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- Noteworthy personalities, including authors, musicians, artists and business titans all heeded the call to "do dinner" and make connections.
- Guests feasted on culinary delights create by internationally renowned South African celebrity chef Reuben Riffel.
- For more lifestyle news, go to the News24 Life front page.
After a successful first event in Tribeca, New York City, South Africa's most fascinating dinner event, titled Let's Do Dinner, gave Johannesburg's social scene a chance to show how it paints the town red.
Starting with a luxury shuttle straight to a red carpet at The View, a venue in one of Johannesburg's elegant tree-lined suburbs, beverage brand Stella Artois set the tone for the evening.
In the week before the event, invitations went out to a select group of guests calling for a "Stylishly Stella" dress code requiring guests to come dressed to add a touch of sophistication and glamour to the evening.
Actors and media personalities Nomzamo Mbatha and Kat Sinivasan hosted guests on Wednesday evening to highlight and inspire the power of human connection around the table.
According to the brand, "If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?" was the central theme of the event.
Noteworthy personalities, from actors to book authors, musicians, artists, and business titans, answered the call and came dressed to the nines, ready to share a feast with others.
Seated not too far from us at the dinner were famous faces like Zozibini Tunzi, Hello Weekend cover star Lloyiso, Lasizwe, Mihlali Ndamase, Unathi Nkayi, Chef Benny Masekwameng, Melanie Bala, Slikour, Khaya Dlanga, Kwenzo Ngcobo, Holly Ray, Mzukisi Mbane and many more.
The electronic string quartet, The Muses, kicked off the evening with a high-energy performance before leading into a spell-binding movement presentation by renowned ballerina and choreographer Kitty Phetla.
DJ Kenzhero & Trio topped off the night with the seasoned DJ's trademark Afro-jazz-electronica sounds.
Musician and producer Tabure Thabo Bogopa Junior (popularly known as JR) presented a personal set, engaging the audience with compelling stories behind his greatest hits, told through song.
Singer-songwriter Shekhinah - supported by a guitarist, drummer, and pianist behind a white baby grand – then performed an intimate, unplugged selection from her repertoire. At the same time, ‘The Mentalist', Brendon Peel, had guests talking as he pushed the boundaries of illusion.
All this as guests feasted on culinary delights created and prepared by internationally renowned South African celebrity chef chef Reuben Riffel and got to know each other in between the evening's performances.
Riffel is a restaurateur and founder of the famed Reuben's Restaurant & Bar in Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands.
He treated diners at Let's Do Dinner to an ash-crusted braised beef brisket on a canvas of herb and vegetable essence and a show-stopper chocolate crème brûlée dessert with a cherry-roasted coffee veil.
I wolfed down the brisket and had no room left for dessert after the starters that preceded the main course.
READ MORE | 'I am the cook': Foodie Nomzamo Mbatha hearts New York, fish and dinner parties
