Palates And Paintbrushes
Food & Home Entertaining|June 2019

Cape Town’s Norval Foundation celebrates contemporary South African art – and The Skotnes Restaurant within its precinct pays the same homage in its meticulously curated menu. This is where canvas, cuisine and cultural heritage intersect – deliciously!

Richard Holmes
Palates And Paintbrushes

“The tattoo?” asks Phil de Villiers, when I comment on the inky outline of a pig adorning his right arm. “I guess you could say it’s a homage to my love of food, my love of meat.”

And Phil is certainly a man who loves food, talking passionately about everything from foraging to fermentation as we discuss his latest role as executive chef of The Skotnes Restaurant at the Norval Foundation. Here, in Cape Town’s Constantia Winelands, he oversees a kitchen that’s helping to entrench this leafy corner on the city’s gourmet map.

Phil first buttoned up his chef’s whites at the respected Prue Leith Chef’s Academy in Centurion, Gauteng. That formal training catapulted him into the world of high-end hotels, with stints at the likes of Ten Bompas Hotel, Montecasino and 54 on Bath.

But the siren song of the Cape called and in October 2016, he and his wife packed up and moved to the Mother City, where Phil oversaw the opening of Primal Eatery, a stylish, flame-focused restaurant in the City Bowl. Within months, it was ranked among Cape Town’s best steakhouses.

While Primal Eatery had no shortage of devoted diners, Phil – with years of experience in bustling hotels – found himself searching for something a little busier; something to keep him on his toes. Opportunity came knocking in the shape of the Norval Foundation.

Over a six-month period – October 2017 to April 2018 – he was hard at work conceptualising the restaurant, planning the kitchen, recruiting staff and developing the menus. “I love opening new restaurants,” he smiles. “I like the chaos beforehand, putting the systems in place and then being able to look back and see how it’s all settled in and running smoothly.”

Denne historien er fra June 2019-utgaven av Food & Home Entertaining.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra June 2019-utgaven av Food & Home Entertaining.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA FOOD & HOME ENTERTAININGSe alt
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