Vanilla Restaurant now open

South Africa, Cape Town, Friday, October 30th 2009; VANILLA Restaurant at the new Cape Quarter Extension is now open and promises relaxed Cape Town-style fine dining in an ambiance of Manhattan glamour.

Vanilla philosophy
A passion for orchids coupled with the Inca love story (refer to Editor’s Notes) is the inspiration behind Vanilla – Cape Town’s newest and most exuberant fine dining restaurant. Vanilla is the essential essence that permeates décor and design details, as well as the food and cocktail menus at this sophisticated eatery in the new Cape Quarter, Green Point.

Also owners of Tuscany Beach Restaurant, on Camps Bay’s platinum beachfront, the Newhouse family have been restaurateurs for 20 years. Vanilla is the newest and most ambitious venture for the family – Nigel, Maxine and son Simon – who pooled their combined experience to create a restaurant with an unmistakable wow factor. They wanted Vanilla to be smart, slick, state of the art and contemporary. The ultimate in fine dining, but without exorbitant prices.

Nigel personally managed the construction of this big budget restaurant, with a price tag of over R7 million. His dream is now reality in the laid back New York Manhattan-style restaurant, that is the talk of Cape Town. Vanilla is a taste of the good life for every sense - from its unique design and décor to the extensive choice on the menu and wine list.

Décor and design
A dramatic contemporary and classic colour palette was chosen for the unique décor and furnishings. Silver, charcoal, cerise pink and, of course, creamy vanilla have been used to create atmosphere and warmth. Table tops echo chic European trends and are adorned with graphics of orchids in high gloss. Silvered Louis chairs provide comfortable seating on the two dining levels, which are linked by a sparkling solid glass staircase.

Suspended between the first and second levels of the dining area is a glass platform, replete a baby grand piano in vanilla. This floating stage is where musicians play live contemporary jazz and classical rhythms for background music. By night, the glass floor is illuminated with special effect LED mood lighting, creating a completely surreal ambiance. An oversized cut glass chandelier hangs above the floating glass floor, and adds a touch of elegant theatre to the area. It’s both ethereal and dramatic.

By day, two sides of the restaurant open up completely onto a four-storey atrium, giving a sense of space and flow to the whole area. Fine dining is extended through to the outside piazza which offers al fresco, continental-style dining for 65 patrons. There’s also a sushi bar here and comfortable lounge seating. Not forgetting the magnificent martini and cocktail bar as well as a designated smoking area that also opens onto the piazza.

Inside seats 100 diners, and there’s also the option of two intimate candlelit tables on the suspended glass floor offering the chef’s menu for special occasions. A 16-seater private dining room with its own entrance, is available for corporate functions and private dinners. Unusual for fine dining establishments, the kitchen is a completely open mezzanine level elevated above the ground floor. So chefs are part of the restaurant atmosphere, and customers can also see right inside the kitchen. In every way, Vanilla is unique – there is nowhere quite like it anywhere in Cape Town.

Vanilla people
The Newhouse family chose the best team possible to give Vanilla its cutting edge place in the fine dining market. Award winning Johannesburg architects Nico and Phia van der Meulen together with Vanilla co-owner Maxine Newhouse designed the restaurant inside and out. Their brief was for an over the top, contemporary, clean style space that was distinctly different to anything else. Internationally renowned fitters, Quanto Bello Interiors, also from Johannesburg, did the finishing touches inside, and Graphic BallRoom was responsible for designing the corporate image and branding. Nigel says that for some people Vanilla may be “a little extravagant and over the top, but it is certainly unforgettable and wow. Maybe its madness, but it’s pure passion.”

Star team
Vanilla’s staff has been hand picked, and are all supremely experienced. Renowned chef, Matthew Gordon - owner of Haute Cabriere and The French Connection in Franschhoek – was commissioned as consultant chef. Matthew assisted with both the design of the menu and the kitchen along with appointed Executive Chef Evan Coosner and second in line Greg Baverstock.

Both are culinary experts, Evan having worked with Reuben Riffel of Reuben’s and Mike Bassett of Ginja. Greg trained at the two star Michelin restaurant le Gauroche in the UK, and was head chef at Browns, Rivonia and executive chef at the Harbour Café in Kalk Bay.

Together they have developed Vanilla’s signature dishes and cocktails, many infused with the essence of vanilla – a fundamental ingredient in all aspects of the restaurant.

Andrew Freeman is front of house, having just returned from seven years on cruise ships – including the QEII.

Contemporary global cuisine
Dining at Vanilla offers tastes from around the world at every meal, and is a classic culinary experience at competitive prices. The menu is extensive to ensure patrons always have ample choice. Opening at 10am, the brunch menu offers light terrace meals and during the week it’s geared for business people; similarly lunches are light and quick, with salads, seafood and sushi also on offer on the piazza. But Sunday lunch on the piazza is a relaxed affair, accompanied by soft live music.

The martini cocktail bar also flows out onto the piazza for late afternoon drinks and an extensive selection of cocktails – again, many include vanilla. Then fine dining starts at 6pm, accompanied by an impressive selection of wines that include vintage offerings – all tasted and chosen by Nigel himself. Prices range from reasonable to extravagant, but the resident sommelier will assist patrons with the perfect choice.

To reserve your table call (27) (21) 421 1391, email reservations@vanillarestaurant.co.za or visit www.vanillarestaurant.com for latest news.