Talented, young Cape Town chef, John Norris-Rogers, is the Head Chef at one of La Colombe’s latest restaurant ventures which opened August 2017 in Franschhoek – La Petite Colombe.
Chef John Norris-Rogers
A
90’s child, born in Pretoria, and having lived in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal,
John Norris-Rogers decided to make Cape Town his home after he completed school
and chose to study at the International Hotel School. It wasn’t long before he
realized that he wanted to focus more on a specific style of cooking, so he
applied to study at the Silwood School of Cookery, graduating after
completing a coveted year-long internship at the award-winning La
Colombe, under the mentorship of chefs Scot Kirton and James Gaag.
John
continued to hone his skills at La Colombe after completing his studies, and
then left to explore the food world at Source Food Concepts. He also had
a stint as a private chef at a ski resort in the French Alps, before returning
to La Colombe as Sous Chef alongside current Executive Chef, James Gaag, in May
2016.
In
April 2017, John was fortunate enough to travel to Oslo, Norway to take part in
a month long internship at the 3 star Michelin Restaurant Maaemo under
Chef Esben Holmboe Bang. “This proved to be incredibly inspiring as I could see
a different culture of food, that being Nordic cuisine, as well as the
discipline involved in working in a rigorous environment such as this,” says
John.
For
as long as he can remember, he wanted to be a chef, and he has always been
drawn to cooking and the industry. Despite being warned by many about the
exhausting hours, incredibly hard work and self-sacrifice involved, he pursued
his dream with the support of his family. To ensure he knew what he was letting
himself in for, John spent many school holidays in kitchens trying to gain as
much of an idea of the industry as he could, learning as much as his eyes and
ears could take in. “I think it was at this point that I knew it was most
certainly what I wanted to do. This is the one decision in my life I was most
sure of!” comments John.
Having
been fortunate enough to work under La Colombe chefs Scot Kirton and James
Gaag, has afforded John the opportunity to work at the very top of the
industry. He believes that there is something incredibly special about creating
something beautiful, or expressing oneself through food. “Seeing guests,
friends and family enjoy the fruits of your labour is very satisfying. Putting
all your effort into the food you are preparing, and taking pride in what you
serve is something that drives me,” comments John.
La Petite Colombe, Franschhoek
When
asked what his passion and vision for the cooking industry is, he says, “I love
the fact that the industry is constantly evolving – especially at a fine dining
level. There is always a chef somewhere in the world doing something unique and
special at any given time. This keeps everyone on their toes and keeps everyone
pushing the boundaries and making new discoveries in the cooking world. It’s incredibly
exciting! The world of food is so dynamic. I hope to never lose sight of how
important and refreshing it is to keep discovering new foods, trends, flavours,
cultures, techniques, and thereby inspiring creativity!”
Norris-Rogers
admits that he also has a great appreciation for the classics and going back to
what he learnt as the fundamentals of cooking. A believer in great produce, he
loves coming across a food item that is of the most superior quality, and he
loves the fact that many suppliers take as much pride in their produce as chefs
do in their food.
In
closing, John says, “My vision for the future is to never stop learning and
discovering, without ever losing the importance of flavour.”
Eat Out John Psillos
Outstanding Contribution to Service Award (Morné Wessels)
Condé Nast Hotel & Garden
Gourmet Awards – Best Hotel Restaurant
FRANSCHHOEK IS OPEN!
Our Main Road village entrance is now clear, and the majority of our beloved wine estates, restaurants, and shops are flinging their doors open with open arms to welcome you! If you need to get in touch, please email us at office@franschhoek.org.za, or call us on +27(0) 66 224 6360.
Our dedicated disaster management teams are working hard to restore our beautiful valley to its former glory, and the outpouring of support from our community has been nothing short of awe-inspiring!
Please note that The Franschhoek Wine Tram is currently offering an Original Brill Tram Experience, which departs from the Franschhoek Terminal, and visits a group of Franschhoek wine estates, as well their Navy and Orange lines, which depart from the Groot Drakenstein Terminal.
If you’re looking to lend a hand, why not consider making a donation to FRANCO? They’re currently providing assistance to 87 individuals who have been displaced, including 55 adults and 32 children. Your support, big or small, will make a world of difference!
*Please also note that the Franschhoek Pass remains closed until further notice.
