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Linda Trautmann

Head Chef

As Head Chef at The Manor on Nederburg Wine Estate, Chef Linda brings farm-to-table dining to life through bold South African flavors. Her cooking balances comfort with elegance, letting quality ingredients shine.

Training and Experience

Originally from Germany, Chef Linda trained at the Silwood School of Cookery. Here, she earned her Grande Diploma in Cordon Bleu Cookery. Over the past two decades, she’s worked across high-caliber establishments. This ranges from fine dining and wine estates to private catering in South Africa and Scotland. 

Her background also includes pastry work and running her own bakery, giving her a well-rounded skill set that spans savory and sweet. Each experience shaped her understanding of seasonality and sustainability. With this insight, she uses an ingredients-first approach, allowing their flavors to lead each dish.

Local Flavors Take Center Stage

Using West Coast mussels, Cape fynbos herbs, biltong, and venison, Chef Linda highlights the vibrancy of the local landscape. She also works closely with Nederburg’s own farm produce, including salad crops, vegetables, and trout from the estate.

Her signature Biltong-Spiced Ostrich Steak comes with rainbow slaw, candied sweet potato fondant, and cranberry Savanna sauce. The Jack Black Beer and Miso Braised Lamb Ribs bring together comfort and refinement. Her harissa-grilled baby carrots with hummus show how simplicity can be memorable. Expect creative takes on South African food alongside thoughtful wine pairings.

Cooking for a Diverse Audience

Cape Town diners bring different expectations to the table. Locals appreciate genuine and creative flavor profiles, while visitors often seek regional cuisine. Chef Linda thrives in delivering for both. She reimagines South African classics like milk tart with apricot and vanilla coulis. Every dish connects back to the landscape’s character and what’s in season.

From seasonal menus to signature pairings with Nederburg’s wines, Chef Linda’s philosophy is simple. She lets quality ingredients shine and builds flavor in layers. And as a signature, her food celebrates the authentic character of South African cuisine.

Be Inspired

An Elevated Evening at Cape Town’s Best Rooftop Restaurant

Back Share You enter an unassuming skyrise, slap-bang in the middle of Cape Town’s bustling metropolis, with zero expectations… One elevator ride later, and you’re transported to a place like no other: Utopia. With panoramic views of the gorgeous Mother City, from a vantage point that can only be described as idyllic, this restaurant exudes charisma. Described by a patron as “a little slice of paradise in the heart of the CBD,” picture Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and the sprawling Atlantic ocean, all within eye’s view. Perched on the rooftop, bathed in golden-hour light, we knew the night that lay before us was sure to be dazzling and bright. Expert Chef The Chef With the Mostess Cue Nikita Zoulis, the new chef on the Utopia block, and his otherworldly Summer Menu. Having reimagined and reinvigorated the offerings, executive chef Nikita and his French-born sous chef, Nutroune, served an outstanding Mediterranean-style

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