I could not think it possible that the Eat Out Awards 2018 could be so refreshingly different, but it appears that new Head Judge Margot Janse has created a fresh new look at the restaurant judging criteria. Many of our top old-guard chefs took a severe beating at the Awards last night! (more…)

Tags: A Season to Taste, Abigail Donnelly, afrikoa, Aileen Lamb, Andrea Foulkes, Arno Janse van Rensburg, Bertus Basson, Bertus bully basson, Boschendal, Bree Street, Callebaut Ruby, Camphors at Vergelegen, Candice Philip, Cape Town, Casa Bella, Chantel Dartnall, Chef's Table, Chef's Warehouse, chefs Warehouse at Maison, chefs’ Chef Award, Chris Erasmus, Chris von Ulmenstein, Christiaan Campbell, David Higgs, DGB, die werf, Diner's Club, DW Eleven-13, Eat Out, Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, Ez Davlin, Fermier, flip flops, Foliage, foraging, Foxcroft, Franschhoek, Freddie Dias, FYN, Germaine lehodey, Glen Oakes, Grandwest, Greenhouse, Greg Czarnecki, Grei, Hennessy, Hussar Grill, Indochine, Ivor Jones, j'something, Jackie Cameron School of Food and Wine, Janse & Co, Jardine, Jason Carroll, Jason Lillie, Jason's Bakery, Jennifer Huge, Jo Currie, Jordan, Karen Zoid, Karma, Katie Friedman, Kobus van der Merwe, La Colombe, La Mouette, la petite colombe, La Tete, Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award, Lauren Venter, Le coin Français, Liam Tomlin, Luis Vieira, Luke Dale-Roberts, Marble, Margot Janse, Mercedes Benz, MiCasa, Michael Cooke, Michael Deg, Moses Magwaza, Nederburg, Nederburg Rising Star, New Media Publishing, new restaurant of the year, Nico’s, Nobu, old guard, Overture, Paternoster, Pete Goffe-Wood, Peter Tempelhoff, Pot Luck Club, Pretoria, Prime Circle, Rainbow Productions, refreshing, Restaurant at Waterkloof, Restaurant Awards, Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient, retail capital, Ryan COle, saint, Salsify at The Roundhouse, San Pellegrino, Scot Kirton, selwyn Govender, shock, Shortmarket Club, shorts, Signature of Hope gala dinner, Silo District, Speakers-Corner, Springfontein Eats, Spur Corporation, Stellenbosch, Thali, Thapelo Tsotsetsi, the commissary, the marabi Club, The Saxon, The Test Kitchen, viaTV, VISI Style Award, Vusi Ndlovu, Waterfront, Wesley Randles, WhaleTales blog, Wolfgat, Woolworths, Woolworths Taste bursary, Young chef, zoetrope

It was on a visit to the newish Lindt Chocolate Studio in the Silo District in the V&A Waterfront that I saw a list of the courses which the Lindt Chocolate Studio offers. On Saturday my Parisian friend Aurélie Jullien and I attended the two-hour Macaron baking course, and we were very proud of our baking success. We were to,d that there are only two Lindt Chocolate Studios in the world, the Cape Town one, and one in Johannesburg. (more…)

Tags: Aurelie julien, baking, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Daleen, Dimo Simatos, Head Chocolatier, KItchenaid, Lindt, Lindt Chocolate Studio, macarons, Silo District, sprüngli, Waterfront, WhaleTales blog

CNN describes Cape Town as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, its ocean and mountain views being what makes it particularly special. It writes that the city experiences four seasons in a day, and that allows its locals and visitors to experience a variety of things to do. Despite the water shortage, it is ‘still one of the planet’s most extraordinary destinations’. (more…)

