Red Chamber, one of Joburg’s best-loved Chinese restaurants, recently changed not only its address but also its entire image.

When Hyde Park Corner Shopping Centre decided on a revamp that would take its retail offering into international designer territory, they invited their older tenants to join them on a journey into serious luxury. One of those was the Red Chamber, the Chinese restaurant that had, for 18 happy years, served what many regard as Joburg’s finest Chinese food in a fairly traditional setting on the upper level opposite Luminance boutique.

In the changes at Hyde Park, Red Chamber moved downstairs into the entertainment zone, around the corner from the cinemas and with the opportunity to spill out into the corridor. The new restaurant is looking chic and slick, and still boasts one of the city’s most authentic Chinese menus.

Restaurateur Emma Chen, who moved to South Africa from Taiwan at the age of 22, says she had relished the opportunity to revamp the restaurant that she had started 26 years earlier. Together with her husband Colin Myburgh – and with a fair amount of brainstorming with close friend and VISI deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes – she decided on a direction that is more Manhattan than Mainland China. All the traditional Chinese elements are there, only updated for the sophisticated 21st-century palate, using broad strokes and bold lines.

Emma says the new look is the coming together of years of research she and her husband have done on their travels. “From Norway to Beijing, we have always kept an eye on modern restaurant design trends, and this is what we’ve brought to the Red Chamber’s new look.”

The lucky colour red features prominently in the Red Chamber’s new interior. Caesarstone Red Shimmer engineered stone cladding is wrapped around the entrance area and the reception zone. Oversized ancient jade-green wooden doors against one wall and solid brass panels against another give the glow that is another Chinese restaurant staple – only updated.

The lighting at the Red Chamber is provided by graphic light boxes and an organic grouping of pillow-shaped paper lanterns above the reception area.

“We wanted a modern version of the Chinese paper lantern and Annemarie found these in Europe for us,” says Emma. “They are just perfect.”

In the private dining room area, glowing green walls are a show-stopping design feature. Colin installed a massive LED system on the wall behind vivid images of green bamboo. Emma says this is also a nod to the restaurant’s previous incarnation: “We had the bamboo upstairs, but in a more traditional style. We wanted the element of classic bamboo in the new restaurant but gave it a modern twist.”

It’s a theme that runs through the entire new design of Red Chamber: A classic concept in a modern design language that has successfully avoided any gimmicks.

For more information, visit redchamber.co.za or contact 011 325 6048 or info@redchamber.co.za.

The post Hyde Park’s Red Chamber Restaurant appeared first on Visi.

Add a touch of chic to your Christmas. Generation Store is showcasing 100 covetable items to celebrate the festive season and inspire Christmas shopping this December. We’re sure each item is bound to tempt your festive spirits into a consummate flurry of excitement.

Generation is offering you an extra incentive to shop instore over the next 20 days: Win an R800 voucher every single week by interacting with the product advent calendar each day on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

With a host of celebrated international brands from across the design spectrum, Generation has a gift for every individual and every home. The essence of Generation Store lies in creating a unique retail experience for customers, so we suggest that you pop into store and indulge in the sparkle of festive splendour.

How to enter Generation’s Advent Calendar Giveaway:

• “Like” the Generation Facebook page, and comment on the specific post that is put up each day.
• Comment on the Generation item you would most like to see in your home, and you could find yourself basking in the ambience of your decor dreams!
• Customers are also encouraged to get social and share the post with their friends.
• Winners will be announced every Friday on the Generation Store Facebook page.

Generation Store, Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg, generationstore.tumblr.com

The post Xmas cheer with Generation Store appeared first on Visi.

Sponsored by Sanlam Investments and occupying the entire rooftop of the Hyde Park Corner, the emphasis of the fair is on bringing together high-quality, unique artisanal fare in a convivial social environment.

One such social highlight is certainly the MasterCard Gourmet Theatre where chefs Luke Dale-Roberts, Reuben Riffel and David Higgs will be presenting their signatures dishes for lunch and dinner sittings catering for only 42 guests at a time.

Emphasising the synthesis between food and design, artisanal potters Tessa Gawith made the crockery and Katherine Glenday the water tumblers for the theatre. The oak tables, benches and chairs are by James Mudge Furniture Studios, with linen by Skinny laMinx creator, Heather Moore. Artist Beezy Bailey has also created a special edition of artworks for the theatre.

On the shopping front, a special Summer Christmas Booth will offer a curated selection of small gifts from the likes of Snapp design’s lights, Flowermill Stationery’s cards and Bamboo Revolution’s watches. More beach-orientated are Vilbrequin’s trendy swimming trunks, and Bizou’s pure cotton bags and sarongs.

However, one booth does not even begin to represent the broad range of retail therapeutics. From furniture by the likes of Goet and Koop, and home accessories by the likes of the Shaw Sisters and Makers of Stuff, to personal adornments by Missibaba and Tinsel, the Foodwinedesign Fair promises to be an oasis of style.

An then there’s the wine, chocolate, olives, oysters, pesto, confectionary, coffee and…

Tickets are R80 per person, or R50 on Friday afternoon. Kids under 12 enter free. Book at www.webtickets.co.za

More info www.foodwinedesign.co.za

The post Delicious style appeared first on Visi.