A Table in the Corner
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 they’re involved in the food industry, you will meet them with Russel at A Table in the Corner.
A Table in the Corner
S2-40. Pizza Sessions - Pizzasaurus
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In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I chat to Brad Berman, the founder of Pizzasaurus, a vegan pizzeria on Cape Town's Harrington Street that sees every pizza served as a small moment of activism. For Brad, plant-based cooking isn't about sacrifice or preaching. It's about proving that food can be indulgent, deeply satisfying and a little kinder to the planet at the same time.
We explore how he set out to reinvent one of the world's most beloved comfort foods, developing his own fermented vegan cheeses, slow-proofed doughs and house-made sauces while partnering with specialist producers to create convincing plant-based alternatives to traditional pizza toppings. Brad explains why he believes great vegan food should stand on its own merits, rather than being judged as a substitute for something else.
Our conversation also touches on the realities of running a niche restaurant, the changing fortunes of vegan dining in South Africa and why Harrington Street has become one of Cape Town's most exciting food precincts. Along the way we discuss food systems, sustainability and whether one great slice of pizza might just change a few minds.
As always, Pizza Sessions is brought to you by Banhoek Chilli Oil: The perfect way to finish every slice.
Whether you’re vegan, vegan-curious or simply love a good pizza, this is a fascinating conversation about food, hospitality and challenging assumptions, one slice at a time.
- 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