Marble Hospitality Brings South American Flavours to South Africa with Roots of Flavour

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Three-part culinary collaboration series brings celebrated chefs from Mexico, Panama and Peru to Johannesburg and Cape Town

Marble Hospitality is bringing the vibrant flavours of South America to South Africa with Roots of Flavour, a new three-part culinary collaboration series created in partnership with Air France-KLM.

The series will see acclaimed chefs from Mexico, Panama and Peru join the Marble Hospitality team for a series of exclusive dining experiences in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The initiative explores the connection between food, culture and travel, offering South African diners the chance to experience international culinary talent without leaving home.

Chef Alberto Preciado Navarro Opens the Series

The first chapter of Roots of Flavour launches in September with Mexican chef Alberto Preciado Navarro, who will bring more than 25 years of hospitality and food-and-beverage leadership experience to the collaboration.

Chef Navarro will host two exclusive evenings at Zioux in Sandton on 2 and 3 September, before travelling to Marble Cape Town for a one-night culinary experience on 5 September.

Each event will showcase the chef’s approach to Mexican cuisine while creating a unique exchange between South American culinary traditions and the Marble Hospitality team. Guests can expect a dining experience shaped by local flavours, cultural memory, creativity and world-class hospitality.

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For Marble Hospitality co-founder and chef David Higgs, the series represents both a personal milestone and an opportunity to create meaningful culinary connections.

“One of the continents I have sadly never been to is South America,” says Higgs. “So, together with Air France-KLM and Marble Hospitality, we are bringing South America’s Roots of Flavour to South Africa.”

Over the coming months, chefs from Mexico, Panama and Peru will collaborate with Marble Hospitality teams in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

“It is an incredibly special opportunity to connect, collaborate and share with chefs from these extraordinary culinary destinations,” Higgs adds.

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Air France-KLM Partners with Marble Hospitality

The Roots of Flavour series also highlights the relationship between travel and gastronomy. Wilson Tauro, Country Manager Southern Africa at Air France-KLM, says some of the most memorable travel experiences begin around the dining table.

“We’re proud to partner with Marble Hospitality on Roots of Flavour, creating an opportunity for South Africans to experience the creativity and traditions of some of South America’s most celebrated chefs,” says Tauro.

While Air France-KLM connects travellers with culinary destinations around the world, the partnership brings those global flavours to South Africa through cultural exchange and collaboration.

A Mexican Culinary Perspective

Chef Navarro’s career spans leading hotel groups, high-volume food and beverage operations and specialist healthcare environments across Mexico.

His culinary style combines discipline and creativity, with a strong focus on menu development, operational excellence and quality. His approach also reflects a deep respect for Mexican culinary traditions and the cultural stories behind the country’s food.

His collaboration with Marble Hospitality creates an opportunity to explore Mexican cuisine through a distinctly international lens, while placing South African hospitality at the centre of the experience.

Where South African Flavour Meets Global Cuisine

Although Roots of Flavour looks towards South America, the series also reflects the multicultural nature of South African food.

South Africa’s culinary identity has been shaped by indigenous foodways, migration and generations of cultural exchange. Dutch, Malay, Indian, French, Portuguese and broader African influences have all contributed to the country’s diverse food culture.

That makes South Africa a natural setting for an international culinary dialogue.

For Marble Hospitality, the series is not simply about bringing international chefs to South Africa. It is about creating a conversation between culinary cultures and celebrating the role that food plays in connecting people, places and traditions.

Across its restaurants, Marble Hospitality has developed a reputation for sophisticated dining experiences that combine considered cuisine, ambitious beverage programmes, distinctive interiors and attentive service.

Roots of Flavour extends that philosophy, giving diners the opportunity to experience international culinary talent in Johannesburg and Cape Town while celebrating South Africa’s own position within the global hospitality landscape.

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Book Roots of Flavour in Johannesburg and Cape Town

Bookings for the Roots of Flavour experiences are available through Dineplan via the respective restaurant websites.

Zioux, Sandton
2 and 3 September 2026
Book at Zioux

Marble Cape Town
5 September 2026
Book at Marble Cape Town

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