Lars Ammer

A Tasting Menu on the Edge of the World

At Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, where the Atlantic exhales against the harbor walls, Pier sits quietly—confident, composed, and utterly unswayed by spectacle. This is not a restaurant that begs for attention. It earns it.

Chef John Norris-Rogers leads the kitchen with precision, delivering a tasting menu that reads like a meditation on the Cape. It begins light—a bite of yuzu, trout roe, and kimchi crab that brightens the palate like a shard of sunlight. Then, the rhythm builds: snoek takoyaki, crisp and briny; tandoori yellowfin smoothed by avocado and chèvre; and a moody, deep quail with langoustine over spiced coconut that brings heat, fat, and silk into sharp balance.

The bread course—so often filler elsewhere—is a full-fledged act. Sourdough arrives with curried hake butter, smoked mussels, and chorizo—a briny, smoky crescendo of its own.

Main courses follow the same quiet confidence. Lamb, stuffed with morel and shaded with tarragon, feels grounded and rich, while a Wagyu supplement offers depth for those craving an even bolder final act.

Dessert avoids theatrics in favor of clarity. Strawberry, elderflower, and whey—sweetness, acidity, and the lightest brush of nostalgia. Then, simply, a Treasure Chest. No description. Just trust.

Pier doesn’t chase trends. It refines them. And in doing so, it carves out something rare: a restaurant that speaks softly and still stays with you, long after the sea has gone dark.

#thechefsstories #thechefsstoriesontour #world50best Less

Tulus Lotrek: Where Whimsy Meets Culinary Artistry

Walking into Tulus Lotrek feels like stepping into a world where fine dining meets circus whimsy, and it’s all the better for it. Chef Max Strohe’s playful, artful take on gastronomy combines serious technical skill with a cheeky irreverence. The name itself, a nod to the painter Toulouse-Lautrec, sets the tone: expect surprises, humor, and creativity at every turn.

The space is warm and inviting, as if you’ve been welcomed into the stylish apartment of a friend with Michelin-level ambitions. Quirky artwork, intimate tables, and an open kitchen buzzing with energy create a setting that’s refreshingly unpretentious. This isn’t white-tablecloth territory—Tulus Lotrek invites you to laugh, drink, and delight in the unexpected.

And the food? Whimsy with a side of brilliance. A venison tartare topped with shaved truffles is so decadently rich, it’s practically a guilt trip. Then there’s the signature foie gras donut: a savory-sweet creation that’s as stunning to look at as it is to eat. If Berlin has an Instagram dish of the year, this might just be it.

Not everything is flawless—a fish course featuring char could have benefited from more acidity, and a deconstructed Pavlova teetered on being overly clever—but the hits far outweigh the misses. Co-owner and sommelier Ilona Scholl’s wine pairings elevate the experience further, with natural wines that push boundaries while feeling perfectly attuned to each dish. A sparkling German rosé paired with the foie gras donut was so brilliant, it almost felt like a crime.

Tulus Lotrek’s genius lies in its ability to mix contradictions: fine dining that’s approachable, dishes that are both serious and fun, and a Michelin star that feels weightless in its execution. It’s a place to linger, laugh, and savor the joy of great food served without pretense. In a city built on reinvention, Tulus Lotrek feels like it’s always belonged—a home for the bold, the curious, and the hungry.

#thechefsstories #thechefsstoriesontour #tuluslotrek #maxstrohe #ilonascholl Less

What if the most unexpected flavor experience was waiting for you… in the heart of Dubai?

At FZN, the visionary chefs Thorsten Vildgaard and Björn Frantzén fuse the essence of Nordic innovation with the rich traditions of Middle Eastern cuisine. Each dish is a journey — crafted with precision, passion, and a dash of daring creativity. But there’s one creation on the menu that breaks all the rules… Can you guess which one? 🍴

#FZNDubai #BjörnFrantzén #ThorstenVildgaard #DubaiDining #NordicCuisine #MiddleEasternFlavors #CulinaryInnovation #FineDiningDubai #FoodWithAStory #ChefLife #Gastronomy #thechefsstories #thechefsstoriesontour Less

Wirklich jeder Gang ist phänomenal gut, sensibel irgendwie, intensiv trotzdem, wahnsinnig aromatisch und das Beste, was ich je im Zeik auf dem Teller hatte…Maurizios Sommermenü @restaurant_zeik . Unbedingt hingehen…🙏 #zeikhamburg #mauriziooster #onemichelinstar #hamburgeestaurant #finedining #foodlover #thechefsstoriesontour #hamburgfood #jre #veggiefood Less

