Restaurant Mosaic announces bursary recipient

Germain Lehodey with Veronica Nomphelo Plaatjies

The Restaurant Mosaic Sommelier Protégé Program annually offers a young emerging professional a three year fully paid learnership bursary at the award winning Restaurant Mosaic, working alongside Chef of the Year, Chantel Dartnall, and well-known French sommelier, Germain Lehodey.

She will now receive the necessary formal education required and achieve the best professional experience, under the guidance of the Restaurant Mosaic Cellar Team whilst gaining valuable exposure to the industry. She has also been accepted into the South African Sommeliers Association (SASA).

Plaatjies, who is currently studying for her National Certificate in Food and Beverage Services, has extensive restaurant experience and has worked at African Pride's 15 on Orange Hotel in Cape Town and Sun International's Maslow Hotel.

Her future plans include owning and running a wine club to give wine educational programmes for formerly disadvantaged students hoping to work in the hospitality industry as well as for corporate clients and business people who have not had extensive exposure to wine in the past.

15 of the country's best tasters, chosen at provincial competitions held in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, met at the SAWTC finals to face the challenge of identifying wines from around the world and to decide who deserved to form part of the 2015 South African Champion Team. Plaatjies attended both the Johannesburg and Cape Town events, and performed outstandingly, qualifying in both events making her the undisputed winner of this year's Mosaic bursary.

This means that she will be part of Team South Africa 2015 that comprises captain Ralph Reynolds, Joseph T. Dhafana, Anita Streicher Nel, and will fly the national colours in France at the World Blind Challenge on 17 October 2015.