Chef Jess van Dyk heads up the kitchen at Protégé Restaurant at Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek. She was previously the Head Chef at La Colombe in Constantia, a huge honour, in it being South Africa’s number one restaurant. She is one of our 2021 Top 10 Women Chefs, and has won a bottle of Adhara Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Jess describes herself as follows: ‘Small town girl, from the Northern Cape, came to study at Silwood in 2010. I finished all three years, my third year being spent at La Colombe in 2012 (Constantia Uitsig). I stayed on at La Colombe, moving from Chef de partie to Sous Chef by the end of 2014. I left to pursue my dream of working on the yachts, but also spent a few months working with a catering and events company before heading to the Mediterranean. After 11 months on the yachts, I came back as Head Chef of La Colombe in 2018, and moved to Franschhoek to head up Protégé at the end of 2019’.
Three weeks ago two friends living in the Southern Suburbs and I met for lunch at Quince Restaurant in Diep River, having seen its lovely photographs posted in my Lockdown Restaurant Facebook Group. Needing a change of scenery from the Atlantic Seaboard, I chose to drive to the Southern Suburbs, popping in at a number of places, and had lunch at Quince Restaurant, arriving with high expectations. Sadly these were not met. 
Friday 1 May 2020, Day 1 of Lockdown Level 4, after 35 days at Level 5 😷
In my writing, I am extremely fortunate to be exposed to such interesting news. Last Thursday I attended the launch of the 2018 vintage of Constantia Royale, a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon, a blend of three and 14 year old vine grapes grown on 7 ha of the Nova Zonnestraal wine, olive and equestrian estate, hidden away, located near The Alphen Hotel in Constantia. 
It was a shock to see today that none of our country’s top restaurants have made the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, with both The Test Kitchen and La Colombe named today in the 51 – 100 ranking list, announced a week ahead of the 2017 World’s 50 Best Restaurant ceremony in Melbourne next Wednesday! 
Yesterday Ben Goble, Llewellyn Lambert, and I tried the new Christmas Tasting Menu at Benguela on Main in Somerset West, at the invitation of Chef Jean Delport. I was impressed with the creativity which Chef Jean has become renowned for, and how he put Christmas on the plate with his Chef’s Christmas Tasting Menu. The seven course Tasting Menu had two added courses and costs R720 per person, and R1050 with the wine pairings. It runs until 24 December.