Cape dame reduced to ashes
2006-09-29 13:21
Bryan Porter
Cape Town - Two of Cape Town's most beloved restaurants, Madame Zingara and Cara Lazuli, burnt down early on Friday morning.
The two restaurants were owned by renowned chef, Richard Griffin, and occupied an historic building on Loop Street in central Cape Town that was built in the 1820s.
A rattled Griffin told News24: "We discovered that the building was burning at around 04:00 this morning. But we were too late, and it was completely destroyed.
"Tears have been flowing down Loop Street, and we have two counsellors to console our 120-odd employees.
The restaurant's management was unsure as to what caused the fires, but said that the assessors suspected it was an electrical fault. It is, as yet, unclear whether the entire building will have to be demolished, or whether reconstruction is possible.
Griffin said that the focus of his staff was moving the bookings for 980 weekend diners to other restaurants across Cape Town.
- News24