Everything You Need to Know to Eat Bunny Chow

What is Bunny Chow?

Let’s start with the most obvious question. Bunny Chow is not made from bunnies. It’s a traditional Indian Dish found in Durban. Bunny chow is made from hollowing out a portion of a loaf of bread and filling it with a curried inside. While disagreements exist as to the origin of the recipe and name, all that matters is that you should taste a “Bunny” ( as it is often referred to), if you make a trip to Durban, South Africa.

Where should you eat a Bunny?

There are lots of places to eat Bunny Chow in and around Durban. I don’t eat Indian Food. The one and only time I had it in the past I got violently sick. So I’ve stayed away from Indian Dishes like ghosts do from Ghostbusters. But when in India (or Durban), do what the Indians do, right? So our hosts took us on a search for a proper Bunny. I can’t tell you where to eat a good bunny, but I can tell you where not to eat a Bunny; A Sasol Gas Station.

Our Dining Table: Next to the cooler and potato chips.

How do I order a Bunny?

Bunnies come in 1/4, 1/2 and full loaf varieties with your choice of filling. I ordered the 1/4 loaf with mutton and that was plenty. Since it is served inside bread, the bread fills you up quite quickly. Remember, you’re eating a quarter of a loaf of uncut bread, plus filling. That’s a lot.

You have your choice of filling: vegetables, chicken, beans, lamb, etc. Choose your favorite. But here’s the mistake I made. Gas Station food is questionable at best. As the South Africans say, it’s “Dodgey”. You see, curry is so spicey that it hides, what could be, spoiled meat. So if you find yourself eating at a gas station (and why are you there in the first place?) order the vegetable bunny. If you’re at a proper restaurant, order something meaty. Too bad no one told me that beforehand.

How do I eat a Bunny?

With your hands.

Rip off a piece of the hollowed out bread, dip it in your curry and enjoy. I’ll have to admit, my Bunny Chow was quite tasty. Spicy of course, but I was prepared for that. A proud culinary moment, I ate almost all my Bunny.

Now what?

Wait.

The following morning you’ll wake up and run to the toilet. Let’s just say that the Bunny burned hotter on the way out than on the way in! I blame the Sasol garage kitchen.

In every trip you’ll either have a great meal, or a great story about a meal. I think this dinner can be placed in both columns. But what about you? What’s the spicest food you’ve ever eaten? What happened when you were done? Share your experience by commenting below.

There’s lots more to explore on my Facebook Fan Page. Check it out here.

Fun Potty Fact: According to a book my brother bought about biological functions he answers the question, “Why did it burn going out…?”

It’s due to the fact that the same cells that line your mouth also line your anus. They differ from the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract and can discriminate different stimuli, in this case spicy foods.

The more you know…

I’ll see you out there…! (Just don’t take too long in there, we have more places to explore)