Culture Craze

From Cape Town to Michelin Fame: Ash Valenzuela-Heeger’s Star Keeps Rising

Published

2 months ago

July 24, 2025

Chiraag

Ash Valenzuela-Heeger, South African chef, Michelin Young Chef Award 2025, British Restaurant Awards nominee, Riverine Rabbit Birmingham, Cape Town culinary talent, UK food awards 2025, Michelin Bib Gourmand UK, female chefs South Africa, Joburg ETC

In a world where food trends come and go, South African chef Ash Valenzuela-Heeger has carved out a permanent space at the top of the culinary map.

After winning the Michelin Young Chef Award for 2025, the Cape Town-born talent is now in the spotlight again, this time as a nominee for Best Chef at the British Restaurant Awards, one of the UK’s most prestigious culinary honours.

A Journey That Started with Fire and Flavour

Valenzuela-Heeger’s path to international acclaim began in the kitchens of Cape Town. She trained at the Silwood School of Cookery, South Africa’s oldest professional culinary school, and quickly rose through the ranks by working at top-tier restaurants like La Colombe and The Test Kitchen under legendary chef Luke Dale Roberts.

She later sharpened her skills in the UK at Michelin-starred institutions such as The Ledbury, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, and Carters of Moseley. But it wasn’t long before her South African identity pulled her back home.

In 2016, she opened ASH Restaurant, followed by Riverine Rabbit in 2018. What began as a bold pop-up became a celebrated eatery, one that moved to Birmingham during the pandemic and captured the imagination of the British food scene.

Riverine Rabbit: A Tale of Two Cultures

Today, Riverine Rabbit in Birmingham is a vibrant expression of South African roots meeting British produce. The menu is small but striking; dishes like crab toast, honey-cured beef, and spiced small plates use local ingredients but carry the warmth, earthiness, and storytelling of South African cuisine.

This culinary duality is what caught the attention of the Michelin Guide, who not only gave Riverine Rabbit a Bib Gourmand but also named Valenzuela-Heeger their Young Chef of the Year for 2025.

Recognition at Home and Abroad

“She’s just a powerhouse,” said Eat Out’s Culinary Director Abigail Donnelly, following the Michelin announcement. “Her flavours are bold, powerful, and completely her own. I’ve followed her since her Test Kitchen days.”

Locals may also remember Valenzuela-Heeger’s appearance on Netflix’s The Final Table, a high-pressure global cooking competition where she held her own among top chefs from around the world.

Now, with the British Restaurant Awards nomination under her belt, she joins the ranks of some of the most celebrated names in the UK food scene. The official shortlist will be revealed on 10 September, with the winners announced later this year in London.

A Win for South African Culinary Pride

Valenzuela-Heeger’s success speaks volumes about the growing influence of South African cuisine on the global stage. At a time when local chefs are pushing boundaries, her story is a reminder that excellence doesn’t have to come from abroad; it can start right here, at home, and travel far.

Whether she takes home the British Restaurant Award or not, one thing is certain: Ash Valenzuela-Heeger is no longer a rising star. She’s already arrived.