After collaborating at the Ein Prosit festival in Italy, renowned Eat Out star chefs Kobus van der Merwe of Wolfgat and Johannes Richter of The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate, winner of the 2023 Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award, are collaborating on home soil with the launch of a once-off dining experience that will merge their love for endemic ingredients and sustainability.  

Taking place on 23 and 24 November at Kobus’ restaurant Wolfgat in Paternoster, the multi-course tasting menu will be served with a curated wine pairing, showcasing the chefs’ culinary flair distinct to their relative regions. 

Captured by: Enrico Stefanel

Diners can expect a showcase of hyper-endemic ingredients, sourced from the tropical shores of the Garden Province, prepared using ancient processes with contemporary flair from Johannes.  

In contrast, Kobus will showcase his trademark Strandveld cuisine and the bounty of produce and ingredients available along the West Coast.  

 Johannes shares that he is elated to have this opportunity to work alongside the West Coast chef. “I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Kobus once again, this time in the Cape. We loved taking a taste of South Africa to Italy, and I’m excited to share a similar experience with diners in Paternoster. Kobus is a pioneer of hyper-endemic cooking, and it’s an honour to cook alongside him,” he says. 

The LivingRoom 2024 – Vanessa’s chicken, west coast mussel, green mango

“It’s fantastic to cook with someone who shares a similar ethos,” says Kobus. “I think what Johannes is doing in Durban is an excellent representation of hyper-local cooking. It’s at once similar yet distinct from what we do here at Wolfgat, but I think our food really complements each other. I’m excited to host this weekend with Johannes and Johanna.”

Wolfgat_Strandveld snacks – snoek croquette with sour fig mayo, limpet in its shell, white mussel parfait

The wine pairing for the thoughtfully prepared menu will be managed by Johanna Richter, front-of-house manager and sommelier at The LivingRoom, in collaboration with Kobus and the team at Wolfgat.  

The dynamic and talented chef duo will offer two lunches and a dinner over the weekend, with 23 November allocated for both a lunch and dinner service, while 24 November will only offer this experience for a lunch seating.  

The experience will cost R2 500 per person and bookings can be made through Wolfgat.