Masterchef SA 2013 winner Kamini Pather Photo courtesy of James Boon.

Having just wrapped her first cooking show, Girl Eat World, for which she travelled to cities like New York, Sydney and Bangkok, MasterChef SA winner is back in Cape Town and loving it. We asked her to share her favourite restaurants for a lazy lunch, bite of sushi and mid-week dinner with friends.

My favourite…

Chef

I’m a chef groupie, so this is a tough one. It would have to be between David Higgs and Luke Dale-Roberts. DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE!

Weeknight eatery

The White Room at Dear Me. Chef Vanessa Marx takes ‘putting yourself on the plate’ to a whole new level. She’s as fresh and vibrant as her food.

Food from The White Room at Dear Me. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Sushi spot

Even though it’s in a mall, Willoughby’s is the best.

Willoughby’s. . Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Restaurant with a beautiful view

Tokara.

Tokara. . Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Venue for a lazy Saturday morning brunch

On a Sunday we wake at midday, so Terroir would be ideal.

Asian food

Izakaya Matsuri in Green Point.

Business lunch location

La Mouette is close to town with a great selection of lighter dishes for a working lunch. If I was in Jozi, I might head off to DW Eleven-13.

Burgers

The Loading Bay.

Spot for Sunday lunch with the family

After some vino in Franschhoek, the perfect place to stop would be The Tasting Room.

The Tasting Room’s interior. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Indian food

My mom’s house.

Romantic restaurant

I don’t like ‘romantic’ dinners. Besides the fact that I’m a garden-variety cynic, I like the bustle of a space and The Pot Luck Club with its boozy cocktails and exquisite view would be as romantic as I would get.

My guilty pleasure

Five Hundred or The Test Kitchen. Very different feelings, but both would put a spring in my step as I hurried toward that sensory bliss.

The table setting at Five Hundred. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Mexican food

El Burro.

Recipe book

Eleven Madison Avenue – I read this throughout MasterChef. I love the detail on the plate.

Home-cooked dinner

My house; I love cooking for friends. A glass of bubbly in hand with chatter from my people – THE BEST.