They’ve done it again! World class chef Luke Dale-Roberts has cemented his position as ‘the best in the business’ with his incredible win for The Test Kitchen at the 2016 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Awards. Sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka also walked away earlier at the awards ceremony with the Eat Out Wine Steward Award.
The Eat Out judging panel, led by chief judge and Eat Out editor Abigail Donnelly, voted The Test Kitchen as Restaurant of the Year for an astonishing fifth consecutive year. The final and most anticipated announcement of the awards ceremony, the award was received by an understandably thrilled Dale-Roberts and team, who have recently reopened the restaurant to showcase an entirely new dining concept.
The latest menu and dining concept from Luke features The Light Room and The Dark Room and plays host to a mere 40 guests per evening. Diners begin their culinary journey in The Dark Room, sharing exquisitely prepared and presented tapas-style offerings. From here, things progress to a more formal fine dining space – The Light Room. With twenty-one (21) courses in all, each plated on a specifically chosen plate or vessel, a visit to the new The Test Kitchen is something of a pilgrimage – a sensory journey. The equally arresting visual aspect of the experience was conceptualised by Luke’s talented designer wife Sandalene who worked with a number of local artists and architect Maurice Paliaga to create a space worthy of the extraordinary food.
At The Test Kitchen, it really is the details that Luke puts in place that make the difference. Couple this with an unfailing dedication to his craft, a tireless desire to push culinary boundaries and a playful approach and willingness to explore possibilities, and you have a winning combination – something Abigail Donnelly and the Eat Out team have continued to recognise year on year.
Says Luke of his win, “while recognition is always gratefully received and we are absolutely thrilled, what drives us is the chance to offer a truly extraordinary and entertaining food experience for our guests”. And there’s no doubt about, the public and judges alike agree that The Test Kitchen truly is an exceptional and award winning experience.
The Test Kitchen is located at Shop 105a, The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town. Booking has switched to an online reservations system. This means that reservations can only be made independently via their website. Their online reservations system opens one month prior to the preferred date, (e.g. from the 1st July you are able to book for the month of August and from the 1st of August you are able to book for the month of September).
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