Ryan Cole and his award-winning restaurant, Salsify at the Roundhouse, will soon be welcoming chef Phil Howard from Michelin-starred Elystan Street in London to collaborate on an eight-course, four-hands tasting menu that will celebrate ingredients, ingenuity and culinary excellence.  

Announced as the Restaurant of the Year at the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards recently, Salsify at the Roundhouse is the spot on everyone’s minds, and this collaboration is set to create even more excitement around the restaurant located in Camps Bay, Cape Town.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Salsify at The Roundhouse (@salsify_at_the_roundhouse)

Phil was one of Ryan’s first mentors when he worked with him at The Square in London, so working with him in the kitchen again is particularly special for Ryan. “Collaborating with Phil is a deeply meaningful experience for me. Returning to one of the restaurants where I first honed my craft in London – it’s about coming full circle. It’s a chance to celebrate the journey, the lessons learned, and the shared love for creating exceptional food,” he says. 

Born in South Africa, before moving to England as a young boy, Phil trained under greats like Marco Pierre White and Simon Hopkinson. He co-founded The Square in 1991, where he earned two Michelin stars and maintained them for 17 years. He then opened Elystan Street in 2016, which won a Michelin star in its first year.  

“I am very excited to be returning to my homeland to cook with Ryan. Later life is about completing circles, and this will be a fantastic opportunity to go back to my childhood roots and cook up a storm in a restaurant that is clearly at the top of its game,” says Phil. “Ryan was a young lad when he worked with me at The Square and it has been a joy to watch him mature into the phenomenal chef that he is today. Cooking has changed beyond recognition in South Africa, and I am excited to see this first hand – in Cape Town, where the scene looks as vibrant as anywhere in the world.” 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Elystan Street (@elystanstreet)

The two acclaimed chefs will be sharing a kitchen again on 25 and 26 April at Salsify at the Roundhouse. To book, visit salsify.co.za/reservations.  

This event forms part of the 2025 Salsify & Friends collaboration series. Future events include collaborations with Aji Akokomi (Akoko) in London; chef Gaggan Anand (Gaggan) at COY at the V&A Waterfront; and chef Margot Janse (of The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français and SAAM Restaurant).