Hello Again, Jojo’s

WITH Paris painted on the back wall and edible euphoria emerging endlessly from the bowels of its exciting new kitchen, Jojo’s Music and Arts Café made its return last week under new ownership seeking unchartered culinary horizons.

Marrying chef Christie Keulder’s modernist techniques with chef David Thomas’ award-winning ability to roast, sear, bake and braise heaven, Jojo’s is back as a hub of mad though magical molecular gastronomy in the new home of modern, innovative Namibian cuisine.

Though the line is to ‘expect the unexpected’, along with mouthwatering tasting menus, surprising culinary combinations applied to local specialties and a handpicked selection of wines from both famous and lesser known wine regions, patrons can also look forward to travel for a fraction of the cost in Jojo’s Music and Arts Café’s concept stops.

“Our first ‘concept stop’ was France, and we took our guests on a journey to Paris, without them having to book a flight, wait for boarding or ride with rude French taxi drivers,” says Jojo’s co-owner Aleksandra Orbeck-Nilssen. “We ate French food and listened to French music whilst looking at the Eiffel Tower and old Paris painted on an 11-metre wall.”

Eager to offer patrons the sights, smells and tastes of travel while becoming Namibia’s premium food destination, Jojo’s pop-up concepts are also available for private functions in the guise of ‘The Jojo’s Apartment’.

The trick here is the transformation of the restaurant to present a unique atmosphere in which all items are for sale in a space that feels like visiting someone’s home. Ideal for family dinners, parties and events the Jojo’s Apartment is an innovative addition that can be tailor made with regard to eats and entertainment.

As for the food? Best expressed by the launch which served no less than a feast of perfectly plated and entirely inspired guinea fowl rillettes, textures of carrots, pork belly, roasted figs, potato and black truffle oil espuma with red wine sauce as well as pomegranate sorbet, feta cream with honey and a deconstructed apple tarte tatin with caramelised apples, salted caramel and yogurt ice cream for dessert.

Gastronomically game changing and deftly drizzling imagination into dishes by the bucket, Jojo’s Music and Arts Café is open, excited and elegantly invites Windhoekers to join their journey ‘through food, music, art and atmosphere’.

Jojo’s Music and Arts Café is open from 12h00 to 15h00 for brunch and lunch and for dinner from 18h00 to 22h00.

– martha@namibian.com.na; @marth_vader on Twitter