The Test Kitchen did it again, taking top honours among South African Restaurants as the Restaurant of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. Scot Kirton of La Colombe won the coveted title of Eat Out S.Pellegrino Chef of the Year. Guests were also treated to one of his signature dishes at the awards celebration, which was held at the SunExhibits Centre at GrandWest in Cape Town.
Franschhoek-based restaurant The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français was recognised for maintaining the highest level of service with the Service Excellence Award for the second year running. The winner of the Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by associate sponsor Novus Holdings, was grande dame of hospitality, the late Liz McGrath.
The Nederburg Rising Star Award went to Carmen Muller of The Tasting Centre at Rupert & Rothschild in Franschhoek for her promising talent, and the Wine Service Award for the country’s top sommelier was won by Lloyd Jusa of Five Hundred at The Saxon in Johannesburg. Greenhouse at The Cellars-Hohenort received the Boschendal Style Award.
The judges who worked alongside Eat Out editor and chief judge, Abigail Donnelly, to determine the winners this year were Jackie Cameron, the award-winning former chef at Hartford House and owner of the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine; Benny Masekwameng, MasterChef SA judge and professional chef; and Siba Mtongana, award-winning food writer and celebrity TV chef.
Says Donnelly; “It’s been a phenomenal judging season with seemingly endless opportunities to enjoy fantastic food. South African dining really is of a world-class quality – I am honoured and humbled to have experienced such excellence this year.”
Claudia Walters, marketing communications manager for Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles says; “At Mercedes-Benz we continuously celebrate our brand claim of the best or nothing. With this group of culinary stars, we are doing just that – recognising true excellence in South Africa’s restaurant industry, which perfectly aligns with the Mercedes-Benz brand essence of constantly being at the pinnacle of excellence. Congratulations to all the deserving winners.”
The 2016 Eat Out magazine, filled with professional reviews and curated content on South Africa’s top 500 restaurants, will be on sale from Monday 16 November at major retailers..
Find the full list of winners here.
For more information, visit www.eatout.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.