PRESS RELEASE: 18 MAY 2010: Premier Hotels Announce new Exec Chef at Mpongo Private Game Reserve
Apart from work for Southern Sun and Shamwari Game Reserve, the experienced Mdantsane-born chef comes to Mpongo from the Shamwari Townhouse in Port Elizabeth where he was chef de partie and will be a significant asset to the reserve.
“We are delighted to have appointed a chef of Sindile’s caliber and is an asset to our foundation of professionals in the hospitality industry,” says Premier Hotels’ CEO Samuel Nassimov.
Sindile has also appeared on SABC 2 & 3’s The Chef in the Kitchen and has created secret sauces for both Squires Grill and The Cape Fish Market.
Set on rolling hills and deep valley bushveld along the historic Umpongo River, the malaria-free 3200 ha Mpongo Private Game Reserve is the closest wildlife experience to South Africa’s coastal city of East London (only 35km away) which presents the opportunity for travelers to enjoy a beach and bush experience in close proximity.
Along with a restaurant and three luxury lodges, Mpongo also provides exclusive conference facilities making for a tranquil environment for meetings and bush conferences.
“I’m looking forward to bringing an elegant twist to classic South African and international dishes,” says Sindile who grew up making breakfast for his family before going to school each morning. “I’m one of those chefs who enjoys cooking for family and friends – this and soccer are part of my life!”
Guests at Mpongo can expect some of Sindile’s classics, including Pear Elé (cooled poached pear with blueberry and castor sugar and avocado ice-cream) and Ostrich Medallions, with port and cranberry sauce, served with diced butternut and beetroot.
Home to the Big 4 of free-ranging elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard along with a lion camp, as well as giraffe, monkeys, zebra, brown hyena, hippo and numerous grassland species of antelope, Mpongo Private Game Reserve is owned & managed by the Premier Hotel & Resorts group who have a collection of hotels in the Western Cape, KZN, Gauteng and Eastern Cape including the new East London International Convention Centre.
