World-class chefs lead The Fig Tree to culinary excellence

If you have ever had the pleasure of dining at The Fig Tree Restaurant, you can attest to the care taken by its world-class kitchen staff.

The restaurant at Simbithi Country Club is led by executive chefs Godfrey Kinyanjui and Lodewyk Lesch whose personal touches ensure consistent excellence.

Known affectionately as Chef G and Chef Louis respectively, the duo has taken different paths to The Fig Tree but share an outlook that food has the ability to bring people together.

It is no surprise then that the restaurant has become a central meeting place for residents of Simbithi and beyond.

Cooking has been a lifelong pursuit for Chef G, who first got started by helping his mother prepare food in his native Kenya.

He moved to Durban after finishing his studies and has been at The Fig Tree since 2010, perhaps best known for his signature Kuku Bizari Ya Pwani – a hugely popular Kenyan chicken curry.

Chef G also oversees the famous weekly curry buffet and has become a favourite of the regulars who cannot help but return again and again.

He has cooked for heads of state and more recently for Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, but never changes in his approach to delivering the best meal possible.

“As long as my cooking ignites feelings of satisfaction and intrigue in those who enjoy it, then my job is done. After all, it is all about people,” said Kinyanjui.

For Chef Louis, food is as much an artform as it is function.

Formerly the head chef at Carnival City, Chef Louis has cooked personalised dishes for Oprah Winfrey and other stars, but truly found his home at The Fig Tree in 2019.

“Thomas Keller once said: A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring the soul to the recipe. Those words hold true for me and I always try to add personality to a dish,” said Lesch.

To help him in his mission, he always tries to source the best quality non-GMO and organic produce and has implemented a farm-to-fork approach in the kitchen.

He has become known for his popular food and wine pairing evenings which allow for culinary creativity, while his classes have taken many residents’ personal cooking to another level.

There is so much more to discover at The Fig Tree, including Monday Night Off, Wednesday Curry Night, Friday Night Live and a Sunday carvery, among others.

Regardless of the event, or the meal you indulge in, you can rest assured Chefs G and Louis have you covered.

Visit simbithi.com/the-country-club to find out more.

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