Chef Judi Fourie received recognition as one of the Cape’s Top Women Restaurateurs last year. This year she has been selected as a 2021 Top 10 Woman Chef, owning both Pilcrow & Cleaver as well as Fideli’s on Parliament Street in the Cape Town city centre, as well as three Judith Fresh Cafés. She received a bottle of Adhara Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil as her prize.Chef Judi fearlessly opened Fideli’s nine months ago, and offered a weekly menu for Pilcrow & Cleaver which one could collect or have delivered. It was the restaurant I supported the most during Lockdown, collecting a freshly-made order combined with a friendly chat with Chef Judi, and a shop at Fdeli’s. She is an innovative marketer, most recently handing out Fideli’s vouchers as a thank you to persons who have been vaccinated. She is a trailblazer for SASSI, supporting sustainable fishing.
We asked Chef Judi some questions about the effect of the Lockdown on her cooking and restaurants:
1. What is the best thing about the Lockdown for your business/your cooking ?
The best thing about lockdown has been the opportunity to open Fideli’s right next 
door to Pilcrow and Cleaver.
door to Pilcrow and Cleaver.I wanted the ability to trade as a grocer if level 5 had to be implemented. It also gave me the opportunity to create work in the hospitality industry where so many people had been retrenched.
2. What is the worst thing about the Lockdown for your business and your cooking ?
For me the worst thing about lockdown for my business and cooking is having those empty seats staring at you all day with no one filling them.
Pilcrow and Cleavers dream is to bring the customer and the chef together and there just was no one to cook for.
For my cooking I guess I would create my weekly menu but then sometimes not even have the opportunity to serve some of the dishes to a guest. We have all been humbled by it.
3. Are you planning to change anything in your business /cooking for the year ahead.
I have implemented a delivery system in Fideli’s, my 3rd Judith fresh Cafe has opened in Cape Town which does specific healthy take away meals.
I think continue to think how to feed people without actually having them in our restaurants.
We have also been handing out Fidelis currency as a thank you to people who are getting vaccinated at the cticc queues.
4. Anything else you wish to add? Your TV program?
I am a host on a you tube channel called Slow, this quieter time has given me the opportunity to turn Pilcrow and Cleaver into a studio and interview and cook for local celebrities.
I have questioned everything about the industry and tried to evolve with the current trends.
I have also started my MBA fundamentals and my first completed course was Women in Leadership, which made me smile.
Congratulations Chef Judi, and may you and your Restaurants and Deli grow from strength to strength.
Pilcrow & Cleaver and Fideli’s, Parliament Street, Cape Town. Cell 064 301 6328 www.pilcrowandcleaver.co.za Instagram: @pilcrowcleaver @fidelissouthafrica @chef.judi
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: 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
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