Executive chef at Pierneef à La Motte in Franschhoek, a Top 10 nominee in 2012 and 2011, Chris Erasmus is known for innovation in the kitchen, while still paying homage to Cape winelands cuisine. (In early July he was featured in episode 10 of MasterChef SA, where he gave the blue team tips on terrines in a Masterclass.)

Chris forages for leaves and mushrooms in his own organic garden on the La Motte estate, is a firm fan of pickling, and loves to get together with other chefs to cook up a storm, but he also enjoys putting his feet up and eating out. Here are Chris’s favourite spots for sushi, pizza and a romantic dinner in the winelands and Cape Town areas.

My favourite place for…

A pizza
Burrata in Cape Town. Chef Annemarie Steenkamp does amazing pizzas and Neil Grant’s wine recommendations are always spot on. They’re a great team!

Asian food
Genkis Sushi and Tapas Bar in Stellenbosch. It’s one of Liam’s favourite places! (Read more about where Liam (4) likes to eat in Kids’ favourite restaurants.)

Burgers
The best spot is on the braai at home. I love making hand-cut steak burgers, with chilli and avo relish and a quince BBQ sauce.

Sushi
Genki Sushi and Tapas Bar. Our family would live off sushi and this is the original SA master!

A great view and cocktails
Roca in Franschhoek. The view is spectacular for Sunday afternoon lazy cocktails.

Takeaways
I can’t remember the last time I had takeaways. But if I do, it’s normally a sandwich from Jason in Cape Town when I’m there.

Take-away coffee before work
I’m up way before town wakes up, and my wife, Alisha, has been my barista for as long as I can remember.

A week-day breakfast
The best so far was at Dear Me in Cape Town.

A lazy Saturday morning brunch
Café Des Arts in Franschhoek. Chef Chris Hoffman does these amazing ham and cheese croissants that Liam loves. And I love the pain au chocolate.

A business lunch
I don’t really have those. Closest to it would be a get-together of chefs over a good bottle of wine around a braai…

Sunday lunch with the family
Leopard’s Leap in Franschhoek. The rotisserie is great and the MCC is one of my favourite wines. The restaurant is also very child friendly, which is a big plus for us.

A romantic dinner
Ryan’s Kitchen in Franschhoek is a very intimate, cosy restaurant and Ryan cooks amazing, imaginative food.

A blow-the-budget celebratory dinner
Sushi at Willoughby is lovely, but pricey! Normally the out-of-hand dinners are the ones we do at someone’s home when chefs get together.

An end-of-the-month weekday dinner
Café Des Arts, or The Common Room at Le Quartier Français – it just closed for refurbishments, but it was our local weekly.

Buying flowers
The farm shop at La Motte. Here you get everything from beautiful field flowers to the blushing brides and disas that we grow on the farm.

Buying bread
The farm shop at La Motte or Oude Bank Bakkerij in Stellenbosch.

Buying wine
La Cotte in Franschhoek. Ludwig knows exactly what to recommend and Lodine, his wife, sells the most amazing French cheese – the comte and Époisses are my favourites. Again, I also buy at La Motte – my favourite is the organic sauvignon blanc or Leopard’s Leap MCC.

Ordering birthday cake
That’s normally home baked…

Market-style shopping
The Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill, the forest in our back yard, Neil Jewell’s charcuterie fridge, Lodine’s cheese fridge and La Motte breads and preserves… What more could you need?

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Read more personal recommendations by MasterChef SA judge Pete Goffe-Wood, chef Geoffrey Murray of Zachary’s in Knysna, and our Johannesburg correspondent, Kristia van Heerden.