The gastronomic journey of two friends has taken them from a cooking school in Pretoria to the culinary academies and Michelin-star kitchens of Italy. On their days off, while drinking cheap Lambrusco, Tyeya Ngxola and Tim Stewart would talk about opening their own restaurant: the menu would be a map of South Africa, with dishes representing places that hold cherished memories or associations.
With La Petite Maison, they’ve done it, opening their little bistro and wine bar (it seats around 20 people) in Melville earlier this year.
‘Conveying a sense of place through food is all about telling a story,’ says Tim. ‘Often we’ll sit down and share a childhood memory or an interesting aspect of SA food culture. Sometimes it’s about the ingredient and where it’s found. We hope that this message is relayed when people eat here.’
When he makes the quail dish, for example, it takes him back to his grandfather’s farm in Rooigrond. There, the old man is stalking and hunting down the birds that feast on his precious mielies. On the plate, the pan-roasted quail and buttered mielies come together in harmony.
Tyeya’s South African take on risotto features Cape Malay spiced prawns and squid. ‘The dish comes from my heart. It reminds me of the time I spent in Italy learning to make it.’
Beyond the culinary techniques, the duo were also inspired in Italy by ‘the reverence for regional products and dishes. They form the basis of the Italian identity. You are what you eat. We wanted to take this idea of regionality and put our own spin on things.’
Diners at La Petite Maison map their own route through the menu, each course giving a few options of where to head next. ‘South Africa has such a broad spectrum of cultures and communities, and we like to give people the choice of where to go.’ The journey is not a fixed one – the map will change according to the season and new inspiration. Who knows where their appetites may take them next?
Address: 1 Seventh Street, Melville,
Contact: maisonmelville.co.za Tel: 010-593-7986
