WIN a Victorinox Pastry Serrated Knife valued at R768

closely with your community. The second step relates to training your staff and collaborating with a team to create something that delights guests consistently.

How do you address food waste as a means to decrease overheads?

One way to decrease wastages is to create recipes in such a way that you use all aspects of your ingredients. There are many creative ways to use ingredients.

Signal restaurant offers a “taste of the veld” dining experience with a menu inspired by the indigenous fynbos. How did this culinary inspiration transpire?

Taste the veld developed out of a desire to focus on flavours found all around us and a desire to create something exceptional with familiar flavours. To draw on nostalgia and something that locals would recognise, while at the same time giving it a Cape Grace twist of elegance.

This menu was put together to take us back to our childhoods, to what we grew up with; to be outdoors, to run carelessly in the veld. Many locals can relate to the memory of falling into a thorn bush and having a grandparent apply some of the plant’s sap to soothe the pain. Our stories lie in the little things that are often overlooked by others. This menu is meant to reflect those memories while at the same time paying homage to all that makes Cape Town special.

To create the menu we had to stop and think: What does Cape Town look like? Who are the people who live here and what kind of food do they grow up eating? What kind of food did our team grow up with? By using indigenous flavours, inspired by local cuisine and local vegetation, our team has created something truly unique and special to us.

What food and beverage trends do you follow and how do you incorporate them into your menus?

I am greatly inspired by local and current fashion trends. Natural and bright colours are seen throughout my recipes. I am always looking at what the latest fashion trends are and what is to come in the world of fashion. Again it is all about selfexpression and letting that self-expression lead the way. In the same way I am really intrigued by the work of graffiti artist and local break-dancers. Looking at how they express themselves. The trick is how to bring that fashion, self-expression, art and frankly joy into the kitchen.

What chefs do you follow on social media and why?

There are many celebrity chefs on social media but truth be told I am inspired by amateurs cooks and home chefs on social media. I like to follow what the local food trucks are doing. Food truck culture in Cape Town is very interesting because they are often people who represent their communities and the food found in those communities.