SA’s top restaurants recognised by 2012 American Express Platinum fine dining programme
The 2012 Awards, the 14th since the international programme was introduced into SA in 1999, honoured three restaurants that have reached 10 consecutive years in the programme
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Published: 2011/09/16 09:07:49 AM
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Despite the past year being a particularly difficult period for the South African restaurant and hospitality industry due to tough local and global economic conditions, 78 restaurants feature in the latest American Express Platinum Fine Dining Programme which annually recognises the country’s top eating establishments.
The 2012 Awards, the 14th since the international programme was introduced into SA in 1999, honoured three restaurants that have reached 10 consecutive years in the programme, renewed 67 of the 2011 Awards, admitted eight new restaurants making their debut in the programme, and reinstated three suspended restaurants which again met the programme’s qualification standards. Eight 2011 Award winners were not renewed after falling short of the programme’s strict qualifying criteria.
This year’s judging panel comprised well known restaurant critic, Victor Strugo, and Cape Town “foodie” Tamsin Snyman, assisted by an anonymous squad of experienced assessors.
Selection criteria include quality and creativity of cuisine, service, wine list, décor and ambience as well as overall excellence and American Express card acceptance. In an industry rendered volatile by prevailing economics, consistency is paramount among the judging priorities. The sole qualifying commitment on the part of the restaurant is guaranteeing to honour at least one late dinner reservation for up to four people by American Express Platinum Card members who call before 10.30 am on the morning of the reservation date.
Commenting on this year’s awards Strugo said they are more significant and relevant than ever due to the need for greater recognition of excellence against a backdrop of increasing mediocrity in the South African restaurant industry: “The American Express Platinum Fine Dining Programme identifies and honours the country’s restaurants that are at the top of their game across a wide range of food styles.”
Strugo paid a special tribute to Walter Ulz of Linger Longer fame who died on August 14. Linger Longer would have scored its 14th consecutive listing in the programme this year had it not closed down following Ulz’s death.
“This talented chef, genial host and generous human-being made Linger Longer the jewel in Johannesburg’s culinary crown,” said Strugo. “I feel immense sadness that Walter’s wonderful human energy can be so abruptly truncated and that a city with a dwindling culinary culture has been significantly impoverished by the demise of its Grande Dame restaurant shortly after it celebrated its Golden Jubilee . “This great loss coincides with a time of crisis as an unprecedented number of restaurants are disappearing from an insanely overtraded and overheated market in an environment of global uncertainty. — no fewer than 12 of the 2011 American Express Platinum-awarded restaurants have shut their doors in the past year. That’s the highest attrition rate I’ve seen in almost two decades of restaurant reviewing.”
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2012 AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM FINE DINING PROGRAMME
There are eight recipients of their first American Express Platinum Fine Dining Awards: BistroSixteen82, Nobu, Planet@Mount Nelson, and Reuben’s One&Only in the Cape Peninsula; Pierneef at La Motte in the Cape Winelands; Café del Sol and Le Soufflé in Gauteng.
The three restaurants reinstated to the programme are: Bosman’s at Grande Roche and Grande Provence in the Cape Winelands; the Durban mega-legend Saagries, now re-established by the original owner in the heart of Sandton.
The three restaurants that have reached the milestone of 10 consecutive awards are: 96 Winery Road and Fraai Uitzicht 1798 in the Cape Winelands and La Campagnola in Gauteng.
The full list of awards for 2012 is as follows:
Aubergine, Buitenverwachting, Bukhara (city bowl), Catharina’s, Constantia Uitsig, The Food Barn, Gold, The Greenhouse, Haiku; Il Leone, La Colombe, Roundhouse, Savoy Cabbage
96 Winery Road, Boschendal, Bread & Wine, Fraai Uitzicht 1798, French Connection Bistro, Jardine at Jordan, Mimosa Lodge, Overture @ Hidden Valley, The Pavilion, Reuben’s (Franschhoek), Seafood @ The Marine, Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français
Hacklewood Hill (Port Elizabeth)
De Oude Kraal
Kalinka Karoo Cuisine
La Locanda (George), Sand @ The Plettenberg, Zinzi @ Tsala (Plettenberg Bay), Serendipity (Wilderness), Trans Karoo (Great Brak), Pembreys, Zachary’s at Pezula (Knysna)
Bellagio, Bellgables, Bukhara (Sandton), Butcher Shop & Grill, Byzance, La Cucina di Ciro, Gramadoelas, La Campagnola, Le Canard, Mastrantonia, Metzuyan, Osteria Tre Nonni, Piccolo Mondo, Pigalle (Sandton), Roots @ Forum Homini, Saxon, Sel et Poivre, Wombles, Yamato
Geet, La Madeleine, La Pentola, Mosaic, Ritrovo Ristorante,
Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse, Daruma, Hartford House, Harvey’s, Ile Maurice, Roma Revolving Restaurant, Spice, Sugar Club
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