Category Archives: Europe

Twelve SA Restaurants make La Liste 1000 Top Restaurant List, Restaurant Klein JAN receives special award!

 

At a Gala Event held in Paris on Monday, the new La Liste 1000 for 2022 was announced, with 12 South African Restaurants included in this prestigious list of 1000 top restaurants around the world, one sadly included but no longer operating!

In addition, brand new Restaurant Klein JAN at Tswalu in the Kalahari, owned by Chef Jan-Hendrik van  der Westhuizen, received a special Award as World Hidden Gem Restaurant. While his JAN restaurant in Nice has been awarded one Michelin star for the past six years,
it is not included in the La Liste List.  The La Liste accolade for Restaurant Klein JAN, and its inclusion in the world’s Top 1000 List, is the first international recognition for any of Chef Jan-Hendrik’s restaurants. Continue reading →

UK removes South Africa from its Red List, with 46 other countries, opens the door to SA Tourism

 

The best news in 18 months of the Corona Lockdown broke today, with the UK announcing that it will remove South Africa and 46 other countries from its Red List as of Monday 11 October. Only seven countries will remain on the UK Red List on Monday: Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Vaccinated Visitors may enter the UK on the same conditions as those of UK residents, but may not have travelled in a Red List country in the ten days before arriving in the UK.  South Africa has been on the Red List since December 2020.

A further positive step is that South Africans’ proof of vaccination will be accepted by the UK.   South African travellers will have to show the results of a Covid Test. No hotel quarantine will be required from Monday onwards, a costly affair for travellers to the UK, having to stay in  prescribed quarantine hotels at a cost of close to R50000.

Continue reading →

Franschhoek Chef represents Africa in 2021 S. Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year

 

Marcus Gericke, Head Chef at Le Coin Français in Franschhoek, is representing Africa and the Middle East in the 2021 S. Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year competition taking place in October.

Chef Marcus faces stiff competition from eleven other regions’ chefs,  and voting has opened to choose the world’s best Young Chef for 2021. The winner will be announced on 28 – 30 October, during the Grand Finale of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy 2021.  A Fine Dining Livers Food for Thought Award 2021 can be won by one of the Young Chef Finalists too.  Continue reading →

‘Rooibos’ and ‘Red Bush’ Tea officially recognised by the European Commission, first African Food receiving recognition!

 

The Western Cape Minister of Agriculture Dr Ivan Meyer has announced that ‘Rooibos’ and ‘Red Bush’ were officially recognised by the European Commission on 31 May, thus officially protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications.  It becomes the first African product to be protected by the European Union.

Rooibos Tea is an iconic beverage of our country, originating from Clanwilliam in the Western Cape, as well as the Northern Cape.  Its name may not be used for Teas originating from any other parts of the world. It is widely available in Europe, as well as in other countries, known for its health benefits. Local Rooibos Teas will now be allowed to carry the EU logo.  Continue reading →