Mono-minded
Food & Home Entertaining|April 2020
Young blood in the kitchen of Franschhoek stalwart Monneaux has reanimated the menu… and it’s drawing quite a crowd
RICHARD HOLMES
Mono-minded

Monneaux Restaurant in the Franschhoek Wine Valley certainly has no shortage of history. Over the past two decades it’s been ranked among the best restaurants in the country, and seen the likes of Richard Carstens and Reuben Riffel head up the pass. But in the past few years, it has quietly slipped off the region’s culinary radar; popular with guests at the adjoining Franschhoek Country House & Villas, but often overlooked by hungry patrons in search of dinner. That’s all changed now, with an injection of new energy in the shape of Calvin Metior, who took over as executive chef in November 2019.

There’s a quiet intensity about Calvin, a man who takes his craft seriously and speaks about each dish with unbridled passion. Need further proof? His arms are inked with his favourite ingredients, from a butcher’s cut chart to carrots, mushrooms and a globe artichoke. “It’s one of my favourite vegetables,” he explains and, pointing at his left elbow with a grin, adds: “There’s an octopus coming soon.”

Born and raised in Durban, Calvin studied at the city’s International Hotel School, working a three-year internship at Quarters Hotel on Durban’s Florida Road. Upon graduating, he relocated to London, where his first role was in the kitchens of Hix Oyster & Chop House, close to the city’s historic Smithfield Market.

Mark Hix is one of Britain’s most celebrated chefs and restaurateurs, and would become a major influence on Calvin’s cooking. “That’s where it started – my love for what you put on a plate, for simplicity,” Calvin shares. “Mark’s whole concept is to have no more than three ingredients on a plate. Only locally sourced, only British, only of the season. Working for him really brought me into the world of loving produce.”

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2020 من Food & Home Entertaining.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2020 من Food & Home Entertaining.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من FOOD & HOME ENTERTAINING مشاهدة الكل
Country harm
Food & Home Entertaining

Country harm

Country kitchens are a well-loved style that many daydream about. Whether rustic or modern, here are some of the core qualities of a country style that soeaks a thousand memories and enviable kitchen snaps

time-read
2 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Your home Composting Guide
Food & Home Entertaining

Your home Composting Guide

Making your own compost will benefit your garden and waste management at home. It could also be a fun learning experience for your family. Here, you get to learn the ins and outs of composting at home

time-read
5 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Heavenly HOT CROSS BUNS
Food & Home Entertaining

Heavenly HOT CROSS BUNS

It's a trusty traditional favourite this time of the year, and now you can make your own!

time-read
1 min  |
Autumn 2023
Stock up!
Food & Home Entertaining

Stock up!

While store-bought stock is great in its convenience, nothing beats the authentic flavours of home-made stock

time-read
2 mins  |
Autumn 2023
hop hop Hooray
Food & Home Entertaining

hop hop Hooray

Get your little ones excited for Easter with these cute and tasty cookies

time-read
1 min  |
Autumn 2023
Fun & games
Food & Home Entertaining

Fun & games

Finding new and exciting things to do as a family where the kids are genuinely entertained, can sometimes be a tricky situation. But fret no more as we've got you covered with activities that everyone will enjoy

time-read
2 mins  |
Autumn 2023
THE Liquid gold Rush
Food & Home Entertaining

THE Liquid gold Rush

Rare and exclusive bottles of whisky and tequila, worth hundreds of thousands, sit unopened as collector's items. Meet Reinhardt Paulsen, the man behind Urban Spirits and a purveyor of sought-after spirits from across the globe

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Iconic pairings with a twist
Food & Home Entertaining

Iconic pairings with a twist

' Looking to upgrade dinner plans, host with ease, and enjoy new spins on the classics? Here are five unique wine _ pairings you simply have to try out!

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Reap the rewards
Food & Home Entertaining

Reap the rewards

Start tending to your autumn veggie gardens to make these warm and hearty meals perfect for the colder weather!

time-read
6 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Liquid gold
Food & Home Entertaining

Liquid gold

What makes RIO LARGO's olive oil as renowned and precious as it is? Edwain Steenkamp visits the spectacular farm to find out

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2023