Hot on the heels of Salsify and chef Ryan Cole’s Restaurant of the Year achievement at the annual Eat Out Restaurant Awards, comes another feather in the cap for South Africa’s top restaurant. On 25 and 26 April 2025, chef Phil Howard from the Michelin-starred Elystan Street in London will collaborate on an eight-course, four-hand tasting menu that celebrates ingredients, ingenuity and culinary excellence.
Ryan worked with Phil at the then legendary two-Michelin star, The Square in London, before returning to Cape Town to join the team at La Motte, and later Luke Dale Roberts at The Test Kitchen.
“Collaborating with Phil is a deeply meaningful experience for me. Returning to one of the restaurants where I first honed my craft in London – it’s about coming full circle. It’s a chance to celebrate the journey, the lessons learned, and the shared love for creating exceptional food,” says Ryan.
Chef Phil Howard is a celebrated culinary figure in London, known for his refined approach to modern French cuisine. He began his career at Roux Restaurants in 1988, later training under renowned chefs Marco Pierre White and Simon Hopkinson. He co-founded The Square in 1991, where he earned two Michelin stars and maintained them for 17 years. In 2016, he opened Elystan Street in Chelsea, which quickly gained critical acclaim and a Michelin star within its first year.
Phil’s cooking philosophy emphasises harmony of flavours over technical complexity, focusing on clean, vibrant dishes.
“I am very excited to be returning to my homeland to cook with Ryan. Later life is about completing circles, and this will be a fantastic opportunity to go back to my childhood roots and cook up a storm in a restaurant that is clearly at the top of its game,” says Phil. “Ryan was a young lad when he worked with me at The Square, and it has been a joy to watch him mature into the phenomenal chef that he is today. Cooking has changed beyond recognition in South Africa, and I am excited to come and see this first hand – in Cape Town, where the scene looks as vibrant as anywhere in the world.”
The Howard X Cole collaboration is available for dinner service only at R2495 per head. Optional wine pairing is available for R1890 per person. Bookings are essential and can be done on www.salsify.co.za/reservations, via Dineplan, or by calling Salsify on +27 21 010 6444.
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