The first Restaurant Awards of 2022 were announced in Johannesburg by the Hospitality Counsel a week ago, with a handful of Cape Town restaurants and chefs recognised in their 2022 Luxe Awards.

Speaking to one of the organisers of the Awards a year or so ago, it appeared that Cape Town chefs and restaurant owners were not keen to fly to Johannesburg at their own expense to receive the Awards, and hence the Johannesburg restaurants dominate these Awards, of which 25 were presented, eight going to Cape Town Restaurants. It may explain why three restaurants in the La Colombe Group received four awards this year. And why Chef Luke Dale Roberts received three awards, as the event was hosted at Ethos Restaurant, where he is the Consultant Chef.  

The Award winners have not yet been posted on the Hospital Counsel website, but from media coverage these are the winners:

Restaurant of the Year: La Colombe Constantia, Cape Town

Chef of the Year: Wandile Mabaso, Les Creatifs, Johannesburg

Best New Restaurant: PIER, Waterfront, Cape Town

Coffee Shop of the Year: Truth Café, Cape Town

Best Fine Dining Restaurant: La Petite Colombe, Franschhoek

Best Street Food Experience : How Bao Now, Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town

Style Award: Zioux, Johannesburg

Burger Joint of the Year: BGR, Johannesburg

Best Hotel Restaurant of the Year: Aurum Restaurant, Sandton, Johannesburg

Culinary Media Personality of the Year: Zanele van Zyl, Johannesburg

Culinary Innovation Award : Candice Philip, BASALT, The Peech Boutique Hotel, Johannesburg

Culinary Rising Star Award : Besele Moloi, Johannesburg

Cookbook of the Year: ‘Hosting with Lazy Makoti’ by Mogadishu Seshoene

Culinary Icon Award: Siba Mtongana, Cape Town

Lifestyle Restaurant of the Year: TANG, Sandton, Johannesburg

Wine Service of the Year: Michelle Moller, La Colombe, Cape Town

Service Excellence Award: BASALT, Johannesburg

African Restaurant of the Year: Emazulwini, Johannesburg

Bistro of the year: Embarc, Johannesburg

Café of the Year: Le Parc by Tashas, Johannesburg

International Restaurant of the Year: Ethos, Johannesburg

Steakhouse of the Year: The Blockman, Johannesburg

Pop Up Experience of the Year: Chef Katlego Mlambo at The Marabi Club,

Sustainability Award: The Test Kitchen Fledgelings, Cape Town

Pioneer Award: Chef Luke Dale Roberts, Johannesburg/Cape Town.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide