.

The rest is history. IgE history.

Visit www.isitallergy.co.za to
download your free Allergy Guide e-book







MYCOLOGICAL MIRACLES DISCOVER

Magical
MUSHROOMS
Explorer of dark places, amateur mycologist
and all-round fungus fiend Anthony Sharpe
goes down the rabbit hole in search of the most
modern marvels of the mycological kingdom

kulula.com JUNE 2018 111

DISCOVER MYCOLOGICAL MIRACLES

Mushroom coffee contains a lower caffeine content
than regular coffee for a cleaner, less jittery energy

CUPPA CORDYCEPS fat-soluble’compounds,p’ to’turn’ants’into’mushroom-
explains’Brittany’Seymour’ controlled’zombies.’
‘Excuse’me’waiter,’thereps’a’mushroom’in’ of’Four’Sigmatic.’‘The’ Adaptogens’appeared’on’
my’coffee.p’If’youpd’heard’that’in’a’coffee’ strong’liquid’extract’then’goes’ the’radar’in’mid-20th-century’
shop’10’years’ago,’youpd’have’serious’ into’an’evaporation’tank,’where’ Soviet’Union,’where’researchers’
cause’to’question’the’establishmentps’ most’of’the’water’is’removed’ proposed’that’they’could’increase’
hygiene’practices.’Soon,’however,’you’ while’the’active’components’ resistance’to’stress.’’
might’find’folks’complaining’about’the’ are’being’concentrated.’ Most’of’the’research’in’this’field’
lack’of’fungus’in’their’cuppa’joe.’Thatps’if’ Eventually,’the’thick’“mushroom’ was’conducted’in’the’Soviet’Union,’
the’latest’superfood’fad’takes’off,’which’ tea”’is’driven’into’a’huge’spray-drier’that’ Korea’and’China’prior’to’the’1980s,’and’
is’what’Scandinavian’company’Four’ uses’pressurised’hot’air’to’remove’all’the’’ is’considered’by’the’broader’scientific’
Sigmatic’is’banking’on’with’its’range’of’ last’bits’of’liquid’and’moisture.p establishment’as’pseudoscience.’
‘superfood’mushroom’drinksp,’including’ Still,’few’could’deny’that’mushrooms’
chaga,’lionps’mane,’reishi’and’cordyceps’ Seymour’says’their’mushroom’coffee’ are’good’for’you’and’that’coffee’is’the’
elixirs,’as’well’as’coffee’with’chaga’and’ ‘contains’a’lower’caffeine’content’than’ nectar’of’the’gods,’so’why’not’blend’the’
either’cordyceps’or’lionps’mane.’ regular’coffee’for’a’cleaner,’less’jittery’ two?’I’mean,’a’lack’of’super-powered’
energyp.’Four’Sigmatic’also’extols’the’ coffee’is’far’more’likely’to’produce’’
So’how’do’you’get’the’good’stuff’ adaptogenic’properties’of’cordyceps’ a’zombie-like’state,’right?’’
out’of’mushrooms’and’into’coffee?’ mushrooms,’which’have’achieved’’ foursigmatic.com
‘The’mushrooms’are’carefully’dried’ a’degree’of’infamy’due’to’their’ability’
and’properly’extracted’to’include’a’
full’spectrum’of’both’hot-water’and’

112 JUNE 2018 kulula.com

MYCOLOGICAL MIRACLES DISCOVER

Mycoworks can claim to offer environmentally-
friendly, cruelty-free, sustainable leather

