Aarya has opened! The restaurant brought to you through a partnership between South Africa’s first MasterChef winner, Deena Naidoo, and hotels, gaming and entertainment company Tsogo Sun, opened this week to the delight of fans and food lovers across Gauteng.

Set in the heart of Montecasino’s vibrant outdoor piazza, the restaurant carries a name and menu that reflects Deena’s unique inspirations and culinary concepts.

Named after Deena’s 10-year old daughter, Aarya represents the first time ever in MasterChef history around the world that the amateur chef who has won the title of the reality TV show has been awarded the rights to run a restaurant in a two-year partnership with an established hospitality company – Tsogo Sun.

Deena, who endeared himself to millions of viewers all over South Africa with his humility, his enthusiasm and his consummate culinary skills, still finds it hard to believe how dramatically and fantastically his life has changed since his first appearance on MasterChef to his new role as a restaurateur. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I am deeply honoured to be working with people of great knowledge and skill from Montecasino and Tsogo Sun group. I am committing myself to doing everything possible to ensure that Aarya is the success it deserves to be!”

Deena dispels any suggestions that his cuisine is strictly Indian. He is a proudly South African chef and Aarya’s menu will reflect this. “Our menu draws from all the diverse South African cuisines. It will reflect the South African nation and what the MasterChef competition was all about, which was bringing people from diverse cultures and backgrounds together.” Deena has an extensive knowledge of spices, which will clearly be seen and tasted in the dishes on the menu, all of which reflect Deena’s philosophy of highlighting core flavours and using ingredients in moderation.

Aarya is a restaurant for everyday enjoyment – with competitively-priced dishes that deliver MasterChef-quality cuisine in a family-friendly environment.

Aarya is located at Tsogo Sun’s Sun Square hotel at Montecasino and will be open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week. To book your table, call (011) 557-7007.

Click here to browse more photos from the launch.