ELLERMAN HOUSE WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF, GRANT DANIELS

At Ellerman House extraordinary attention to detail has always epitomised the dining experience, which is why the appointment of a new Executive Chef was a serious decision. The team is delighted to have awarded the position to Grant Daniels, who has the creativity, finesse, leadership and experience – over 15 years in top Cape kitchens – to take Ellerman House’s gourmet offering to even greater heights. ‘What you put in is what you get out,’ is the motto of Grant Daniels, who has already spent three years in the Ellerman House kitchen in the role of Executive Sous Chef.

His style is classically inspired with modern South African influences and more than a nod to his Cape Malay roots. Growing up on the Cape Flats, just outside Cape Town, Grant’s passion for cooking was sparked by spending time in the kitchen with his mother while she prepared traditional Cape Malay dishes for Sunday lunch. These were usually big family affairs, with everyone offering a helping hand. One of his favourite dishes is Malay braised lamb shoulder, which finds its way onto the Ellerman House menu in winter along with venison and curries.

After school, Grant started working as a junior baker in a small bakery in Cape Town where he was soon promoted to ‘second in charge’. He went on to work at a couple of restaurants, including Catharina’s at Steenberg Farm, before landing a job at Bizerca in 2008 where he worked as the Senior Sous Chef for five and a half years. Grant came to Ellerman House in October 2013 as the Executive Sous Chef and was soon an integral part of the team.

“We are extremely proud of Grant and very excited to take Ellerman House’s culinary offerings to new heights with his leadership and experience. He has proven himself time and time again and we welcome him as our new Executive Chef,” commented Paul Harris, owner of Ellerman House. 

“Stick to the classics and you can’t go wrong,” says Grant, who aims to create wholesome comfort food influenced by his traditional French training, while bringing in his Cape Malay heritage and a wealth of South African flavours.

Dining styles will harmonise with the variety of settings at Ellerman House, including the Wine Gallery, the Dining Room and the beautiful indigenous gardens where guests can enjoy dining on one of the many terraces overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Lunches will consist of alfresco dining options and dinner will always be a menu of seasonal delights focusing on local provenance alongside a menu du jour.

Ellerman House looks forward to this delicious new culinary direction with Grant heading up the team in the kitchen. Guests are encouraged to treat the hotel like their home and are free to chat to the Chef or request a dish that’s not on the menu. 

The restaurant at Ellerman House is so much more than a hotel dining room. “It’s a fully fledged restaurant experience in an exclusive, family owned hotel setting,” explains Grant.

Ellerman House, ellerman.co.za