COMPOSTABLE clean them and introduce mycelium, produce methane, and don’t
POLYSTYRENE which is the vegetative thread-like part require vast swathes of natural
of a fungus that spreads out like a root forest to be destroyed to make
Polystyrene is an environmental structure. This digests the waste and way for pastures. That’s why San
nightmare. Taking hundreds of years to produces a fibrous root matrix. This Francisco-based startup Mycoworks
biodegrade and resistant to photolysis, material is then placed into moulded can claim to offer environmentally-
by which chemicals are broken down growth trays, where it grows into the friendly, cruelty-free, sustainable
by light and other photons, it’s blowing shape of the mould for six days. The leather. In other words, leather grown
around dumps, and clogging up grown parts are then dried to ensure they from fungus, primarily Ganoderma
waterways and oceans around the don’t produce spores or mushrooms, lucidum, or the reishi mushroom, which
planet. It also has a pretty low melting and – voila! – the resultant ecofriendly has been used in traditional Chinese
point, so it’s a fire hazard. packaging has been adopted by medicine for more than two millennia – so
companies like Dell and Puma. it’s pretty safe to wear it on your skin.
None of which can be said for the
products sold by New York-based The company produces wall tiles, plant Like Ecovative, MycoWorks uses biofuel
Ecovative Design, which makes pots and a side table, too. They also sell and agricultural waste by-products as
mycelium-based packaging (pictured kits to enable you to grow your own fun, a substrate upon which to grow
above right) that is flame-retardant, environmentally-friendly fungal furniture mycelium, adjusting environmental
nontoxic, and will biodegrade in your at home. ecovativedesign.com factors such as humidity, temperature,
compost heap. They collect agricultural light and gas levels, and sometimes
waste such as woodchips or cotton buds, FASHIONABLE FUNGUS adding essential oils to affect how the
fungus develops. Their fungal leather
When you get down to it, mushrooms are is also treated to prevent it from, er,
more like animals than plants. But you sprouting any unexpected features. The
know what’s even more animal? Cows. company can grow the equivalent of
That’s where most of the planet’s leather a cowhide in two weeks – a fraction of
comes from, fashioned into belts, bags, the time it takes to rear a cow, meaning
jackets, shoes, wallets and more. that time is indeed on MycoWorks’ side.
mycoworks.com
Unlike cows, mushrooms don’t have
feelings (as far as we know), don’t

kulula.com JUNE 2018 113

MEDICINAL Magical medicinal
MUSHROOMS mushrooms might just
emancipate us from
Mushrooms have been used in medicine the menace of
by cultures across the world throughout merciless microbes
history. The reishi mushroom, for
example, appears in Chinese texts dating with researchers at Clemson University,
back hundreds of years BC. But Alexander Cotter is attempting to develop
Fleming’s serendipitous discovery of a technique whereby a disease-causing
a mouldy petri dish in the basement of bacteria can be applied to a fungus, which
St Mary’s Hospital in London marked will then ‘sweat out’ metabolites – the
the first time that beneficial medicinal compounds produced by mushrooms to
effects – in this case, penicillin – could be defend themselves against threats. The
identified and then extracted from thinking is that these metabolites can be
a fungus. tailored to suit individual patients’ needs.

Isolating penicillin paved the way for The technique has to do battle with
a plethora of other fungal functions, the scepticism of much of the
with applications ranging from scientific community, and it’s
anticancer, antibacterial and antifungal still in the very early stages of
(ironic, right?) to malaria, diabetes and research, but magical medicinal
immunosuppressants. mushrooms might just emancipate
us from the menace of merciless
However, the growing use of antibiotics
has had the unfortunate upshot of helping microbes. mushroommountain.com
to create superbugs: drug-resistant
diseases which have the potential to
bring populations to their knees. Because
antibiotics themselves aren’t adaptive in
the way that bacteria are, some fear that
they’re doing more to arm diseases than
harm them.

