Germain Lehodey, 2023’s recipient of the Eat Out Highland Park Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award, has a body of work brimming with dedication to the South African restaurant industry. To celebrate this win, Germain shared his journey to building his impactful career, shedding light on some of the pivotal moments that have shaped his legacy.
Like many great stories, Germain’s journey into the world of wine began humbly, during his first job as a waiter in Paris. “The owner introduced me to winemakers in Burgundy,” Germain recalled. “I showed interest immediately. My father was a Calvados producer, therefore I understood distillation at a very young age,” he adds. He dedicated himself to studying and working simultaneously, eventually joining the three Michelin-starred Tour d’Argent restaurant. “I started as a commis sommelier and six months later, I became a sommelier, before becoming the head sommelier of a cellar of 350 000 bottles,” says Germain.
Germain’s contributions to the industry now span over three decades, both internationally and on South African soil.
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