THOBAN CHEFS: LANGEBAAN’S CULINARY GEM

Meet Thomas Smith, Capitec merchant and self-taught chef and owner of Langebaan’s beachfront palate pleaser, Thoban Chefs.

Chef and Capitec merchant Thomas Smith is making the most of the rich bounty Mother Nature provides at his Asian fusion and sushi restaurant called Thoban Chefs. The eatery is situated on the beach next to Langebaan Lagoon and is a favourite destination for locals and visitors to the area. 

Thomas has fond memories of the ocean growing up and personally preparing the catch of the day, which is ultimately what inspired him and his wife to move close to the sea and pursue his passion. 

The business originally opened their doors 4 years ago as a take-away and based on its success, the decision was made to start a full sit-down restaurant. Thoban Chefs was established last year, and offers a menu of fresh seafood, sushi and Asian-inspired dishes that compliment their surrounding natural beauty. 

The establishment’s name is a tribute to the family in that it’s an amalgamation of the names of the owners’ five children.

“We, as a family, have always loved Asian food, and having started the sushi restaurant it was just a given to incorporate the Asian dishes. You can be so creative with Asian dishes and all the flavours that go with it,” shares Thomas Smith, the owner and chef of Thoban Chefs.     

There’s no disputing that the restaurant industry is competitive and now, more than ever, presents a unique set of challenges. One’s choice of service providers and banking partners makes a huge difference when choosing who to go the distance with. For Thomas, Capitec was an obvious choice to embark on this journey with him. 

“Being in the restaurant industry, 9 o’clock at night you may find a problem with your card machine and if this happens, Capitec is always there. They sort it out. We’re lucky that they have staff in Langebaan and no matter what time we phone them, they’re always available,” comments the restauranter before adding, “The support is just amazing.”  

In a time when restaurants are particularly hard hit, an open line of communication with a banking partner can make all the difference.

Lloyd Jansen, a new business banker at Capitec who services Thoban Chefs comments that “Capitec is all about service, making sure that we look after our clients, and that we treat them with a personal touch every time we communicate with our clients. When we’re involved with our clientele we like to have a face-to-face relationship with them and we like to be there for our clients.”  

“I’ve got five children, and we’ve got a few grandchildren – all of whom are important to me and we spend a lot of time together. That is why I’ve got the restaurant because they inspire me to carry on with this and to follow my passion and my dreams,” shares Thomas.  

To help you to follow your passions and dreams, you can stand a chance of winning a R1000 cash prize courtesy of Capitec. Simply reply to the competition post on our social media platforms. The competition closes on 11 July 2021 and Ts&Cs apply.

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