Ina Barkhuysen, A Fashionable Inspiration.
To champion local art and design is at the core of Odd Café’s personality. This involves the process of scouting for artists of all kind – musicians, painters, photographers, designers of all sorts. The artists are not only helped showcase their work but also, provided for them, is a meeting place for a cross pollination of ideas and/ or solitude – as the creative process may dictate. In this very regard, Odd Café hosts its inaugural Fashion Workshop featuring Ina Barkhuysen. Aged 71, with a generous dollop of style, she just finished her BA in Fashion Design and is set to move and shake the world of fashion and style in Joburg.
Barkhuysen is continuously flipping the model, as she did when she enrolled with London School of Fashion in Rosebank, Johannesburg4 years ago. She says fashion has always been a passion of hers and she remembers learning and loving to sew at a tender age of 13. That was in the 50s, the era when Christian Dior and Chanel ruled the global world of fashion and style. And yet for Barkhuysen, all these fashion houses have nothing on Giorgio Armani. She is inspired by Armani’s elegance and classic lines and these influences are present in her work. “My work is classic and sways between social and formal. The point is to strike a balance between ornate and elegant, and, serviceable and comfortable.” For Barkhuysen, these are very important attributes that speak to the woman, especially the modern woman who oscillates between work, home and a vibrant social life. She says her work speaks to mature women from ages 30 and above although it may appeal to some younger women too. This means that her work is not only meant for model size women but the woman with curves too. Barkhuysen says that whenever a woman passes through a certain stage of her life: singledom, child bearing, mothering, the empty nest and the senior years, it is as if she is starting a new life altogether. Therefore, the rationale of her creative is to document the metamorphosis of woman throughout an entire lifetime.
The design house will be called Krizilys and the collection to be showcased is two-fold: Ebony & Ivory and Putting on the Ritz. Ebony & Ivory will feature a lot of classics in terms of dresses revolving around the LBD, except with a touch of ivory. Putting on the Ritz will be clothing that is event specific, that is, for cocktail and tea parties, for balls and other glamorous events. Her work will be showcased for the first time at a fashion workshop at Odd Café in Greenside. The workshop will consist of invited guests who will not only view the collection but also discuss what their opinion of the clothing is. Barkhuysen hopes that getting fashionistas together, and allowing for a cross pollination of ideas will enable her to better her fashion offering and to continuously be in touch with fashion loving women.
Being 71 and launching into fashion is not going to be without challenges but Barkhuysen is looking up with hope for a great launch into the cut throat fashion industry. With a multi-generational experience of fashion, Krizilys will take the fashion world by storm! More than that, Barkhuysen is the story of one such personality who continued to go after their passions even at a very mature age. It is the story of taking control of one’s own life and realising dreams and making every moment count. That is inspiration.
Mothers Day at oDD Cafe
Menu
Starter
Crayfish tails or Seasonal Greens and Herb Salad
Main
Selection of curries, rice and sambals
1. Green Curry (Vegetable) or
2. Yellow Curry (Chicken) or
3. Red Curry (Meat)
Dessert
Indulgent Chocolate Brownie with a Berry Sorbet & Crystalised Rose petals
R 200.00 pp
Danika Corrall will be playing the violin between 12h00 and 15h00The #oDDCafeLowTea Menu
The #oDDCafeLowTea Menu
The #oDDCafeLowTea
The #oDDCafeLowTea. Bookings on 011 486 3631
#oDDTweetAndCook with Sarah Britten
Another breezy Sunday with a creative, cooking utensils and good chilled fun. The last Sunday of March (25th) and we are graced with the presence of creative strategist, journalist, tweet-star and Land Rover brand ambassador, Sarah Britten (needless to say she has so much feathers in her cap she could make a chicken envious!). We invited Sarah to join us for the second #oDDTweetAndCook and spending time with her was incredible fun. We discovered that over and above her penchant to wordplay is also a complement of copious amounts of lipstick. She is a painter and uses lipstick for her illustrations! Now that’s a #Mover&Shaker if we know one! Keep it logged guys, we are planning big things with Ms. Britten around her art and a local charity. Otherwise, check out the photos from the #oDDTweetAndCook where she and Johann made The Spanish Vegetarian Breakfast – Ciabatta (White bread in pumps), Scrambled eggs (better made when you separate whites and yolks first before scrambling), Roast pepper & Onion & lightly fried haloumi.
Sarah , Twitter handle @Anatinus, strikes a pose 
Simple to make - Ingredients for the Spanish Vegetarian Breakfast made at the #oDDTweetAndCook
Sarah in action. How about that rather graphic apron, Ms. Britten? Very festive,
...and voila!
Art Launch
Art Launch: Photographer Darren Smith, Painter Conrad Bo & Furniture Designer Just Jess
The Low Tea
Greenside’s Odd Café launched a Food Revolution called TASTE in Johannesburg starting with a ‘Low Tea’ last Sunday on the 11th March 2012.
Everything is done differently at Odd Café and the TASTE ‘Low Tea’ was no different. Dressing up the Odd Café food experience with the coarse natural provisions of Mother Nature, the Odd Café Low Tea was set on rustic reused tables. Using a wooden trolley from reclaimed Oregon pine and a concert of different textures including hessian sack, cotton and reclaimed wood, the Odd Café Low Tea was a tea ceremony that certainly altered many perceptions on food and presentation.
