Chef Nicholas Froneman has rejoined Tsogo Sun, as the new executive chef of Southern Sun Montecasino. His appointment kicks off with a bang as he launches a contemporary new ‘Food Theatre’ menu.
“Meals together are about so much more than the food you eat,” adds Chef Nicholas. “The whole experience should be a happy one, nourishing the body, mind and soul. Adding a theatrical touch to the meal can only enhance the whole delightful experience.”
One of the dishes on the menu include ‘Secret Garden’, where a beef tenderloin log in a spiced pancetta and popcorn dust takes centre stage, accompanied by pea puree gel and beetroot Turkish Delight. Other items include Cannelloni of Duck Confit, with peppered strawberry bon bons, peanut saté, mango and shallot flavours; Olive Oil Baked Salmon Trout, with sweet potato scales, pea textures, and basil caviar; Mediterranean Squid, with ring soufflé, braised tentacles, braised ink risotto, pork airbags, and balsamic truffle pearls; Lamb and Rolled Neck ‘Salami’ and Crusted Loin, with Venetian textures of peas and tomatoes, celeriac potato puree-Sambuca drops; Chilled Oysters and Prawns – butter-poached jumbo tails, roasted corn puree, oyster in Curaçao and seawater en gelée.
Chef Nicholas worked at numerous Tsogo Sun properties after graduating from the Technikon Witwatersrand with a Diploma in Professional Cookery, including the Elangeni, Cape Sun and Southern Sun Grayston. He was also a part of the opening team of Sun International’s GrandWest Casino. International experience has also had a strong impact on his development as an innovative chef, and he has enjoyed expanding his culinary experience in Singapore, Dubai, Egypt, Tanzania, Botswana, and elsewhere, holding the position of Executive Chef in many of the leading hotels. Back in South Africa, he joined the team at The Palace of the Lost City at Sun City where he set about “revolutionising perceptions of the Palace with a more relaxed vibe and a modern and eclectic menu – making dining at The Palace a lot more exciting”.
His return in early 2018 to Tsogo Sun and Southern Sun Montecasino is a happy one for him. “I wanted to come back to Johannesburg and back to Tsogo Sun, which feels like home, and have a positive impact on the food offering here.” He is impressed with the group’s strong approach to delivering world-class culinary experiences across the spectrum of offerings.
