The Peech Boutique Hotel will celebrate its 22nd anniversary with a special dining collaboration at The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg from 26 to 28 November 2026. The three-day event brings together chefs Ebie du Toit and Nathan Clarke, whose culinary careers began side by side at the original Test Kitchen in Cape Town, and their mentor, Luke Dale Roberts.
Ebie, Head Chef of The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg, and Nathan, Head Chef of The Test Kitchen Fledgelings in Cape Town, will create a six-course menu inspired by their individual backgrounds, the flavours they grew up with and the experiences that shaped their careers. The collaboration is a rare opportunity to see the two chefs cook together again, this time as leaders of their own kitchens.
Both chefs began as scullers at the original Test Kitchen, working behind the scenes before progressing through Luke Dale Roberts’ restaurant group. Their journey from the scullery to head chef positions reflects years of hard work, curiosity and mentorship.
Nathan’s early experience at The Test Kitchen laid the groundwork for his career, from sculler to demi chef and eventually head chef at The Test Kitchen Fledgelings. Today, he helps train emerging hospitality professionals in the same Woodstock space where his own journey began. In 2025, he received the Eat Out Rising Star Award.
Ebie grew up in Mitchells Plain and began his professional career in The Test Kitchen’s scullery. With Luke’s encouragement, he trained at Silwood School of Cookery before continuing to develop his skills within the LDR group. Now leading The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg, Ebie brings his Cape Malay heritage together with the techniques and influences he has encountered in professional kitchens.
The November menu will showcase both chefs’ food perspectives, drawing on the ingredients and flavours they enjoy cooking with. Luke Dale Roberts’ creative influence will also feature throughout the experience.
“There are flavours from home that stay with you, no matter where your career takes you,” says Ebie. “This menu gives Nathan and me the chance to bring those influences into the kitchen together and do something fresh with them. Having Luke here makes it even more special. He saw what we could become before we could see it ourselves.”
Luke affectionately calls Ebie and Nathan his “Golden Boys”. Their reunion celebrates not only their shared beginnings, but also the role of mentorship in helping aspiring chefs develop their skills, confidence and careers. Both now carry that responsibility forward by leading teams and supporting emerging talent in their own kitchens.
“I call them my Golden Boys because I’ve watched them earn their position, every step of the way,” says Luke. “They started washing pots, but their curiosity, determination and willingness to learn took them far beyond the scullery. Today, they are talented head chefs with their own voices, leading teams and teaching others. Seeing them cook together again is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
The collaboration also marks a milestone for The Peech, which first opened its doors on 27 November 2004. Over 22 years, the family-run boutique hotel has become a distinctive Johannesburg destination, with 32 guest rooms set within two acres of gardens in Melrose. The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg adds a lively dining experience for hotel guests and local diners.
“We’re incredibly proud to have The Pot Luck Club here at The Peech,” says James, the hotel’s owner. “Having such a dynamic team and talented chefs brings another dimension of excellence to what we offer our international guests, while giving local South Africans a compelling reason to join us. The restaurant has become a tremendous feature at the hotel, and celebrating our 22nd birthday with Luke, Ebie and Nathan cooking together makes this occasion particularly special.”
The two restaurants have also earned recognition in South Africa’s 2026 dining awards. At the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards, The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg and The Test Kitchen Fledgelings each received one star. The 2026 JHP Gourmet Guide awarded The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg two plates and The Test Kitchen Fledgelings one plate. At the 2026 LUXE Restaurant Awards, The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg was named Hotel Restaurant of the Year and received two LUXE stars, while The Test Kitchen Fledgelings received one.
For diners, the anniversary event offers the chance to experience two accomplished chefs working together on a menu created especially for the occasion. From their first days washing pots to leading acclaimed kitchens, Ebie and Nathan’s story is one of shared beginnings, individual growth and a lasting connection to the people and places that shaped them.
Event details :
Dates: 26–28 November 2026
Lunch: Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November
Dinner: Thursday 26, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November
Venue: The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg at The Peech Hotel, Melrose
Menu: Six courses by Ebie du Toit and Nathan Clarke
Price: R1,350 per person; optional wine pairing available
Reservations: Book through DinePlan
