From mid-March to early April 2026, two Michelin-starred chefs from Alsace in France, Hubert Maetz and Michel Husser, toured across Southern Africa. Supported by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), the Embassy of France and the network of Alliances françaises, the initiative combined gastronomy, education and cultural exchange across multiple countries.
The tour began in Lusaka with a high-level culinary evening bringing together diplomatic representatives and local guests, followed by a series of workshops, dinners and public events across Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe. In Harare, students at the SAHTC Hospitality School prepared traditional Alsatian dishes alongside Chef Maetz, later serving them during a Francophonie buffet.
In South Africa, the programme continued with training sessions at the Cape Town Hotel School and a gala dinner at Klein Constantia, attended by representatives including the Consule of France and the Premier of the Western Cape. A second dinner in Stellenbosch offered a more informal setting for exchange, while in Durban and Gqeberha, hospitality students participated in hands-on masterclasses led by Chef Husser, focusing on techniques and dishes from the Alsace region.
Throughout the tour, students and young professionals engaged directly with the visiting chefs, gaining practical experience while exchanging perspectives on local ingredients, culinary traditions and training approaches. In several locations, the programme also opened to wider audiences through public events and discussions linked to Francophonie Month.
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