In 2015 I met Chef Kevin Grobler at JAN Restaurant in Nice, the now one Michelin star restaurant, a week after he had started working in South Afrca’s Best South African cuisine restaurant. He had left Delaire Graff Restaurant to join dynamic and creative Chef Jan-Hendrik at JAN, and last week he went full circle, in starting at Delaire Graff as Head Chef again. (more…)
Tags: Chris von Ulmenstein, Delaire Graff, jan, Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen, Kevin Grobler, Michelin star, Nice, restaurant, Scott Armstrong, Stellenbosch, WhaleTales blog
JAN the JOURNAL has published its second volume of 2018, just before the year closed. It has taken me almost two months to look at it after buying a copy at Woolworths, the 297 page manuscript of The Jan Hendrik Group (PTY) Limited being more than intimidating in thickness, and time required to do it justice in reading it. Despite having an editor for the publication, one wonders how Chef Jan-Hendrik manages to find the time to collate such a heavy-weight Journal in his role as Editor-in-Chief, given his commitment as chef to his one Michelin star restaurant JAN in Nice, and his regular trips to Cape Town and SA. (more…)
Tags: @home, Alto, Apricale, Banks kitchen shop, Cape Herb & Spice, Cape Town Gin, Chris von Ulmenstein, clemengold, commercialism, Creation, Daniela Zondagh, Dargle valley pork, Delaire Graff, Discovery Vitaly HealthyFood Studio, Ellerman House, Gautrain, Graham Beck, Haagen Dazs, Hamilton-Russell, hanfred rauch, harold, Hazendal, Hendrick's Gin, Ilana swanepoel, IMBO beans, Inverroche, Jan Restaurant, JAN the Journal, Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen, KItchenaid, KwaZulu-Natal, KZN, La Motte, la Villa Santo Sospir, Laborite, Lucky Star, Maria Hester ferreira, Marmite, Matisse, Mercedes Benz, Michael Schmitt, Michelin star, Micky Hoyle, Mutti, Nespresso, Netherwood, Newman, Nice, Ouma, panerai, Paulina Heisi, Picasso, Pierre Jourdan Ratafia, Remy Martin XO, Rutger Eysvogel, Spekko, Steenberg, Stellenbosch Academy of Design & Photography, Stellenbrau, the FEs, The Jan Hendrik Group (pty) limited, Tswalu Kalahari, Val de Vie, volume 2 2018, WhaleTales blog, Woolworths
I was sent a copy of Eva Mazza’s ‘Sex, Lies & Stellenbosch’ by Jacana Press, to review, my first Book Review. Whilst I waded through the sex, and sex, and sex, I wondered how I would write this review, this being a family-friendly Blog. But it was right at the end that the message of the book was clear: no matter how terrible the life experiences one goes through, there is always growth and an opportunity to transform, and lead a better life, echoing my two ‘SwitchBitch’ books which I published last year. (more…)
Tags: ‘Sex Lies & Stellenbosch’, Bean There, Bertus Basson, Book Review, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, crap, Delaire Graff, Dorp Street, Eva Mazza, Ferrari, lies, Long Street, novel, Oranjezicht, saucy saga, sex, Spek & Bone, SwitchBitch, transformation, Truth, University of Stellenbosch, WhaleTales blog, wine farmers
Last week I invited my friends Clint and Llewellyn Lambert (GM of the Franschhoek Boutique Hotel, and influential blogger at Hospitality Hedonist) to join me for dinner at Le Petit Manoir in Franschhoek, which opened in July. Having had more than enough time to settle in, it was a severely (and costly) experience, of a completely dysfunctional restaurant. I apologise for the longer than average Review, summarizing my experiences with Chef Kevin Grobler’s cooking since 2015. (more…)
