Gerald van der Walt, currently head chef at Top 10 restaurant The Greenhouse in Cape Town, is moving to The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français in Franschhoek, also a Top 10 restaurant for 2013.

The Tasting Room’s Margot Janse, who has previously headed up the kitchen herself, says she made the decision to appoint a head chef because she’s been travelling a lot, and this will allow her to manage her time better without the restaurant losing any of its quality.

“I am most certainly not leaving,” emphasises Margot. “I’ve appointed Gerald as there’s a gap at the top; this takes nothing away from my team. I have incredible chefs. Gregory Caci, my sous chef, is fantastic and he and my team deserve the support.”

(Left to right) Gerald van der Walt and Peter Tempelhoff at The Greenhouse

Gerald says he is very excited about the opportunity to work with Margot. “When I was a trainee chef, clumsily stumbling my way through chef school, I remember reading articles about her and what she was doing at The Tasting Room. Not for a second did I think I would be where I am today! It’s very humbling to have been given this chance – slightly nerve-wracking, but very exciting – and I hope to learn a great deal.”

Gerald’s position at The Greenhouse will be filled by Ashley Moss, a former sous chef at the restaurant who is returning after a stint in England at The Artichoke (current holder of the AA Restaurant of the Year Award in that country). Executive chef of the Cellars-Hohenort group Peter Tempelhoff says he is excited to welcome Ashley back to the team. (The restaurant will close in July for a brief break and reopen on 1 August with a brand new menu and some new touches to the interior.)

It’s been a busy season for chef movements. Two other chefs at Top 10 restaurants recently announced their departure: Chris Erasmus of number 10 restaurant Pierneef à La Motte has left the estate to start his own restaurant, Foliage, and Jackie Cameron of number 5 restaurant Hartford House recently announced her departure from the Midlands restaurant to start her own cooking school.