JHP Gourmet Guide announces SA's 2020 plated restaurants, awarded chefs

In South Africa, restaurants aim for one, two or three plates. The plate rating – which equates to global standards of evaluating and rewarding refined and fine-dining establishments – celebrates the uniqueness of South African cuisine; from classic and conservative to daring and different.

Creme de la creme awards - © Keagan Petersen

One plate highlights exceptional cuisine; two plates are presented for exceptional dining that demands a detour; and three for a world-class dining experience that is worthy of a flight.

This year sees the total of plated restaurants expanding from 25 to 36. At the launch, 20 one-plated, 11 two-plated and five three-plated restaurants were applauded. Indochine joined Greenhouse, La Colombe, Restaurant Mosaic and The Test Kitchen in the highest accolade of a three-plate status.

Chef Chantel Dartnall of Restaurant Mosaic - © Keagan Petersen

Restaurants are evaluated on the entire experience, but with a focus on the cuisine. Initial visits are anonymous, and only the visit at which the chef is interviewed is announced and hosted. Restaurants that rate highly are considered for a plating. As consistency is one of the more important criteria, restaurants can only be evaluated for a plate after a chef has completed a season in the restaurant, and no restaurant is immediately awarded three-plate status.

John Norris-Rogers, Scot Kirton, Jenny Handley and James Gaag - © Keagan Petersen

The Haute Performance Awards were given to those creating footprints in a people-centric industry: 

• Haute Passion – Reuben Riffel of Reuben’s
• Haute People (team) – Faber
• Haute Pride – Giles Edwards of La Tête
• Haute Promise – Carolize Coetzee of Tokara
• Haute Property – Lord Nelson at the Belmond Mount Nelson

The first-ever Abalobi Provenance Awards, for leading by example to create awareness and inspire change, were handed to:

• Influencer Nanda Cardoso of Chefs Warehouse & Canteen
• Champion Bertus Basson of Eike 
• Advocate Christiaan Campbell of The Werf Restaurant at Boschenda

Peter Tempelhoff of FYN - © Keagan Petersen

Global icon Peter Tempelhoff of Fyn received the Swiss Culinary Innovation Award, for his unique concept of perfectly marrying Japanese cuisine and indigenous Cape flavours.

The 2020 JHP Gourmet Guide will be available in leading bookstores, Woolworths and participating restaurants at R299, from November 2019.