 |
A Table in the CornerAuthor: Russel Wasserfall Media
A Table in the Corner is the space where Russel Wasserfall chats to people in the food industry about their passion and their take on the business of eating. Russel has worked in the media and food space for over 3 decades. He's run bars, restaurants and a confectionery factory, written for dozens of food and travel publications and made a bunch of cookbooks. His show is about the nitty-gritty of the food trade in all its forms. Top chefs, food artisans, proprietors, bakers, farmers, foragers, cheesemakers, writers, photographers, bloggers... you name it. If theyre involved in the food industry, you will meet them with Russel at A Table in the Corner. Language: en-za Genres: Arts, Food, Places & Travel, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
S2-19. Tomson - Andrew Kai
Episode 19
Monday, 2 March, 2026
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Andrew Kai, chef and co-founder behind Tomson, Max Bagels and One Park, to talk about building small, culture-driven food businesses in a city increasingly dominated by scale.Andrew reflects on his early years in London kitchens, the discipline of classical brigade systems, and the dislocation of returning home to a very different restaurant landscape. The conversation moves through markets, pop ups and tight spaces before landing on Tomson, a 27 square metre Hong Kong style Cantonese shop that feels both deeply personal and entirely of the moment.We talk about cooking from heritage rather than trend, the difference between translation and dilution when presenting so called ethnic food, and why rice, greens and a properly roasted duck can say more than a tasting menu. Andrew speaks about sourcing Chinese ingredients in South Africa, resisting the pressure to soften flavours for comfort, and creating rooms that feel human rather than staged. This is a grounded, honest discussion about identity, independence and keeping restaurants small enough to matter, told by an operator who understands that community, not capital, is what ultimately sustains a room.Read what food writer Richard Holmes has to say in his Time Out review of Tomson hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyu www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
