Category Archives: Durbanville

Restaurant Review: Coco Safar opens second Sea Point Branch, not yet ready for clients, more to come in SA and USA!

 

Coco Safar Pâtisserie and Restaurant has opened a second branch in Sea Point, now also at St John’s Piazza, with plans for a number of further store openings in South Africa as well as in the USA.

Coco Safar first opened in Cavendish in Claremont in 2016, and it is here that I met South African owner Wilhelm Liebenberg, who had returned to his home country after many years.

He and his Canadian partner Caroline Sirois opened a deluxe boutique outlet selling bespoke luxury coffees as well as Rooibos teas, each variant named after a world city, and the ultimate in Pâtisserie offerings. Continue reading →

Sweet Service Award goes to Wash World Laundrette; Sour Service Award goes to De Grendel!

 

The Sweet Service Award goes to the Wash World Laundrette in Sea Point, and its owner Lessa. I have been using the Laundrette for many years, running in to drop off my laundry, not even writing up the laundry items any more, having so much trust in the staff and its owner. At R100 a bag for my bed linen it is a bargain. Receiving the washed and folded linen back in 24 hours is a further plus.  Continue reading →

SÜD-AFRIKA Magazin features WhaleTales Blog story on Restaurant Recovery since Lockdown!

 

Today SÜD-AFRIKa magazine launched its first newsletter of 2022, and included an article written in German,  summarising my Blogpost of earlier this month,  with the wonderful news that more Restaurants have opened than have closed in the past 22 months, a wonderful turn-around for the industry.

The article features the photograph alongside, which is of the view from the terrace at Zezt Restautant Sea Point, one of the more than 100 restaurants that have opened during Lockdown. Continue reading →

Platter’s announces 2022 award-winning wineries, and cultivar winners!

 

At an event in Stellenbosch on Friday, the new 2022 black-and-gold cover design and a refreshed corporate logo for the Platter’s by Diner’s Club 2022 South African Wine Guide  was presented, the three Award-winning wineries announced, and the Wines of the Year Awards in 28 categories were presented.

This 42nd edition of  the Wine Guide features more than 900 wine producers, merchants, and brands, including 36 new ones, more than 8000 locally produced wines, as well as brandies, husk spirits, and sherry-style wines.

For the first time in eight years the Platter’s Awards were not presented by its Publisher JP Rossouw, who left the publication earlier this year.

Continue reading →

Platter’s by Diner’s Club South African Wine Guide announces 2022 Five Star wine List!

 

The 2022 edition of the Platters by Diners Club South African Wine Guide has announced the 234 wines that have achieved its prestigious five star rating.

Red Blends (46) and White Blends (27) achieved the largest number of 5 star ratings, followed by  Chenin Blanc with 27, Chardonnay with 19, and Cabernet Sauvignon with 15 wines. Last year 212 wines received 5 stars. A total of 13 judges evaluated the wines eligible for the 5 star rating. Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 37 of Level 1, 6 November 2021

 

Saturday 6 November 2021, Day 37 of Level 1 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#grateful for a mixed day of energy and of relaxation; for a cool day of 19C; for a light traffic drive to Harvest Culture Eaterie at Tyger Falls Waterfront for a Status meeting, served my favorite Dilmah Earl Grey tea with a slice of their newest Baked Cheesecake cake addition, so beautifully presented; for getting a Business Card designed at Wizardz in the Waterfront, using a special, realizing that for what I do I need a card, mine being at least 3 years out of date; for a shock discovery of the sign of the times that CNA and the Post Office have closed down in the Waterfront, although the post boxes are Continue reading →