Leeu Collection is proud to announce that the La Colombe Restaurant team at Silvermist Wine Estate in Constantia will establish a new restaurant in place of “The Tasting Room” at Le Quartier Français in the second half of 2017. The new restaurant, (as yet unnamed) will open in August 2017, after refurbishments during winter. 

Executive chef Margot Janse, who has been at the helm of The Tasting Room for the past 12 years, building it into one of the most celebrated restaurants in South Africa, announced her resignation recently. This new venture will complement La Colombe and be driven by celebrated Chef Scot Kirton and Head Chef James Gaag.  

“It is said that like-minded people attract each other,” says Analjit Singh. “Our partnership with La Colombe is an outcome of that same synergy and spirit. When my family first visited Cape Town a few years ago, La Colombe became one of our favourite restaurants. In a sense, the circle is complete yet again. La Colombe has found us and the Leeu Collection has found them. We look forward to welcoming the team from La Colombe to complement our portfolio.”

La Colombe has consistently received world-wide acclaim and is positioned amongst the top restaurants in the world. A striving for culinary perfection combined with industry leading service has garnered them the 2016 Eat Out Nespresso Service Excellence Award with Scot Kirton, chef proprietor named as the 2015 Eat Out San Pellegrino Chef of the Year. La Colombe was also recently ranked 76 in the top 100 restaurants in the world, and regularly features amongst the Top 3 restaurants in South Africa. Visitors to Franschhoek can now look forward to experiencing the same level of service excellence and exquisite cuisine that has put La Colombe on the map – but with a new venture, and with a twist.  

“We immediately saw the synergy between Constantia and Franschhoek,” says Scot Kirton. “Both the Franschhoek and Constantia Valleys are tourism destinations of world-renown; offering only the best wine and gourmet experiences South Africa has to offer. We look forward to the journey and working with the team at Le Quartier Français to jointly develop a world class culinary experience.”