Fresh off her recent creative collaboration with Nando’s, where she was invited to imagine what Johannesburg would taste like, culinary curator and founder of Food, I Love You, Mpho Phalane, is emerging as one of South Africa’s most compelling cultural storytellers. The limited-edition sauce she co-created is less a product and more an extension of her craft, translating memory, identity and the spirit of Jozi into flavour.
When Nando’s asked me to imagine what Johannesburg would taste like, I went straight to memory, to the warmth, grit, brightness and unapologetic character of the city that raised me. Jozi is layered and full of heart, and I wanted to translate that into a flavour people could take with them long after they have left,” Mpho Phalane
But Mpho’s story begins long before this collaboration. Rooted in her upbringing as a born-and-bred Joburger, her work explores the intersection of food, heritage and design. From her experiential culinary studio at the historic Old Fort at Constitution Hill, she creates deeply intentional food experiences that honour indigenous knowledge and reframe South African culture through a modern lens.
Since launching Food, I Love You in 2013, Mpho has worked with global brands, cultural institutions and local communities. Her philosophy remains consistent: food is a medium for storytelling, a way to preserve memory, create belonging and express identity.
Her partnership with Nando’s marks an important moment in her creative journey. It highlights her ability to articulate Johannesburg’s layered identity for both local and international audiences, and reinforces her growing role as a cultural curator shaping the future of South African cuisine and contemporary expression.
As part of the collaboration, Mpho penned a short poem that appears on the packaging, offering an emotional introduction to the city that inspires her work:
“Jozi, my Jozi. You’re bold. You’re loud. You’re a masala mix of culture and flavour. Stirred like our Gogo’s taught us, no recipe, just instinct.”
About the collaboration: Jozi Street Sauce and the G20 Summit
As part of the G20 Summit, Mpho partnered with Nando’s to co-create Jozi Street Sauce, a naartjie atchar peri-peri expression of Johannesburg’s energy and cultural richness. Designed to give international delegates a final taste of the city, the sauce serves as a flavourful tribute to Jozi’s character and creative spirit.
Jozi Street Sauce is available exclusively at Big 5 Duty Free Stores at O. R. Tambo International Airport, offering travellers a meaningful memento that carries Johannesburg’s vibrancy into the world.
