Mount Nelson's The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse now open
The Mount Nelson’s international prominence makes it one of the must-visit attractions in Cape Town. Now, even more so with the opening of The Red Room, a Pan-Asian restaurant by Chefs Warehouse.
About The Red Room
The restaurant, under the guidance of chefs Liam Tomlin and David Schneider, is poised to become a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. In addition, you get to indulge in the hotel’s lovely grounds and surrounds.
Here, you can enjoy the ceremony and high standards of old-world dining. The Red Room is an underground den so to say, where time and place are ambiguous. Walk through the set of red velvet curtains, down the lacquered staircase and take in the opulence of a low-lit, glimmering bar and a tangible buzz in the air. Then, beyond it you will find the dining room – fun and luxurious, bearing many of the original features of the Nellie’s iconic 70s Grill Room that went before it.
Who's at the steer?
Chefs de cuisine, Geoffrey Abrahams and Teenola Govender join chefs Liam Tomlin and David Schneider, who already have a devoted following, in this new venture. Both Geoffrey and Teenola have a wealth of experience, having worked in some of the Cape’s top restaurants. They will lead the restaurant’s vision going forward.
Chef Liam Tomlin says his travels to Asia resulted in a love affair with its cuisine, as well as a deeper understanding of the nuances of the region’s flavours and cultures. It’s his and chef David’s plan to offer guests an immersive restaurant and bar experience. “The menu will take guests on a curated journey through the East, honouring these cuisines with a unique dining experience in an iconic setting,” he says.
Headed by Chef David Schneider, The Red Room offers diners two curated moments. You can relax into a cosy deep-velvet booth with a tea-infused cocktail, or sake and sample any one of the flavour-packed small plates from the à la carte menu. This includes grilled scallops with Tom Yum foam and Kombu butter, or Korean BBQ pork steamed buns. Alternatively, sink into a corner of the lavish dining room to enjoy a four-course set menu to share. The Peking Duck is the star of the show, delivering the perfect crescendo to the meal. It is accompanied by Duck Consommé, dumplings and marinated tofu.
Finally, The Red Room brings together Belmond’s well-travelled, cosmopolitan guests and Chefs Warehouse’s discerning epicurean following. It offers an entirely novel dining experience that is in a class of its own. In fact, this is a new chapter for the much-loved Mount Nelson (or the Nellie, as many fondly refer to it). It heralds the evolution of the hotel’s gastronomic credentials, aligning with other exciting culinary developments.
P.S. In celebration of the opening of the restaurant, the Nellie (Cape Town’s Pink Lady) will be lit up in red this week. If you’re in Cape Town, be sure to check it out!
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