African Restaurants | Forum Homini Boutique Hotel

Roots Restaurant

The Concept

roots gourmet restaurant is renowned as one of Johannesburg’s top fine dining restaurants and a natural extension of Forum Homini Boutique Hotel in the Cradle of Humankind.

Indulge in delectable dishes inspired by French, African and Asian influences. Headed by French Chef Patron, Philippe Wagenfuhrer, and his team. Well designed menus are changed daily and include six-course dinner and four-course lunch gourmet menus also known as a menu degustation. Dishes are prepared with creativity, passion and flair, served with optional course-matched wines to compliment each dish and to satisfy the discerning palate. All wines are available from our cellar and are handpicked from a well selected collection of South African wines. (romantic dinners, Saturday brunches & Sunday lunches are a favourite option.)

We would like to advise all our patrons that reservations are essential so as to avoid any disappointment.

Our food concept allows 2 hours for a complete breakfast experience with 5 courses, our lunch is a 3 hour affair with 4 courses and our 6 course dinners and our popular Sunday lunch are at least a 3 hour experience.

Sitting inside roots, or eating al fresco on the sun deck, with views over the dam the roots experience is all about sharing exquisite food and wine in the company of good friends.

Our Chef Patron develops menus to break down the barriers between sweet and savoury by stimulating the taste buds in this way, an explosion of flavour within each bite is accomplished. The result is a concept in food that sets a new benchmark in South Africa cuisine.

If novel ideas, food freshness and expertise are seriously part of your DNA and an unexpected, sometimes controversial and defiantly different approach to food is close to your heart, roots restaurant will delight you. Offering a modern minimalistic surrounding and décor with beautifully lit food panels adorning the walls, this storybook displays the journey of ingredients used from stone-age to modern age. Another vital element of evolution is creating fire, this is displayed in the wood burning fireplace capsulated in the centre sandstone wall, setting the ambience in roots. White linen tables are dressed with Riedel glasses, Bauscher crockery and Hepp cutlery, making roots the perfect fine dining setting ideal for special occasions.

"Food is about giving, and the act of cooking is a gift from the cook to the diner" says Chef Patron, Philippe Wagenfuhrer

“Forum Homini’s restaurant, aptly named roots, has proved to be one of those fortuitous mutations that substantially advances humanity” Victor Strugo, South African Food Critic.

Food & wine pairing

roots is setting the trend of “food and wine pairing” in South Africa by serving individually crafted masterpieces with a perfectly course-matched glass of wine.

Our philosophy is that no food should be without an accompanying wine, best explained is to try imagine food and wine having an affair. To any epicurean, wine is a crucial part of any dining experience.

To begin, here are a few guidelines when it comes to food & wine pairing:

Pick the wine first, then the food

Food is handled after the wine is bottled, so allow the wine shine first and handcraft the food around it.
Snobbery is a no-no when it comes to what you drink or even how you drink your wine.
Be prejudice free and do not make assumptions
Let your adventurous side take centre stage and be prepared to taste food and wine which could be very different from the norm

Menu’s

Inspired by our ancestors, food such as marrowbone, game, duck, ostrich, plants and fruit – cooked in experimental cuisine taking guests back to our roots are featured on the menu. Prepared in a modern French style - but often inspired by African and Oriental products - the simple ingredients within every dish allow you to savour the essence of the elements in it.

The menu changes daily, but it is always balanced, and it will give guests the opportunity to try dishes and recipes one might be hesitant to order a’ la carte. The stress of having to decide what to order is replaced by the excitement of new tastes and new flavours – and everyone has the same… making for lively discussions and exchange of opinions!

The Chef @ Work

Imagine hosting a party for friends and being able to create a masterpiece of a menu that “Wows” your friends to unimaginable lengths? Well now you can at the roots cooking club.

Interactive cooking classes are becoming most popular at Roots with Philippe waving his magical talent and assisting guests create recipes of spectacular proportions.