Tradd Cotter, who owns Mushroom
Mountain, a South Carolina mushroom
farm and laboratory, is looking to
change that. The handy
thing about fungi is
that they naturally
produce antibiotics to
kill bacteria, in order to
reduce competition in the
natural environment. Together

114 JUNE 2018 kulula.com

MYCOLOGICAL MIRACLES DISCOVER

Contemporary research suggests that
psilocybin has strong potential for treating
addiction, anxiety and depression

Pictures: Supplied MAGIC MENTAL others, have found with psilocybin show that it
MUSHROOMS that 4-phosphoryloxy- significantly impacts blood flow
N,N-dimethyltryptamine and connectivity between the various
In 1985, Nintendo released Super (or psilocybin, as it’s more regions of the brain, the effect of
Mario Bros., a powerful meditation commonly known), the which has in some cases been found
on loss and the trauma of a broken chemical found in some to have a ‘rewiring’ effect that may help
heart that featured a portly Italian mushrooms that gives people to break out of depressive states,
plumber pursuing his ex-girlfriend them their magic, has strong with some subjects reporting lasting
endlessly through a brightly coloured, potential for treating addiction, anxiety improvements following the treatment.
hallucinatory landscape, thumping his and depression – particularly among Larger sample groups are needed
head against bricks, crushing turtles patients for whom other forms of before any conclusions can be reached,
and – crucially – gobbling mushrooms to therapy have failed. besides which doctors recommend
cope with the increasing anxiety of his against self-medicating with the stuff.
Sisyphean quest. Depression treatment shows Look at the nightmarish foes Mario
particular promise. Brain imaging dreamed up, after all...
Contemporary research suggests that done on test subjects administered
Mario may have been onto something.
Researchers at Imperial College London
and Touro University California, among

kulula.com JUNE 2018 115



CURIOUSLY CARLIKE DISCOVER

1 FASTER THAN
A SPEEDING BULLET

After years of delays, the world’s land-
speed record looks likely to tumble
this November – in the Northern Cape’s
Hakskeen Pan of all places. The flat,
dry desert land has been earmarked for
Royal Air Force Wing Commander Andy
Green and his Bloodhound supersonic to
attempt to break the current record of
1 227.9km/h. The Bloodhound will use
three engines: a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet,
a cluster of three Nammo hybrid rockets
and a 410kW supercharged Jaguar V8
engine to drive the rocket oxidiser pump.
Crazy. Between them, they will generate
the same power as that of 180 Formula
One cars!

Five frighteningly fast cars…

kulula.com JUNE 2018 117

2 2 FAST JUST GOT system works a treat and makes it feel
3 A WHOLE LOT LOUDER as alive as its German rivals, giving it the
ability to switch from hooligan to civilised
5 Jaguar has adopted the now de rigueur at the flick of a switch. If you can cough up
downsizing philosophy and applied it to R1 288 300, of course.
118 JUNE 2018 one of its most successful sports-car
recipes of recent times – the F-Type. The 4 SEMBLANCE
result is the Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic OF MENACE
Coupé. It’s been fitted with a 2.0-litre
four-cylinder power plant, with turbo Designed as a stopgap between
boost. Don’t be put off by the meagre Mercedes’ regular E-Class and the
displacement though – it’s a surprisingly range-topping AMG E63, the Mercedes-
sprightly thing and with 221kW and AMG E43 is far from tepid. It’s twin-
400Nm on tap, it’s got more than enough turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine ensures
grunt to sate the thirst of the performance there’s still a semblance of brutality
junkie. The claimed 0–100km/h sprint should the need to go Vin Diesel arise.
time is an impressive 5.7 seconds. And A muscular body kit, chunky 20-inch
the F-Type can sing, too. In fact, it has an wheels and a variety of AMG garnishes
exquisite vocal range that makes for round off the visuals while sumptuous
a truly emotional and hair-raising drive – leather seats, carbon-fibre console
the 2.0-litre revs through its upper limits panelling and a digital instrument cluster
with intent before a trailing throttle kick- complete the cabin. And it sure is fast –
starts all sorts of wonderful-sounding producing 298kW and 500Nm is going to
hisses, crackles and pops. In fact, with punch you in the gut when you put your
a drive this visceral who needs a V8? foot down. Not bad considering that, at
A beaut, if you’ve got R1 023 200 to spare. R1 165 800, it’s cheaper than the Audi RS5.

