Offbeat! What It Takes To Be World’s Best!

It was fascinating to chance upon a news “Tiny South Africa Beach Restaurant, With $60 Menu, Crowned World’s Best”.

The news was titled ‘ Offbeat’ and I would say the restaurant is ‘offbeat’.

“Chef Kobus van der Merwe, who did not begin to cook seriously until he was 30, forages every day for ingredients on the wild Atlantic shore of the Western Cape near his Wolfgat restaurant, where he also makes his own bread and butter.”

“But its humble setting and Van der Merwe’s belief in sustainable, back-to-basics cooking won over the judges of the inaugural World Restaurant Awards in the French capital.

The 130 year old cottage and cave, can sit only 20 at a time.

When working with Standard Chartered Bank based in London, my responsibilities included Africa region and the favourite place was Zimbabwe. Offbeat again, Meikles Hotel, my favourite was adjudged world’s best. And I fondly remember it’s sadza and oxtail stew.

I have one near to where I live in Kerala. Madhu’s Restaurant a totally offbeat 16 seater is the best for fish. Offbeat indeed!