Restaurant Klein JAN welcomes new female head chef

Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s Restaurant Klein JAN, based at Tswalu Kalari Reserve, has appointed a new Head Chef.

Jan Hendrik’s Klein JAN restaurant, based at the private game reserve of Tswalu in Kuruman, has welcomed Jessica Fourie as its new head chef.  The Klein JAN team took to Instagram on Monday, sharing the news of Fourie’s appointment.

“We are proud to announce our new Head Chef, Jessica Fourie, who will be Jan Hendrik’s right hand on the crimson-red ground.”  Klein JAN opened in 2021, the same year Fourie joined the team as Chef de Partie.

Climbing the ranks alongside South Africa’s finest in food, Jessica – who grew up in the desert that Klein JAN calls home – proved herself in the kitchen, and after a brilliant display of talent and hard work, Fourie was promoted to Senior Sous Chef in 2023.

Now, Chef Jessica Fourie steps into her role as Head Chef in the Klein JAN kitchen.

As per the restaurant’s post, Jan says:

“Jess grew up in the Kalahari and understands the deep-rooted culinary culture. She has been growing with the Klein JAN team for three years now and steps into the leader position of the kitchen with confidence and a soft, kindred love for people and food.”

As Head Chef of Klein JAN, Jessica will spend time at Restaurant JAN, the “mothership” of the JAN Brand, later this year, the post adds.

“Until then, we are proud of Jessica and thrilled to say: ‘Yes, Chef!’”

Chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen opened Klein JAN in 2021, fuelled by a “connection to the vastness of the Kalahari.”

The restaurant is a slice of Chef Jan’s Michelin-star offering in France, reimagined to honour the Kalahari Desert.

“The Kalahari felt like a blank canvas with unlimited possibilities. The region’s underexplored ingredients were the perfect inspiration to open a new restaurant and bring fine dining home – giving the food from the Kalahari the global stage it deserves,” reads the restaurant’s bio.

This article originally appeared in Food&Home