about us
The jhp Gourmet Guide® is South Africa’s original, respected restaurant rating.
Founded in 2014 by Jenny Handley, it was launched to showcase South African restaurants that equated to globally iconic restaurants. At the time, Jenny was travelling internationally as a food writer, interviewing chefs like Raymond Blanc, Elena Arzak and Eric Ripert, while running her performance management business and writing business books. The intersection of hospitality and high performance became the foundation of the guide, in which she combines her love of food and brand. From its first edition of 21 restaurants to its carefully capped portfolio of 50 restaurants, growth has always been measured, not by numbers, but by standards.
our philosophy
Excellence is never accidental. It is found in vision, leadership, consistency, discipline and care. It is reflected in the choreography between kitchen and floor, restraint and rhythm, and how a guest is welcomed and remembered.
We believe that:
Hospitality is a people business
Consistency defines greatness.
Standards must be measurable.
Feedback should uplift, not diminish.
globally inspired, locally rooted.
Our benchmarking is international. Our heart is South African. We ensure that restaurants recognised in the guide can confidently stand alongside global counterparts, meeting the expectations of well-travelled, discerning diners, while championing indigenous ingredients, regional identity, sustainability and the evolving story of South African cuisine. Today, South Africa belongs on the global culinary stage. And the world is taking notice.
beyond the guide
The jhp Gourmet Guide® is part of a broader ecosystem dedicated to elevating hospitality performance. Our platform includes: the bi-monthly Gourmet Guide™ magazine, the Plates & Palates podcast, high-performance professional training based on Jenny’s bestselling business books and the first online food-writing course in South Africa, developing the next generation of culinary storytellers.
that’s what we say…what do others say?
Jenny Handley
Founder & Curator
Jenny Handley is an international restaurant reviewer, author of a series of best-selling leadership books including Raise your Leaders, and founder of Jenny Handley Performance Management cc.
She established the guide in 2016 to both showcase and support South Africa’s gastronomic talent combining rigorous evaluation with meaningful industry development. Her work bridges performance dynamics and hospitality, ensuring that excellence is recognised, measured and nurtured. The Haute Performance awards celebrate skills, and the qualities in individuals that make this industry unique, like purpose and passion, pride, promise and pioneering.
