Michael Cooke, the executive chef at Vergelegen Estate’s signature restaurant Camphors in Somerset West, has been selected as one of 14 highly-acclaimed South African and international chefs (plus seven outstanding sommeliers) taking part in the charity initiative, Chefs who Share.
Michael and his peers have been allocated to seven teams (two chefs and a sommelier each) which will create culinary feasts, with outstanding wine, for a black tie gala dinner and art auction, on Saturday September 24, in Johannesburg.
This event will be the grand culmination of a fund-raising week organised by Opulent Living – a magazine, events and travel brand. The charity initiative includes three dinners with an international chef, and the aim is to raise funds for youth development in South Africa.
The three previous events raised a total of R6.1 million.
Michael teams up with chef Chris Erasmus of Foliage in Franschhoek, and Carl Habel, the head sommelier at Crystal Cruises Esprit, which offers yacht cruises for discerning world travellers.
After only a year of operation, Camphors was awarded eighth place in the Top 10 Restaurants in South Africa, in the Eat Out awards 2013. It was also the regional winner – Wine Tourism Restaurant – in the 2014 Best of Wine Tourism Awards, Great Wine Capitals and in the 2015 list of Top 20 Restaurants in South Africa.
Two gourmet dinners are planned for Friday August 26 and Friday September 30, at Camphors with Michael and sommelier Christo Deyzel.
To book or for more information, call 021 8472131.
