Our Story
After the first visit to the beautiful Marianne Estate, the Floreal concept was born. A food and wine focussed restaurant that offers a relaxed and comfortable dining experience, enjoyed by the whole family. The surrounding vineyards produces some of the best wines in the area.
The Floreal wine is made for special occasions. Easily enjoyed alone, this is also the perfect accompaniment for Beef, Venison or Duck - all ingredients enjoyed by the Lilley family. Along with the beautiful views and sunshine, Floreal Brasserie hopes to create the perfect setting for all guests.
Born and bred in London, Ian Lilley started working through the ranks at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. As a senior chef Ian worked in top hotels when at the young age of 24 he was offered his first Head Chef role in Mayfair employed by London's largest independently owned event caterer. Here he worked in and around the country catering for a selection of clients, from weddings to large corporate clients.
It was at work at a London hotel, where Ian met fellow Chef Ulrike, now his wife. Ulrike is originally from Malmesbury in the Swartland, where the enjoyment of food and wine forms part of your daily life in every household. Spending time together as a family becomes difficult when you work in the hospitality industry. The importance to introduce their children to the value of good quality and time spent with family and friends fuelled the need to move.
Ian had a great insight into what the best in the catering industry had to offer. He spent his last 4 years as Executive Chef of his company when he decided it is time to travel and settled here in Stellenbosch, where he opened Floreal Brasserie Restaurant to enjoy the life of a working family man, creating dishes with the best produce the local area has to offer.
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