Chef Margot Janse, best-known for her prolific work as the executive chef of The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français, will be joining the Eat Out team as the Judging Convenor of the 2018 Eat Out Mercedez-Benz Restaurant Awards.

The rest of the Eat Out judging panel will remain anonymous in order to ensure consistency, so Chef Margot will be the face of the Eat Out Awards. This role involves maintaining integrity and consistency across the panel, serving as a touchstone for the judges, and providing feedback to restaurants.

Says Janse, “I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity, not just because I get to eat at all the top restaurants in the country, but also because the Eat Out Restaurant Awards carry a great responsibility in the development of the culinary scene in South Africa. I believe that with my in-depth knowledge and experience I will be able to contribute positively to this process.”

New Media managing director Aileen Lamb applauds this addition: “Margot has helped shape the South African food industry as we know it today, and so it is only fitting that we tap into her knowledge to take the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards to new heights.”

Margot’s not the only new face to join the team: Zola Nene and Kholeka Kumalo will be joining the Eat Out editorial team – led by editor-in-chief Anelde Greeff – in the roles of Cape Town and Johannesburg restaurant editors respectively.

Aileen Lamb describes the reason behind the changes: “Though Eat Out has seen immeasurable success in the last 20 years, we never rest on our laurels. The three new additions to our team – especially the additions of Zola and Kholeka to the already excellent editorial team – is part of our evolution, which includes growing our audience and staying relevant to them. I’m particularly pleased that we have a Joburg insider in our inner circle now. I can’t wait to see how Zola, Kholeka and Margot’s contributions will shape our brand.”