Roots at Forum Hormini

A couple of years ago, just after I opened Tapenade Olive Shop, I was approached by the head chef of Roots to do an olive appreciation course for the staff of the restaurant. My sister was in town, and she accompanied me to the Forum Homini boutique hotel. What a treat! The hotel is 50km outside of Johannesburg in the Cradle of Humankind, the richest humanoid fossil site in the world and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architecture, numerous sculptures and other works of art, as well as the luxurious rooms took our breath away. Needless to say we had a wonderful afternoon at the hotel.

Now, six years later, just in time for the next trip to Forum Homini, it so happened that my sister was in town again (could it be that she actually plans THAT well!?) So, off we went to celebrate my birthday with an epic 6 course Sunday lunch at their award winning restaurant Roots which, now for the 5th year running, is one of Eat Out magazines’ TOP 10 restaurants in South Africa. 

(The art piece above is by Marco Ciafenelli. It is called “The Sum of Us” and shows an ape skull in the centre evolving to a human skull). 

We sat on the sun deck, right at the water’s edge with views over the lake and veld. The dishes were beautifully presented and served with wine teasers by a sommelier to complement each dish. It was a relaxed and lazy four hour long lunch – the best possible way to spend my birthday!

Roots @ Forum Homini Hotel
Letamo Game Estate
Website: http://www.forumhomini.com/

Image credits: All photos taken by Elanie Fourie and myself