South African restaurant Wolfgat named best in the world

Wolfgat, a small restaurant in South African was named “Restaurant of the Year” in Paris by the World Restaurant Awards, at the big surprise of everyone.

Located on an idyllic beach in a tiny cottage in Paternoster (two hours’ drive from Cape Town), Wolfgat is a small restaurant that chef Kobus van der Merwe opened in September 2016, in his parents’ 130-year-old property.

The restaurant seats just 20 diners, and serves a seven-course tasting menu for 850 rand ($60). Chef Kobus Van der Merwe, delights in the concept of local products. His philosophy is “to interfere as little as possible with the products and to serve them pure, raw and unprocessed.”

A little word from chef Kobus Van der Merwe

The jury chose from 36 countries including France, Australia and Zimbabwe, selecting winners in 18 categories ranging from “house specialty” or “no reservation”, street food, cosmopolitan fusion cuisine, smaller budgets etc. Wolfgat’s winning is a new ranking that aims to promote the diversity of the international culinary scene.

Votes were cast by a 100-member jury, with 50/50 gender parity composed. The judging panel included some of the biggest names in the culinary world, including chefs: Elena Arzak (Arzak), Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana); David Chang (Momofuku); Hélène Darroze (Hélène Darroze) Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison Park); Rene Redzepi (Noma); and Clare Smyth (Core). I am one of several journalists on the panel but wasn’t involved in the selection of Wolfgat.

Sources: fin24.com & thesouthafrican.com