Tags: amateurish, Apricus Locanda, bovril, breakfast special, Brian Groenewald, Catherine Brennan, Champagne breakfast, Chris von Ulmenstein, Clint, dale mcritchie, Delaire Graff, deli, Diana Ferreira, frank Heyneke, Franschhoek, Franschhoek boutique hotel, Franschhoek life, gåte, guest house, Holden Manz, Homespun, Hospitality hedonist., Instagram, jan, Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen, Jeanette van Manen, JP Lombard, Kally, Kevin Grobler, L'Ormarins, Le Petit Manoir, Llewellyn Lambert, martine Bauer, Michelin star, Nespresso, Nicholson Russell, Nicole Loubser, Quoin Rock, restaurant, restaurant review, Rutger Eysvogel, Scott Armstrong, smeg, SwitchBitch Book 2, Villa 47, WhaleTales blog
This afternoon Eat Out announced its list of the Top 30 restaurants in our country for this year. The Top 20 restaurants will be revealed at the Awards ceremony on 18 November at GrandWest, and the Top 10 list within that ranking. There are some surprise inclusions and exclusions in this list. (more…)
Tags: 2018, 9th Avenue Bistro, 9th AvenuecBistro, Abigail Donnelly, Acqua Panna, Andre Hill, Avondale, Beau Constantia, Bertus Basson, Bree Street, Bully Bertus Basson, Camphors, Camphors at Vergelegen, Cavalli, Chantel Dartnall, Che’s warehouse and canteen, Chef of the Year, Chef's Warehouse, Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia, chefs Warehouse at Maison, Chris Erasmus, chris pappayannes, Chris von Ulmenstein, Christiaan Campbell, Constantijn Hahndiek, David Higgs, Delaire Graff, diners Club Winelist Awaeds, dunked west, DW Eleven-13, Eat Out Awards, Equus, everyday eatery, Faber, Farm-to-Table, fermier restaurant, fine-dining, Foliage, Fox Croft, Foxcroft, FYN, George Jardine, Graham Beck, Graham beck chefs’ chef award, Grande Provence, Grandwest, Greenhouse, greenhouse at cellars-hohenhort, Greg Czarnecki, guy Bennett, Hartford House, Henry Vigar, Hetta terblanche, Indochine, Ivor Jones, Janse & Co, Jardine, John Psillos, Jordan restaurant, Karma, karmic, Kayla-Ann Osborne, Kobus van der Merwe, La Colombe, La Mouette, la Parada Constantia Nek, la petite colombe, Lannister Snyman lifetime achievement award, Le coin Franschhoek, Le Quartier Francais, Liam Tomlin, Linda Scarborough, Luke Dale-Roberts, Maison, Makaron Restaurant, Marble, Margot Janse, Marthinus Ferreira, Michael Cooke, Mulberry & Prince, Nederburg, Nederburg Rising Star, Netflix, Nobu, One&Only, Overruns, Pete Goffe-Wood, Peter Tempelhoff, Pierneef a la Motte, Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient, retail capital, Reuben's Franschhoek, Rust en. Rede, sagar, sagar foods, saint, San Pelegrín, Sandton, Scot Kirton, Seven restaurant, Simon Widdison, Singita, Spek en bone, Springfontein Eats, style award, tapas, terroir, Thali, the chef’s table, the commissary, the pit luck club, The Pot Luck Club, The Ritz, The Shortmarket Club, The Spectator, The Stack, The Test Kitchen, the vine bistro at glen elks, The Werf at Boschendal, The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal, thecrestaurant tcwaterkloof, Top to Tail, Upper Bloem, Virgil Khan, Wesley Randles, WhaleTales blog, Wine Service excellence award, Wolfgat, Woolworths Sustainability Award, world’s 5o Best Restaurant list
Yesterday I had the goosebump experience of being introduced to the new-in-the-making Gåte at Quoin Rock restaurant at the Quoin Rock winery outside Stellenbosch, which is destined to become a superlative Fine Dining dinner experience, probably the best this country has ever seen! (more…)