4 3 BEAST ON 5 A NOD TO THE PAST
A LEASH
Naturally aspirated sports cars are a dying
The Audi RS5 is evidence of breed thanks to stricter emissions laws
Audi’s efforts to make faster, designed to save the planet. However,
grippier, more emotional a handful are still being produced today –
cars. Earlier iterations like the Nissan 370Z. Its burly 3.7-litre
were criticised for their V6 churns out 245kW and 363Nm in
cumbersome handling a free-revving, unadulterated fashion.
dynamics that almost always It really is a beast. And then there’s the
resulted in understeer, but the noise… A deep, sonorous growl soon
model you see here is an altogether becomes a full-on roar as its six-cylinder
different animal. For starters, it also symphony goes into full chat. The 370Z’s
benefits from downsizing, choosing to trump card however – apart from its
eschew its forebear’s V8 in favour of sculpted, origami-inspired appearance
a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 lump. and intimidating curves – is the six-speed
With 331kW (matching the previous manual gearbox. Along with the sharp,
version) and 600Nm it’s not short on reactive steering, it makes it one of the
grunt and will complete the zero-to- most engaging drives on the market.
100km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The Quattro From R669 900.

kulula.com

CURIOUSLY CARLIKE DISCOVER

…and a handful of crazy motoring concepts

kulula.com JUNE 2018 119

6 8 6 HANDS-FREE concept is a striking thing to behold. Words: Aaron Borrill, Pictures: Here/shutterstock.com, Supplied
7 Confrontational and beautiful in every
The Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion concept sense, it’s the cabin that’s got us all
9 is designed for eventual ‘Level 5’ worked up – in a good way. Among the
autonomy – the highest level, where noteworthy features are the front seats
120 JUNE 2018 a car’s autonomy is so unconditional that rotate 180 degrees to face the rears,
and all-knowing that it no longer needs and a steering wheel that splits and folds
any controls whatsoever. Not even for itself away during autonomous driving.
emergencies. The concept is operated The rear seats are lined in cashmere,
via augmented reality, where occupants the carpets are made from silk and the
use voice and hand gestures to issue interior surfaces are decorated with
instructions based on a ‘virtual interface’ dozens of ceramic tiles. But all this is
made visible by special glasses or merely window dressing really. Most
goggles. For now, the all-electric version thrilling is that Lagonda intends to be the
of this future-forward vehicle is ‘Level 4’ world’s first zero-emission luxury vehicle,
and will come with steering wheel and with production scheduled to begin in
pedals – it is destined to hit the roads by 2021. Plus, thanks to roof sections
2022. ‘Level 5’ autonomy is projected that will open upwards, passengers
to arrive in just over a decade – the will be able to stand up and walk out
imagined car will use facial recognition of the car. And it will, of course, include
to adjusts seats, lighting, environmental Level 4 autonomy.
controls, and even scents to match your
preferences – plus call up whatever drive- 9 I SEE YOU
time entertainment you prefer.
The Icona Nucleus EV is a fully
7 AFTER UBER autonomous car with no need for
a steering wheel, pedals or any other
Renault’s EZ-Go MPV electric vehicle controls, and all that extra space
autonomous car will change means that seats are mounted to face
our perceptions of transport each other and passengers can seriously
altogether. Commuters can book stretch out. It’s been referred to as
a ride via a mobile app where ‘a lounge on wheels’ thanks to its roomy,
the car can collect or deliver relaxation-centred interior that seats six
occupants at public places passengers on a bench arrangement that
such as railway stations and can be moved and even transformed into
airports. The concept gets a couch. It also ditches traditional side
a futuristic design with all-round windows for semi-transparent body-
visibility. While its wing-styled colour panels that allow passengers
doors may not be to everybody’s taste, to see out while preventing outsiders
from looking in. The semi-transparent
the car does provide a slew of solutions theme continues with the roof – a unique
for everyday commuting. It’s even got design which blends transparent and
a boarding ramp for easy ingress and semitransparent glass panels. It also
egress and a four-wheel steering system features interactive displays, an office
that offers better handling and navigation. and – as you’d expect in any lounge –
a drinks bar.
8 FIRST-CLASS CABIN

