Top 13 win Rossouw's star restaurant rating

The awards ceremony simultaneously welcomed Rust en Vrede as a newcomer to the StreetSmart SA fold - a charity organisation dedicated towards helping street children in the Western Cape through donations from participating restaurants. Funds are raised by adding an optional R5 donation to each table's bill at these restaurants. In support of this cause, the 2009 Rossouw's Restaurant Guide features the StreetSmart logo with the listing of the involved establishments.

Since its inception as a Cape-only guide six years ago, rating 240 establishments, it has grown to cover 500 restaurants in the Cape, Winelands, Garden Route and Gauteng. Rossouw's Restaurants reviews all establishments anonymously and rigorously and pays the bills, for an authentic opinion on quality.

“What sets this guide apart is that restaurants are rated within their price category, so that ‘apples are compared with apples'. The result is that the highest accolade of three stars can be awarded to establishments that may not be ‘fine dining,' but are outstanding in their class. The guide also features helpful lists, such as ‘business' and ‘vegetarian-friendly' making it the most useful pocket companion to eating out,” says editor Jean-Pierre Rossouw.

Attended by the chefs and owners of a diverse selection of excellent restaurants, the awards ceremony included a four-course gourmet feast. Prepared by renowned Rust en Vrede chef, David Higgs, each of the celebratory courses was paired with a highly-awarded wine from a prominent estate, including Rust en Vrede, Ken Forrester, Paul Cluver and Beaumont.