Margot Janse & The Tasting Room, Le Quartier Français, South Africa

Margot Janse is the Executive Chef at the award winning Le Quartier Français Hotel in Franschhoek, South Africa. She is joining Alyn Williams at his Michelin-starred restaurant The Westbury for this year’s CHEFstock alongside Paul Ainsworth and brothers Peter and Jonray Sanchez-Iglesias on the line-up.

An award winning chef in her own country not much is known about Margot over here so we’re giving you an insight into a chef which Alyn Williams is "really looking forward to seeing her food first hand".

Born and educated in The Netherlands, Margot’s creative talents were nurtured whilst studying drama and photography in her home country, which later led to her taking up a course at a photographic school in Johannesburg, South Africa.

However at the age of 23 the magic of the kitchen beckoned and she approached Ciro Molinaro, a highly respected Johannesburg restaurateur, who agreed to teach her in his own kitchen. It was two years of long shifts and hard work during which time Margot learned every aspect of managing a kitchen. More importantly Ciro encouraged her to experiment and play with food, creating an ability to explore beyond traditional ‘food boundaries’.

In 1995 Margot joined the culinary team at Le Quartier Français. The hotel’s restaurant- The Tasting Room- was already considered one of South Africa’s best, so it was an enormous challenge for Margot when she was asked to take over as Executive Chef shortly after her arrival. However, eighteen years and many national and international awards later, Margot continues to thrive in the career of her choice and enthral serious diners from around the globe.

Margot travels extensively to stay ahead of emerging trends and to be continually inspired by new ideas. Her African inspired surprise menu changes regularly, based on seasonal fresh produce. The result is a kitchen buzzing with on-going innovative and creative energy, while Margot and her talented team serve course after course of exquisite culinary delights from this fine dining restaurant.

The Tasting Room restaurant at Le Quartier Français in Franschhoek offers the finest and most genuine South African dining experience. There are two African Surprise Tasting Menus, one of 5 courses and one of 9 courses. These showcase and reinterpret indigenous South African and African produce in a contemporary and artistic way.

Janse does not just pay lip service to ‘local produce’ and ‘seasonality’. Her aim is to be 100% African. When she first arrived in South Africa over 20 years ago, she witnessed a culinary culture where chefs and restaurateurs dismissed local delicacies and products in favour of flown-in scallops, foie gras and cheese. At Le Quartier Français, Janse has taken a different path, embracing a distinctly local direction, sourcing ingredients from Le Quartier Français’s gardens or small producers who are as passionate as she is.

Quail comes from nearby Paradyskloof, tennis-ball sized truffles are gathered in the Kalahari, cocoa is sourced from Madagascar and coffee from Ethiopia.  The restaurant produces its own butter, bakes its bread daily and has barrels of homemade vinegar in its store room.  Traditional South African flavours and ingredients such as spekboom and baobab are re-examined then reworked to create modern, refined dishes.

She will be first to cook at this year's CHEFstock - read more about it here.