Class sizes vary from 4 – 12 people over a 2 hour period. Philippe whips up dishes that will enhance any private party and that will make you the Chef Patron of your own kitchen.

These interactive cooking classes are ideal for corporate team building sessions, year end parties and private groups.

WINE

Wine Cellar

The wine cellar reserves some of the top South African wines such as, Hamilton Russell, Rustenberg and Cederberg as well as an array of well selected wines, local sparkling wines and champagnes from France. All carefully handpicked to suit the style and concept at roots restaurant.

Our philosophy at roots is to establish a partnership with selected wine estates to endeavour and maintain a common passion in wine. Thinking out of the box we strive to offer our patrons value for money wines. We are committed to regularly visit the wine regions to improve our knowledge and interest in the wine making process.

Wine Tasting

Our wine tasting evenings at roots take place on the first Wednesday of each month (unless otherwise organised with the estate). Wine makers are invited to present a selection of their superior award winning wines to our guests while of Chef Patron creates a course-matched dinner to compliment the wines.

These entertaining evenings are spent in the company of passionate wine makers and wine lovers who share a common enthusiasm for food and wine.

Come and spend an evening with your favourite wine estate – book in advance to avoid missing out on these interesting evenings.

Wine Estates

roots wine cellar reserves some of the top South African wines such as, Hamilton Russel, Rustenberg and Cederberg as well as an array of well selected wines and champagnes from France

Chef Patron - Philippe Gilbert Wagenfuhrer

The love of cooking started at a very young age for Chef Patron, Philippe Wagenfuhrer. Born in Alsace, Strasbourg in 1968, Philippe grew up in West Africa where, at the tender age of eight, he would sit in his grandmother’s kitchen savouring the tastes and aromas as she cooked meals for the family.

During school holidays, he travelled back to Strasbourg and worked with his uncle at L’Ami Fritz Restaurant. It is here that Philippe’s passion for food began. Working at the restaurant inspired him to explore his own culinary potential and at the age of 14, whilst holding the position of an apprentice chef at Restaurant L’Arsenal in Strasbourg, Philippe chose to study at Schiltigheim Catering School - one of the best schools in France.

Bringing with him the adventurous recipes inspired by years of travel, Philippe has joined Roots, Forum Homini’s fine dining restaurant. The cuisine is a combination of African, Asian, and French classics and he plans to enjoy every minute - creating dishes with creativity, passion and flair. Drawing inspiration from the exotic cities he has worked in, Philippe has developed menus for Roots which reflect the continent’s great diversity.

roots prices:

Mon-Fri: Breakfast R130 pp (3 Course Gourmet Meal)

Mon-Fri: Lunch R150 pp (4 Course Gourmet Meal)

Mon-Sun: Dinner R245 pp (6 Course Gourmet Meal)

Sat only: Brunch R 175 pp (5 Course Gourmet Meal) - 8:00am – 10:00

Sun only: Lunch R 275 pp (6 Course Gourmet Meal)

Reservations are essential so as to avoid any disappointment.

Our restaurant and all indoor facilities are NON SMOKING areas. We do however allow smoking on the deck area.

Allow at least 2 hours for a breakfast and 3 hours for a lunch and dinner experience. Also allow a further 10 minutes in travel time between the main gate and parking area.

Regrettably we do not cater for any children and infants under the age of 12.
The facilities are not child safe as there are many glass features, electric fencing to keep game from coming too close and there are easily accessible dams all around the area, which could be unsafe for children.
Children over 12 years are welcome at full price.

What previous clients had to say:

“Watch the African sunset, listen to Champagne bubbles in your glass and forget the rat race”

“After breakfast, drive back to town and see what you’ve been missing out on…”

“designed to be one with nature…”

“Some places are just built for lovin’ – loving them and loving in them. This one will return you to basic instincts.”

“Forum Homini - A place where people discuss people..”

“As you arrive you realise this is something extraordinary…”

“I ate with my heart, each plate a unique art work”

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I see the mural as a kind of modern cave painting. In short it is the development from hominid to modern human...