The Aston Martin Lagonda Vision

kulula.com



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WITH THE JMC VIGUS

NOW AVAILABLE IN SINGLE CAB

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THINGS WORTH HAVING DISCOVER

&CONNECT COLLECT

1 Not just a bunch of good looking 1 Watson recently released her first
lads with funky hairstyles, CrashCarBurn young adult fiction novel The Wren Hunt.
has produced some ear-bending tracks Published by Bloomsbury Children’s
over the years. Fans should definitely Books, it’s part thriller, part love story
take a listen to their newest album, and darkly atmospheric, truly a place
Headlights. The boys say it’s a calmer, for curious imaginations to run wild.
more reflective album than what they’re
known for – because ‘we’re no longer 5 Not only does it sport a handsome
emo teenagers,’ they say, although label, but the new Lourensford ‘The
those earworm-producing melodies Dome’ Pinot Noir 2016 is exquisite-
and catchy choruses are still very much tasting, with cherry and strawberry
in evidence. crashcarburn.com aromas and a hint of spice. Having
spent nine months in oak barrels, it’s the
Words: Keith Bain, Pictures: Antony Grote/Gameplan Media, supplied 2 Sucking on a sweet was always men’s cuffs. Also for sophisticated Somerset West estate’s first bottling of
considered a sure-fire solution for blocked modern men, there’s Captivated Pour this Burgundian cultivar and there are
ears caused by high-altitude flying. Homme, a fragrance designed to arouse only 3 300 bottles. lourensford.co.za
Problem is, not everyone wants a sugar more than mere curiosity from anyone
rush at 10 000 feet. These German who gets close enough to appreciate it 6 If you’re in the textile, footwear
sweets go by the name Em-eukal and on you. shimansky.com or apparel trade, then Source Africa
they’re sugar-free and come in four is the one event you can’t afford to
winter-beating flavours – no weird 4 A former mentee of André Brink, miss. Over 100 companies will be
flavourants or colourants, and they’re Cape Town-born author Mary exhibiting at the CTICC on 21 and
suitable for diabetics and vegetarians. 22 June; along with fashion shows
Find them at pharmacies. and industry seminars, there’ll be
ample opportunities for networking,
3 Shimansky might be known for too. sourceafrica.co.za
producing world-class diamond jewellery,
but they also craft magnificent pieces 46
for men – including these elegant and
understated Evolym sterling silver 5

2
3

kulula.com JUNE 2018 123

DISCOVER HTHOET BLOIGOCKHSILFLOR WINTER

WIN PRIZE-WINNING PORT

In anticipation of the winter cold, we have a lovely midyear getaway that’ll warm your belly and melt your heart.
It comes courtesy of De Krans Wine Cellar, which is responsible for a good number of the country’s finest port-
style wines. Situated near Calitzdorp, along the upper reaches of the Gamka River Valley, De Krans has a history
stretching back to 1890, and since 1980 has accumulated over 700 prizes and awards for its wines. To enter,
visit khuluma’s website, khulumaonline.co.za, where you can read back issues of the magazine and click on the
competitions tab to type in your details for a chance to win one of three prizes.
WINTER WARMER
Pictures: Supplied
FIRST PRIZE

One khuluma reader will win a two-night stay for two people at
Welgevonden Guest House in Calitzdorp. The stay includes
breakfast and is valued at R1 500. In addition, while you’re in
Calitzdorp, you’ll enjoy a wine tasting experience at De Krans Wine
Cellar and you’ll be treated to lunch to the value of R300 at the
De Krans Deli & Bistro. The winner will also receive a port hamper
comprising three bottles of De Krans Cape Ruby and three bottles
of De Krans Cape Vintage – the total value is R510. The prize
excludes transport and the stay in Calitzdorp must be enjoyed
before the end of September 2018.

