Hungry work watching the wok action

When Sherona of Canal Wok phoned to inform me that her eatery specialized in low-fat stir fries and asked if I would visit, I said that I didn’t get to Canal Walk often.

That visit happened this weekend, when after being irritated at paying more for Cinema Prive seats at the Nu Metro when those in the cheap seats made themselves comfortable in the deep-pile upholstery just before the main feature began, I sampled Sherona’s handiwork.

Canal Wok, at Shop 50, Canal Walk Food Court, offers six mains with your choice of sauce and noodle or rice. I selected the Flash Fried Fish with green curry sauce and noodles (R25) and my favourite American champers – Coke.

The interior is dominated by a granite counter at which you can sit and watch the wok action. Framed ingredient pictures are painted on the walls, and there is a communal newspaper.

Maternal warmth

In keeping with the anonymity of this column I didn’t introduce myself until later and was struck by Sherona’s maternal warmth and calm in an exceptionally busy place. Further on, I’ll tell you about a pierced young man and his vegetables, which greatly amused me.

I was disappointed by the size of my portion when it arrived but later found it to be quite satisfying. It was served with toasted sesame seeds and bean sprouts, adroitly arranged in a bouffant. I had to pick away at it at first, as the plastic container in which it was served was overfull. As I was sitting with my back to the counter I didn’t see the various sauces and chopsticks that I would have preferred rather than a plastic fork.

I was disbelieving when I later learned that Sherona had not traveled to the East and that she made her own curry pastes, as this green curry could have been delivered to me by one of those wizened women who approach your boat on the Bangkok waterways with their precarious primas stoves.

Other menu options are Chicken Fillets (R22), Sliced Steak (R25), Lamb Strips (R27). Haloumi cheese (R22) or fresh vegetables (R20). Sauces on offer are Bali Sweet and Sour, Siamese Orange, Indo Pesto, Cheezy, Thai Green Curry, Satay and Chissa, which is her home-grown answer to peri-peri.

Hero’s welcome

There are also side orders; curries and toasted sandwiches are on offer but the Chilli Rush (R4) is my recommendation. At this price is will give a bigger kick than an energy drink but I also advise ordering the coconut drink to soothe the buds after braving the Chilli Rush – whole large chilli, filled with cheese, wrapped in spring-roll pastry and deep fried.

I was flattered by my hero’s welcome when I introduced myself to Sherona after my meal and she insisted that we have coffee together and chat.

She explained that hailing from Durban, having a passion for chilli and perpetually trying to slim down were the inspiration for getting into stir fries, and she turned a passion into a business when she and her husband opened Canal Wok. You’ll remember that it was a busy day so I was sitting chatting to her at the counter while she was serving and probably witnessed her taking orders from some 20 people in the few minutes.
One such person was a new teenager, whom I’d spied with his brother earlier, both with rings pierced through their lips. I forgot myself and bit mine while imagining such unspeakable pain. Judgments about teens these days and our future blah blah flooded into my head only to witness a honey-pot sweetness tumble past the lip ring. “Can I have it without vegetables”, he asked as if the angels sang. Sherona leaned over her till, the same way Prof. McGonagall would if Harry Potter peeked at her spell book, and asked: “Does your mother know you don’t eat your vegetables?”

Although food is served within 10 minutes, I suggest that you leave yourself more time and enjoy time with Sherona too – she is as delightful as her curry.

Canal Wok is open during usual Canal Walk trading hours, seven days a week.
Ph: 021-555-4963.