102. Strone Henry - Kos Gangsta & Side Wing

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I sit down with chef Strone Henry, the creative force behind Kos Gangsta and the much-missed SideWing. We trace his journey from learning to cook at home, through SA Chefs Academy and food styling for magazines, to building one of Cape Town's most talked-about street food brands from his parents' kitchen with nothing more than a fryer, social media and a love of flavour.We talk about the rise of SideWing, selling hundreds of kilos of chicken wings every weekend, the challenges of operating at Makers Landing and why escalating food costs eventually forced the business to close. Strone also explains how Kos Gangsta gave him the freedom to embrace pop-ups, experiment with new ideas and cook the food he genuinely wants to eat, drawing inspiration from global street food while staying rooted in South African ingredients. Along the way we discuss creativity, restaurant economics, the value of community, and why some of the best food businesses today don't need permanent premises to build a loyal following. Strone also reveals that SideWing is set to return, giving fans of his legendary fried chicken sandwiches something to look forward to.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay