Chef Siba’s eatery named Africa’s finest

South Africa’s celebrated and much-loved TV chef, Siba Mtongana, has clinched another prestigious international culinary award at the fifth annual World Culinary Awards.

For the second year running, Siba: The Restaurant at the five-star Table Bay hotel was named as Africa’s Best Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant.

Voted for by culinary professionals, media and consumers worldwide, the award recognised Siba: The Restaurant’s commitment to excellence in fine dining at a gala dinner held in Dubai last week.

Speaking at the event, Mtongana said, “Family, we did it. South Africa, we did it. Africa, we did it”.

“I am always honoured to accept this award on behalf of my team who puts in much hard work to maintain our high standards. This is what keeps guests coming back for more, and spreading the word both locally and internationally,” said Mtongana.

“What makes the World Culinary Awards so special is that our guests were given the chance to vote, so it is thanks to their love and support that we got to bring it home.”

Since opening a pop-up at the hotel in December 2020, and then launching her restaurant in 2021, Siba: The Restaurant has received multiple accolades. These include the Top Restaurant Award for Service Excellence from the Restaurant Association of South Africa and Best Hotel Restaurant and the Excellence Award at the Luxe Restaurant Awards. The UK’s LUXlife Magazine named Siba - The Restaurant as Cape Town's Most Exclusive Fine Dining experience for 2023.

Table Bay hotel general manager Joanne Selby said: “Siba is extraordinarily talented and we are extremely proud that she has chosen to partner with us. We know first-hand how much hard work Siba invests in her restaurant and in training her staff to international standards, so we salute her success and celebrate her win with her.”

Cape Town was announced as Africa’s Best Culinary City Destination for 2024, and South Africa named Africa’s Best Culinary Destination for 2024. Other winners at the World Culinary Awards include Nobu (‘World’s Best Restaurant Brand’); Rockfish, Dubai (‘World’s Best Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant’); Saigontourist Group Culinary Culture, Delicacies Festival (‘World’s Best Culinary Festival’ and ‘Asia’s Best Culinary Festival’); Gourmet on Tour (‘World’s Best Culinary Tour Operator’); Su Va Na, Phuket (‘World’s Best Underwater Restaurant'); Sirocco (‘World’s Best Rooftop Restaurant’); Pierchic @ Jumeirah Al Qasr (‘World’s Best Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant’).

World Culinary Awards director Rina van Staden said: “Our winners are the visionaries whose creativity and craftmanship bring joy to millions of people every day.

Their hard work, commitment and unwavering passion for the culinary arts inspire us all. My congratulations to each of them.”

Cape Times