<P> Stories of the origin of bunny chow date as far back as the migrant Indian workers arrival in South Africa . One account suggests that migrant workers from India who were brought to South Africa to work the sugar cane plantations of Kwazulu - Natal (Port Natal) required a way of carrying their lunches to the field; a hollowed out loaf of bread was a convenient way to transport their vegetarian curries . Meat based fillings came later . The use of a loaf of bread can also be ascribed to the lack of the traditional roti bread, in the absence of which a loaf of bread would be acceptable as an accompaniment to curry . </P> <P> One story has it that a restaurant run by people known as Banias (an Indian caste) first created the scooped - out bread and curry dish at a restaurant - cum - café called Kapitan's on the corner of Victoria and Albert streets in Durban . The food was a means to serve take - aways to excluded people . During the apartheid regime, Indians were not allowed in certain shops and cafes and so the shop owners found a way of serving the people through back windows, etc . This was an easy and effective way to serve the workers . One story opines that the origin of this hand - held dish was due to Indian golf caddies not being allowed to carry cutlery during apartheid . </P> <P> The traditional Indian meal was roti and beans, but rotis tended to fall apart as a take - away item, so they cut out the centre portion of the bread and filled it with curry and capped the filling with the portion that was cut out . The vegetarian version is known as a beans bunny . A further, albeit unlikely, etymology is derived from bun and achar (Indian pickles), though the latter are not included in the dish . </P> <P> Bunny chows are popular amongst Indians, as well as other ethnic groups in the Durban area . Bunny chows are commonly filled with curries made using traditional recipes from Durban: mutton or lamb, chicken, bean and chips with curry gravy are popular fillings now, although the original bunny chow was vegetarian . Bunny chows are often served with a side portion of grated carrot, chilli and onion salad, commonly known as sambals . A key characteristic of a bunny chow is created when gravy from the curry fillings soaks into the walls of the bread . Sharing a single bunny chow is not uncommon . </P>

Where did the name bunny chow come from