I saw an article by Post & Courier recently, randomly as I do not follow this publication, and was attracted to its topic, being the impact of restaurant reviews and their power to close a restaurant down. Being our country’s harshest restaurant reviewer, this got me thinking about why the top chefs in our country, including Giorgio Nava, Bertus Basson, Peter Tempelhoff, Liam Tomlin, and Scott Kirton & Co are so sensitive to constructive criticism by banning (or attempting to) me from their restaurants, yet new (to our country) chef Wunderkind Rikku O’Donnchü of Gåte Restaurant welcomes it so! (more…)
Entries tagged with “New York”.
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Thu 14 Mar 2019
Can a negative review close a restaurant down?
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Awards, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Food news, Restaurant news, Stellenbosch, WhaleTales Blog
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Wed 6 Mar 2019
IKEA Överallt truly everywhere but not in SA; highlight of Design Indaba in Cape Town!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under accommodation, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, design, Events, Food news, WhaleTales Blog
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While I have shopped at IKEA in Southampton with my son now living in the UK, I have not been near an IKEA anything in Cape Town. This changed last week, during Design Indaba 2019, when IKEA had a prominent IKEA Överallt ( meaning everywhere in Swedish) outdoor stand at the foot of the Artscape Theatre building. It reflected the best creativity in design in Africa, a social responsibility project of the global Swedish home interior design company. But there is little chance of the company opening any stores in our country within the next five years, it was confirmed. (more…)
Mon 16 Apr 2018
Netflix Chef’s Table new Pastry series mouthwatering sweet deliciousness, not all about Pastry!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Cape Town, Chef’s Table, Chris von Ulmenstein, Food news, Michelin, Restaurant news, WhaleTales Blog
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Chef’s Table is one of the most highly regarded cooking series on television, Netflix having set the highest bar in two series to date, each featuring six world class chefs, as well as one focused on top chefs in France, with outstanding filming. Now it has released a Pastry series of four episodes, deliciously mouthwatering! (more…)
Mon 19 Feb 2018
New Saint ‘Pazzo Italiano’ restaurant to open in Sandton, another Chef David Higgs collaboration!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Food news, Johannesburg, Restaurant news, WhaleTales Blog
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Following the successful opening of Marble in Rosebank in Johannesburg in 2016, Chef David Higgs and entrepreneur Gary Kyriacou are planning to open Saint ‘Pazzo Italiano’ in Sandton in August. (more…)
Wed 7 Feb 2018
Restaurant Review: Coco Safar brings Parisian Pâtisserie, world’s best coffee, and unique coffee and Rooibos Brewery to Cape Town, ahead of international launch!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Coffee, Food news, Restaurant news, Sea Point, WhaleTales Blog
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I was invited to the newly opened Coco Safar a few days ahead of its opening in the newly refurbished Artem centre, previously the Adelphi Centre in Main Road in Sea Point. A week ago I invited a young chef intern to join me for Brunch at Coco Safar, on a Sunday morning. (more…)
Tue 24 Oct 2017
Restaurant Review: Kleinsky’s New York-style Jewish Delicatessen opens second branch, on Church Square, new food hub in Cape Town!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Food news, New York, Restaurant news, Sea Point, WhaleTales Blog
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Yesterday I met Urban Lime Marketing Director and friend Katie Friedman for lunch at Kleinsky’s, a New York Deli-style, kosher-style, Jewish cuisine eatery on Church Square, being developed as an exciting new inner-city food hub. Kleinsky’s is the second Delicatessen to be opened in Cape Town, its Sea Point branch having opened two years ago. (more…)
Wed 5 Apr 2017
Tumultuous 2017 World’s 50 Best Restaurants dishes up many surprises, Eleven Madison Park number one restaurant in the world!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Food news, London, New York, Paris, Restaurant news, WhaleTales Blog
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In an exciting ceremony live streamed from Melbourne at midday, Eleven Madison Park was named as the best World’s 50 Best Restaurant, an accolade it last achieved seven years ago. A number of exciting restaurant rankings are reflected in the 2017 World’s 50 Best Restaurant list. I have been fortunate to eat at some of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in New York, London, and in France, in the past ten months. Our reviews of some of these follow below. (more…)
Thu 29 Dec 2016
A salute and toast to 2016: the best year ever!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Blogging news, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Food news, Franschhoek, Restaurant news, WhaleTales Blog
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I have rarely written about personal matters on my Blog. I am also long past formulating New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of a year. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine that the universe would present me with a year of years in 2016, to top any I have ever experienced! (more…)
Wed 28 Dec 2016
Restaurant Review: La Parada Del Mar sizzles in Camps Bay!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Camps Bay, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Food news, Restaurant news, WhaleTales Blog
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Last week Elize Skriker and I went to the brand new La Parada Del Mar in Camps Bay, the 25th restaurant in the Harbour House Group we were told by Group founder Michael Townsend. We found a restaurant sizzling with good food, a fantastic view, and good service from friendly staff. (more…)
Fri 9 Sep 2016
The Ivy Sweet Service and Conrad Gallagher Sour Service Awards!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under accommodation, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Franschhoek, hospitality, Restaurant news, WhaleTales Blog
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The Sweet Service Award goes to The Ivy in Franschhoek, which invited me to try their Apartment 3 on Monday evening. I did not spend much time in the apartment, but slept there in a very comfortable bed that was warm, with an electric blanket, and an air conditioner in the bedroom. The apartment is very spacious, with two bedrooms, each with a bathroom, one en suite. The kitchen is equipped with quality appliances, and everything one would need for a self-catering stay. I did miss a converter plug to be able to use the two-prong hairdryer and to charge my phone. Parking is available on the property, and employee Wellington was very friendly in showing me the apartment, in helping me to set up the wifi, and switching on the air conditioner. Breakfast the next morning was at the nearby The Village Tart, owned by Lisa Adams, who also oversees the management of The Ivy.
