Located in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve at Cape Point, the Two Oceans Restaurant arguably has one of the finest views of any eatery in the world. Serving more than four million customers for over two decades, the Two Oceans has built an enviable reputation for the quality of its seafood dishes, its innovative interior design, and, of course, its unique setting. Recently, it has added yet another feather to its cap with the appointment of Chad Blows as its chef de cuisine.
Blows joined Two Oceans in June last year and is widely regarded as one of the best chefs in the country.
His credentials include working at The Chesterfield in London, before moving to Maze under Michelin Starred Jason Atherton. Upon his return to South Africa, he worked at the critically-acclaimed Greenhouse under Peter Tempelhoff who himself has worked alongside the greatest and most imaginative chefs of this generation. More recently, he was the executive chef at The Marine Hermanus, a luxury boutique hotel that is an extraordinary seaside property in the picturesque town that it shares its name with. He also opened Solo, a gallery café in Cape Town that provides his signature dishes in a truly South African style.
And even though many would be mistaken to think that he was born with the proverbial wooden spoon in hand, Blows initially wanted to be a graphic designer. Perhaps fortuitously for the South African gastronomical industry, his grades were not good enough. It was then he decided to pursue becoming a chef as he enjoyed Home Economics at school and admits that he was not too bad at it.
Blows studied at the South African Chefs Academy in 2007. Following his graduation, he moved to the UK to work and, as they say in the classics, the rest is history.
In fact, he is one of a handful of local chefs who can say they have worked with the world-renowned Gordon Ramsay. This was in 2013 when he represented South Africa at the Jeunes Rotisseurs Competition and was announced the winner of the Chaine des Rotisseurs Junior Chef of the Year, an annual global culinary event dating back to 1977 that allows junior chefs to showcase their talent and creativity in an international arena. He also had the opportunity to cook for Heston Blumenthal and even met the chef who can lay claim to owning the Best Restaurant in the World in 2005.
Blows was also a nominee for the Eat Out awards. Truly, the Two Oceans will continue to delight its guests with not only an impeccable venue, but with Blows at the helm, a menu that celebrates South Africa in his truly inimitable style.
Imka Webb is a freelance digital marketing expert and the digital editor of Food & Home Entertaining magazine. www.imkawebb.com
