S2-09. Melting Pot - John van Zyl

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I sat down with John van Zyl, chef and co owner of Melting Pot, one of Cape Town’s most talked about contemporary restaurants. John reflects on his unconventional journey into food, from music and travel to working closely with Liam Tomlin, and how those years shaped his disciplined, process-driven approach to cooking. The conversation traces the evolution of Melting Pot from pop up dinners to permanent restaurants, exploring the freedom and pressure of cooking across cultures, the realities of running a growing team, and the tension between creativity and consistency. John speaks candidly about street food, technique, slow cooking, menu fatigue, and what it really takes to build a restaurant that feels alive, generous and grounded in experience. A rich, honest look at modern Cape Town cooking through the lens of one of its most curious and interesting chefs.
For more on Melting Pot, click here

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• www.rwm2012.com
• On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner
• Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson
• All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited
• Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay