Celebrated chef, Richard Carstens, has left Manolo restaurant in Cape Town as he plans on taking a sabatical to do some research.

Carstens, who is well-known for his experimental and scientific approach to food, was awarded the Eat Out Chef of the Year title for 2005, while heading up the award-winning restaurant at Lynton Hall in Pennington, KwaZulu-Natal.

Fans of his molecular creations such as cyber eggs, bouncing icecream and lyophilizated chocolate can look forward to Carstens taking up the chefs knife in the new year.

Manolo has appointed Damian Dearlove, previously of the Mount Nelson Hotel, as new head chef.