| Durban is not renowned for being a seat of | | | | Whatever the truth, however, the Bunny Chow |
| culinary invention but we have made at least one | | | | has earned itself an enduring place in the |
| major contribution to world cuisine in the shape of | | | | affections of Durbanites and there are many of |
| the Bunny Chow. | | | | us who couldn't exist for very long without them. |
| The Bunny Chow is a very simple affair consisting | | | | The correct way to refer to Bunny Chows when |
| of a hollowed-out quarter, half or full loaf of bread | | | | talking about them or asking for directions to the |
| filled with any available curry including beef, | | | | nearest purveyor is as Bunnies. The use of the |
| mutton, chicken or beans. The Bunny Chow | | | | word Chow will indelibly mark you as an outsider, |
| should be freshly made out of mature curry and | | | | and a pretty uncool one at that. |
| the piece of bread, or virgin, which was removed | | | | The Bunny Chow should always be eaten with |
| to make room for the curry should be placed on | | | | the fingers starting with the lump of bread, or |
| top of the Bunny before it is wrapped. Some | | | | virgin, on top. Aficionados treat the virgin as an |
| chefs add sambals to their Bunnies but many feel | | | | appetizer for the main course and it is considered |
| that this is an unnecessary elaboration. | | | | very bad form to seize and eat someone else's |
| The exact origins of the Bunny Chow are | | | | virgin without their express invitation. You should |
| shrouded in myth and legend but one school of | | | | then help yourself to the curry and tear pieces |
| thought has it that it was invented by a chef at | | | | off of the side of the loaf and dip them in the |
| the Queen's Tavern. | | | | gravy. |
| Another theory is that it was invented for the | | | | The trick here is to avoid tearing off pieces of |
| Indian caddies at the Royal Durban Golf Course | | | | loaf which are below the current gravy line |
| who were unable to get off from work for long | | | | otherwise you end up with a steaming-hot mass |
| enough to nip into Grey Street for a curry at | | | | in your lap. For much the same reason you should |
| lunchtime. The story goes that they got their | | | | check whether your Bunny Chow was made |
| friends to go and buy the curry for them and | | | | from the end of a loaf or whether it is a Funny |
| that it was brought back to the golf course in | | | | Bunny made from the middle and, hence, without |
| hollowed-out loaves of bread because there were | | | | a crust at the bottom. |
| no disposable food containers at the time. The | | | | A Funny Bunny isn't any less tasty but you do |
| explanation that Bunnies were first made in Grey | | | | have to be careful to support the base in case it |
| Street does hold a bit of water because the | | | | gives way and gives onlookers something to laugh |
| shopkeepers there were known as banias and | | | | about; you begin to see how it got its name? |
| therefore, the phrase Bunny Chow could mean | | | | While eating your Bunny you may sweat and |
| "food from the shopkeepers". | | | | blow your nose often, Say"Whooee!!" You may |
| If the origin of the Bunny was in Grey Street, | | | | not betray that you're in pain if the Bunny is too |
| then a prime candidate for the place where it was | | | | hot for your taste. Just relax and think of those |
| invented is the G.C. Kapitan Vegetarian Restaurant | | | | nice endorphins you're going to get when your |
| which operated at 154 Grey Street between 1912 | | | | brain finally gets into gear. Steer clear of the |
| and 1992. Whether the bunny was invented there | | | | gravy if you are in real difficulties as experience |
| or not, G.C. Kapitan's beans bunny was famous | | | | has shown that it is the hottest part of the curry |
| and enjoyed by ordinary people and such | | | | - whatever the burn level, do not drink water, it |
| luminaries as Indira Gandhi. | | | | only makes it worse! |