Bucket Scene: Wish on Florida

Last night saw the grand opening of Durban's latest hot spot, Wish on Florida. Situated in the middle of Durban's most popular roads,  Wish on Florida offers an upmarket Italian experience, specializing in gourmet pizza, pasta's and canape's as well as boasting a bar which stocks the finest local and international champagnes and wines as well as great selections of cocktails and a wide range of premium spirits. Having attended the launch last night, I was blown away with the attention to detail that went into the deco, as I was quite familiar with the space before and how the owners along with their team of interior decorators manged to transform it into what it is now is just stunning. The use of different textures and lighting really enhance the atmosphere and gives the diner an opportunity to chose from various styles of lounging. 

Wish is the beginning of a dream, a dream which was the brainchild of two young black entrepreneurs, both Durban locals who wanted a place that not only offered a unique dinning experience but also one that inspired young black entrepreneurs, to show them that dreams do become reality with hard work and perseverance. Those two men being Benny Maverick and Wayne Ndlovu, Benny who needs no introduction as he one of the countries prominent house DJ's, who never had things his own way at the beginning as his story of success was shared with all those in attendance last night. His passion for what he believed in as well as his fight to be recognized made him into the person he is today. Together with his partners they have created something truly special and something to give back to the community. People who visit Wish get the opportunity to purchase Wish tokens to toss into the wishing pond, each token purchased is a contribution to the Wish Foundation to help aiding young Durban entrepreneurs in their business ventures.

Onto the evening, after being warmly welcomed and seated, with our welcome drinks were were offered canapes which consisted of cajun chicken wings and chicken and mushroom pizza. Both were delicious and flavourful with the pizza not shy of toppings. For mains I opted for the Ocean Fresh Pasta which honestly was my highlight of the evening. Beautifully cooked seafood which consisted of plump prawns, tender calamari and steamed mussels cooked in a creamy tomato base sauce, mixed in with al dente tagliatelle and topped with crispy squid heads. The aromas from the pasta get you salivating instantly to dig in, the textures from the crispy fried squid heads adds that crunch element that you didn't realise was missing in a seafood pasta. For dessert I opted for the classic tiramisu, it was a bit different from your conventional one, with the sponge biscuits being changed for a sponge cake but still maintained that soft decadence that you would associate with a tiramisu.

Wish on Florida, officially opens for trading on the 13th of December 2019, trading from Monday to Wednesday, 12pm till late and from Thursday to Sunday from 12pm to 2am. 

Wish is located at 198-200 Florida Road, Durban

For bookings, call 031 205 9135

Instagram: wishonflorida

Bucket Scene: Starbucks comes to Durban

Last night saw the VIP launch of the first official Starbucks store in Durban, which saw the whos who attend, from A-list celebs, down to coffee addicts, it was abuzz with activity, song and dance. Situated at 233 Florida Road, this branch is truly iconic to the brand and a one of a kind in SA. It's the third South African city to get this global coffee brand, after Johannesburg and Pretoria, beating our rival coastal city Cape Town. While there are many reasons for the coffee giant opting to open in Durban before the Cape, us locals aren't too phased about it as we get to enjoy the goodness that they provide. For me it was my first time experiencing Starbucks as when abroad I never got the chance to try it out. The entire experience blew me away as I found out just how this is more than just a run of the mill coffee shop. 

Speaking at the launch, CEO of Taste Holdings, and former Durban boy, Carlo Gonzaga said that the location of the store played a pivotal roll in making the brand focus on opening in KZN. It was a neighborhood orientated store, something that was different to the others already in South Africa. Each Starbucks store is unique, with layouts and decor to suit the area it is in. Starbucks on Florida Road is chilled and relaxed, with custom made furniture and a design that is easy going yet bold. The store is also is one of three in the country to boast a Reserve bar, which only 5% of Starbucks worldwide have. The reserve bar offers exotic roasts with a unique one to each bar. This is certainly a must for all! 

The Starbucks menu itself is quite expansive and while coffee is usually enjoyed warm, Gonzaga says that almost half of their sales are contributed from their cold offerings. One which got the most attention was the Caramel Frappucinno. I had one myself, and as a big lover of all things caramel, I'm glad that I tried this! Usually with ice coffees, it's heavy on the ice but Starbucks use smoothie type liquidizers to get the ice crushed to a small size, which blends well with the coffee. Another one which I quite enjoyed was part of their festive treats menu, the Toffee Nut Latte. Their signature roast, with a dash of toffee essence and nut, topped with whip cream. It was indeed heaven in a cup. 

Apart from just drinks, Starbucks has a great selection of food and desserts, with sandwiches, rolls, cakes and pastries on offer. There's also a wide variety of coffee's on sale, roasts and blends from all over the world, along with mugs and collectables. Starbucks Durban opens to the public on Saturday 25th of November with the second store in Durban, opening at Gateway in early December. Be sure to get down to Florida Road early on Saturday morning to be one of the first to enjoy this global brands great offerings.