It has been announced that the new chef heading up the new Le Petit Manoir restaurant on the main road in Franschhoek is Chef Kevin Grobler, previously the Head Chef of one Michelin star JAN restaurant in Nice. He has been joined in the kitchen by his former JAN colleague Chef Scott Armstrong.
The opening of Le Petit Manoir will further raise the bar of the restaurant reputation of Franschhoek, which is already blessed with award-winning restaurants and chefs: Le Petite Colombe, Chef Darren Badenhorst and his Le Coin Français, Chef Chris Erasmus and his Foliage, new Pierneef à La Motte Chef Eric Bulpitt, and Grand Provence and its Chef Guy Bennett.
A chance meeting with the owner of Le Petit Manoir led to both parties knowing that they wanted to be part of the new journey for Le Petit Manoir. Chef Kevin worked at JAN for three years, having arrived there in June 2015, from Delaire Graff. I first met Chefs Kevin and Scott in the Nice kitchen of JAN.
With the frequent traveling by JAN owner and Chef Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen between South Africa and Nice, Chef Kevin was thrown into the deep-end to run the restaurant, on the eve of it obtaining its first Michelin star in February 2016. Each year since then it has maintained its one star, and increasingly Chef Kevin and his team were responsible for this success. It is said that it is harder to win a Michelin star than an Oscar. Maintaining the Award takes extreme hard work and perseverance.
Chef Kevin and his team will offer fine dining with a European flair, keeping the dishes simple, clean, and sensational, with quality local produce at the heart of each dish. A hint of one of the dishes is chicken livers, charred onion, and caviar.
Le Petit Manoir is also operating a boutique guest house from the premises on Huguenot Street, the main road of Franschhoek.
Le Petit Manoir, 54 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek. Tel 021 876-2110 www.LePetitManoir.co.za Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein
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Wonderful news! We can not wait to visit you!!! Wishing you everything of the best with this venture. I am sure it will be a success!!
When will Chef Kevin formally be in charge of the restaurant at Le Petit Manoir, please?
We live in Gauteng and don’t want to travel if he is not yet operational in the kitchen!