The votes have been counted and the winners have been announced in this year’s Food XX Awards! In a ceremony held at Soetmelksvlei, Babylonstoren, the 19 women were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the food and hospitality industry. “We were once again overwhelmed by the incredible volume of nominations,” says Hannerie Visser, director and founder of Studio H. “This only strengthens our conviction that women truly are the backbone of the food and hospitality industry. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we take the time to celebrate and honour their remarkable contributions.”  

The awards, which happen every two years, celebrate the remarkable contributions of women across the food and hospitality industry, recognising excellence in everything from farming and food styling to education, culinary heritage, and beyond. 

Here are this year’s winners, plus what the judges had to say about them… 

 

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Baker: Megan Wessels, owner of With HÄRT Bakery
“She is truly deserving of recognition for her unwavering commitment to her craft.” – Judge chef Jess van Dyk 

Behind the scenes: Chiara Turilli, co-founder of Lello’s Deli
“What she creates behind the scenes shows the power of food to bring people together.” – Judge Errieda du Toit 

 

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Drinks: Danielle Schoeman, the founder and distiller at Doña Distillery
“I have closely followed Danielle’s career for many years and hold great admiration for her exceptional business acumen and her commitment to leading a team of mostly women!” – Judge Khanya Mncwabe

Food Educator: Debbie Ayub, co-owner and principal of Sense of Taste Chef School
“Debbie leads an outstanding culinary school with remarkable skill, excelling as an exceptional educator and a true luminary in her field.” – Judge Dr Anna Trapido

 

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Food Entrepreneur: Daniela Gutstadt, owner and executive chef of Culinary Table Restaurant and Deli in Lanseria
“I am continually amazed by individuals who excel across multiple disciplines with such exceptional proficiency, all while managing to do it simultaneously with grace and precision.” – van Dyk 

 

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Farming: Iming Lin, owner of Meuse Farm
This year’s worthy winner, according to Khanya Mzongwana, is an educator, as well as a farmer, who protects historical crops from dying out by continuing their cultivation and distribution. She is the go-to for hard-to-find ingredients among the chefs of the city.

Food Heritage: Mashau Mabunda, founder of Xigugu Royalty
“This is the best example in South Africa of an authentic, accessible, delicious heritage product brought into the mainstream, usually Eurocentric, retail space.” –  Trapido

 

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Food Photographer: Ashleigh Frans, owner of Wide Wing Photography
“Her work makes everything look DELICIOUS, INDULGENT and so, so attractive. She makes ugly delicious look polished – her photos are real and wonderful.” – van Dyk

Food stylist presented by Spekko: Simone Nel
“[Simone’s] rare ability to elevate presentation to a level that surpasses even the taste is truly remarkable.” – van Dyk

Food writer presented by Spekko: Khanya Mzongwana, Deputy Food Editor, Woolworths Taste
“Khanya stands out as one of the rare individuals who excels in both food styling and writing. Her work is a testament to a unique blend of wit, depth, and sophistication, consistently delivering content that is not only thought-provoking and insightful but also elegantly stylish.” – Trapido

 

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Front of House presented by Krone: Katlego Mathobela, head sommelier at Proud Mary (a 1-star restaurant)
“Katlego consistently demonstrates a remarkable blend of humility and kindness, coupled with a deep commitment to expanding her expertise and continuously advancing her knowledge.” – Mncwabe  

Future Food: Roushanna Gray, founder and owner of Veld and Sea
“Roushanna’s work is a powerful reminder of our ancestral roots, reconnecting us to the fundamental practices of veld-living and traditional food harvesting.” – van Dyk 

Giving Back: Nolizwe Sotondoshe, founder of Nande’s Kitchen
Mzongwana says the winner has devoted her life to the spirit of giving, a commitment that permeates every aspect of her being and actions.

 

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In The Kitchen: Jes Doveton, owner of Acid Food & Wine Bar (a 1-star restaurant)
Mzongwana comments that what distinguishes the winner is her hands-on leadership; as an owner, she actively works in the kitchen, fully engaging in every aspect of the business, including the most challenging tasks. 

Sustainability: Latiefah Behardien, the Chief Technical and Sustainability Officer at Woolworths Food

Legacy Award: Abigail Donnelly, the Creative Food Editor at Woolworths Taste, Eat Out Chief Judge and Food Creative for Woolworths Foods Marketing

Trailblazer: Zyda Rylands, the outgoing CEO of Woolworths Food

 

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Chef of the Year presented by ClemenGold: Jessica van Dyk, Chef Patron at Post & Pepper (a 1-star restaurant)
“In the male-dominated world of professional cheffing, being a female chef-patron is an even bigger feat. Having the guts to open her own restaurant in the heart of Stellenbosch, one of the world’s culinary hot spots, says a lot about her pioneering spirit.” – du Toit 

Food Icon: Xoliswa Ndoyiya, former personal chef to Nelson Mandela and custodian of Xhosa culinary culture
“This year’s Food Icon award goes to a person whose career in the food industry spans 33 years – as cookbook author, custodian of Xhosa culinary culture and personal chef to Nelson Mandela for 22 years.” – Trapido