Marble Hospitality, in partnership with Air France-KLM, is bringing South America’s vibrant culinary spirit to South Africa through Roots of Flavour, a new three-part collaboration series that will see celebrated chefs from Mexico, Panama and Peru cook alongside the Marble Hospitality team in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The series begins in September with Chef Alberto Preciado Navarro from Mexico, who will lead two exclusive evenings at Zioux in Sandton on 2 and 3 September, followed by a one-night experience at Marble Cape Town on 6 September. Each destination in the series will explore local flavours, cultural memory and world-class hospitality through once-off dining experiences designed to bring international culinary exchange closer to home.
For Marble Hospitality co-founder and chef David Higgs, the series is both personal and purposeful. “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 next couple of months, we are bringing in chefs from Mexico, Panama and Peru to cook with us right here in Johannesburg and Cape Town, starting in September with Chef Navarro from Mexico. It is an incredibly special opportunity to connect, collaborate and share with chefs from these extraordinary culinary destinations.”
Wilson Tauro, Country Manager Southern Africa at Air France-KLM, says the airline believes some of the most memorable travel experiences are shaped around the dining table, where food becomes a powerful expression of culture, history and connection.
“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. While our network connects travellers to extraordinary culinary destinations around the world, partnerships like these allow us to celebrate those same global flavours here in South Africa through meaningful cultural exchange.”
Chef Navarro brings more than 25 years of hospitality and food-and-beverage leadership experience to the collaboration, with a career spanning leading hotel groups, high-volume operations and specialist healthcare environments in Mexico. Known for his disciplined yet creative approach to Mexican cuisine, menu development and operational excellence, he brings together culinary craft, cultural insight and a deep respect for quality, tradition and detail.
A global conversation rooted in South African flavour
While the collaboration looks outward, it also reflects something deeply familiar to South African diners. South Africa’s food culture has always been shaped by movement, migration and exchange: by indigenous foodways, Dutch, Malay, Indian, French, Portuguese and broader African influences, and by the many communities that continue to add new layers to the way the country cooks, eats and gathers.
In that sense, Roots of Flavour is not simply about importing global inspiration. It is about recognising South Africa as a natural host for culinary dialogue: a country where flavour is already multicultural, where hospitality is instinctive, and where guests are increasingly seeking experiences that feel both worldly and rooted.
Across its restaurants, Marble Hospitality has built a reputation for giving guests an international-level experience through considered food, an ambitious beverage offering, immersive interiors and attentive service. For diners who may not be travelling abroad, the group’s restaurants offer a way to experience something world-class in South Africa – not as imitation, but as a confident local expression of global hospitality.
Booking information
Guests can make bookings via Dineplan through the restaurant websites.
Zioux bookings for 2 and 3 September can be made via: https://zioux.com
Marble Cape Town bookings for 6 September can be made via: https://marble.restaurant/capetown
