For an unprecedented fifth consecutive year, The Test Kitchen was named
Restaurant of the Year.
Gregory Czarnecki of The Restaurant at Waterkloof won the coveted title of
Eat Out S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Chef of the Year. Czarnecki also collaborated with six other top chefs on the lavish lunch for the event.
La Colombe, situated on the Silvermist Wine Estate in Constantia, again took second place on the list of Top 10 restaurants. This restaurant was also recognised for maintaining the highest level of service with the Eat Out Nespresso Service Excellence Award and the first-ever Eat Out John Psillos Award for Outstanding Contribution to Service, which was awarded to front-of-house manager Jennifer Hugé.
The much-admired chef, restauranteur and author Peter Veldsman was the winner of the
Eat Out Lannice
Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award.
The
Eat Out Nederburg Rising Star Award went to Angelo Scirocco of Urbanologi in Johannesburg for his promising talent, and the
Eat Out Wine Service Award for a top sommelier was won by Tinashe Nyamudoka of The Test Kitchen.
In another industry first, The Table at De Meye in Stellenbosch was the recipient of the inaugural
Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award, which recognises a restaurant that is making strides towards sustainability by implementing environmentally and socially responsible practices and being cognisant of the importance of higher animal welfare. The judging panel for the
Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award was independent from that of the
Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards and consisted of Abigail Donnelly of
Eat Out, Pavitray Pillay of WWF-SASSI, Lynsay Sampson of Fairtrade South Africa, Sonia Mountford of Eategrity, and Karen Welter of Longtable Project. (Find out more at http://eatout.co.za/sustainability.)
Foxcroft, the new restaurant opened by chefs Scot Kirton and Glen Williams of La Colombe, was named the
Eat Out Retail Capital New Restaurant of the Year. Marble in Rosebank, Johannesburg, received the
Eat Out Boschendal Style Award for its show-stopping interior design and décor. The winner of the Woolworths
TASTE Eat
Out Bursary was Ayanda Matomela, who was selected for his passion and enthusiasm.
The judges who worked alongside
Eat Out editor and chief judge Abigail Donnelly to determine the Top 10 restaurants in South Africa and the
Eat Out S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Chef of the Year, as well as the winners of the
Eat Out Nespresso Service Excellence Award, the
Eat Out Wine Service Award, the
Eat Out Nederburg Rising Star Award, the
Eat Out Lannice
Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award and the
Eat Out John Psillos Award for Outstanding Contribution to Service, were Carianne Wilkinson of the Silwood School of Cookery, and chef David Higgs.
The winners of the
Eat Out Retail Capital New Restaurant of the Year and the
Eat Out Boschendal Style Award are chosen by Donnelly in consultation with
Eat Out’s panel of critics around the country.
Says Donnelly, “2016 has probably been my most exciting and inspiring year of eating out. Chefs are capturing our imaginations with imaginative, emotive cooking, and fine producers are elevated yet again. South Africa’s restaurants really are world-class. I’m particularly thrilled about the amazing restaurants popping up in Johannesburg right now, where a new generation of legends is leading the way.”
Selvin Govender, marketing director of Mercedes-Benz Cars, says, “Once again these fine-dining connoisseurs have displayed their talents in their pursuit of excellence. I congratulate all the winners and thank them for showcasing South Africa’s incredible talents.”
Click here to view the full list of winners.
For more information, visit
www.eatout.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on
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