Chantel Dartnall’s Restaurant Mosaic is outrageously unique; it’s a multi award-winning, fine dining restaurant that can boast one of the greatest wine cellars in Africa, an adjoining five star hotel and private art gallery, as well its own animal conservancy.

Despite the myriad of amazing and exotic things to behold at The Orient Hotel, Chantel’s cuisine is the main attraction, for you won’t find anything like it, anywhere else in South Africa. While working abroad she discovered the work of chef Michel Bras, which was her first introduction to Botanical Cuisine ‘la cuisine du terroir’, and immediately fell in love with his philosophy and enchanting use of flowers. Chantel’s style combines the wonders of Botanical cuisine with the elegance of fine dining.

It’s truly difficult to describe the splendour of the dining experience at Mosaic, as well as the serenity of all that comprises the conservancy itself. Each dish is a work of art as well as an all-encompassing, sensual affair. Like staring up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it’s impossible to put into words; the food, the surroundings, the art, the intricate décor, the intimate service and the exquisite wines – for all are, quite simply, breath-taking.

For dinner you’re offered the option of two dégustation menus: The Grande Menu, which is a 10-course symphony of gastronomy and The Market Menu, which is the six course, little sister of the Grande. Chantel also offers vegetarian, pescatarian and vegan dégustation menus on special request. All menus include the option of international or local wine-pairings as well as an amazingly delightful, non-alcoholic, drinks-pairing.

Each menu has a narrative and each dish relates to that story. This particular menu was called Origins and included dishes such as Evolution, First Growth, Genesis and The Garden of Eden to name but a few. The Garden of Eden is a dish of Mauritian sea bass with a delicate tomato and lemongrass velouté, but it’s so much more than that, for the sea bass is served in the centre of a specially-designed plate surrounded by over one hundred miniature, edible flowers, herbs, and other morsels – it’s almost too exquisite to eat.

Restaurant Mosaic just garnered 7th place in the prestigious 2015 Eat Out Restaurant Awards, but, quite honestly, I think it deserves to be at number one.