VIA (DStv 147) is adding a new cooking show blending French and South African food fusion with JAN that will be starting on Tuesday 24 October at 19:00.
In a departure from the Afrikaans lifestyle channel's shows, JAN, with the South African chef Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen, not all episodes will be 100% Afrikaans but will incorporate Afrikaans, French and Italian, with English subtitles.
Besides the linear broadcast on VIA, JAN is also made available on Naspers' subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service Showmax.
JAN follows Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen, South Africa's first Michelin-star chef, as he combinesFrench and South African cooking in his restaurant, JAN, in Nice, France.
According to the producers, JAN will give viewers "an intimate look into the life of a creative artist, and also the processes that inspires Jan-Hendrik to create his award-winning culinary creations".
"We discover how his childhood on a dairy farm in Mpumalanga prepared him for opening his restaurant, and why he received the highest accolade in the restaurant business three years later".
Izelle Venter, VIA's channel head, says "Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen is one of South Africa's exports that fills us with pride. It is a great honour to be able to explore his inner world through the camera lens".
"The programme is in Afrikaans, English, French and Italian, but the entire series has English subtitles, so everyone can watch it."
The first season of JAN consists of 9 hour long episodes. Guest appearances include Springbok players Duane Vermeulen and Juandré Kruger as well as actress Julia Stiles, head chef at JAN, Kevin Grobler and local chef Rutger Eysvogel.
JAN starts in his restaurant on the French Riviera, where Hollywood stars, international sportspeople and other VIP guests queue for a table.
The cameras then follow Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen to the small Italian village of Apricale, where he goes to recharge his batteries and to explore distinctive ingredients in the company of local characters.
Each episode ends off with a spectacular dish inspired by the episode's characters and ingredients.
"Guests at my restaurant should not only say they enjoyed eating there – they must say they had a great experience," says Jan-Hendrik van der Wethuizen who is in Cape Town for the launch of JAN on VIA.
"The same goes for the series: we are taking the viewers on a visual and sensory journey. If viewers feel that the programme was an experience for them as well, then we have done good work."
"The same goes for the series: we are taking the viewers on a visual and sensory journey. If viewers feel that the programme was an experience for them as well, then we have done good work."