The story behind the Low Tea was one of redefining Taste by stripping right down to the essentials and building up from there, in the simplest and yet tasteful way possible. A selection of herbal teas was served from a garden with a selection of spices and fruits to complement the teas. There is no better way to savour not only the goodness but also the vitality of healthy herbal tea than simply making it straight from the plant yourself.
The dishes were twisted and turned around, as only Odd Café knows how to, to breath taking, drool-worthy dishes that made Twitter abuzz with the hashtag #OddCafeLowTea. Delectables included The Open Sandwich Royale: Rolled cucumber with mint and cottage cheese dusted with biltong, the piece de resistance Matcha Green Tea cake, a selection of flat breads, quiches, cheese pies, truffles… the list goes on!
The tweeps!
The pinnacle of the Odd Café Low Tea was not just the food but also the characters that shared in this ceremony. Many of whom are patrons and some of whom had been meaning to experience Odd Café and some who had not! In essence, some of our Twitter, Blogosphere and Facebook friends enjoyed the incredible work of Christina and her team. The Mad Hatter Tea Party has nothing on Christina’s Low Tea!
The #oDDTweetAndCook
On Sunday the 5th of February we hosted the inaugural #oDDTweetAndCook with quirky blogger Dale Imerman of the Mojodojo fame. The concept was really to have fun with food out on the patio! Dale and Johann (one of our managers) made the breakfast sensation: the Leaning Tower of oDD, right outside on the patio, while tweeting about it! It was incredible! Oresti was there with his Nikon D90 snapping photos while Christina, Marie and some patrons looked on, threw in a suggestion or three! Here are some of the photos from the event:
For more photos from the event, check our oDDTweetAndCook – 1 set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddcafe/sets/72157629212996093/
oDD Cafe ushers in 2012
The rise and rise of the underdog to make a difference within their sphere of influence was the order of last year. In Egypt, Tunisia, London, Israel and Iraq, revolutions made the year and even in 2012, change continues to be the pulse of life globally. In the same spirit, Odd Café ushers in 2012.
The traditions that have come to define the Odd Café brand will continue to be revolutionized in the year 2012. Unplugged Wednesdays will continue to provide a platform for upcoming artists. The common denominator between all the artists that will perform will continue to be originality, quirkiness, honesty and talent. 2011 saw the artistic genius of Michael, The Horizons, crowd favourite Embesa, Frankie Beagle and Edouard Privat. The artists got great exposure and some sold their albums. 2012 will be no different as a lot more new artists will be given the platform to promote their craft.
The Odd Café artspace that spans through to the basement will continue to be maximised for the promotion of the work of local artists. Last year saw the launch of a couple of local artists who included Mike O’Brien, Zahn Rust, Conrad Bo, Greg Carlin and Chad Farah. This year will showcase work from a medley of local artists who express different themes on different media.
The famous white chocolate cheese cake
Food, as much as art, music and design continues to be the crux that defines Odd Café. 2011 had the Odd Café patronage raving about the Odd Burger and the Babelas burger. The winter menu featured hearty comfort food like the Bobotjie pie and a summer menu that included the chicken burger with peach or guava relish and the Spanakopita, with some of these even being showcased on SAFM’s Lifestyle show. 2012 has already cracked with an introduction of menu items for breakfast and lunch. Even in 2012, food at Odd Café continues to be a creative endeavour, as is any other art form and that resonates with every menu item.
The international Pop Up Store phenomenon which locally started at Odd Café and took the country by storm will continue in 2012. Fashion designers and other fashion stores will continue to have space to sell their merchandise at the Odd Cafe Pop Up Store. Last year’s inaugural pop up store was Een Design Studio and after that, the concept went viral. Duncan Stevens, Joy, Mustard Vintage, to mention a few, showcased their work too. Further than that, the Pop Up Store phenomenon spread throughout Johannesburg! The night shopping on Greenway was also another successful concept that promoted the street culture in Greenside. With most of Greenway Road establishments joining in the fun, the events were a success. Live music, late night shopping and eating and dining till late awoke the street to the charm of collaborative initiative and incredible street culture.
Support for the underdog has been in the core of Odd Café’s operations. Microbreweries have had their range of beers on sale at Odd Café and this support continues into 2012. Drayman Breweries in Pretoria and De Garve Brewery & Trading in Vanderbijlpark continue to be on Odd Café’s list of local microbreweries. 2012 will see the introduction of a range of retro soft drinks from Frankies Soft Drinks in the KZN Midlands. In 2012 therefore, Odd Café continues to associate itself with underdogs of great talent, workmanship and passion.
In the spirit of all things creative, Odd Café will establish many other new traditions that will enhance a better connection with the patrons and brand ambassadors. With respect to food, art, music and fashion, Odd Café will feature collaborative endeavours that will further enrich that Odd Café experience. 2011 was the year of social change and the rise of the underdog, 2012 will continue in that spirit of continually revolutionizing all the elements that grew the Odd Family in 2011.
