Mondiall Kitchen & Bar in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is embarking on an exciting new journey with the appointment of internationally experienced Executive Chef Riaan Burger. Chef Riaan is set to take the cuisine to a new level, while remaining true to the success formula of offering a signature brasserie-style dining experience and refined comfort food. His appointment as Executive Chef coincides with Peter Tempelhoff’s departure from Mondiall, who will be taking on larger challenges at The Collection by Liz McGrath, following her recent passing. Experienced restaurateur Patrick Symington will continue to run Mondiall as a solo venture, building on the 15-month old restaurant’s success as one of the Waterfront’s most popular dining destinations.
Riaan Burger (32) was born and raised in Johannesburg. Following a four-year apprenticeship programme at the Protea Hotel Wanderers and African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel in Johannesburg, from which he graduated top of his class in 2005, he went on to further his education with a City & Guilds Culinary Arts diploma through Protea Hotels. In 2006 he joined the Westcliff in Johannesburg as Junior Sous Chef, before travelling the world to gain international experience with Crystal Cruises. Back on solid ground two years later the young chef fell in love with the Western Cape and joined Arabella Hotel and Spa in Hermanus, where he was quickly promoted from Sous Chef to Executive Sous Chef. In 2010 Riaan joined the prestigious Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town, where he continued to hone his craft as Executive Sous Chef.
When a former employer invited Riaan to join Raffles Beijing as Executive Chef, he jumped at the opportunity to immerse himself in Asian cuisine and headed up the hotel’s three diverse dining establishments – a French fine dining restaurant, New York-style brasserie and a rustic Italian eatery. He stayed with Raffles for two years, before the Cape lured the ‘local boy’ back home and to Mondiall for the start of an exciting new chapter.
Chef Riaan looks forward to injecting Mondiall with a fresh dose of international flavour. He will launch a new menu in the autumn, keeping some of the restaurants beloved favourites, while also putting his own stamp on dishes, based on his international experience. Patrick Symington will work closely with the talented chef in creating captivating new menus. Riaan’s focus is on re-interpreting timeless classics in a contemporary manner, to create dishes that guests will want to come back for again and again: ‘My aim is to make Mondiall a household name and a local go-to restaurant where guests can expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere and exciting food of the highest quality, made with fresh, regional ingredients.’
Directions to Mondiall
18 Alfred Mall
V&A Waterfront
Cape Town
021 418 3003
