Dominic Adriaanse
MICHELIN stars are the most prestigious award any restaurant aspires to around the wold. And South African Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen has achieved this top culinary honour at his South African-themed restaurant in France.
Restaurant JAN in Nice, in the south of France, was awarded its first One Michelin Star in the 2016 French Guide Michelin.
This makes restaurateur Van der Westhuizen the first South African to receive this prestigious accolade in Asia and Europe. The restaurant received its first mention in the Michelin Guide a mere eight months after opening its doors in 2013.
“Owning a restaurant in France was a bit like selling ice to an Eskimo in the beginning. We adjusted the cuisine slightly; we could not just serve a bobotie,” said Van der Westhuizen.
His father Jakob “Boet” van der Westhuizen, a farmer, said he never understood why his son was always in the kitchen at their farm Noodgedacht in Mpumalanga.
“From a very early age he was always a hard worker and he had exquisite taste. As a farmer this was something I never fully understood, but I am very proud,” said Boet.
“We were the first people he called when he was informed of the award, and we are so proud of him and what he’s achieved. He should settle down a bit but that’s not in his nature. He’s always ready to take things to another level.” said Boet.
Jan Hendrik graduated from Stellenbosch Academy in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in applied design.
Jan Hendrik, also an author, and Pascal Szafranski opened JAN.
“Within the chefs fraternity the Michelin star is obviously a very prestigious thing to get,” he said .