A Guru for Good Food Lands at Sugar Rush

Fresh from a few gruelling months at Umhlanga’s trendiest culinary newbie, The Chef’s Table, Ballito’s Goodness Guru Lisl Bennett has launched into Sugar Rush Café. The makeover may take some time, but the journey is set to produce something quite remarkable.

Sugar Rush Park has already proven itself the ‘Go To’ venue for those seeking an active outdoor lifestyle. Holla MTB trails offers the perfect club station for those heading out for the dirt trails. The Jump Park offers a world of trampoline delights to drain energy from any rambunctious kid and the fenced play area is a mother’s delight!

Now, with the newly appointed addition of Chef Lisl Bennett, the little eatery shows promise of something quite different.

“I learnt so much about food preparation perfection at The Chef’s Table,” says Bennett. “Sourcing local, organic produce is just part of the journey to taste delights,” she shares. “Creating an artwork of visual appeal with food adds to the gourmet adventure.”

The path of excellence demanded by the restaurant catering to the latest gourmet trend for intricately displayed dishes was invigorating. Unfortunately, the hours of precise detail proved injurious to the young chef’s spine. She was advised to quit while her back allowed her. The new owners of Sugar Rush Café seized the opportunity to capture her talent ahead of the pack.

In keeping with the rural ambiance of the old farm venue, the vision for the café is to reproduce the traditions of good meals produced direct from nature. Catering to the sophisticated tastes of Ballito’s young and active set, the café will, over time, incorporate more of the superior gourmet standard clients seek.

“It will not be an instantaneous make-over,” admits Bennett. “I hope to introduce keynote dishes gradually. The team is still a bit raw and needs training.”

With feet firmly planted in the rich soils of our Sugar Coast and a keen vision for the superlative ahead, Chef Lisl Bennett is under no illusions for the amount of work yet to be done.

“As a community, Ballito can be very supportive. We are eager to create something for them. We will of course retain burgers and chips on the menu (Sugar Rush is very much a kid orientated place) but we also aim to bring more nutritious food to the menu. Healthy food is my mainstay. Hopefully, with just a little of what I learnt at Chef’s Table, we can create the perfect blend of gourmet goodness!”