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Jamie Oliver’s first SA restaurant to open this Spring

Jamie Oliver needs no introduction. Even if you have been living in a hole for the last 10 years, it’s likely you will still know the famous TV chef’s name. He’s gone from a 90s young, bright-eyed new chef on the block to one of the most iconic celebrity chefs in UK history. And now he will be gifting SA with his restaurant brand, Jamie’s Italian.

READ: Jamie Oliver makes SA’s milk tart famous on Instagram

We heard some rumours flying about at the beginning of the year about a Jamie’s Italian hitting our shores later in 2016. EatOut reported that a restaurant would open in Melrose Arch and one in Cape Town in 2017. So far Melrose Arch has been confirmed and it will open this Spring at Shop 00513, Building 13 according to Jamie Oliver’s official website.

The restaurant has over 40 branches around the world and is a household name across the UK, starting out in Oxford in 2008. The idea for Jamie was obvious always holding a secure spot in his heart and soul for Italian cooking, and you’ll see this in many if his recipes. His passion for Italian cooking and the culture that goes with it has been with him since his early days of becoming a chef, and he refined this with the guidance of Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo.

Each restaurant is designed uniquely depending on the building its sits in. So we don’t know much about what the interior will look like, however, Jamie and his team have set up a Jamie’s Italian SA Instagram account to strategically give us a taste of things to come.

Don’t eat meat? Don’t worry @jamiesitaliansa will have you covered #VeggieBurger

A photo posted by Jamie’s Italian South Africa (@jamiesitaliansa) on

Honeycombed squid, dusted in flour and deep fried with garlic & lemon mayo. Because it’s #FRIDAY #ComingSOON ??: @jamiesitalianuk

A photo posted by Jamie’s Italian South Africa (@jamiesitaliansa) on

Coming Soon! | #Meatball Pappardelle, in a fiery ‘nduja tomato sauce… so delicious! #pasta #meatballs #dinnertime ??: @jamiesitalianuk

A photo posted by Jamie’s Italian South Africa (@jamiesitaliansa) on

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