Chef John Norris-Rogers, La Petite Colombe’s Head Chef, has wanted to be a chef for as long as he can remember, even working in kitchens during his school holidays to gain as much information about the industry as possible. “I think it was at this point that I knew it was most certainly what I wanted to do. This is the one decision in my life I was most sure of!” comments John.
The Silwood School of Cookery graduate completed a year-long internship at La Colombe after he completed his studies, before joining the team at Source Food Concepts in Cape Town, as well as working as a private chef at a ski resort in the French Alps. He returned to La Colombe in 2016 to take up a position as Sous Chef alongside current Head Chef James Gaag.
He’s been lucky enough to travel to Oslo, Norway to take part in a month long internship at the 3 star Michelin Restaurant Maaemo under Chef Esben Holmboe Bang. “This proved to be incredibly inspiring as I could see a different culture of food, that being Nordic cuisine, as well as the discipline involved in working in a rigorous environment such as this,” says John.
When asked what his passion and vision for the cooking industry is, he says, “I love the fact that the industry is constantly evolving – especially at a fine dining level. There is always a chef somewhere in the world doing something unique and special at any given time. This keeps everyone on their toes and keeps everyone pushing the boundaries and making new discoveries in the cooking world. It’s incredibly exciting! The world of food is so dynamic. I hope to never lose sight of how important and refreshing it is to keep discovering new foods, trends, flavours, cultures, techniques, and thereby inspiring creativity!”
And while he has an appreciation for the classics and the fundamentals of cooking, John says, “My vision for the future is to never stop learning and discovering, without ever losing the importance of flavour.”
La Petite Colombe is currently holding a Winter Lunch Special for R395 per person for 4 courses. Valid from 9 April until 31 August 2018 during weekdays only and excluding public holidays. For more information, visit www.lapetitecolombe.com/book-online or phone (021) 202-3395.
