World takes notice of Wolfgat

ECONOMIC Opportunities MEC Beverley Schäfer yesterday congratulated Wolfgat, the Paternoster restaurant on the West Coast that won the Restaurant of the Year Award during the inaugural World Restaurant Awards in Paris.

Wolfgat, a tiny eatery tucked away in an old fisherman’s cottage, also won the award for the best restaurant in the “Off-Map” category.

Schäfer said: “This is a phenomenal achievement. Chef Kobus van der Merwe is doing amazing work, using sustainable, seasonal and foraged ingredients in the small seaside village of Paternoster, and the world is taking notice.

“The Western Cape already has a reputation for fine food and wine, and I am excited that this accolade goes to a venue that is off the beaten track, which will encourage more local visitors to become tourists in their province and more international guests to see the diversity of experiences we offer.”

Wesgro chief executive Tim Harris said: “Named best restaurant in the world in one of the culinary capitals on the globe is proof that nowhere does fine food better than the Western Cape. We are immensely proud of Wolfgat and the team for putting the quaint West Coast town of Paternoster on the map.

“Accolades of this nature re-ignite visitors passion in our destination, compelling tourists to explore the breadth and depth of experiences available in our beautiful province.”

In their motivation for the award, the judging panel wrote: “The place is super simple, rustic yet perfectly elegant. We sat by the fireplace. The restaurant is directly on the beach with an ocean view. We could watch the fishermen go out, come back and empty the catch from their brightly-coloured boats.

“The village of Paternoster is stucco white, like somewhere in Greece, charming and not touristy. Essentially, it’s a dream of perfect balance, unspoilt charm, and accessibility. You know that feeling you get when you feel that you are among the first people to discover a place?” |