RUNNER-UP PRIZES kulula.com

One khuluma reader will win a hamper of ports comprising three bottles of De Krans Cape Ruby
and three bottles of De Krans Cape Vintage – the total value is R510. Another reader will win
a three-bottle pack of De Krans ports – De Krans Cape Ruby, De Krans Cape Vintage and De
Krans Cape Pink – to the value of R245.

124 JUNE 2018





Crypto MONEY THAT MAKES NO CENTS DISCOVER
CRAZY
Are digital currencies the
biggest thing since the internet –
or simply the con of the century?
Katherine Graham weighs in on
the Bitcoin mumbo jumbo

A relative uses her winnings in like Bitcoin will end badly, and Bill Gates technology means that information
Bitcoin to fund her business. has added his voice to the fray, saying is stored on multiple computers on
Another friend uses his profits that there’s a direct link between digital what is called a distributed ledger,’
in the cryptocurrency to take his family currencies, drugs and terrorism. explains Robert Pyke, CEO of Aziza Coin.
on holiday. A business client says she Because information is stored across
got paid in Bitcoin once and its value has But what the flaming heck is a wide computer network, it’s virtually
since tripled. ‘But I prefer hard cash,’ she a cryptocurrency, anyway? impossible to corrupt.
is quick to add.
The answer requires some brain With blockchain technology, computers
It’s easy to understand the attraction. power, so put on your thinking cap. (also known as miners) compete with
If you bought a Bitcoin for R11 000 in ‘A cryptocurrency is a digital currency each other to solve a cryptographic
January 2017 and sold it in December, that uses encryption techniques to problem. Let’s say Person A wants to
you’d have made a tidy profit of control generation, rather than being send money to Person B. When the
R189 000. Yup, the cryptocurrency soared issued by a government or central bank,’ transaction is broadcast on the network
by 2 000% last year, although this year its says Kyle Hauptfleisch of fintech of computers, miners will try to verify
performance has been dismal, as both the banking platform BVNK. the transaction by solving a difficult
US and Japan consider tightening their mathematical puzzle (at a rate of
regulatory frameworks. In fact, Google An important concept to understand 20-trillion tries a second with Bitcoin).
banned cryptocurrency ads completely here is blockchain technology. ‘Blockchain ‘The first miner in the
in March, which is not surprising given network to solve the
the high incidence of crypto-cons, not puzzle gets rewarded,
to mention crypto-craziness. According usually with some
cryptocurrency,’ says
to Warren Buffett, Hauptfleisch.
cryptocurrencies
For those in
the pro

