La Petite Ferme, the iconic Franschhoek wine estate and restaurant, has appointed Richard Carstens as its new head chef. He kicks off his inaugural menu in April 2026, marking a new chapter for the property perched on the slopes of Middagkrans Mountain Range.

“La Petite Ferme has a soul,” Richard says. “The views alone are enough to remind you why food matters. This is a place that has been crafted with love over four decades and I am deeply honoured to be the custodian of its kitchen at this exciting chapter in its story.”

Richard is best known as the former chef patron of Arkeste by Richard Carstens at Chamonix Wine Estate, where he and his team earned two Eat Out stars in 2022 and three stars in 2023. Before Arkeste, he spent several years as executive chef at Tokara in Stellenbosch, earning a spot in the (then) Eat Out Top 20 for five consecutive years! He has also held positions at Lynton Hall, Le Provençal, Bijoux and NOVA. The chef’s influence extends beyond the kitchen, and he is regarded as a mentor and luminary within South Africa’s culinary community.

Richard joined La Petite Ferme in March 2026 and will bring his signature modern French approach to the fore. His cooking philosophy centres on classical technique paired with contemporary innovation, with an emphasis on seasonality and terroir. The new menu will showcase locally sourced produce from the valley and is designed to complement the estate’s wines.

“Modern French cuisine as I practise it is not a departure from tradition, it is its natural evolution,” says Richard. “It builds on classical foundations but sheds the unnecessary, adding innovation and a singular focus on the ingredient, the season and the story of where the food comes from. At La Petite Ferme, that story is all around us.”

Reservations for the new menu are now open and can be made online.