Cape Town Named The Best Food City In The World!

'We have changed the game': Cape Town crowned best food city in the world accreditation Noluthando Ngcakani Comments Comments add bookmark Bookmark 08:11 Cape Town is officially the world's best food city. Cape Town is officially the world's best food city. Cape Town has been named the World's Best Food City in the 2024 Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards, scoring an impressive 95.65 and surpassing culinary destinations like Tokyo, Rome, and Porto. The accolade highlights the city's unique blend of African, Dutch, Malay, and Indian culinary influences, celebrated by local chefs and restaurateurs contributing to its diverse and innovative food scene. Chefs and restaurateurs anticipate the accolade will elevate Cape Town's global standing, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and culinary excellence. Cape Town has been crowned the World's Best Food City in the 2024 Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards. The city, sprawling with tasty corners and crevices, is proud of its intricate and often complex food story, which adds to its charm. With a tantalising 95.65 score in the prestigious competition, Cape Town bested culinary hotspots like Tokyo, Rome, and Porto, cementing itself as the world's culinary capital. Millions of global travellers ranked the award based on the foods on offer in cities, as well as on quality, service, and overall experience. Cape Town's unique blend of African, Dutch, Malay, and Indian influences made it the top food city. Its rich cultural heritage has shaped the city's culinary landscape, resulting in diverse flavours and cooking styles. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bo-Kaap Kombuis (@bokaapkombuis) One example of its vibrant heritage is Die Kombuis, a landmark eatery in Cape Town's historic Bo-Kaap neighbourhood - where owner Yusef Larney and his wife, Nazli, have been serving authentic Cape Malay cuisine for more than 19 years. Larney expressed his excitement about the city's recognition, telling News24 Food: "Cape Town deserves it - it speaks to the diversity of our people and how we can stick together." He built his business brick-by-brick, transforming a once humble two-bedroom house in the Bo-Kaap into a four-storey building that is home to a guesthouse and bustling eatery. "I have had a dream [of opening a restaurant] since high school." Die Bo-Kaap Kombuis is Larney's celebration of his Cape Malay roots and its bold and aromatic cuisine. Cape Malay cuisine first took shape in the 17th century when the Dutch East India Company brought enslaved people from Indonesia, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries to the Cape. Larney says these enslaved people played a significant role in shaping the region's culinary landscape, adding: Cape Malay cuisine is a melting pot of history and a labour of love. When the Dutch came here and displaced people from Malaysia and Indonesia and brought them here as enslaved people. "They mixed with indigenous people from here; not only were their bonds born from that, but also this merging of different flavours." The Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. READ| The story of Cape Malay cuisine as told by proud chefs Home of the culinary innovator The city's culinary scene is not just about tradition. It's also a hub of innovation, with chefs like James Gaag of La Colombe inspired to push the boundaries of fine dining. Gaag believes the award will further elevate Cape Town's global standing on the international fine dining stage. "As with any award, it does come with a fair amount of pressure to maintain high standards - but this isn't an industry you get into if you can't handle a little pressure. "We are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options in the city - of course, fine dining has a special place in my heart - but I do love that no matter what you're craving, you'll find it in Cape Town." Edge Africa co-founder Absie Pantshwa echoes Gaag's sentiments, adding these awards should aim to give African ingredients and culinary techniques on the international stage. Pantshwa and award-winning chef Vusi Ndlovu founded Edge Africa, a culinary collective committed to showcasing Africa's culinary glory. READ| Ex-cop goes from serving his country to serving up traditional meals at his restaurants "We are opening up our minds more about what is available around us than looking outside of the country and continent. "We have always been focused on the African ingredients narrative, cooking over fire and giving the ingredients we have around us the respect they deserve. It's about providing a voice to African ingredients and growing." View this post on Instagram A post shared by EDGE Restaurant (@edge.africa) Pitso Chauke, the owner of Pitso's Kitchen, expressed his excitement about Cape Town's culinary diversity, comparing it to a blend of Europe and Africa. The Limpopo-born food entrepreneur is a former Cape Town detective who quit the police to follow his culinary passions, opening his first restaurant at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock in 2016. "It's so exciting. We all know this place is so diverse - like Europe and Africa in one place. It is fascinating. About seven years ago, I read an article about Cape Town not having African cuisine, 20-something years after apartheid - now, looking at it, we have changed the game." Forgotten gems South African cookbook author Errieda du Toit further emphasises the broader impact of Cape Town's recognition in the culinary world, highlighting the rising prominence of African cuisine. "I know that part of Cape Town's food magic is rooted in its powerful diversity. The city increasingly shows a much larger diversity. I think the recognition and nature of the award will further encourage growth in the diversity of its food offerings." Du Toit also points out while Cape Town offers a rich culinary experience, much remains to be done to promote the food offerings in the rural areas of the Western Cape. sleepwalking chef Celebrity chef and food writer Errieda du Toit says she’s been sleepwalking for years – and then creates the weirdest dishes. (PHOTO: Supplied) She hopes the award will encourage more people to explore these areas, which offer incredible produce, scenery, and people. "I feel that we have a long way to go in what we offer tourists outside the city - our countryside. I am not talking about the Stellenbosches and the Elgins that come with the West Cape - these platteland dorpies I find when I go there; they cater for every palate." The top ten Cape Town, South Africa. Score 95.65 Milan, Italy. Score 95.20 Valencia, Spain. Score 95.00 Tokyo, Japan. Score 94.78 Porto, Portugal. Score 94.48 Hong Kong, China. Score 93.94 Bangkok, Thailand. Score 93.71 Rome, Italy. Score 93.33 Singapore. Score 92.90 Sydney, Australia. Score 92.50