Signature Myoga Restaurant is situated in a quiet garden setting of the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Newlands and offers a 5-course lunch degustation menu. Chef proprietor is Mike Bassett: ‘The dining experience is supposed to be relaxed, which is why the kitchen at Myoga is open plan in order for guests to enjoy the theatre of the kitchen. Bassett says: ‘True fusion is the integration of ingredients from across the world that join together in a contemporary combination of flavours without creating a confusing juxtaposition, resulting in a seamless style of fine cooking.’

Bassett treats diners to a ‘tickler’, which is something unique from the kitchen, followed by the second course with a choice between dishes including Shiozuke salmon served with pickled daikon, apple achar, edemame gel and elements of Thai snowball. Try Salumi venison loin or Ancho chilli garlic chorizo prawns and a green curry barley ‘risotto’, coconut financier, coconut spuma and jalapeño pickled baby rainbow carrots.

The third course cleanses the palate in the form of a liquid centered lemongrass. This is followed by the fourth course, mains. Dishes such as confit duck tacos served with fontina cheese foam, pomegranate chipotle duck breast, mango mission fig scallion salad and avocado tomatillo salsa verde; Angus beef fillet; Hoisin baby kabeljou or a carrot and cream cheese tortellini with kataifei pastry, ginger and pinenut beurre noisette.

The final course’s ‘death of strawberry shortcake’ comprises a strawberry bombe, strawberry coulis, white chocolate sponge, vanilla ice cream strawberry gel, strawberry pastille, soft strawberry fizzer and assorted summer berries. Alternatively, the coconut sphere with a coconut moelleux, coconut panna cotta, butternut churros, burnt orange sauce and coconut marshmallows won’t disappoint. The ‘chicken and the egg’ is a gluten free vegan cake, vegan egg, caramel popcorn, almond praline, chicken pectin jelly, soy caramel, almond milk sorbet and fresh apricot.

The 5-course lunch menu is R275 with wine pairing option for an additional R225. Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch; Monday to Saturday for dinner at The Vineyard Hotel in Colinton Road, Newlands, Cape Town.

Tel: 021 657 4545; email: eat@myoga.co.za or visit: www.myoga.co.za