Tags: adrian Adriá, Aurelie Jullien, Baroque, Beluga, Centrifugal machines, Chef's Table, Chris von Ulmenstein, Delaire Graff, denis Gaiduk, Facebook, French Laundry, Gåte restaurant, Gravitation cellar, Hambleton Hall, Hart’s, heavy metal, Heston Blumenthal, hydroponics, Ivor Jones, Izelle de Villiers, jan, josh crewdson, La Colombe, Le Petit Manoir, Liam Tomlin, Marco Pierre-White, merchants, Michael Townsend, Michelin stars, molecular gastronomy, Mushroom hut, Napa Valley, Netflix, Nicole Loubser, Nordic, pacojets, Quoin Rock, Rikku O’Donnchü, Ross Baker, rufus scholtz, Rust en Vrede, Sevruga, Sous vide baths, Stellenbosch, stewart stoffel kramn, sustainability, The Bay Hotel, the frog, The Ritz, The Stack, The Test Kitchen, Thomas Keller, Troy truter, Two potters and a painter, Van Hunks, vegetarian, warwick king, Wesley Randles, WhaleTales blog, Wild Peacock, Wine museum, winery, World's 50 Best Restaurants, zen garden
Earlier this week my friend Aurélie Jullien and I had lunch at Delaire Graff restaurant, as part of a two-day road trip to show her Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. For me the lunch was the highlight of our trip, not just its excellent food and wines, but also interacting with the estate GM and hearing about their new expansion plans. (more…)
Tags: Amy Grobbelaar, Aurelie Jullien, Bordeaux Blend Challenge, challah, Charango, Chris von Ulmenstein, Delaire Graff, Harbour House, Jewish bread, Johann Laubser, Kieran whyte, sommelier, Stellenbosch, Tanja von Arnim, winemag
A record 111 South African wines received a coveted 2018 Platter’s Guide five-star rating at the Awards ceremony held at the Table Bay Hotel tonight. Raats Family Wines was named as the 2018 Winery of the Year. (more…)
Tags: 2018 Wine Guide, A.A. Badenhorst, albeit, Alvi's Drift, Angela Lloyd, B Vintners Vine Exploration Co, Bartinney, Beaumont, Bellingham, Blind tasting, Boekenhoutskloof, botanical, bottle seals, Bouchard Finlayson, Bruwer Raats, Cape Point, cape Wine company, Carinus, Cathy Marston, Cathy van Zyl, Cederberg, Chamonix, Chris von Ulmenstein, Christine Rudman, Constantia Glen, Constantia Uitsig, daschbosch, Dave Swingler, David & Nadia, De Trafford, Delaire Graff, DeMorgenzon, Donkiesbaai, Eagle's Nest, Edgebaston, Eikendal, elemental, Fiona McDonald, five star wines, Flagstone, Greg de Bruyn, Gregory Mutambe, Groot Constantia, Hartenberg, Hennie Coetzee, Hermanuspietersfontein, Highlands Road, JC Wickens, Jean-Pierre Rossouw, Joanne Gibson, Jordan, Julien Schaal, Kaapzicht, Kanonkop, Klein Constantia, Kleine Zalze, Lanzerac, Le Sueur, Lingen, Longridge, Meryl Weaver, Miles Mossop, Moreson, Mount Abora, Mullineux, Muratie, Mvemve Raats, Nederburg, Neil Ellis, Nico van der Merwe, Oak Valley, Olifantsberg, Orange River, pasarene, paul clever, Perdeberg, Philip van Zyl, Platter’s by Diners Club, Raats, Raats Family Wines, Radford Dale, Remhoogte, reverie, Richard Kershaw, Ridgeback, Rust en Vrede, Rustenberg, Sadie, Samarie Smith, Savage, Shannon, sighted, Spier, Stark-Conde, StellenRust, Table Bay Hotel, The Foundry, The Stellenbosch Reserve, The Winery of Good Hope, thistle & weed, Tim James, Tokara, Trizanne, Van Loveren, Vin de Constance, Warwick, Waterford, WhaleTales blog, Winnie Bowman, Zorgvliet
The explosion of restaurant openings in Cape Town and the Winelands in the last two months is a concern to many, both as restaurant lovers, in that one cannot keep up, and as restaurant owners, as there is not enough business for everyone.
Last month saw the opening of Seta at Villa 47, Le coin Français by Darren Badenhorst in Franschhoek, The Bistro and Deli at La Paris outside Franschhoek, Chef Duncan Doherty’s Eatery at Colmant in Franschhoek, and Boschendal at Oude Bank in Stellenbosch, amongst others.
We update information about newly opened and closed restaurants continuously, and welcome such news.
