Kashew Restaurant listed as finalist in Star Wine List of the Year

Kashew Restaurant is one of four Best Newcomer finalists in the 2023 South African Star Wine List of the Year awards. The restaurant, located at The Catalyst Hotel in Sandton, is the only Johannesburg-based finalist featured in this category.

Kashew Restaurant, which forms part of the Newmark collection of hotels, reserves, and restaurants, launched two years ago when The Catalyst Hotel first opened its doors.

Kashew Restaurant’s new wine list

The restaurant’s wine list, which features more than 70 top South African wines in an extensive offering of different styles and price points, was curated by Newmark’s Group Sommelier, Marlvin Gwese. An industry leader with nine years of experience working in some of the Cape’s top establishments, Gwese holds several sommelier qualifications.

“The Star Wine List of the year award is one of the most prestigious wine awards in the world and it is a great honour for Kashew Restaurant to be featured as a South African finalist. Our extensive and varied menu features many up-and-coming South African wine farms and estates that practice sustainability. It is particularly exciting that these players will gain recognition from the exposure that the wine awards will bring”.

Said Marlvin Gwese

He explained that Kashew’s wine list had been recently curated to pair with the restaurant’s new all-day dining menu.

“Creating authentic gastronomic experiences one of Newmark’s core philosophies. To bring this to life I worked hand-in-hand with Newmark’s Group Head Chef, Chris Erasmus, and Kashew Restaurant’s Executive Chef Ronelda Clothier.  Together an extensive dining and wine experience has been created which is as diverse and cosmopolitan as the clientele that the vibrant Sandton CBD hotel attracts to its restaurant”.

Marlvin Gwese added

Kashew Restaurant’s new all-day dining menu

Speaking about Kashew’s new all-day dining menu launched this month, Chris Erasmus says they incorporated African flavours and local dishes, as well as a selection of popular global dishes that appeal to regional and international guests.

As Group Head Chef for Newmark Hotels & Reserves, Erasmus brings experience as one of South Africa’s top chefs to each of the restaurant menus that he curates. He has worked under Michelin Star Chefs and in some of the world’s best restaurants. 

“So far, the most popular dishes on Kashew’s menu have proven to be the enormous flame-grilled 450g tomahawk steak; the Pap & Wors dish – traditional South African beef sausage served with a maize meal side and a spicy chakalaka sauce; and Kashew’s spicy chicken liver bowls. Burgers, pastas, and Prego rolls are also popular”.

“To reduce our carbon footprint, we are actively sourcing local ingredients for our food offerings across the Newmark Group. At Kashew we have now moved completely away from bottled and processed food products. Our breads, marinades and bastings are made on site in the hotel’s kitchens”.

Says Chris Erasmus

Star Wine List Awards

Since its inception in Stockholm in 2017, Star Wine List has become one of the most prestigious international wine list awards. Star Wine List provides an online guide to the great wine bars and restaurants worldwide and allows members access to over 2000 top wine lists in more than 35 countries.

The Star Wine List team will head to South Africa to announce the winners of the 2023 South African Wine List awards. This will take place at The Best Sommelier of South Africa event in Stellenbosch on 16 September. South Africa’s winners will then qualify for the Star Wine List International Final in June 2024.

“Kashew Restaurant and the bar at The Catalyst Hotel has been gradually gaining a reputation with Johannesburg wine lovers. It is extremely exciting that this announcement will accelerate awareness about the restaurant, putting it on the South African map as a sought-after local destination for wine connoisseurs. Well done to Marlvin and the team at Kashew for putting together this exceptional wine list.”

commented CEO of Newmark Hotels & Reserves, Neil Markovitz.