Last week, on 16 October 2025, John Dory’s proudly participated in the White Star Miss Soweto Top20 Finalists event held at the Johannesburg Country Club, delivering a one-of-a-kind sushi masterclass experience. In a pioneering collaboration with iconic brand White Star, John Dory’s introduced an innovative twist by incorporating South Africa’s beloved staple, pap, into the art of sushi making.
A South African Sushi Masterclass
The finalists engaged hands-on in an exciting masterclass led by John Dory’s sushi master, Dumisani Lukhozi, who guided them through the sushi-making process using White Star pap instead of traditional rice. This first-of-its-kind experience celebrated local culinary heritage and showcased the versatility of pap, blending cultural flavours with contemporary gastronomy.
Sushi Masterclasses are held regularly at all John Dory’s restaurants nationwide and are open to anyone.
John Dory’s commitment to creating unique, inclusive dining experiences was clearly demonstrated through this event, reflecting the brand’s dedication to culinary innovation and community connection.
The Sushi Masterclasses are held regularly at all John Dory’s restaurants nationwide and are open to anyone interested in sushi, from casual diners to culinary hobbyists. Private group sessions are also occasionally offered for corporate events or special occasions. It is recommended to book in advance, as spots can fill quickly. Reservations can be made at the John Dory’s location nearest to you for only R249.90 per person.
Want a taste? Try these delicious sushi-inspired recipes…
Bean Curd
Ingredients (Makes 2 portions)
– 2 bean curd pockets
– 40 g pap
– 10 g coleslaw
– 20 g chicken strips, fried
Method
Make bean curd with pap inside.
Top with a mix of coleslaw and chopped chicken strips.
Serve on a sushi plate with ginger and wasabi on the side.
Mini Poke Bowl
Ingredients
– 3 pap balls, fried
– 10 g chakalaka mix
– 10 g avocado
– 20 g boerewors cubes
– 2 g sesame seeds mix
– 10 g tempura flour
– 60 ml tempura batter
– 5 g tempura crumbs
– 5 ml oil
Method
Roll portions of pap into balls.
Assemble a dredging station. Dust the pap balls with tempura flour, dunk them in the batter and coat them with crumbs, then shallow-fry the balls in oil at 160 ℃ until golden brown.
Place the fried balls at the bottom of the bowl.
Add boerewors cubes on top of the pap.
Spoon a bit of chakalaka on top of the boerewors.
Finish with avo cubes and sesame seeds.
California Rolls
Ingredients (Makes 4 portions)
– 20 g steak strips
– 10 g chakalaka
– 60 g pap, cooked
Method
Make a California roll with chakalaka and steak strips inside pap.
Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top, shape and cut into 4 pieces.
Serve on a sushi plate upside down with ginger and wasabi on the side and enjoy.
About Spur Corporation
Spur Corporation is a leading casual dining franchised restaurant group with over 738 outlets throughout South Africa, Africa, India and Mauritius. Spur Corporation’s brands include RocoMamas, Spur Streak Ranches, Panarotti’s, John Dory’s, The Hussar Grill, Doppio Zero, Casa Bella, Pizza e Vino, Nikos and Modern Tailors.
For more information on Spur, visit the website links below.
