Chef Percy Baloyi, Sous Chef at Aurelia’s restaurant at Emperors Palace, recently returned from a week-long trip to Monaco where he had the honour of meeting HSH Prince Albert.
Born and raised in Tembisa, Chef Percy along with Chef de Cuisine, André Bezuidenhout, teamed up to produce an ‘Afroperial’ menu that was enjoyed by members of the Monacan Royal family and 100 high-profile guests at the Hotel Monte-Carlo Bay.
“This trip was something beyond my wildest dreams! Besides representing South Africa and Emperors Palace in Monte Carlo, I flew for the first time which was absolutely amazing,” said Chef Percy. “It was also incredible to share my knowledge with overseas chefs, including Chef Marcel Ravin, where I experienced the power of working together to create magic in the kitchen.”
The distinguished guests enjoyed a celebration of African flavour by sampling seven expertly-prepared dishes, including lemon-meringue spring rolls, oxtail, and grilled dukkah crusted salmon. The trip ended in true South African style with a lekker braai.
“We received great feedback from the guests who complimented the food and appreciated the South African techniques and flavours. We had the opportunity to meet HSH Prince Albert, which was a major highlight for us all. It was an incredibly fast-paced, exciting and exhausting week of cooking - it was all worth it considering how much we learned."