Jan Hendrik VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
Chef : 1 restaurantA native of South Africa, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen is now the owner of JAN, a triply toqué restaurant in Nice.
It all began in Cape Town, where the young man studied at the British City and Guilds Institute. In 2002, he obtained his Higher Professional Diploma in Cookery and Pastry, as well as a Certificate in Wine Studies from the Cape Wine Academy. In 2009, he also obtained a Bachelor's degree in Applied Arts and Photography.
But it was as a chef that Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen began his career. In 2010, he moved to Europe and settled in Monaco, where he worked as a private chef. Three years later, he took the plunge and opened his own restaurant, to which he simply gave his first name: JAN. "My grandmother Maria, who passed on her passion for cooking to me, came to France for the inauguration of JAN's cheese and delicacies room. I named it Maria in her honor. She was 91 years old. It was the first time she'd ever been on a plane and left South Africa."
In concocting his dishes, the chef never forgets where he comes from. "Resolutely gastronomic, my cuisine combines Mediterranean flavors with those of South Africa. I revisit traditional recipes from my country using techniques derived from French gastronomy." In recognition of this blend of cultures, Gault&Millau immediately awarded him 2 toques, and even 3 toques since 2022.
Today, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen divides his time between France and his native country, where he has opened a new restaurant, Klein JAN, in the Tswalu reserve.
B. G.
Its restaurants
Food products, kitchen equipment, tableware, service solutions...
See the full list of partners who place their trust in Gault&Millau
All our partners