Sustainability. It's become as much of a buzzword as 'seasonality' and 'local produce'. But amongst the best restaurants in Cape Town , few restaurants – or chefs – walk the talk quite like FYN. That's thanks to the dedication of chefs Peter Tempelhoff (also behind Sushiya and Ramenhead at Time Out Market Cape Town ) and Ashley Moss, combined with the fervor of service and beverage director Jennifer Hugé.
Because FYN has made history as the first restaurant in Africa to earn a coveted three-star rating from the Food Made Good Standard awarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA). That's the same association which consults on the respected World's 50 Best Sustainable Restaurant Award; an accolade that FYN won in 2023 .
'As a restaurant, we are constantly working to operate as responsibly as possible be that through sourcing ingredients, working towards regenerating the supply of indigenous crops, repurposing our waste, or mentoring the next generation of chefs' says Tempelhoff. It's something we consider at every stage of our business. We are incredibly proud of this accolade, especially as it comes from the global industry's leading body when it comes to sustainability.'
Bagging a three-star rating was no easy feat. The intensive audit process covered more than 200 topics, from responsible sourcing and social responsibility to environmental impact.
But for Juliane Caillouette Noble, Managing Director of the SRA, this rigorous process proves that FYN 'are doing exactly what they say they are! Highlights always include offering a plant-based dinner menu, sourcing indigenous ingredients from local farmers, and supporting small-scale fishermen through the non-profit Abalobi.'
The FYN Team have also been delving deeper into indigenous culinary cultures of the Cape, with a groundbreaking collaboration at affiliated Constantia restaurant beyond, where they work with conservation teams for sustainable foraging and cultivate native plants in the gardens at Buitenverwachting wine estate. Want to know more? Here's how you can eat like your ancestors beyond .
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