South Africa’s top culinary talent was honoured at the 2024 Luxe Restaurant Awards on Tuesday evening, hosted at the Monument House in Franschhoek.
The event, in attendance by local culinary icons such as critically acclaimed fine-dining chef James Gaag, Siba Mtongana, and The Lazy Makoti, presented over 30 awards to South Africa’s finest in food, hospitality and lifestyle on Tuesday evening.
Franschhoek’s Le Colombe scooped its title as Restaurant of the Year, and Ouzeri was named International Restaurant of the Year.
Stellenbosch based chef, Callan Austin – head of two restaurants, Nocturne and Dusk – received the award for Chef of the Year.
Other notable wins include Stellenbosch restaurant, Mertia, winning New Restaurant of the Year. Cape Town based Belly of the Beast claimed Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year, and Salsify at the Roundhouse in Camps Bay took the Sustainability Award.
South African culinary icons earned their titles at the Luxe Restaurants, too.
Chef Rikku O’Donnchu of RIKŪ Chef’s Counter, Shuck+Scoop Oyster Bar, Nikkei and RYŪ Sushi won the Culinary Innovation Award. Clement Pedro, Senior Content Producer for wwtaste and Chef Presenter for Expresso Show was honoured as Culinary Media Personality of the Year.
Matt Van Den Berg, Head Chef of Mertia, took the Culinary Rising Star Award.
Find the full list of winners below:
2024 Luxe Restaurant Awards winners
African Restaurant of the Year: The Happy Uncles
Bistro of the Year: Farro Restaurant
Burger Joint of the Year: Zuney Wagyu
Café of the Year: Hemelhuijs
Casual Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Post and Pepper
Chef of the Year: Callan Austin
Coffee Shop of the Year: Truth Coffee
Contemporary Restaurant of the Year: Club Kloof
Culinary Change Award: Wandile Mabaso
Culinary Innovation Award: Rikku O’Donnchu
Culinary Media Personality of the Year: Clement Pedro
Culinary Rising Star Award: Matt Van Den Berg
Family Restaurant of the Year: The Table at De Meye
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Belly of the Beast
Grillhouse of the Year: VUUR Restaurant
Hidden Gem Award: Stefan’s Restaurant at Erinvale Hotel & Spa
Hotel Restaurant of the Year: Upper Union
International Restaurant of the Year: Ouzeri
Legacy Award: La Colombe
Lifestyle Restaurant of the Year: Club Como
New Restaurant of the Year: Mertia
Pastry Chef of the Year: Jared Melamed
People’s Choice Award: Kolonaki Greek Kouzina
Pioneer Award: James Gaag
Pop-Up Restaurant of the Year: Chef Rikku at The Art of Duplicity
Restaurant of the Year: La Petite Colombe
Restobar of the Year: The 11th Floor
Service Excellence Award: The Living Room
Street Food Restaurant of the Year: The Siba Deli
Supper Club of the Year: Tempo Luxury Restaurant
Sustainability Award: Salsify at the Roundhouse
Wine Service Award: Keize Mumba
Article shared by Woman&Home.