On Friday I tried the new Winter Menu at Terroir, it being anything but wintry weather-wise. The lunch was set up at short notice by Eske of Manley Communications, who had extended the invitation on behalf of the restaurant, as my planned trip to Greyton was confirmed that morning. Continue reading →
Tag Archives: Le Creuset
Boschendal transforms itself into Boschendal Farm, with lots of new developments!
Boschendal has been below the radar for the past year, the only news having been that the estate was closed while it transformed itself into a wedding function venue. It appears that the wine estate is not only catering for weddings, but has a number of exciting restaurant developments up its sleeve too, some completed and some more to come. Having new Chef Christiaan Campbell on board, formerly of Delaire Graff, the estate is transforming itself into Boschendal Farm, with a focus on ethical and sustainable sourcing of ingredients and preparation of food.
I visited Boschendal Farm yesterday, and was astounded at the energy, and part transformation which has already taken place. Gone are the ‘cobwebs’ and the old fuddy-duddy feel which one experienced in the Buffet restaurant and the Café. It started with me parking my car and Events and Functions Manager Aldo du Plessis (previously with La Motte and Grande Provence) driving past, stopping immediately, and inviting me on a guided tour, an offer which I could not refuse!
We drove to the new wedding and conference venue The Olive Press, which is in a section of the more than 2000 ha farm which one has not seen Continue reading →
‘Feast’ episode 2: Chef Marco Pierre White: stories of dishes more important than recipes!
At the conclusion of Season 3 of MasterChef SA, M-Net filmed a four-part series ‘Feast’, focused on Christmas. Each MasterChef SA judge has his own program, and visiting chef Marco Pierre White had one too, which was screened on Thursday evening.
The MasterChef SA judge episodes of ‘Feast’, taking the first one which focused on Chef Pete Goffe-Wood a week ago, gave an overview of the chef, his favourite outlets from which to source supplies, and a Christmas feast prepared for friends and family. The episode for last night was filmed in July, but the studio at which the episode was filmed was decorated for Christmas. Coincidentally it rained on the day of filming as it did in Cape Town on Christmas Day!
As Chef Marco did not have any friends or family in Cape Town, he was ‘loaned’ some, being MasterChef SA finalists: Deena Continue reading →
Chef Chris Erasmus to branch out into new Franschhoek Folliage restaurant!
A quick Easter Hot Cross Bun and coffee at Pierneef à La Motte was a double treat when Chef Chris Erasmus came to say hello and joined me at the table to share the news about his new Folliage restaurant, which he plans to open in the heart of the Franschhoek village just before the Bastille weekend in mid-July.
Chef Chris was beaming, clearly excited about his new project, even though he says that he is a little nervous about running his own business for the first time. Chef Chris worked at Le Quartier Français, at Pied à Terre in London, and at Ginja in Cape Town before he joined Pierneef à La Motte almost four years ago, and took the restaurant to Eat Out Top 10 Restaurant last year. He leaves La Motte on 15 June. He is opening his restaurant on the corner of Berg Street and main road, just two blocks from our Whale Cottage Franschhoek, in walking distance for our guests, who prefer to walk to the village for dinner than to drive to any of the good restaurants on the
wine estates just outside the village. The restaurant will seat up to 70 for lunch, including outside, and 40 inside at night. The building belongs to the owners of La Petite Dauphine, and one of its owners, Gert Gertzen, is a highly regarded interior designer, and he is working with Chef Chris in planning the decor, which will have a wood ceiling, and wood furniture, on a concrete floor.
Right next door is the IS art gallery, which moved into the same building a week ago, a Continue reading →
Café Puerto Cabo adds Spanish touch to Cape Town, combines Coffee and Couture!
Cape Town is a city of surprises, and a walk yesterday along Loop Street led me past Café Puerto Cabo, its bright blue awning and patrons sitting at a pavement table attracting attention. I went to have a look, and discovered a small chic Café that thrives on design not only of its interior but also by offering a men’s clothing couture range branded Issa Leo, and also serves quality coffee by Deluxe Coffeeworks in thirteen styles.
The Manager Zacharias Lopez recognised me as a regular customer of Haas, as he had worked there for about three months as their barista. His brother Issa is the owner of the business, having come to Cape Town from Spain in 2009, and having slowly built up his Issa Leo 
clothing brand, made in Cape Town, over time. He started at the Biscuit Mill, selling the clothing as well as leather bags there. A business partner has enabled him to open his clothing and leather bag store within Café Puerto Cabo, the name meaning Port of the Cape.
Using the services of interior designer Zaayan Rasdien, they focused on the colours of the Spanish flag, the wooden table tops being set in yellow or red metal frames. The tables were especially designed for the Café, Issa finding little to please him in Cape Town. Continue reading →
Crush! 32: greatly improved mouthwatering food & drink online magazine!
When Michael Olivier first launched Crush! food and wine digital magazine three years ago, it was evident that he and his team had no experience in the design and publishing of a magazine generally, and a digital magazine specifically. We wrote critically about the first few issues, but no feedback was accepted nor reacted to, and Olivier appeared to have lost advertising revenue as a result, thus leaving the magazine about a year ago. His departure appears to have rejuvenated the magazine, and it has improved vastly!
The response by Olivier and his Crush! writers David Cope (@Foodie_za) and Andy Fenner (@JamieWhoSA in those days) to our feedback about the magazine at that time was to create the Whalespotter Twitter defamation account led by Cope, and condoned by Continue reading →