Siblings, almost twins, the brotherly duo combined their knowledge, passion for food and entertaining to create Agave Restaurant on 1 June 2009 in Graaff Reinet and in 2011 extended the business to catering and floral art with Alta Scott. Both traveling for two years in England, working in gastro pubs and gaining ideas how to use European food and simplify it to Karoo flavours. In 2005 Quintinn enrolled at the prestigious ICA (institute of culinary arts @ Spier) He did the one year city and guilds diploma and graduated with 2 distinctions and was awarded the ICA practical award for best overall practical performance. Member of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Member of Ordre Mondial Des Gourmets Dégustateurs He did his practical training at the renowned Haute Cabriere in Franschhoek. In 2006 he started at samara private game reserve, just outside Graaff – Reinet, he transformed the cuisine from the more traditional game reserve style of good home-cooking to a gastronomic fusion between the classic French style he studied, and the traditions and flavours of the Karoo. Quintinn has been published in numerous food magazines and appeared on a local lifestyle tv program: PUBLICATIONS Food and Home Entertainment August 2006 Rooi Rose Magazine June 2007 Sarie Kos Magazine Winter 2008 Taste Magazine October 2008 Pasella (local lifestyle program) November 2008
Andre obtained a degree in Social Science at the University of the Free State in 2006. Food and entertaining is always part of everyday life so he decided to start and work in the restaurant industry. He worked in a few restaurants in the UK and in South Africa. As young brothers, they learnt to cook at their mother’s knee, helping her in the kitchen to prepare a proper Sunday lunch and she learnt them to cook “boere kos” Never a level cup, she would say, always heaped – “die ekstra bietjie is die liefde” (the extra bit is for love) Quintinn and Andre born and bred in the Karoo, true sons of the Camdeboo!