Taste South African Traditions At The Silo Hotel

The Silo Hotel in Cape Town is the latest addition to The Royal Portfolio luxury hotel collection and its Executive Chef, Veronica Canha-Hibbert, brings true South African culinary traditions to guests. Chef Veronica and her team believe in an honest approach to food that showcases seasonal ingredients and utilizes local farms for the hotel's recipes.

The hotel's restaurant, The Granary Cafe, offers a Sunday Roast lunch every week, as well as Afternoon Tea. Since Sunday lunch is an age-old tradition in many South African households, guests can really immerse in the traditional offerings at The Silo. Better yet, all meals are served family-style at the table to make for a relaxed dining experience. 

"At The Silo, we wanted to create a Sunday Lunch experience that was far more than a simple carvery, yet not a stiff or formal meal – a place where guests could relax and enjoy the setting and company of loved ones," says Chef Veronica. "All the produce is locally sourced from suppliers who we feel are as passionate about food as we are."

For example, the restaurant uses Glen Oaks wieners for the roast pork, Charma Beef Rump for Rare Beef and Elgin Free Range Baby Chickens for the main course, all served with traditional Yorkshire puddings and an assortment of vegetables from Mason farms in Stellenbosch. 

To tie in the family style traditions, the hotel's Executive Sous Chef Ziyaad Brown has designed a Cape Malay dinner based off of his family's own recipes, which the restaurant serves to many of its in-house guests and has become a staple on the menu.  Chef Veronica says, " in the savory selection, we serve Beef Babotie Empanadas. The filling is an aromatic curried-mince with almonds and raisins, based on the traditional Cape Malay dish."

For an afternoon pick-me-up, guests can indulge in the Royal Tea menu prepared by the restaurant's pastry chef Devin Jones' selection of petit gateaux and exquisite teatime treats, as well as a selection of savory delights exclusive to this tea experience. 

Aside from the delicious food, guests staying at The Silo can expect outstanding service, comfortable luxury suites, waterfront views and the perfect location within Cape Town. It's truly a magical hotel that is a must-visit for any travelers (especially foodies) heading to South Africa.