2018 started off with much excitement in the Londolozi Kitchen, with the anticipated move of the Chef Team from where we have all been cooking – some for 45 years – up to our very new kitchen.
Previously, the main kitchen sat behind Varty Camp, but in order to centralise as much of the behind-the-scenes-operations as possible, with the ultimate aim of massively reducing Londolozi’s carbon footprint, the new space was conceptualised and construction finally completed earlier this year.
The process of this build was a long yet exciting journey and the joy of it all is that the chefs have all been involved from the initial planning, the pouring of the first foundations to gathering for regular site meetings.
We’ve come a long way from when it was just an empty shell…
The kitchen team get a tour of the building site during construction.
Executive Sous Chef Eric Ubisi clearly excited about the new space to come!
Executive Chef Anna Ridgewell and Executive Sous Chef Eric Ubisi pour the first bit of concrete into the new kitchen’s foundations.
The new space slowly starts to take shape…
Anna and Sipho Ngomane receive the new kitchen keys from Londolozi’s Head of Technical Services and coordinator of the whole project, Chris Goodman.
One of the 2020 visions is that new systems for living can be created and we have managed to crack that with this new state-of-the-art kitchen. Gone are the days when the team is spread out between different buildings; gone are the days of having to chase monkeys out the kitchen every few hours!
A heavy emphasis has been placed on sustainability in the new kitchen, and Tupperwares have phased out single-use plastics like cling-film.
Bush Banqueting Chef Connie Mthabini and Executive chef Anna Ridgewell. Connie has worked as a chef at Londolozi for 25 years, and was one of the most excited of the team about the new space.
We have moved from a kitchen floor space of 450 square meters to a floor space of 530 square meters – bringing together all the magic to under one roof!
We have built a kitchen which uses minimal energy, is bright and light.
We have a new separate pastry section allowing Abigail and Nelsy to excel their pastry skills in a cool and professional environment.
We have a separate bakery where Brite has the space to knead out the many kilograms of ciabatta and rye breads as well as the thousands of cookies, crunchies and rusks that the guests love as part of their early morning coffee stops.
Bright Ngcube, baker extraordinaire.
We have an open space in the middle of our kitchen where the chefs become one and the chatter is continuous and the music still plays. There is an even bigger space for dancing!
We are now closer to our vegetable gardens, so the chefs can go up each morning and pick what they need for the dish of the day.
Sustainability is another huge part of our 2020 visions as well as what we believe from a Relais & Chateaux perspective, and within the Londolozi Kitchen we strive each day to ensure we are cooking according to high standards, most importantly by creating a space and a sense of wellbeing and allowing each chef to become the best versions of themselves.
The kitchen is amazing Anna! When we visited in September we had tour around the kitchen. It is stunning. The best if all were the beautiful cakes that just came out of the oven when we were there. That fresh baked smell. Divine.
Thank you Marinda – sorry not to see you on your last visit, but glad you saw the new kitchen and Kim’s stores too!
Wow! The staff & Anna produced extraordinary delights in limited space. Imagine what’s next!
Look forward to a tour in July!
Thanks Vin! So look forward to giving you the tour.
Anna, so excited for you and the staff on your new kitchen. The few pictures were but a taste of the whole competed space. perhaps we might see some more of this modern state of the art kitchen. In the meantime it must be very rewarding for you to be part of such an amazing place. Hope to see you this year in Sarasota when you visit. I was unable to make it last year but won’t miss it this year. When do you plan on coming back to Florida? Again congratulations on the new facilities. The quality of the food was already exemplary and the talents of you and the staff was beyond my expectations. Londolozi is constantly improving not only for the guests experience but also the way the staff is part of the family is heartwarming. Happy cooking.
Thank you Andrew & Daniel!
I will be back in Florida 2019 hopefully for another successful All Heart Dinner! I will see what other pictures i have and do a follow up on our instagram page with pleasure!
Anna, you and your team deserve a palace’s kitchen! Best wishes.
Congratulations to Chris (are you planning to offer the same one to Emma?).
Jacqueline
Merci Jacueline! Vous avez raison, je suis sûr qu’Emma serait plus heureuse avec une cuisine un peu plus grande – je suggérerai à Chris!
CONGRATULATIONS!! The pictures look beautiful. I wish all the cooks, bakers and sous chefs well in their new space.
Thanks Gemma!
The new kitchen seems pretty spectacular! Congratulations to Anna and her team – all the planning has paid off! Happy cooking!
Thank you Mary Beth!
It was a project in the making for some time, but we’ve now been operating for nearly a year in the new kitchen!
Fantastic! Hopefully one day I’ll get the chance to try the food that gets made in that kitchen!
Thanks Callum!
We look forward to giving you the tour and serving you the deliciousness!
Congratulations on the completion of an incredibly complicated project that will benefit one and all . . . well maybe not so much the monkeys.
Thank you Jeff!
Yes, the monkeys seem a little put out, however, we are not complaining!
As someone who loves to cook there is nothing more happy making than a brand new kitchen where everything thing exactly where it is where it makes your job easier. I have never had a kitchen with room to dance! What a great idea. Victoria
Thank you Victoria!
There is always time to dance whilst cooking! Look out for some fun instagram dancing shots coming up!
How exciting!
Thanks Judy!
Look forward to giving you the tour on your next visit!
Gorgeous kitchen Anna. Having experienced some of the best food I’ve ever had in Sabi Sand, I can only imagine what the new kitchen will do for the staff as it continues to expand. Absolutely loved the rusks that were in the glass canister in my room – almost addictive!!
Thanks Denise!
Next time you will have to come for a tour!
Well worth the time to see this. You will marvel at the thought that went into the design and the various staging areas. But the thing that amazed me most was Anna’s master board showing all the guests in each camp, their personal dietary preferences, specil requests, etc and the scheduling necessary to serve them all 7 times a day plus special occassions like bush breakfasts & lunches, Boma nights and even weddings, etc. Wow!!! Hats off to Anna and the entire team!