The CPUT Hotel School in Granger Bay has just the right elements to really breathe new life into your function.
It’s unheard of that a venue on that stretch of coast in Cape Town can match all your expectations: a great view, great food and superior hospitality.
That’s exactly what they do there and it’s because the restaurant and adjacent conference facilities are managed by the university and is a live simulation space for the students.
The kitchen and the front of house are run by the hospitality students, who work on a roster so that each student gets an opportunity to work in the kitchen and in front-of-house.
Chef Tobey Toza and chef Samantha Linden are the instructors who mentor the students in the kitchen.
Linden said: “The kitchen is a subject and part of the food and beverage practical, so the learners spend four weeks in the kitchen and four weeks in the restaurant.”
Banish any thoughts that the service or the food is sub-standard because there is a team of students at the helm.
Quite the opposite - because the students are being graded, the service and food are often superior to restaurant quality because they need to impress their lecturers, their guests and get good grades.
Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency (ANA)
They plate simple but flavourful dishes.
I went to the school for breakfast and lunch recently and on both occasions I was astounded that more people don’t know about it.
For breakfast we were served a toasted ciabatta with scrambled egg, salmon and chive cream.
It was delicious, but so were the mini scones that awaited guests at every table.
The Cape Times Breakfast was recently held there and the space was versatile enough to accommodate about 100 people seated, with ample room to manoeuvre and walk about.
It’s a really great wedding venue, set among five-star restaurants and with a picturesque view of Robben Island - for a reasonable price.
The overflow patio area is where most guests gravitate before and after meals, due to the great view and the garden. But if you’re in need of a business space they can accommodate you as well. They have a boardroom and a conference room each of which has room for 40 people.
If you want to get a feel for the space and a taste of the food, the school has a Sunday buffet that’s a great introduction to what they do and what they serve.
* For more information about the CPUT Hotel School in Granger Bay contact (021)4405700.