S2-39. East City Grill + Yakiniku - Jaycee Ferreira

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I sit down with chef Jaycee Ferreira of East City Grill & Yakiniku in Cape Town’s growing Harrington Street precinct. We explore why so many chefs are drawn to Japan, and how a trip to Tokyo opened JayCee’s eyes to a side of Japanese food culture far beyond sushi.We talk about his journey into hospitality, the challenge of combining a steakhouse and a traditional yakiniku experience under one roof, and the farm-to-fork philosophy behind the restaurant’s own Wagyu beef programme. Along the way, we discuss umami, nose-to-tail cooking, restaurant precincts, and why Japanese cuisine continues to inspire chefs around the world.A thoughtful conversation about food, culture, craft and finding new ways to tell familiar stories through cooking. 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