I love awards and right now I couldn’t be prouder of two fabulous South African restaurants that made it onto the S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list at the ceremony held in London on Monday night.

 Eat Out’s 2009 restaurant of the year, La Colombe, took 12th place, moving up from 38th position last year. And as if that wasn’t enough, it also scooped the Acqua Panna Best Restaurant in South Africa award.

I spoke to head chef Luke Dale–Roberts this morning as he and his family were taking a stroll around Hyde Park. “I am just flabbergasted!” he said. “To be in the same room with and to be recognised by the best chefs in the world is truly amazing – I can’t wait to come home and celebrate with my team. I was even on page two of The Evening Standard yesterday!”

Luke had a great chat with Heston Blumenthal, whose restaurant The Fat Duck took third place this year. “Everyone was really excited about visiting South Africa and were very aware of the restaurants back home,” Luke said.

Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek also featured at the awards and moved up from 37th position to 31st, pipping California’s famous The French Laundry to the post. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to chat to Le Quartier’s chef Margot Janse, but I’m sure she is over the moon.

I felt quite warm and fuzzy when I heard the news yesterday, and in solidarity with the winners I decided to celebrate their achievements. We opened a couple of bottles of Ataraxia chardonnay, whipped up some home-made anchovy pizzas and toasted our two fab winners.

Congratulations Luke and Margot!

Abigail