Profile: Alma Restaurant’s Chef Tyler Clayton
The brand-new Alma Restaurant’s Chef Tyler Clayton was born and raised in Joburg and says he’s always been a bit of a foodie. But, it was only after school that he’d realised he wanted to work in the industry. “Before beginning at Alma, I spent a large part of my career with the Marble Hospitality Group,” he says, “running multiple kitchens.”
Alma Restaurant opened its doors on 12 December 2024, making it one of Joburg’s latest foodie offerings. This afforded them some time to iron out all the small details before everyone returned for the new year.
Chef Tyler’s involvement in the opening of the new restaurant was all things kitchen from the start. “From the design of the kitchen, the menu, staff training… I put in as much effort as possible to make it a success.” And, from what we’ve seen, it’s a success already! (You can read the full review in our Summer’s End edition).
The Inspiration Behind Alma Restaurant
The whole idea behind Alma is “to have people from all walks of life coming into the restaurant and creating connections with each other which would not have happened in any other circumstance,” Chef Tyler says. Lara Nasser, one of the restaurant’s founders, adds: “We believe that food is so much more than just a necessity. Food allows us to connect, to celebrate and to come together. It’s about creating memories and building bonds. Our small tables, communal bar and sharing-style starters are designed to bring people closer. Whether you’re with family, friends or new faces, we want you to feel the warmth of connection around every dish.”
About the Menu
Each of Alma’s menu options has been carefully thought through and a lot of time and effort have been put into making every dish special within its own right. Chef Tyler says choosing a favourite dish is like choosing between one’s children, but when it comes to cuisine, he is quite fond of Asian food, ranging from Indian to Japanese.
Alma is all about flame cooking. It’s special in the sense that it takes a certain level of skill to execute. “Fire cooking is also something that we as South Africans do most weekends, so we are also allowing our guests to have that experience any day of the week,” says Chef Tyler. The Hibachi grill is the one thing that brings a lot of joy into his life, though. “It definitely imparts the smokiest flavour into the ingredients, which I absolutely love.”
Chef Tyler Clayton's Recommendation
His recommendation for your first time dining at Alma includes the Aubergine, as it has a beautiful combination of flavours. For mains, he would suggest the fillet. “The star of the dish, for me, is the roasted cabbage, which is an ingredient you don’t often see in a restaurant. It’s so under-appreciated.” Finally, he loves their chocolate mousse – a great option for first-time diners at Alma.
While social media makes keeping up with the trends a difficult task, Chef Tyler says there is one thing that never goes out of fashion and that is good quality and consistency. Ultimately, that is what the team at Alma prides themselves on, and we can certainly attest to that.
