.....over Bruce Robertson
| Update: Bruce Robertson is inmiddels werkzaam voor Warwick Wine Estate in Stellenbosch en Showroom Cafe in Kaapstad. The Showroom bestaat niet meer. |
| Bruce Robertson From all corners of the globe; Cape to Cairo by thumb, Vancouver to New York on a ‘little’ bus, and London to Rome by bicycle: there are no boundaries, there are no words such as ‘I can’t,’ he just does it! Chef Bruce, or more commonly known in the African circle as “the afro – gastronaut”, in his uniquely short time as a professional chef has broken all boundaries; studied as a graphic artist, worked as a top advertising art director and now plays as a pro cook! The whirlwind spiral toward his highly acclaimed ‘theshowroom’ restaurant has roots as an apprentice at the London Ritz under sir Giles Thompson, the Lanesbourgh on Hyde Park, Oxo fine dining on the Thames, Petrus with Gordon & Marcus and finally a senior chef with Anton Mossiman in Belgravia. Africa called: head chef at ‘Singita Boulders’ ,the award winning Cape Grace hotel as executive head chef. He opened the award winning restaurant ‘one. waterfront’ with immediate recognition as the front runner of modern/graphic South African cuisine… “Chef of the Year 2004 ”- Wine Magazine Awards, The Business Day “Restaurant of the Year” 2004 ”SA’s Best Chef 2004” Hotel & Restaurant, Eat Out - Award “Top 10 Restaurant SA” 2003-2008 Conde Nast-Top 100’Hot Spots’ International 2007-2008. how young is he? this side of a midlife crisis (it’s a good thing bloomsbury is next door)! where on earth (or mars) does he come from? south african, ex- johannesburg to get where he is today graphic design – natal technikon thames valley university the ritz hotel, london – commis chef under giles thompson the lanesborough hotel, london pétrus, london (michelin star restaurant under marcus wareing) the belfry (under anton mosimann) the journey art director of bsb bates and hunt lascaris advertising agencies head chef, singita boulders lodge river bend country lodge – consultant chef executive chef – cape grace hotel (one.waterfront & bascule) too sexy for my shirt first candidate for johnnie walker “walk the talk award” 2006 wine magazine chef of the year 2005 business day restaurant of the year 2005 (one.waterfront) top 10 eat out awards 2004 (one.waterfront) travel & leisure – placed second in top hotel restaurant category africa & middle east 2003 invited to cook at the prestigious james beard house in new york (james beard is recognized as the father of american gastronomy) stuff he does when he’s not working (translate: stuff he loves to do, but never does. besides the spritzers, that is) kite surfing, rock-climbing, waterskiing, skydiving, traveling, reading & spritzers!! what he drives when he’s not driving the kitchen staff? topless golf Brucisms: “ cooking a dish is never entirely new; it’s just how you put it together.” i’m a little bit of a sucker for the classics – start with them and everything else will fall into place.” “ i really get a kick out of the visual thing – after all, you eat with your eyes first.” “just like life is too short to drink bad wine, life is too short to surround yourself with negative people.” “ you can have the best food in the world, but without good service, it’s worthless.” “when there’s a gap, take a chance, but never compromise standards” |
