Some meals feed your body. This one fed my soul. And in the heart of Nice, a South African boytjie reminded me what true hospitality tastes like. Baie Dankie Jan Hendrik.
Nice, France (11 July 2025) – And I stood there. Completely overwhelmed. Tears quietly spilling down my cheeks… in the middle of a restaurant that only served cheese.
It wasn’t just the cheese, of course.
It was everything.
Jan Hendrik has three restaurants in Nice. Well, technically two. And one magical space called Maria. We’ll get to that. But last night, we got to experience all of them. And I left changed. Grateful. Moved. And bursting with pride for a South African boytjie flying our flag so boldly, and beautifully, in another part of the world.
You know Jan. You must.
He was the first South African chef to receive a Michelin star. And he’s held onto it for ten years straight. This is no small feat in the world of fine dining. His signature restaurant, JAN, is currently ranked the second-best in Nice. Out of over 3,000 restaurants across the French Riviera… Jan’s is number two.
Number. Two.
He’s got more restaurants. Pop-ups. A string of award-winning books. A TV series. And a permanent place on the list of the most influential people in the African food industry.
Oh, and he’s from Middelburg.
Like Middelburg. Mpumalanga. South Africa.
We’ve written about him on Good Things Guy a few times, and Jan and I have followed each other on socials for years. We both have cavvies. We both love food. And we are both proudly, passionately South African.
So when he messaged me to say, “Saw you’re in town. Come join us at Le Bistrot de JAN,” I nearly fell off my hotel bed.
Of course we said yes. But what followed was not just dinner.
It was theatre. Emotion. Heritage. Art. Hospitality with heart. A moment. An experience.
Jan welcomed us himself. In jeans. And vellies. This world-renowned chef (whose food the world travels for) was standing in front of us, casually chatting.
“Guys, hoe gaan dit? How’s the trip been? What have you been up to?”
When I met Oprah, what struck me was how “present and interested” she was. Jan gives off that same energy. He’s thoughtful. Warm. And deeply kind.
We spoke for a while and then he told us the team had prepared a tasting menu.
“Just sit back,” he smiled. “Take it all in.”
And so we did.
Nine dishes arrived over the course of the evening. Each one a masterpiece. Each one delicately plated, thoughtfully designed and wildly delicious. The kind of food that makes you feel.
Just before dessert, our maitre d’ asked us to follow him on an “adventure”.
We were taken through the back, through bustling kitchens, greeted by smiling chefs and into the heart of JAN’s world. What I didn’t realise was that our meal had come from both Le Bistrot de JAN and Restaurant JAN.
We had eaten at both restaurants.
But it wasn’t over.
Our maitre d’ gave us a little wink and led us across the road to Maria. A small, sacred space dedicated to Jan’s grandmother. Five intimate tables, dimly lit, circling a centre table fit for a queen.
A hundred cheeses and preserves. The smell of fresh bread. South African wines. And “It’s a Wonderful, Wonderful Life” playing in the background.
That’s where it happened. That’s when I cracked and felt tears rolling down my cheeks.
Friends, I need to add here that it’s not because I love cheese (although, let’s be honest… it could have been). But it was because of everything. The being interested. The thoughtfulness. The detail. The warmth. This moment. This entire experience.
We ate our cheese. And drank more wine. And were then walked back to our table at Le Bistrot de JAN for dessert and coffee.
I just sat there. Trying to take it all in.
Trying to wrap my head around how a kid from Middelburg could carry the spirit of home across continents and make people feel it, deeply, viscerally, through flavour, hospitality and grace. And then I realised that maybe I was so emotional because that’s what pride tastes like. Maybe that’s what art feels like. Maybe Jan has perfected the art of plating not only his talent (and pride in his work) but pure, unbridled South African pride.
And he is sharing that with the world.
Either way, I’ll never forget last night. Ever.
Before we left, I took one last look around the room. Still full. Still glowing. Still quietly alive with the kind of energy that lingers long after the last plate is cleared. I don’t know if anyone else had tear-streaked cheeks… but I do know this: they felt it too.
This boytjie from Middelburg was making people feel things – good things – with his food.
Ja, last night wasn’t just a dinner.
It was a reminder that the South African spirit, when poured into passion, is not just good.
It’s world-class.
And my god, it made me so flipping proud.
*This was originally posted to my social media. You can find the full collection of photos here.
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