The Fine Art of Serious Dining

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A well known respite from ordinary gastronomy, the famous Le Quartier Francais is in the serious business of haute dining thanks to Grand Chef Margot Janse and her determination to be the best in the business.

For those who aren’t familiar with the South African dining scene, the boutique Le Quartier Francais is not just any fine dining hot spot. It’s much more. It’s ambrosia. Away from the rigamorole of a regular South African dining circuit at overpriced city restaurants, Le Quartier Francais is comfortably set in the quiet Franschhoek region, a place known for exquisite wines, gourmet cheeses, and peaceful scenery. Here, you’ll get only what you pay for. The best.

Originally begun by Susan Huxter as a restaurant and wine venture, Le Quartier was modeled after the best of premier French restaurants, serving not only gourmet food, but offering overnight accomodations for its guests as well. At Le Quartier, guests can choose from several different room types: grande rooms, auberge suites, garden suites, or even a cottage or a village house, all providing luxurious comfort in close proximity to the Le Quartier kitchen and its two restaurants, The Tasting Room and the iCi Restaurant, run by Grand Chef Margot Janse.

Together, Margot and Le Quartier have built an unimposed reputation for haute cuisine, winning five consecutive S. Pellegrino Awards for its prestigious gathering of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Margot first got her start with Le Quartier as a sous chef nearly fourteen years ago and has worked her way to where she is now, taking charge of The Tasting Room. But the Pellegrino awards have only made her strive to be better. “We now have expecations to match. We have to keep raising the bar for ourselves,” says Susan Huxter. And while this may seem hard to do year after year, Margot’s determination is proved in The Tasting Room.

This restaurant is the experience highlight of Le Quartier Francais, a place where the world’s gourmands flock to taste for themselves the culinary art of Margot Janse. The Tasting Room is exclusively open in the evenings for dinner, offering exquisite and constantly evolving five and eight-course tast­ing menus, with or without wines. “It is a whole evening of surprises and pushing the taste buds – a real food adventure – offering different flavors and a real introduction to South African cooking in a modern way,” says Susan.

Le Quartier Francais is a must see on any journey to South Africa. It is a relaxing end to safari, a necessary stop on a culinary journey, and a peaceful haven for Franschhoek wanderers. As one guest puts it, “I travel the world staying at the best hotels but when I woke up this morning, I felt like I was at home.”

Ker & Downey’s Gourmet South Africa is a delectable journey featuring the Le Quartier Francais and its world renowned restaurant, The Tasting Room. To learn more about this journey, contact your Travel Professional.

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