Award for top restaurant
2005-04-28
THE renowned Franschhoek restaurant Le Quartier Français was named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants by a panel of top food experts at a prestigious awards ceremony held at The Royal Exchange in London on April 18.
It was the only South African restaurant to win a highly prized place on the top 50 list of the world’s culinary hot spots from London and Paris to New York and Sydney.
Over 500 chefs, gourmands and restaurateurs from around the globe voted in the authoritative survey conducted by Restaurant, a leading British industry magazine. The announcement of the awards made headlines in the British press.
A report in The Independent featured four celebrity chefs out of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants - Le Quartier Français (chef Margot Janse) of Franschhoek, Per Se (chef Thomas Keller) of New York, Rockpool (chef Neil Perry) of Sydney and The Fat Duck (chef Heston Blumenthal) of Berkshire, UK.
Restaurant magazine invited culinary experts from around the world to nominate their top five restaurants.
Celebrity chefs such as Anton Edelman, Thomas Keller, Ken Hom (ex-Savoy) and Gordon Ramsay were among the international judges who selected The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2005.
Le Quartier Français of Franschhoek made the culinary A-list alongside landmarks such as Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons (Oxford), El Bulli (Barcelona), Alain Ducasse (Paris), Charlie Trotter (Chicago) and Gramercy Tavern (New York).
In special awards, Le Quartier Français was also voted the Best Restaurant in the Middle East and Africa.
Margot Janse, executive chef at Le Quartier Français was commended for the signature dishes on her gourmet tasting menu - olive-crusted salmon, braised neck of milk-fed goat and double-baked Ganzvlei vastrap cheddar souffle.
The Fat Duck - a restaurant that won the number one spot for its unusual dishes of snail porridge and bacon and egg ice-cream - was named the Best In Europe.
The French Laundry in the Napa Valley was named Best in the Americas and Tetsuya’s of Sydney was named the Best in Australasia.
Susan Huxter, owner of Le Quartier Français was in London to attend the prestigious function. She is delighted with the latest accolade for the restaurant and boutique hotel.
“We’re all so excited - to be judged by our peers as one of the world’s 50 best restaurants is a great achievement. The recognition is a rich reward for a team effort. Being chosen to represent South Africa as one of the world’s best restaurants makes us feel very fulfilled.”
Le Quartier Français has won widespread acclaim for its innovative style of contemporary Cape cuisine, service and quality of accommodation.
Other accolades include:
* World’s Best Small Hotel 2004 in travel awards in Tatler UK.
* Best Chef in South Africa 2004, best service and place in Wine’s Top 100 Restaurants in South Africa for seven consecutive years.
* Chef of the Year in 2002 and a Top 10 Restaurant rating in Eat Out 1999-2004.
* Selected as one of the Top 10 Restaurants for modern Cape cuisine in Wine UK.
* Eight Diners Club Winelist Awards, including two platinum awards.
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