Grei Head Chef Candice Philip will be leaving the Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa at the end of May after being a valued part of the culinary team at the hotel for the past 15 years.

During her 15 years as part of the Saxon family, Chef Candice served as Head Chef at the award-winning restaurants Luke Dale Roberts X Saxon as well as five hundred – under Chef Luke Dale-Roberts and Chef David Higgs respectively – before opening her own restaurant, Grei, to wide-spread acclaim in 2018. Grei has been awarded numerous accolades; including being selected as one of the World’s 50 Best Discoveries by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in November 2019, as well as being nominated as the World’s Leading Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant by the World Travel Awards in 2018 and 2019 alongside being awarded 2 plates from the Jenny Handley Gourmet Guide in 2019. Chef Candice’s achievements also includes the Mercedes Benz Eat Out Nederburg Rising Star award for 2018 and the Conde Nast House & Garden SA Gourmet Restaurant Awards 2018: Young Chef Award.

Chef Candice commented: “I have been fortunate enough to have worked with some amazing chefs and held down some equally amazing restaurants before seeing my own space and restaurant come to life. Grei has been something I worked for my whole life and I am eternally grateful for the successes that Grei has gathered over such a short time. I am excited and look forward to my next chapter and the adventures that my next step holds.”

Managing Director, George Cohen stated “it has been a pleasure to watch Chef Candice develop and grow over the past 15 years and I am excited to see the culinary heights that she will yet achieve on her path forward.”

For the moment, Grei remains open and the team continues to look forward to welcoming you for dinner. The Saxon Culinary is exploring new and exciting adventures with regards to the way forward – we will announce details soon.