Restaurant Openings
# Villa 47 has relaunched its Stuzzico and Restaurant restaurants, as SETA and Pierino Penati, respectively. The latter restaurant (photograph) has opened in conjunction with Italian Michelin star restaurant owner Chef Theo Penati. (more…)
Tags: 5th Avenue Restaurant, 95 at Parks, Afro’s Chicken, Alice Mfundisi, Andre Steyn, Angelo Scirocco, Arno Janse van Rensburg, Aromatish, Baked Bistro, Beerhouse, Bertus Basson, Bilboa, bistro 13, bistro Bizerca, Blues, Bootlegger Cafe & Grill, Boschendal at Oude Bank, Brad Ball, Cabana, Café Blue, Cafe des Arts, Cape Town, Cavalli, chefs Warehouse at Maison, Chinchilla, Chris von Ulmenstein, coco safar, Colmant, Conrad Van den Heever, craft burger Bar, Craig Versfeld, Darren Badenhorst, David Schneider, Davy croquettes, Delaire Graff, Duncan Doherty, eats11, El Burro, firefish, flora's eatery, franschhoek beer Co, Giorgio Nava, guy Bennett, Guy Clark, hail pizza, Harbour House, Harbour House group, Harbour Rock, Hard Rock Cafe, Heritage cottage, Hermanus, Hokey Poké, Hungry herbivore, Hussar Grill, Jakobus Lochner, Jamie's Italian, jan, Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen, Janse & Co, Jason kosmas, Jason's Bakery, Jürgen Welp, Kapatee, Kieran whyte, Kleinsky's Delicatessen, Kove Collection, La Colombe, La Paris, la petite colombe, La petite manoir, La Sosta, Laurent Deslandes, Le coin Français, Le Quartier Francais, Leeu Collection! Martin Senekal, Liezl Odendaal, Limnos Bakery, Long table restaurant, Lou Lou's bar, Louis Page, Maison, Manga, Mangata, Marc's Table, Marco van Rooyen, Margot Janse, Maria, Maritz Jacobs, Marrow, Melissa's, Mezepoli, Michael Deg, Michelin star, Morison, Nico Vorster, Nonna Lina Sea Point, Now Now, One & Only, origins, Oskar Kotze, Osteria Tarantino, oui, Panama Jack, patina, Pearl Oliver, Phil Alcock, Pierino Petani, Plant, Radisson Red, Raya kitchen, restaurants, revolving, Richard's Supper Stage, Ritz, Rivendell, Roast & Co, Schoon, Searle's, Seattle, SETA, Sheldon Raju, si Cantina sociale, Sidwell Yarrow, Silo hotel, simon Rudd, siseko Gubangxa, Slug & Lettuce, solo, Sorrows Bar & Eatery, Susan Huxter, swirl, Terra Madre, The Bromwell, The Crazy Horse, The Sunnyside Grill, The Tasting Room, The Yard, Theo Penati, Tiger's Milk, Tintswalo, Tracy-Leigh Genricks, Tre steampunk, Unframed, Vigor & Verve, Villa 47, vista marina, warwick king, Wessels van Vuuren, WhaleTales blog, Winelands, Woolworths, yuzu Kitchen, Zenzero
Last week I wrote that Eat Out has announced that it is changing to a Top 30 Restaurant shortlist for its 2017 Awards. As is customary. I have tried to predict which top South African restaurants will make the Top 30 Restaurant shortlist, which should be announced by Eat Out shortly! I have struggled to find more than twenty worthy restaurants to make the Top 30 list! (more…)
Tags: Arno Janse van Rensburg, Benguela on Main, Boschendal Werf Restaurant, Camphors at Vergelegen, Cavalli Estate, chef's warehouse beau Constantia, chef's warehouse Bree street, Chris von Ulmenstein, Darren Badenhorst, De Grendel, Delaire Graff, DW Eleven-13, Eat Out, faber at Avondale, fabio Daniel, Foliage, Foxcroft, Grande Provence, Greenhouse, guy Bennett, Hartford House, Indochine, jan, Janse & Co, Jason kosmas, John Shuttleworth, Jordan restaurant, Karoux, La Colombe, la petite colombe, Le coin Français, Le Quartier Francais, Le Tête, Luke Dale Roberts x The Saxon, Marble, Michael Deg, Mosaic, Mulberry & Prince, Nice, Overture, Pierneef a la Motte, Restaurant at Waterkloof, restaurant hardline, Reubens, Rust en verde, terroir, Thali, The Kitchen at Maison, The Pot Luck Club, The Stack, The Test Kitchen, thecshortmarket club, Tintswalo, Tokara, Top 30 restaurants, villa 47 Locanda, warwick king, WhaleTales blog, Wolfgat
A record 111 South African wines received a coveted 2018 Platter’s Guide five-star rating at the Awards ceremony held at the Table Bay Hotel tonight. Raats Family Wines was named as the 2018 Winery of the Year. (more…)
The explosion of restaurant openings in Cape Town and the Winelands in the last two months is a concern to many, both as restaurant lovers, in that one cannot keep up, and as restaurant owners, as there is not enough business for everyone. 
Last week I wrote that Eat Out has announced that it is changing to a Top 30 Restaurant shortlist for its 2017 Awards. As is customary. I have tried to predict which top South African restaurants will make the Top 30 Restaurant shortlist, which should be announced by Eat Out shortly! I have struggled to find more than twenty worthy restaurants to make the Top 30 list! (more…)
