284:, to run a startup restaurant, Bruno's Brasserie, which soon drew in the crowds. In 2004, he was offered an opportunity by friends to return to Franschhoek to open a restaurant, named "Reuben’s". Within six months, the restaurant was a success and this was cemented by Reuben winning "Chef of the Year" and "Restaurant of the Year" at the Eat Out Restaurant awards. This elevated the reputation of both the establishment and Reuben alike and the first Reuben's is renowned in Franschhoek as a culinary landmark. Reuben Riffel became a well-known name locally and abroad.
476:, beginning with its third season. Riffel, Pete Goffe-Wood and Benny Masekwameng comprised the judging panel, and Riffel hosted the third season as well as a Celebrity MasterChef season in 2015. He is the face of Robertsons Herbs and Spices and presents television adverts featuring different recipes using Robertsons Herbs and Spices. He is also a brand ambassador for Samsung Home Appliances in South Africa.
271:, in which role he learned the art of preparing vegetables and sauces and running a tight kitchen. His career began with humility and was forged in the principles of hard work as he earnestly learnt from his mentors, being both women in his life, in the early days and the chefs he worked with at the restaurant. One day Richard failed to show up to work, and he was forced to step into the role of
243:. Riffel grew up in a family where cooking and eating well played an important role. His mother was intermittently involved in the restaurant industry and his father was involved in the building and construction industry. She occasionally brought home morsels from the restaurants where she worked and in this way Riffel first developed his palate for good food. Riffel attended high school in
280:
with
Richard, his mentor at Monneaux, where he continued to grow his skills in the kitchen and experiment with various textures and ingredients. He also traveled overseas and these experiences were also brought back into the kitchen. After honing his skills for three years at Monneaux, Riffel moved to
572:
Riffel supports numerous local charities and events. These include his collaboration with chefs Margot Janse, Neil Jewell and Duncan
Doherty in 2012 as part of the Celebrity Chefs Challenge Dinner. The event raised funds for the Peninsula School's Feeding Association to assist in fighting hunger in
279:
Riffel did not go through any formal channels or study to be a chef, but applied a combination of natural ability and talent. He also learnt from his family and the chefs he worked with, and his success today can be attributed to this. He worked in a few restaurants following this and was reunited
255:
Riffel worked briefly in the building trade, but soon migrated to the hospitality industry, where his first job was that of a waiter at
Chamonix Restaurant. He soon migrated to barman, but one day the kitchen had two no-shows and he was moved to the kitchen to assist. He left Chamonix to work with
275:
without warning. Many of the patrons expressed their satisfaction at the meals they ate. When
Richard never returned to Chamonix, Riffel stepped up, filled the position and was officially made executive chef. Riffel realized that he wanted to be a chef when a French tourist complimented the meal
307:
and a bistro-style offering named Racine, at the
Chamonix Wine Estate in Franschhoek, where his culinary career began. Riffel’s philosophy is to keep things simple, bringing out the natural flavours of each ingredient, and to strive for perfect balance in the finished dish. In an interview with
573:
schools. Reuben is involved with the
Peninsula School Feeding Association (PFSA), Hope Through Action, Hospice and Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA). He is also one of
287:
Riffel continued to see opportunities to bring the offering of his food to a broader market and in 2009; a second Reuben's was opened at a five star boutique hotel in the
577:
School's ambassadors, a school for neurally disabled children. Charity events hosted in 2015 by Riffel include the Chef Reuben Riffel
Charity Golf Day in support of the
256:
his uncle in a nightclub, but very soon decided that the environment was not one in which he wanted to remain. In 1994, at the age of 20, he went back to
Chamonix.
1131:
472:(5 Stars with Reuben), in which he taught viewers how to make five-star dishes at home. In 2014, he replaced Andrew Atkinson as a permanent judge on
1146:
1141:
314:
in 2012, he admitted to, at that point, having over 250 cookbooks as he continues to learn, experiment and create new and flavorful dishes.
823:
524:
510:
496:
984:
373:
759:
1126:
734:
699:
513:– a collection of Reuben's favourite South African feasts and focus on easy-to-follow recipes and local ingredients.
793:
429:
387:
304:
1034:
602:
544:-based restaurant was awarded the Eat Out Restaurant of the Year Award. His restaurant was awarded the Eat Out
317:
Riffel continues to be hands-on involved in all restaurants and thus splits his time between establishments.
