The glamorous Cirque Culinaire-themed 2007 Eat Out Restaurant Awards ceremony took place at The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, on 25 November 2007. It was a thrilling affair as Eat Out announced the Eat Out Top 10 Restaurants as well as the winners of the Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year titles for 2007.  And here they are!

The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français
Chef Margot Janse
Le Quartier Français, 16 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek (021-876 2151)

Jardine (Closed)
Chef George Jardine
185 Bree Street, Cape Town (021-424 5640)

Aubergine
Chef Harald Bresselschmidt
39 Barnet Street, Gardens, Cape Town (021-465 4909)

Bread & Wine
Chef Neil Jewell
Môreson Wine Farm, La Motte, Happy Valley Road, Franschhoek (021-876 3692/4004)

Grande Provence
Chef Peter Tempelhoff
Grande Provence Estate, Main Road, Franschhoek (021-876 8600)

Ginja (closed)
Chef Mike Bassett
121 Castle Street, Cape Town (021 426 2368)

Roots
Chef Philippe Wagenfuhrer
Forum Homini Boutique Hotel, Letamo Game Reserve, Kromdraai Road, Kromdraai (011 668 7000)

The Showroom (closed)
Chef Bruce Robertson
Harbour Edge, Corner Of Chiappini And Hospital Streets, Cape Town (021 421 4682)

Linger Longer (closed)
Chef Walter Ulz
58 Wierda Road West, Wierda Valley, Johannesburg (011 884 0465)

Ninth Avenue Bistro
Chef Carly Goncalves
Avonmore Centre, Ninth Avenue, Greyville, Durban (031 312 9134)

This selection was made following a gruelling judging process with stringent scoring and criteria, with each of the judges having visited the 20 nominated restaurants individually, and unannounced. This year the judges were Arnold Tanzer (Director of the SA Chefs Association); Food Alchemist Pete Goffe-Wood; Letitia Prinsloo (Principal of the Institute of Culinary Arts); and restaurateur Dario De’Angeli who joined the judging team for the first time.

The Awards ceremony – which was presented by New Media Publishing in association with Johnnie Walker Gold, Green & Black’s, Mumm Champagne and BBC Food – was attended by some 300 food fans, chefs and media personalities with Capetonian funnyman, Marc Lottering, who delighted guests as the Master of Ceremonies. The evening’s extraordinary entertainment line-up also featured a breathtaking aerial act and food-juggling routine by performers from the Zip-Zap circus.

Guests dined in fine style, courtesy of three talented chefs, Nic van Wyk and Craig Bloemsma as well as Ronelle Mesias of the host venue The Bay Hotel, who presented a delectable four-course meal paired with top award-winning wines.