Chantel Dartnall
Sweden
Chantel Dartnall – was born in Elandsfontein, South Africa, and grew up on the family farm. Nature has always been in her bones, and it’s a great way for her to escape and reconnect. From an early age, she was intrigued by food, and her great-great grandfather was actually a chef for the Royal Family. Chantel was the first person in her family, however, to open a restaurant. From the beginning, she knew that she wanted something different and unique. Chantel studied at the Prue Leith Chefs Academy in South Africa before being awarded a scholarship from the World Association of Chef’s Societies to study at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island, USA. From there, she went to London, where she worked under Chef Nico Ladenis at his restaurant, Chez Nico, at 90 Park Lane, London. She also worked with Michael Caines at Gidleigh Park in Devon, and chefs such as Ladenis, Alain Ducasse and Marco Pierre. With this amazing experience behind her, Chantel returned to South Africa and opened Restaurant Mosaic at the Orient Boutique Hotel in 2006. Chantel defines her approach as “botanical cuisine featuring Mother Nature on a plate, where each dish is designed to reflect the beauty, balance, harmony and purity that you find in nature.” She believes it is vital to serve visually appealing dishes that tell a story and start stimulating diners’ senses from the moment the food arrives at the table.
