The Radisson SAS Hotel Sandton, which opened in December 2008, has secured the talent of top South African chef, Paul Gindra, as executive chef for their restaurant called 'Vivace', which means 'lively' in Italian.

We asked Paul what we should cook this Valentine's Day. Here are Paul's recipes for a romantic Valentine's dinner.

To start

A bit of chilled spicy tomato soup — traditional Gazpacho — to get the blood flowing and quench your lover's palate.

Gazpacho

A spicy tomato soup that's served cold.

Ingredients:

  • 250g white bread

  • 600g ripe plum tomato

  • 2 cloves of garlic

  • 2 onions

  • 2 red and green peppers

  • 1 cucumber

  • 7 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons vinegar

  • 1.5 tablespoons water

  • Salt and pepper

    • Method:
    Add all the ingredients together and blend till smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Strain, chill and serve with small diced cucumbers and peppers.

    Main course

    Beef fillet

    Grilled fillet of beef, rocket and gorgonzola salad, Port and brown mushroom sauce.

    Ingredients:

  • 200g fillet of beef per portion

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • Gorgonzola cheese

  • 30g rocket

  • 20ml beef jus/dark sauce or gravy

  • 20ml Port wine

  • 20ml cream

  • 1 brown mushroom

    • Method:
    Reduce the Port wine. Add the jus, cream and mushroom. Season to taste. Grill the fillet of beef to desired temperature. Mix the rocket with a little olive oil and gorgonzola cheese. To plate put the fillet on the plate the sauce over the top then the salad alongside it.

    To go with this dish try Rupert & Rothchild Classique 2006.

    Dessert:

    Three sorbets served with fresh strawberries and mint to refresh your lover.

    Sorbet selection:

    Ingredients:

  • 3 x scoops of fruit sorbets of your choice

  • Fresh strawberries

  • Mint for garnish

    • Method:
    Place scoops of sorbet on ice-cold plates. Garnish with fresh strawberries and mint.

    Paul is serving his own special menu on Valentine's Day which costs R470 per person. Reservations for Vivace can be made on +27 11 245 8000.