Esca Café and Bar

Located at The Odyssey Mall in Ballito, Esca Café and Bar is the ultimate luxury lounge experience, and the first of its kind on this side of the North Coast. Surrounded by aesthetic art deco flair for an Insta-worthy backdrop, refreshing cocktails and delectable café-style cuisine, this chic and classy café is the perfect spot to relax, unwind and indulge with friends and family.

@escacafeandbar

We recently chatted to the owners of Esca Café and Bar to learn a little more about Ballito's trendiest cocktail and hookah lounge....

Q) Tell us a little about how Esca Café and Bar came to be?

Esca Café and Bar is a family-owned business in the heart of Ballito We like to think of ourselves as an upmarket cigar lounge with a luxury vintage vibe We actually have multiple businesses in oneEsca Café and Bar is our retro-themed family-friendly restaurant specialising in delicious café-style cuisine and drinks, but we also have a separate sports bar offering, complete with a chic hookah lounge

Q) What was your vision for the restaurant?

Our goal was to create a space that was completely different from the rest, a place where you could walk in and click with people of all ages, whilst enjoying a variety of diverse food options like curries, steaks, bunny chows, burgers, pizzas, nachos, wings, and various other delicious bar snacks

Q) What makes Esca Café and Bar unique?

From our delectable menu offering and affordable cocktails, to our glamorous vintage decor and buzzing atmosphere, Esca offers a uniquely entertaining experience for all Prioritising service excellence, we have created a free space where people can relax and enjoy themselves with friends and family

Q) What inspired your diverse and extensive menu?

We are located in a mall with diverse customers, so we wanted our menu to reflect that by accommodating for everyone’s dietary preferences We offer everything from hearty vegetarian dishes to spicy curries, healthy wraps, juicy burgers and so much more We are also launching a new menu with additional options based on our customers’ feedback

Q) What was the most exciting event you hosted thus far?

Definitely our Formula 1 events! We host dynamic F1 days at Esca, and it’s a chance for the community to get together and indulge in cocktails and tasty food while watching Formula 1 together and admiring the supercars parked outside!

Q) Why did you choose The Odyssey Mall as your base?

The Odyssey Mall is unique in that it boasts a diverse residential, medical and commercial offering that not many malls offer We were really attracted to the central location as well

Q) What does the future hold for Esca Café and Bar?

We are currently focused on growing our brand, and we would love the opportunity to franchise in the future.

MEDICAL INSIGHTS WITH DR. PG KARIMI

Since March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, we decided to shine a spotlight on this common yet misunderstood condition affecting millions of women worldwide Dr PG Karimi, a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the Odyssey Medical Centre, shares valuable insights to help us learn more about Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome…

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects ovaries causing hormonal imbalance, and it affects about 3% of women in the reproductive age, but many patients are undiagnosed due to a lack of health facilities and poor understanding of the disease by those who are affected.

The main features of this disease are:

1) Menstrual irregularities and anovulation leading to infertility.

2) Elevated androgens (male hormones) that cause acne and excessive body hair growth.

3) Polycystic ovaries caused by abnormal follicles that have stopped developing.

HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME:

1 Infertility

2 Diabetes

3. Hypercholesterolemia

4 High blood pressure

5 Cardiovascular disease

6. Endometrial cancer

SYMPTOMS OF PCOS

These can vary in range and severity in different women The common ones include:

1 Menstrual irregularities (absent, few and heavy periods)

2. Infertility

3 Acne especially late onset and resistant to treatment

4. Hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, buttocks and thighs)

5. Obesity especially waist obesity

WHAT CAUSES PCOS?

The exact cause is unknown, but it is thought that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. These factors lead to hormonal imbalances that leads to:

1. Increased androgens

2 Decreased oestrogens

3 Increased insulin levels due to insulin resistance by body cells. When blood glucose levels increase as a result of the insulin resistance the feedback mechanism to the pancreas responds by increasing insulin levels Elevated blood insulin increases production of androgens as well as leading to weight gain. Both lead to PCOS

PCOS RISK FACTORS INCLUDE:

1 Obesity (BMI greater than 24 5)

2. Family history of PCOS

Treatment Of Pcos

Because there is no cure, the treatment depends on the symptoms and concurrent health issues. Most of the treatments can prevent or affect the foetus during pregnancy and it is very important to discuss fertility goals with the patient.

Lifestyle Changes

Weight loss in overweight women leads to significant improvement in the symptoms of PCOS The aim is to achieve a BMI of between 18 to 25 through a combination of proper diet and exercise

Menstrual Irregularities Treatment

For women who do not desire fertility, oral contraceptive pills induce regular periods and are the mainstay of treatment Intra uterine systems containing progesterone can also be used to reduce endometrial hyperplasia and future risk of endometrial cancer

Acne Treatment

PCOS is usually first diagnosed when a woman of reproductive age presents with acne Various treatments are available and include retinoids and antibacterial agents in various formulations It is important for contraception to be used concurrently because of the teratogenic effects of most of these drugs

Infertility Treatment

It is important to exclude other causes of infertility before treatment Lifestyle changes that correct the BMI can restore fertility in PCOS patients and should be emphasised