Finishing of this amazing menu @restaurantfrantzen

Wild strawberries 🍓 served with 1991 #chateaudyquem #sauterne

it has been a blast, like always at this very unique restaurant. Will revisit soon

#threemichelinstars
#bjornfrantzen #restaurantfrantzen #thechefsstoriesontour
.
.
.
#mystoriewithmichelin #michelinplate
#michelinfood #deliceous #eeeeeats #food
#foodie #foodpics #travelinstyle
#foodstagram #igdaily #instagood #instafood #instapic #larsammer #picotheday #travelinstyle
#willtravelforfood #worthajourney
#antoniawien #thechefsstories Less

Finishing of this amazing menu @soelringhof_sylt

Salzwälder Kirschtorte
Karamell ~Salzwiesengewächse

it has been a blast

#twomichelinstars
#janphilippberner #soelringhof #thechefsstoriesontour
.
.
.
#mystoriewithmichelin #michelinplate
#michelinfood #deliceous #eeeeeats #food
#foodie #foodgsam #foodpics #foodporn
#foodstagram #igdaily #instagood #instafood #instapic #larsammer #picotheday #travelinstyle
#willtravelforfood #worthajourney #yummy
#antoniawien #thechefsstories Less

Thanks for your new interpretation of #lobster as on of the many extra dishes we received. My favorite dish was Helgoländer Hummer
Tomate ~Mandel ~Gewürztagetes like always amazing start in a great summer menu

#twomichelinstars #thechefsstoriesontour
.
.
.
#mystoriewithmichelin #michelinplate
#michelinfood #deliceous #eeeeeats #food
#foodie #foodgsam #foodpics #foodporn
#foodstagram #igdaily #instagood #instafood #instapic #larsammer #picotheday #travelinstyle
#willtravelforfood #worthajourney #yummy
#antoniawien #thechefsstories Less

The wizardry unfolds inside this understated French city sanctum where two changing multi-course prix-fixe meals are available four days a week for lunch and dinner at #tantrisrestaurant

Our afternoon “lunch “ was a meal to remember.

The wine list is appropriately extensive, featuring both famous and obscure producers.

Thanks for your interpretation of #koenigsbergerklopse as on of the many extra dishes we received. My favorite dish was ENCRE | Sepia · Lardo · Parmesan

@tantris_maison_culinaire by @benjamin_chmura + @monaroethig

PRINTEMPS
Grüner Spargel · Bärlauch · Räucheraal

ENCRE
Sepia · Lardo · Parmesan

PETIT BATEAU
Wolfsbarsch · Brunnenkresse · Herzmuscheln

FERME
Taube · Puntarelle · eingelegte Kirschen

POTAGER
Kopfsalat · Wacholder · Zitronenthymia

BABA
Grapefruit · Estragon · Honig

#tantrismaisonculinaire #tantris #twomichelinstars #benjaminchmura #thechefsstoriesontour
.
.
.
#mystoriewithmichelin #michelinplate
#michelinfood #deliceous #eeeeeats #food
#foodie #foodgsam #foodpics #foodporn
#foodstagram #igdaily #instagood #instafood #instapic #larsammer #picotheday #travelinstyle
#willtravelforfood #worthajourney #yummy
#antoniawien #thechefsstories Less

It is a very special restaurant, perhaps even more than all other dining places in #freiburg that is drawing guests from across Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Have a look … see you soon

@eichhaldefreiburg by @federico_campo_eichhalde

—

#eichhaldefreiburg #michelinstar #thechefsstoriesontour
.
.
.
#mystoriewithmichelin #michelinplate
#michelinfood #deliceous #eeeeeats #food
#foodie #foodgsam #foodpics #foodporn
#foodstagram #igdaily #instagood #instafood #instapic #larsammer #picotheday #travelinstyle
#willtravelforfood #worthajourney #yummy
#antoniawien #thechefsstories Less

One of my favorite places not because we are working very close with the amazing team…best in class …
This plate served on @hering_berlin
#ossietracaviar | Erbse |#nussbutter

@soelringhof_sylt by @janphilipp_berner

—

#twostarmichelin #syltliebe #janphilippberner #johannesking #twomichelinstars #thechefsstoriesontour
.
.
.
#mystoriewithmichelin #michelinplate
#michelinfood #deliceous #eeeeeats #food
#foodie #foodgsam #foodpics #foodporn
#foodstagram #igdaily #instagood #instafood #instapic #larsammer #picotheday #travelinstyle
#willtravelforfood #worthajourney
#antoniawien #thechefsstories Less