‘The Oscars of Food’: Two SA r

Image: Supplied

‘The Oscars of Food’: Two SA restaurants among the world’s best

Two South African restaurants made it onto The World’s 50 Best list, which is considered to be ‘The Oscars of the food industry’.

‘The Oscars of Food’: Two SA r

Image: Supplied

Two South African restaurants are celebrating after making it onto The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 51 to 100 list.

The Oscars of Food | The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

The announcement comes as organisers prepare for the annual awards ceremony, set to take place 5 October in Antwerp in Belgium, which will also be streamed live on their Facebook and YouTube channels.

South Africa’s La Colombe at 81, and FYN at 92 made the annual 51 to 100 list.

Peter Tempelhoff’s FYN restaurant in Cape Town came in at number 92 just three years after opening.

Peter, reflecting on the award said, “this is a real watershed moment for us, it means the world. And for the announcement to come at this time is huge. We’re really honoured, and I want to give kudos to Jennifer and Ashley and their teams – who strive to perfect everything they do. They’ve rolled with the punches throughout and they’re phenomenal support to me.

“When you consider how many restaurants there are in the world, it truly is a big deal. I hope this will prove to be a catalyst to reignite conversations about food, and get people out and eating in Cape Town restaurants again.”

Peter Tempelhoff and Ashley Moss. Image: Supplied

FYN | La Colombe

Being awarded by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is said to be a huge achievement, not just for the restaurant which is placed, but for the broader industry as well. A panel of more than 1000 experts work through an audited assessment and voting process to produce an updated list each year. Since 2002 the awards have been a barometer for the world’s fine dining scene. 

“The process of judging for The World’s 50 Best is meticulous,” Peter explained further. “There’s a range of criteria that the judges have to meet, and these awards themselves are not based on a one-time visit, but rather scoring from numerous judges in and outside of our region. If you look back over the years, it really is a reflection of the best.” 

At FYN, Peter Tempelhoff, Ashley Moss, and Jennifer Hugé ultimately set out to create a point of difference in South African fine dining.

“What we’re offering is very different from the norm, and other South African restaurants. I think we’ve managed to offer a fresh outlook, which our customers have appreciated – we’ve brought something exciting to the Cape Town scene.” 

The global industry

Meanwhile, La Colombe, which is run by executive chef James Gaag, head chef Jess van Dyk, and chef Scot Kirton, took to social media to celebrate their position on the list.

“With last year’s awards being postponed due to the pandemic, receiving this recognition during such a difficult time for the industry means so much. As always, we wouldn’t exist without the support of every diner who walks through our doors, and, of course, the global industry that acknowledges the work and creativity our team delivers – we appreciate you more than you could ever realise. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” they said.

La Colombe. Image: Supplied