Tags: Bloubergstrand, Book Lounge, Bouchon Bistro, Boulders' Beach, Camps Bay, Cape Point, Cape wheel, Chris von Ulmenstein, Clifton, Cnn, Franschhoek, gin distilleries, Jean-Vincent Ridon, Kalk Bay, La Boheme, Lion's Head, Muizenberg, Robben Island, Silo District, Simon's Town, Spier, surfing, table mountain, The Test Kitchen, V&A Waterfront, WhaleTales blog, Zeitz MOCAA

On Friday I was in the Silo District, showing my young friend Bella Bauer around this new area in the Waterfront. Spontaneously we decided to eat at FOOD, on the sixth floor of the Zeitz MOCAA Museum of Contemporary African Art. We found a stylish eatery with a Cafë and Bistro Menu, which runs until the end of the month before the eatery switches to a two- and three-course Menu. (more…)

Tags: Aleit Swanepoel, BW, Chris von Ulmenstein, Christopher Law, ChurchHill, I love Milo, rustum Blake, Silo District, Sola, The Aleit Academy, Waterfront, WhaleTales blog, Zeitz MOCAA FOOD

Yesterday I attended a Garden Party to celebrate today’s Garden Day, an annual celebration of the enjoyment of our gardens. The Avant-Garde-n celebration was held in the Boutique and Gallery of designer Kat van Duinen and artist Kelly Gough at the Old Biscuit Mill. (more…)

Tags: African, alwijn burger, app, Babylonstoren, Blomboy, Charlotte van Duinen, Chris von Ulmenstein, Fruit teas, Garden Day, Garden Party, Gundula Deutschlander, ivan McCarthy, kat van Duinen, Kelly tough, Lauren Shantall, Llewellyn Lambert, Martjie Malan, Old Biscuit Mill, saltara mcc, Silo District, The Test Kitchen, Tokara, Waterfront, WhaleTales blog, Zeitz MOCAA

The Sweet Service Award goes to Audi Cape Town, and its Service Ambassador Walied. I couldn’t unlock my car boot, having locked my handbag inside it, and drove to Audi Cape Town on a Saturday morning for help, not expecting any Service staff member to be on duty! But Walied was on duty, and did some wriggling with my boot, managing to open it, to find that the handbag strap had got caught in the locking mechanism of the boot! He fixed this with a smile and charm, proud to have been of service! Audi Cape Town continues to astound me. (more…)

Tags: Audi Cape Town, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, No No, Now Now, Silo District, V&A Waterfront, Walied, WhaleTales blog, WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Award, Woolworths, Zeitz MOCCA

The new The Yard in the Silo District of the V&A Waterfront opened last week, as a multi-cultural cuisine restaurant, but also offering a bar, a homeware shop, and a Deli. It is the most unique restaurant I have experienced, in its diverse food offering. (more…)

Tags: Abigail Bisogno, Anthony Shapiro, art in the forest, Asian, Ayurvedic, bar, Beena Singh, breakfast, buffet, charcuterie, Charles Back, Chris von Ulmenstein, cuisine, De Villiers chocolate, Deep arneja, deli, Diana Ferreira, Egyptian, EUROPEAN, Fairview, farm table, Foschini, glass studio, GP Singh, homeware, Indian, Indonesian, Jack Daniel's, Kainumui, Kulfi, La Gavroche, Lauren Shantall, lifestyle, Lucie de Moyencourt, lunch buffet, Michel Roux Jr, Middle Eastern, Multi-cultural, oriental, papri chaat, Probiotic, Punjab Express, Rosetta Roastery, Rosetta roastery coffee, Silo District, Silo hotel, Spice Route, spirit, street food, The oberoi, The Yard, Thomas Heatherwick, Virgin Active, Waterfront, Wesley hill, WhaleTales blog, Zeitz MOCAA

The explosion of restaurant openings in Cape Town and the Winelands in September is flowing into October too. Last month saw the opening of Tiger’s Milk Kloof Street, Marrow, Davy Croquettes, The Yard, Schoon de Companje in its new premises, Pierino Penati at Villa 47, and Firefish, amongst others.