One of Johannesburg’s top restaurants has turned seven years old. DW Eleven-13, whose chef, Marthinus Ferreira worked at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Britain and later gained local fame on as a judge on Ultimate Braaimaster, has been a regular contender for the Top 10, making the list  in 2014, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Black wildebeest with pumpkin-seed crumble, celeriac purée, sweet-potato tarte tatin and apricot jus at DW Eleven-13. Photo supplied.

Now a seriously sleeker Mathinus has made a vow: to dedicate his full concentration to putting DW Eleven-13 on the world food map. “[TV] was fun, but now I’m back in the kitchen.” Well known for his dedication and concentration, and admired for working layers of flavours and a clever balance of textures into his dishes, Mathinus says: “We have some of the greatest food in the world and I want the world to know it.”

Chef Marthinus Ferreira. Photo supplied.

To mark the restaurant’s seventh birthday, the chef has been trawling DW Eleven-13’s menu for iconic dishes over the past seven years for diners to taste again – and for three weeks there’ll also be truffles on the menu. The main celebration dish will be based on black wildebeest, braised in red wine, with black truffles and homemade pappardelle.

And there might be some more news from Marthinus to share quite soon – you’ll hear it from us first.