The LivingRoom supper club is Cowies Hill's best-kept culinary secret
The intriguing appeal of a supper club has traditionally been the secrecy - finding the undisclosed location, discovering the mysterious chef and experiencing the explosion of unique flavours and pairings. The LivingRoom Supper Club is a hidden gem that maintained its exclusivity as Cowies Hill's best-kept culinary secret but has gradually become the talk of the town since being ranked Number 13 in the Top 20 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards. The culinary retreat offers a cosy and nostalgic homely setting, allowing its patrons to appreciate their intimate company beyond the delicious food.
Continental Experience with Local Flavour
Situated at Summerhill Estate, a boutique hotel in the heart of Cowies Hill, The LivingRoom is owned and run by Chef Johannes Richter with the help of his lovely wife, Johanna and his mother, Christine. Born in Germany and raised in Durban, Richter is merging his roots with his appreciation for the East Coast flavours he grew up on. With his training in some of the world's best Michelin-starred restaurants abroad, Richter has a wealth of culinary knowledge and experience that is evident in the dishes he passionately prepares at The LivingRoom. "We want to showcase Durban's culinary diversity at an internationally recognised level," says Richter who believes that our city needs a true representative of its beautiful culinary heritage.
Your Plate is a Canvas for Adventure
The experience consists of your choice of five or seven courses with a vegetarian option also available. The courses are offered with wine pairings or non-alcoholic beverages. The goal is to introduce a combination of complimentary flavours that everyone loves, with unexpected bursts of flavours and delectable mouthfuls of pleasure. Next to the unique plated courses, the supper club also boasts a carefully curated wine list of South African bottles. To cleanse your palette, there is a selection of ice cream, meringues, sorbets, parfaits and more. These light-as-air creations are the perfect ending to a meal that's sure to be memorable and an experience you will want to share and recreate time and time again.
Supporting Local and Harnessing Natural Ingredients
The LivingRoom executes an unpretentious menu that is optimised for a zero waste system and the efficiency with which food is grown, prepared and presented is on an unmatched level. A list of regional suppliers provides The LivingRoom with homegrown produce and ingredients. Diners will delight in knowing their dishes have been sourced from the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and surrounding small businesses like the Westville North Butchery. Herbs are grown in Summerhill's gardens and consist of classics like thyme, rosemary, coriander, chives and basil to the exotic such as lemon verbena woodruff and oxalis - from their garden, to your plate. Ocean awareness is important to the sustainability of the freshest seafood. The LivingRoom supports aquaculture that focuses on wild ocean catches and has an all-year-round availability such as mussels. The menu boasts Lesotho trout as an option and this spectacular fish is a favourite amongst diners that appreciate its soft, flaky texture and rich taste.
If you're a fan of country flavours like Midlands Blue Orange Duck, sourdough bread and charcuterie boards, you're in for a treat. The food focuses on prioritising sustainable options throughout each season.
Experience The LivingRoom
With the brilliantly thought-out concept of a culinary retreat at Summerhill Estate, The LivingRoom Supper Club has been under the radar long enough and is something you have to experience if you're ever in the Cowies Hill neighbourhood.
The LivingRoom is located at 9 Belvedale Rd, Cowies Hill, and open for bookings on Tuesdays to Saturdays for dinner and on Sundays for lunch - kids are most welcome to join. Reservations are essential if you want to secure a spot and if you're a guest at Summerhill Estate, the a la carte bistro menu will be available to you as usual. You can also tantalise your tastebuds by visiting their Instagram page @summerhill_estate or website www.summerhillkzn.com/livingroom/ to get a glimpse of the magic before your visit. To make a reservation today call 063 529 1966 or email info@summerhillkzn.com.