Food & Home Entertaining – September 2019

odyssey

A GREEK

Serving up a host of heart-warming flavours with

unbeatable Mediterranean hospitality, Kolonaki

is a piece of Hellenic heaven in Johannesburg

BY LISA WITEPSKI PHOTOGRAPHS BY DYLAN SWART STYLING BY VASSILIOS HOLIASMENOS

P

arkhurst’s trendy

4th Avenue, also

known as “the

strip”, is the go-to

spot for epicurean

occasions, from

ladies’ lunches

to date nights.

And since October last year, there’s

been a new reason to visit: Kolonaki

Greek Kouzina!

With a bamboo canopy that hangs

over a white-washed deck, a fringe

of greenery adding to the aura of

freshness, the restaurant’s frontage

instantly sets it apart from its

neighbouring bistros and bars. During

the day, the bamboo casts tiger-stripe

shadows over the Mykonos benches,

and at night, fairy lights twinkle

festively – all that’s missing is a light

sea breeze!

It’s no wonder curious patrons have

been flocking to the restaurant to find

out what delights might be dished

up inside. “We’ve been fully booked

since we first opened late last year,”

says owner, Vassilios Holiasmenos.

This is a dream come true,

especially since Vassilios has been

focusing on little besides Kolonaki for

a year and a half before opening it.

Born into the restaurant equivalent of

royalty – his father, Theo, was the

brains behind iconic brands like

MacRib, Ciao Baby Cucina, and Smith

& Wollensky – Vassilios has been

part of the business since he was 13,

working in the scullery to earn some

pocket money, before honing his skills

in different areas of the kitchen.

Vassilios formalised his learnings

with a degree in hospitality in the

United Kingdom, and owned a few

A DELECTABLE

MEZE SPREAD

AT KOLONAKI,

COMPRISING

(CLOCKWISE):

PITAS, YIAOURTI,

MELITZANOSALATA,

YELLOW FAVA DIP

AND TARAMASALATA

FOODANDHOME.CO.ZA SEPTEMBER 2019 69

JOBURG DINING