An all-day breakfast at PANTRY by Gemelli
Alessandro Mosupi Khjane (also known as Alex or the Sotho Italian) turns forty in July and by the looks of things, he’s made it. The visionary restaurateur is the sole owner of Bryanston’s famous Gemelli (which he opened in October 2015), as well as the recently relaunched PANTRY by Gemelli.
Gemelli’s former prep kitchen downstairs has been transformed into a full-blown restaurant with lots of light, impressive art pieces and delightful cuisine. Not to mention the beautiful restrooms, which Alex continues to rave about (with good reason).
Breakfast at noon? PANTRY by Gemelli has got you sorted!
There are not many restaurants where you can have breakfast all day. Alex says he built PANTRY by Gemelli for himself, since he is the kind of guy who wakes up at 14:00 and then he wants breakfast. “I decided I was going to open up an all-day breakfast shop. For me,” he says.
Initially, the pre-Covid breakfast shop seated a mere 25 people. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Alex shut it down and used it as a space from where people could pick up take-aways from Gemelli. Today, PANTRY by Gemelli is even more than what Alex had envisioned for the space. It is still the all-day breakfast kind of eatery, but now it comes with much more space and an impressive interior. Working with Blackline Interiors, Alex says: “I gave them three things: I love the colour green at the moment, I need lots of light to come in and I need it to be very feminine. Because breakfast, brunch, Mimosas – it’s a women thing.”
The Sotho Italian
Alex’s zest for life, his passion for his people and his drive to do great things in the hospitality industry is tangible. He is the son of a diplomat and the youngest of six children and says he loves people. He’s used to having people around him and entertaining them, he says, and it’s clear that he loves what he does. While he was born in Bloemfontein, his family moved to Italy when he was a mere six months old. It’s in Rome where he started to develop his love for people and food, hence the Italian influence, especially at Gemelli.
When Alex’s family returned to South Africa when he was twelve years old, he spent most of his developmental years in Durban. Evidently, he describes himself as a Durbanite. “I’ve got a home there,” he says, highlighting that it’s his happy place.
He’s never been much of a student, Alex claims. When his dad passed away, he dropped out of college and started waitering. These were his first steps into the hospitality industry. Now, he’s not only the owner of two restaurants, but also in the process of opening two more and consulting along the way.
Alex is all about enjoying food among loved ones and making family the foundation of his restaurants.
What’s on the menu at PANTRY by Gemelli?
PANTRY by Gimelli’s food comes in beautiful plates and while it is served individually, it lends itself to the trend of sharing among each other too.
Apart from wanting an all-day breakfast, Alex wanted the menu to reflect a bit of African flair. While Gemelli upstairs offers contemporary Italian cuisine, with intriguing dishes like Lamb and Butternut Pasta, and a Creamy Mustard, Chicken and Prawn Pasta, PANTRY by Gemelli offers something different. “The inspiration was that I am South African and I love breakfast and I wanted to South Africanise breakfast. For example, I’ve got Vetkoek and Chicken Livers as a breakfast; I’ve got Vetkoek, Mince and Egg as a breakfast.” There are also the more traditional breakfast options, as well as some healthy breakfasts. It had to be different, but African,” Alex says.
The new PANTRY by Gemelli is an 80-seater restaurant with a menu that’s been inspired by all-day breakfasts, a touch of Africa and lots of light. Now – just over a month after reopening – it boasts a welcoming atmosphere with lots of greens and golds that lure you in.
P.S. Gemelli will soon be closed temporarily for some exciting renovations. Watch this space – it’s going to be amazing, complete with a brand-new entrance, an impressive, Rome-inspired reception and more.
