For the first time in South African television there will be an exclusive food series that explores the work and world of Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen, South Africa’s first Michelin-star chef. In Jan this award-winning chef and culinary genius invites DStv viewers to watch how he brings together French and South African cuisine in his restaurant, JAN, in Nice, France. The series starts on Tuesday 24 October on VIA (DStv channel 147) and simultaneously on ShowMax.

In this programme viewers get an intimate glance on the life of the creative artist, as well as the process through which Jan-Hendrik gets his inspiration for his award-winning culinary creations. We discover how his childhood days on a milk farm in Mpumalanga prepared him to open his restaurant in the capital of the food world and three years later receive the highest award in the restaurant business.

“Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen is one of South Africa’s export products that we are extremely proud of and to explore his inside world via the cameras, is a huge honour,” says Izelle Venter, Channel Head of VIA. “Because the programme is in Afrikaans, English, French and Italian, the entire series has English subtitles. Therefore, everyone can watch together.”

The programme starts at his famous restaurant on the French Riviera where Hollywood stars, international sporting personalities and other VIP guests queue for a seat. The cameras then follow him to the small Italian village Apricale, where he recharges his batteries and explores exceptional ingredients along with local characters. Each episode ends with a beautiful dish inspired by the episode’s characters and ingredients – normally with a healthy dash of South African likeness included.

“My restaurant guests must not only say they enjoyed their meal – they must say that they had a pleasant experience. It is the same with the series: We take viewers on a visual and sensory adventure. If viewers say the programme was also an experience for them, then we have done our job,” says Jan-Hendrik, who will be specially coming to the series premiere in Cape Town.

New episodes of Jan are broadcasted every Tuesday at 19:30 with repeats on Sundays at 20:30. The programme is simultaneously available on ShowMax. The programme consists of nine episodes of 50 minutes each in Afrikaans, French and Italian with English subtitles. Caesarstone is the programme’s broadcasting partner.

The programme was produced by Carien Loubser from Brainwave Productions, who is famous for TV programmes such as Bobby en Karlien: In jou skoene and the KykNET hit Republiek van Zoid-Afrika.