In memoriam Frank Zlomke
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Frank Zlomke, Grand Chef van restaurant Bosman's/Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl is zondag 22 Februari 2009 overleden aan de gevolgen van kanker.
Frank was een bijzonder gerespecteerd en getalenteerd chef die vele gasten van Exclusive Culitravel de mooiste gerechten heeft voorgeschoteld en die door zijn bescheidenheid tijdens onze vele ontmoetingen grote indruk heeft gemaakt. Ik wens zijn naaste familie en de collegae bij Grande Roche veel sterkte met het verwerken van dit verlies. Jos van Krimpen, Amsterdam, 27-02-2009  Friday, February 27, 2009 One of South Africa's award-winning chefs, Frank Zlomke of the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl, died on February 22, 2009 after a long battle with cancer. German-born Zlomke, 46, joined the hotel in 1992 when it first opened, rising through the ranks from chef de partie, sous chef to executive chef in 1995. His reputation for culinary excellence became inextricably intertwined with that of Bosman's Restaurant, when he was named Grand Chef by Relais & Chateaux in 1995 - the only one on the African continent - it was then designated a Relais Gourmands establishment. "With the flair that became his personal hallmark, he introduced themed gourmet dinners, incorporating the enjoyment of music, wine and cigars," said Garnet Basson, general manager of Grande Roche. "Another innovation was his tasting menus comprising eight to twelve courses that reflected his personal preference for vegetarian food and his individual interpretation of the diversity of regional cuisine. In his quiet, unassuming way, he spearheaded the projection of Bosman's Restaurant onto the international scene by winning a steady stream of awards." These included, among others, South Africa's best Chaîne Restaurant for 1996, the American Express Platinum Fine Dining Restaurant Award ten times, the Business Day Restaurant of the Year Award five times - and attaining more than ten ratings in various local and international publications as one of the Top Ten Restaurants of South Africa and in the world. In 1999 he was recognized with a 'full award' from the world's oldest gastronomic society, the International Wine and Food Society. It was the first of two awards since the inception of the society in Cape Town in 1947. Zlomke was inducted as Maître Rôtisseur into the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in 2000. Zlomke stayed in touch with global trends by taking up regular invitations to be guest chef at prestigious culinary events overseas and to participate in gourmet festivals and charity banquets at international venues or on luxury cruise liners. In 2003, Frank Zlomke was the first chef from a South African hotel to be chosen as a Star Chef for Lufthansa Airlines when his specially-designed menu was served to First and Business Class passengers in November and December 2003. By popular demand this was repeated for January and February 2004. Lufthansa's Star Chefs also presented Frank with a certificate for outstanding performance in creating and designing their First and Business Class menus. In May 2006 Frank was chosen to represent South Africa as a guest chef at Ikarus restaurant in Austria's Hangar-7, and to present a guest menu for the restaurant for a month. He also represented the continent of Africa at the OLYMP CULINARIC in Austria in 2007. "He not only made his mark on the hotel, but all over the world," said Garnet Basson, general manager of the Grande Roche Hotel. "He will be remembered for his calm approach to life, his passion for his work and his dedication to his family and he will be deeply missed by all his colleagues at Grande Roche." He leaves his wife Fahema and their two sons - Azar 11, and Keanu, 7. |
