Excitement has reached fever pitch at Eat Out HQ: we’re consuming a record number of Speckled Eggs and chocolate-covered raisins. The reason? A whole weekend of celebrations.
 
This Saturday we’ll be hosting the first-ever Eat Out DStv Food Network Conference. It’ll be a chance for industry leaders, chefs, restaurateurs and food-lovers to get together, be inspired and discuss the issues that matter in food and restaurants in South Africa. Some of the top chefs and restaurateurs in South Africa will be speaking, along with three international speakers from different corners of the industry: a chef, a food designer and a food photographer. Check out the full list of speakers. There is still a handful of tickets left, so book your ticket now. Can't make it on the day? Join in the fun by sending your question for the speakers to us via Twitter. Simply tag @Eat_Out with your question, and tell us who you want to ask.
 
On Sunday night, at an elegant awards ceremony at the Westin Cape Town, we’ll announce the winners of the 2012 Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards. We’ll reveal the Top 10 Restaurants in South Africa (see the nominees), Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and name the winners of the Service Excellence Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the winner of the the TASTE Eat Out Bursary. In addition, we’ll announce who won the awards for best bistro, Asian, country-style, steakhouse and Italian restaurants in South Africa. Tickets for Sunday night are sold out, but all our welcome to join us for the after-party at Aces'n'Spades, in Hout Street.
 
Eat Out is all about food, restaurants and the fabulous people who work so hard in them. We’re dedicated to uplifting the industry, and are so excited to be able to share our work with everyone. Follow @Eat_Out to catch our live stream on Sunday night as we announce all the winners, and search #eatoutawards for all the comments. Alternatively, sign up for our newsletter to get all the news delivered to your inbox immediately after it’s announced, or like us on Facebook.