kulula.com JUNE 2018 127

DISCOVER MONEY THAT MAKES NO CENTS

Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, first business school to accept Bitcoin
anonymous, global, quick, secure and – payments for its courses. ‘But with
most crucially – permissionless thousands of currencies to choose from,
unless you really know your stuff, you are
camp, the benefits of cryptocurrency The inverse – panic – is what he believes ultimately betting and – frankly – even Pictures: Evellean/shutterstock.com
are huge. ‘Transactions are irreversible, is driving the dips. those who know their stuff couldn’t say
anonymous, global, quick, secure and – for certain where this is all going.’
most crucially – permissionless,’ states Because the technology is still new
Hauptfleisch. Because transactions and there’s a chance it could fail, Marshall So, is it like the proverbial dark rabbit
are peer to peer, the middle man recommends that investors be cautious. hole down which Alice fell? Do we know
is eliminated. ‘Never invest what you can’t afford to where cryptocurrencies will end? If
lose,’ he advises. ‘Avoid so-called cloud you’re like Warren Buffett, you’ll stay
‘In theory, cryptocurrencies replace mining, especially if it’s set up with some well clear of them for now. But if you see
the trust provided by third parties such kind of multilevel marketing system or the potential of these currencies, which
as banks,’ says Darren Gorton of the club.’ It’s best to stick with well-known neatly sidestep the need for third parties,
South African Institute of Professional platforms like Luno if you’d like to buy you might view them as the future of the
Accountants. Advocates believe that your share of a Bitcoin, starting at financial economy, one not regulated by
cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have the a modest R10. governments or banks.
power to change the world as we know it.
What’s most concerning is that ‘Cryptocurrencies are hard to regulate,’
‘In my view, cryptocurrency could cryptocurrencies haven’t been widely asserts Hauptfleisch, ‘which makes
potentially replace fiat (government- adopted yet as a store of value, as gold them a perfect tool to send value
issued) currency in 10 to 15 years,’ says and US dollars are. Also, most of the abroad. In Africa, there are countries
Pyke. ‘Crypto is going to be here for the excitement surrounds the movement in with extremely volatile currencies and
long term – we are at the beginning of the price of cryptocurrency whereas it’s citizens are using cryptocurrencies as
the story at the moment, like the internet unclear if regular people (as opposed to a less volatile alternative store of value
in the 1990s, and I can see it replacing black-market arms dealers) actually use and for payments.’
money as we know it today.’ Bitcoins to buy things. (Incidentally, you
can buy in Bitcoin on Takealot, Earthchild Whichever way you look at it, they
Ah yes, but then anyone who was alive and RunwaySale.) are here to stay. As Gorton puts it,
in the 1990s knows about the dotcom ‘Cryptocurrencies have gained popularity
bubble and how it burst spectacularly. ‘It’s an exciting space,’ says Rob by the promise of empowering individuals
Surely Bitcoin and others like Ethereum, Stokes, chairman of Red & Yellow, the and removing the constraints imposed
Ripple and Dash will go the same way? by countries and corporations that some
view as having excessive control over
‘What’s driving the current interest is money.’ Whether governments will launch
more than likely hype and the hope their own centralised digital currencies
of getting rich quick,’ comments to compete with cryptocurrency is
Gavin Marshall, founder of
Sharebit, a platform for the anybody’s guess.
sharing economy. ‘If
you bought in early to some
of the cryptocurrencies, the
growth has been massive,
so there’s a definite FOMO.’

128 JUNE 2018 kulula.com





A PARTY ON THE SLOPES DISCOVER

patrolSNOW

Words: Keith Bain, Picture: Supplied W inter’s back and for the features four stages, including the Cooler
adventure-minded there Box where DJs will be pumping tunes
are thrills and spills and across the slopes – whether you spend
pumping beats to be found on the slopes most of your time falling on your backside
of Lesotho’s Maluti Mountains this or manage to surf the white stuff like a
season. At Afriski Mountain Resort, the pro, there’s sure to be a tune to keep you
white powdered fun kicks off on 7 June in good spirits. All Winterfest packages
with a four-day music fiesta. An excuse include a three-day mountain pass,
to jol with your mates in between honing skiing and snowboarding lessons and
your skiing and snowboarding skills, gear rental. Revellers can pick between
Winterfest’s Season Opener hosts live backpacker bunk rooms, or a variety of
acts like Jack Parow, Tony Bala, Simone apartments, lodges and chalets in which
Govender, Leomile and Will Rayz, plus to sleep. Just as the season will kick off
there’s plenty for electro fans in the with a party, it’ll draw to a close with
form of beats spun by DJs David Sanei, another four-day music festival in August.
Kim Me, Stallion and more. Winterfest 7–10 June and 23–26 August, winterfest.co.za

kulula.com JUNE 2018 131



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stuff to buy? Then
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our ads directory. and answer this riddle:

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turn it to ruin it.

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Phase 1 & 2, 90% Sold out

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in Sandton from R1 million

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Corner 9th Avenue & Stighlingh Road, Rivonia