Friday, May 15, 2015

Meet our New Chef



AN INTRODUCTION TO CHEF ZAYNE


Thanks to riverbend lodge for the most phenomenal family holiday ever. The location is beautiful, the elephant viewing is a once in a lifetime experience, the cooking is Michelin star level and the service is world class and sincere.


Those words explain it all.



Zayne Grobler our new Executive Head Chef at River Bend Lodge is creating a stir on the Fine Dining scene in the Eastern Cape.
Zayne joined our team in March and he has already got our guests ‘tastebuds doing tumble turns’ as he ups the ante at our Silver Thorns Restaurant at River Bend.





Zayne hails from the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal and has had a passion for food for as long as he can remember.

Before heading off to his first job as Head Chef at the famous Fugitive’s Drift Lodge he received his formal training from Christina Martin.

After time at Fugitive’s Drift it was back to Durban for a 3 year stint,  gaining more experience, before making a big move to Franschhoek…..the culinary capital of South Africa! Here he had 3 and a half years with Darren Badenhorst (whom he credits as one of his best mentors and influences) at Grande Provence before taking up his position at River Bend.




Zayne doesn’t limit himself to any particular narrow style of cooking, and prefers to explore what is trending, but always keeps his foundations anchored in traditional French Cuisine, infused with international flavours, techniques and cultural practices.




It is wonderful to watch, taste and pair Wine with Zayne’s Culinary Creations as he sets about his avowed intention of making River Bend Lodge the leader in Fine Dining in the Eastern Cape at our Silver Thorns Restaurant.


(To view a larger version of these images click on one of the photos.
Images the property of River Bend Lodge)