460:
444:
359:
310:
288:
901:
548:
Restaurant Award: Top 10 Restaurants in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Reuben was awarded the distinguished
1136:
236:
540:
Riffel's work and cooking style earned him the SA Chef of the Year Award in 2004. In the same year, his
528:
89:
260:
661:
264:
1121:
1089:
281:
291:
wine valley, The
Robertson Small Hotel. The following year, the opportunity arose to take over
909:
871:
669:
520:
506:
492:
303:. In 2013, Riffel opened two new restaurants, one at Abalone House, a five-star guesthouse in
1009:
415:
831:
884:
582:
560:
Riffel met his wife Maryke while working at
Monneaux. They have two children. He lives in
1064:
545:
450:
300:
272:
196:
1115:
292:
228:
51:
232:
200:
55:
235:, on 23 December 1974. He is one of three siblings, and grew up in an area called
263:, he learned about food preparation. When Christoph moved on and was replaced by
578:
561:
541:
401:
345:
240:
224:
208:
47:
913:
673:
934:
465:
296:
268:
204:
299:. Reuben’s at the One&Only was thus established with Reuben himself as
707:
549:
212:
801:
1042:
610:
959:
499:– a collection of Reuben's favourite recipes from around the world.
484:
Riffel has published three cookbooks with Quivertree Publications:
295:’s restaurant, Maze, post its demise, at the One&Only hotel in
646:
574:
455:
454:. In June 2012, he was a guest judge on the second season of the
244:
760:"The truffled tale of Reuben Riffel's rise | Daily Maverick"
1065:"Charity dinner promises celebrity chefs, staple foods"
184:
866:"Reuben Riffel | MasterChef SA 2015". 12 October 2015.
735:"Chef Reuben Riffel is a popular South African chef"
247:. He recalls that he liked working with his hands.
180:
85:
70:
62:
30:
23:
276:prepared by him as “the best meal he ever had”.
207:known for his food-focused television shows and
694:
692:
690:
8:
1090:"Chef Reuben Riffel Charity Golf Day on KFM"
195:(born 23 December 1974) is a South African
636:
634:
632:
630:
628:
428:Franschhoek and Allee Bleue wine estate,
20:
985:"Reuben Riffel cooks with Martha Stewart"
645:. Season 1. Episode 10. 2 November 2015.
464:. In 2013, Riffel also hosted his first
324:
594:
155:
133:
102:
880:
869:
896:
894:
824:"Reuben Riffel | Hope Through Action"
527:– a reflection of the quintessential
110:Reuben's at The Robertson Small Hotel
7:
861:
859:
857:
855:
853:
851:
849:
788:
786:
784:
782:
780:
729:
727:
725:
1132:South African television presenters
1039:Reuben's Restaurant, Bar & Deli
798:Reuben's Restaurant, Bar & Deli
704:Reuben's Restaurant, Bar & Deli
662:"Cape Crusader: Chef Reuben Riffel"
163:Eat Out Restaurant of the Year 2004
568:Charity work and social activities
14:
489:Reuben Cooks: Food is time travel
442:In 2011, Riffel appeared on both
700:"A little about our Chef Reuben"
660:Perry, Alex (30 December 2010).
374:Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
458:television cooking competition
1147:South African cookbook writers
902:"Cape Town Chef Reuben Riffel"
603:"Reuben Riffel | Who's Who SA"
166:Unilever Chef of the Year 2007
1:
585:South Africa charity dinner.
1142:People from the Western Cape
16:South African celebrity chef
333:
330:
327:
1163:
223:Reuben Riffel was born in
935:"Abalone House & Spa"
828:www.hopethroughaction.com
430:Franschhoek, Western Cape
358:Robertson Small Hotel in
176:
148:
126:
95:
78:
552:Chef of the Year award.
215:and philanthropic work.
160:SA Chef of the Year 2004
764:www.dailymaverick.co.za
474:MasterChef South Africa
461:MasterChef South Africa
445:The Martha Stewart Show
311:The Wall Street Journal
113:Reuben's in Paternoster
1010:"Reuben Riffel | TVSA"
939:www.abalonehouse.co.za
259:Under the guidance of
529:South African cooking
517:Braai: Reuben on Fire
99:Current restaurant(s)
90:South African cuisine
1069:www.bizcommunity.com
411:Reuben's Restaurant
383:Reuben's Restaurant
372:One&Only Hotel,
369:Reuben's Restaurant
355:Reuben's Restaurant
342:Reuben's Restaurant
107:Reuben's Franschhoek
1127:South African chefs
906:Wall Street Journal
834:on 17 November 2015
804:on 17 November 2015
739:www.southafrica.net
710:on 17 November 2015
613:on 17 November 2015
470:5 Sterre met Reuben
397:Racine now Arkeste
138:5 Sterre met Reuben
1045:on 6 November 2016
964:www.chamonix.co.za
960:"Chamonix Cuisine"
503:Reuben Cooks Local
282:Cambridge, England
267:, Riffel was made
130:Television show(s)
879:Missing or empty
794:"Our Restaurants"
641:"Reuben Riffel".
