Get ready to be blown away by new flavours. The Sun Maslow's restaurant, Lacuna Bistro, has unveiled a new menu ready to satisfy any foodie this Summer.
The restaurant launched the new menu on Tuesday, 30 September, at the luxurious Maslow hotel in Sandton. The event was held poolside at the restaurant, offering unmatched views while guests enjoyed sampling the amazing dishes.
The chef behind the menu, Executive Sous Chef Thokozane Shongwe, took time to share the inspiration behind the dishes.
Thokozani says apart from South Africa’s rich culinary heritage, the new menu was also inspired by Sandton’s cosmopolitan energy.
"The menu was motivated and inspired by looking at the space where Sandton is located and the multicultural fusion of the people that frequent our space," he told Time Out Johannesburg.
“These touches anchor the menu in South African identity while elevating it to suit a cosmopolitan, business-focused clientele,” says Food & Beverage Manager Ofentse Morake. “If we had to capture it in one phrase, it’s 'Mediterranean with a twist' – refined yet accessible.”
What's on the plate?
For starters, the restaurant unveiled the Maslow Avocado Ritz. The dish is a win for anyone who loves avocado and prawns. What elevated the creation was the amazing new sauce the chefs have created in-house.
The new menu also features a variety of salads. The Cobb salad - which has bacon, eggs, avocado, and cherry tomatoes, and the Caesar salad - which has lettuce and poached eggs, were both winners.
The main dishes of the new menu combine local flavours with a touch of international influence. The menu has cauliflower steak, pan-roasted salmon, and hot honey pork tomahawk. The chicken puttanesca is a lovely addition. It is a chicken breast paired with silky tomato risotto. The burnt lemon gives it a kick.
The new menu also features a variety of salads. The Cobb salad - which has bacon, eggs, avocado, and cherry tomatoes, and the Caesar salad - which has lettuce and poached eggs, were both winners.
The main dishes of the new menu combine local flavours with a touch of international influence. The menu has cauliflower steak, pan-roasted salmon, and hot honey pork tomahawk. The chicken puttanesca is a lovely addition. It is a chicken breast paired with silky tomato risotto. The burnt lemon gives it a kick.
Those who love hot food will enjoy the chilli oil noodles, while the Maslow beef lasagna brings a level of homely vibes to the menu. The overnight-braised short rib gives it a mouth-watering taste.
One of the interesting items on the menu was the pap fritters. This is maize-meal made in a modern way.
The new menu appeals to both meat lovers and vegetarians.
The new menu features two dessert types - SA's favourite traditional milk tart and chocolate opera cake, both of which taste divine. The cake is served with fresh berries.
What's exciting is that the restaurant is always looking for new ways to keep its signature dishes while ensuring customers never run out of new flavours to try.
"In the next six months, we will launch a new menu going into Winter," announced Thokozani.
He explains that for this year's Summer menu, he and his team focused on infusing traditional foods with Mediterranean cuisine.
"As you've tasted, we had pap (Maize meal) prepared in a modern way. So we looked at who our customers are, what the traditional culture of the restaurant is - which is Mediterranean cuisine, and infused them both. And on that, we perfected the recipes.
"Fortunately, myself and the F&B manager, Offenser, had an idea of what it is that we want to do. So it was just selecting those couple of dishes and working on them till the flavour profiles were elevated and achieved."
The chef says the three words that best describe this new summer menu are vibrant, stylish, and tasty.
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