Looking for some personal recommendations in and around Gauteng? Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards judge Anna Trapido shares her favourite places for pizza, a great view, Sunday lunch and more.

She’s authored several books, including two on Madiba’s life in food, is a trained chef and, just for good measure, has a PhD in Occupational Medicine. “I think mine was the only public health project in the Transkei where everybody got a fabulous lunch,” she once said of her early role in a community health project.

These days, Anna Trapido indulges her love of food in other ways – most recently as one of the six judges of the 2013 Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards. (The winners will be announced in March at the Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards and Festival.)

Anna is also a master at finding hidden gems in and around Gauteng, and the rural regions near the smallholding where she lives. Here is Anna on her favourite places for Asian, the best coffee in South Africa, and why she should be allowed to answer La Madeleine for more than one question.

My favourite place…
For a pizza
Ritrovo in Pretoria. Real Neapolitans making real pizza. Plus a fabulous view, magnificent wine list and lovely staff.

For Asian
Chinese Northern Foods Restaurant, a Manchurian restaurant in Cyrildene Chinatown, Johannesburg, run by recent arrivals from Harbin. Eating there is an intriguing lesson in the diversity of Chinese food and Chinese people – the food, booze and service style of the far north is so unlike any Chinese food culture I have ever been exposed to before. Delicious, warm and caring (despite almost no English being spoken). It’s the best Chinese food in South Africa by a million miles.

For a great view
The balcony of Neh! In Alexandra township – panoramic views over the Sandton skyline.

Coffee
My best place for a cup of coffee ever, ever, ever, is the Ethiopian Restaurant (that is its only name) in Phuthadijaba in the Eastern Free State. The coffee is so good you it spoils you for any other coffee anywhere.

A lazy Saturday morning brunch
Silver Orange Bistro at Hartbeespoort. Bacon and pancake stacks, maple syrup amidst the Fever trees. What’s not to love?

A business lunch
La Madeleine, Pretoria. It’s superb, high-skill, unpretentious but thoughtful Belgian cuisine. There is a fabulous local and international wine list, and elegant, unobtrusive service that is friendly yet discreet.

Sunday lunch with the family
The Olive Shed at Mkholo Olive Farm, Hartbeespoort. It’s a tiny restaurant amidst the olive groves with the Magalies mountains in the background. There’s a wood-fired oven, roast chicken, mezze, lovely people and space for kids to run around etc, etc.

A romantic dinner
La Madeleine – it really does work for all occasions. You can celebrate a business triumph, luxuriate in a new love, have ‘focus on the food’ solo dinner, or a Sunday lunch with kids. Chef Daniel Leusch is probably the most unsung culinary hero in South Africa.

A blow-the-budget celebratory dinner
La Madeleine – see above.

An end-of-the-month weekday dinner
Zemara Congolese Restaurant in Pretoria for the best Central African food in South Africa. Opulent flavours; hearty portions. There are garden tables for warm night dinners under the stars and great people-watching potential.

The winners of the 2013 Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards will be announced at our first-ever food festival on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March 2013.