435:
434:
414:The Capital Ivy,
261:Christoph Dehosse
205:media personality
190:
189:
116:Racine Restaurant
1154:
1106:
1105:
1103:
1101:
1086:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1061:
1055:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1041:. Archived from
1035:"Reuben's Books"
1031:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1020:
1006:
1000:
999:
997:
995:
981:
975:
974:
972:
970:
956:
950:
949:
947:
945:
931:
925:
924:
922:
920:
898:
889:
888:
882:
877:
875:
867:
863:
844:
843:
841:
839:
830:. Archived from
820:
814:
813:
811:
809:
800:. Archived from
790:
775:
774:
772:
770:
756:
750:
749:
747:
745:
731:
720:
719:
717:
715:
706:. Archived from
696:
685:
684:
682:
680:
657:
651:
650:
638:
623:
622:
620:
618:
609:. Archived from
599:
581:Hospice and the
564:, South Africa.
416:Sandton, Gauteng
325:
265:Richard Carstens
44:
41:23 December 1974
40:
38:
21:
1162:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1155:
1153:
1152:
1151:
1112:
1111:
1110:
1109:
1099:
1097:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1073:
1071:
1063:
1062:
1058:
1048:
1046:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1018:
1016:
1008:
1007:
1003:
993:
991:
983:
982:
978:
968:
966:
958:
957:
953:
943:
941:
933:
932:
928:
918:
916:
900:
899:
892:
878:
868:
865:
864:
847:
837:
835:
822:
821:
817:
807:
805:
792:
791:
778:
768:
766:
758:
757:
753:
743:
741:
733:
732:
723:
713:
711:
698:
697:
688:
678:
676:
659:
658:
654:
640:
639:
626:
616:
614:
601:
600:
596:
591:
583:Stop Hunger Now
570:
558:
538:
482:
440:
386:Abalone House,
323:
253:
221:
172:
169:
154:
153:
144:
141:
132:
131:
122:
119:
101:
100:
80:Culinary career
58:
45:
42:
36:
34:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1160:
1158:
1150:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1114:
1113:
1108:
1107:
1096:. 16 July 2015
1081:
1056:
1026:
1014:www.tvsa.co.za
1001:
976:
951:
926:
890:
845:
815:
776:
751:
721:
686:
652:
624:
593:
592:
590:
587:
569:
566:
557:
554:
546:Johnnie Walker
537:
534:
533:
532:
514:
500:
481:
478:
468:cooking show,
451:The Today Show
439:
436:
433:
432:
426:
423:
419:
418:
412:
409:
405:
404:
398:
395:
391:
390:
384:
381:
377:
376:
370:
367:
363:
362:
356:
353:
349:
348:
343:
340:
336:
335:
332:
329:
322:
319:
301:executive chef
273:executive chef
252:
249:
239:, a valley in
220:
217:
209:advertisements
197:celebrity chef
188:
187:
182:
178:
177:
174:
173:
171:
170:
168:
167:
164:
161:
157:
151:
150:
149:
146:
145:
143:
142:
140:
139:
135:
129:
128:
127:
124:
123:
121:
120:
118:
117:
114:
111:
108:
104:
98:
97:
96:
93:
92:
87:
83:
82:
76:
75:
72:
68:
67:
64:
60:
59:
46:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1159:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1137:Living people
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1119:
1117:
1095:
1094:www.kfm.co.za
1091:
1085:
1082:
1070:
1066:
1060:
1057:
1044:
1040:
1036:
1030:
1027:
1015:
1011:
1005:
1002:
990:
986:
980:
977:
965:
961:
955:
952:
940:
936:
930:
927:
915:
911:
907:
903:
897:
895:
891:
886:
873:
862:
860:
858:
856:
854:
852:
850:
846:
833:
829:
825:
819:
816:
803:
799:
795:
789:
787:
785:
783:
781:
777:
765:
761:
755:
752:
740:
736:
730:
728:
726:
722:
709:
705:
701:
695:
693:
691:
687:
675:
671:
667:
663:
656:
653:
648:
644:
637:
635:
