[imagesource:Le chêne]

All over the world, people are taking notice of the fine food and wine on offer in South Africa.

Just last year, Cape Town’s Salsify landed a spot on Forbes’ ‘Coolest Places to Eat’ list.

And, we’re still proud to be the country that’s home to Wolfgat, the restaurant that won the title of ‘Restaurant of the Year’ at the World Restaurant Awards last year.

More recently, CNN has identified 20 of the best new restaurants in the world. We chose five of the best from their list, including a local gem in Franschhoek:

Le chêne, Franschhoek

Le chêne, which is French for ‘the oak tree’ recently opened in Franschhoek.

Here chef Darren Badenhorst crafts fine dining from two courses through to a full tasting menu.

Hyper-local produce, namely ingredients that come almost exclusively from the estate where the Manor House sits, is transformed into dishes such as baked local hake with salted lemon and a garden pea risotto or porcini mushrooms foraged and paired with a tartare of cured Springbok.

The venue’s glass conservatory offers panoramas of the Franschhoek Valley, while the wine is another highlight thanks to the region’s famously rich vineyards.

Those are the same vineyards that have been getting glowing reviews and a lot of international recognition, lately.

Madera at Treehouse London, UK

This is the sister to Toca Madera in Los Angeles and Scottsdale. This restaurant in the heart of London offers Mexican food with a difference.

Located 15 floors up, its plant-filled interiors, quirky design touches and sweeping views are proving a big draw already.

The food on offer includes a raw bar with flavorful ceviche dishes, a taqueria promising freshly-made blue corn tortillas and specialties like carne asada, and Black Angus skirt steak steeped in a coriander marinade and served on lava stones.

There are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options on the menu, so there’s something for everyone.

TURK Fatih Tutak, Turkey

World-renowned Turkish chef Fatih Tutak has opened his first restaurant in Istanbul.

By working closely with Turkish fishermen, farmers and artisanal producers, Tutak promises to celebrate his country’s diversity of produce.

Served in a modern, light-filled setting, the food here merges the chef’s extensive travels and overseas experience with historic Turkish techniques to reinterpret traditional flavors.

All wines served are Turkish, and TURK offers traditional food with a global twist.

The Mayfair Supper Club, Las Vegas

Thanks to Hollywood, we tend to associate Las Vegas with a steak served at a strip club. It’s actually one of the best dining destinations in the US thanks to the selection of restaurants on offer, led by local and international celebrity chefs.

Open since New Year’s Eve, The Mayfair Supper Club, a new spot on the Strip at The Bellagio, promises to add to the culinary landscape, while throwing in some old school glamour.

The roaring twenties provide the inspiration for the spot’s live entertainment, which features throughout dinner before a late-night jazz party — all played out against the famed Bellagio Fountains.

It’s themed, so you won’t be missing out on that Las Vegas fantasy experience.

HENRY, Hong Kong

This is an American grill and smokehouse overseen by British Chef de Cuisine Nathan Green.

The meat specialist comes with critical and public acclaim from a number of restaurants in both Hong Kong and London, all of which have celebrated charcoal grilling, meat-curing and butchery.

His menu at HENRY’s continues in this fashion, with choices such as American Black Angus aged for 90 days in Woodford Reserve Bourbon and ash or a Becker Lane Farm Pork Chop served with heirloom carrots and pickled mustard seeds.

It’s a culture clash, but it’s also getting some very good reviews.

For the rest of the list, you can read the full article here.

Before you do that, though, make a reservation at Le chêne.

Once the world takes notice, tables tend to fill up pretty fast.

[source:cnn]