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Chef Patel Reigns at Fairmont Zimbali Lodge

Chef Patel Reigns at Fairmont Zimbali Lodge

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2013-11-29
When it comes to fine dining venues in South Africa there are very few which can stand up to Thandi Restaurant at Fairmont Zimbali Lodge. With their recent acquisition of Chef Peer Patel, Thandi Restaurant has elevated its status to gastronomic phenomena, an experience that should be placed on everyone's bucket list of places to eat in ones lifetime.

Chef Peer Patel hails from Bombay and, since he was a young boy, has been mastering the art of fine North Indian cuisine under the mentorship of his culinary master, Yaar Mohammed. But his real motivation comes from much closer to home.

"It was my mother who inspired me to take my love of food to another level." Chef Patel told The Bugle, "As a child I loved my mother's cooking and spent a lot of time in her kitchen, she let me taste and showed me how to prepare the dishes. She use to say to me, 'If you become a chef, you will be eating good food all the time.' And that is what started me on my culinary journey."

Since arriving at Thandi Restaurant, Chef Patel has transformed the eating experience with the acquisition of Tandoori ovens and the introduction of authentic North Indian spices and ingredients. With dishes such as Aloo Matar Gobi, which is potato, cauliflower and peas cooked in yellow pea gravy and his Butter Chicken, which is chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices and prepared in a tomato based gravy, you will be spoilt for choice by his menu. Chef Patel has received two national awards for his Butter Chicken and is still considered one of the top experts of Butter Chicken preparation.

"The style of my cooking is wholesome and honest. I am not trying to prove something with my dishes, I want my diners to come and taste the real Lamb Rogan Josh in its full glory of all the Kashmiri spices." Chef Patel tells The Bugle, " When you dine at Thandi Restaurant you will be served dishes that are true to their origins and my Jingha Prawn Curry will be cooked to perfection and will taste of the tomato, onion, coconut and tamarind."

Whether you're in the mood for a spicy, wholesome vegetarian treat or a tasteful hearty meat curry, the menu has something special for everyone. And for those who cannot make up their minds there is the Tali option of a traditional tray of assorted curries and Indian accompaniments.

Thandi Restaurant also offers an all day menu of traditional Western dishes and then there is the exceptional Monday Curry Buffet. To book your table call 032 538 5000.