633:
631:
629:
625:
612:
608:
607:whoswho.co.za
604:
598:
595:
588:
586:
584:
580:
576:
567:
565:
563:
556:Personal life
555:
553:
551:
547:
543:
535:
530:
526:
525:9780987028457
522:
518:
515:
512:
511:9780986981357
508:
504:
501:
498:
497:9780980265156
494:
490:
487:
486:
485:
479:
477:
475:
471:
467:
463:
462:
457:
453:
452:
447:
446:
437:
431:
427:
424:
421:
420:
417:
413:
410:
407:
406:
403:
399:
396:
393:
392:
389:
385:
382:
379:
378:
375:
371:
368:
365:
364:
361:
357:
354:
351:
350:
347:
344:
341:
338:
337:
326:
320:
318:
315:
313:
312:
306:
302:
298:
294:
293:Gordon Ramsay
290:
285:
283:
277:
274:
270:
266:
262:
257:
250:
248:
246:
242:
238:
234:
230:
229:Cape Province
226:
218:
216:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
193:Reuben Riffel
186:
185:reubens.co.za
183:
179:
175:
165:
162:
159:
158:
156:
147:
137:
136:
134:
125:
115:
112:
109:
106:
105:
103:
94:
91:
88:
86:Cooking style
84:
81:
77:
73:
69:
66:Maryke Riffel
65:
61:
57:
53:
52:Cape Province
49:
43:(age 49)
33:
29:
25:Reuben Riffel
22:
19:
1098:. Retrieved
1093:
1084:
1072:. Retrieved
1068:
1059:
1047:. Retrieved
1043:the original
1038:
1029:
1017:. Retrieved
1013:
1004:
992:. Retrieved
988:
979:
967:. Retrieved
963:
954:
942:. Retrieved
938:
929:
917:. Retrieved
905:
836:. Retrieved
832:the original
827:
818:
806:. Retrieved
802:the original
797:
767:. Retrieved
763:
754:
742:. Retrieved
738:
712:. Retrieved
708:the original
703:
677:. Retrieved
665:
655:
642:
615:. Retrieved
611:the original
606:
597:
571:
559:
539:
516:
502:
488:
483:
473:
469:
459:
449:
443:
441:
425:Let's Frite
366:2011 - 2019
328:Year Opened
316:
309:
286:
278:
258:
254:
233:South Africa
222:
201:restaurateur
192:
191:
152:Award(s) won
79:
56:South Africa
18:
1122:1974 births
579:Franschhoek
562:Franschhoek
542:Franschhoek
402:Franschhoek
388:Paternoster
346:Franschhoek
331:Restaurant
321:Restaurants
305:Paternoster
241:Franschhoek
225:Franschhoek
48:Franschhoek
1116:Categories
1100:9 November
1074:9 November
1049:9 November
1019:9 November
994:9 November
969:9 November
944:9 November
919:9 November
881:|url=
838:9 November
808:9 November
769:8 November
744:8 November
714:8 November
679:8 November
617:9 November
589:References
438:Television
400:Chamonix,
219:Early life
37:1974-12-23
914:0099-9660
674:0040-781X
536:Accolades
466:Afrikaans
360:Robertson
334:Location
297:Cape Town
289:Robertson
269:sous chef
213:cookbooks
872:cite web
643:My Story
550:Unilever
519:(2013),
505:(2011),
491:(2008),
237:Groendal
71:Children
181:Website
989:Food24
912:
672:
531:style.
523:
509:
495:
251:Career
203:, and
63:Spouse
647:M-Net
575:Paarl
480:Books
456:M-Net
422:2021
408:2018
394:2013
380:2013
352:2009
339:2004
245:Paarl
1102:2015
1076:2015
1051:2015
1021:2015
996:2015
971:2015
946:2015
921:2015
910:ISSN
885:help
840:2015
810:2015
771:2015
746:2015
716:2015
681:2015
670:ISSN
666:Time
619:2015
521:ISBN
507:ISBN
493:ISBN
448:and
31:Born
1118::
1092:.
1067:.
1037:.
1012:.
987:.
962:.
937:.
908:.
904:.
893:^
876::
874:}}
870:{{
848:^
826:.
796:.
779:^
762:.
737:.
724:^
702:.
689:^
668:.
664:.
627:^
605:.
231:,
227:,
211:,
199:,
54:,
50:,
39:)
1104:.
1078:.
1053:.
1023:.
998:.
973:.
948:.
923:.
887:)
883:(
842:.
812:.
773:.
748:.
718:.
683:.
649:.
621:.
74:2
35:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.