Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 3 of Level 1, 23 September 2020.

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Wednesday 23 September, Day 3 of Level 1, Day 181 of Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a hot summer day, at 26C, loving the sun, even braving getting into the pool at Maison Montagne this afternoon; for a special sunrise at 6h00 this morning; lovely breakfast served out on the terrace; for a busy day, checking out all the changes on the main road of Franschhoek, especially the restaurants; for a meeting with Chefs Darren Badenhorst and Ryan Shell to hear about their new restaurant projects in Franschhoek, very exciting news; for being spared buying a dress when I was very willing and keen, but not finding the perfect one 😱; for a fantastic lunch at Orangerie at Le Lude, the most professional dining venue which I have experienced in Franschhoek, fully booked today with the gorgeous weather, most customers sitting outside; for being able to congratulate Orangerie Chef Nicolene Barrow on her engagement, and to present her with a bottle of ADHARA extra virgin olive oil, given the calibre of her restaurant and cooking; for the Masquerade owner Martie helping me with little gift bags for the purchase of 💙 soaps from her shop; for bumping into Vanie Padayachee and Eleanor Kerwan, hearing their news; for a lovely snack cheese and wine dinner with Llewellyn on the terrace, tasting two lovely Dieu Donne wines, a Henriette Viognier and a Rosé, the former having a lovely Heritage story in honour of Dieu Donné owner Robert Maingard’s late mother; for winning 350 Miles in two Discovery Gameboard plays; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙

I wrote a Blogpost about the SA Bar Awards 2020, and was sad that at least one bar winning awards has had to close its doors during Covid.

SA Bar Awards 2020 winners announced, sadly some have closed down during Covid!

Chef Darren Badenhorst owns two restaurants in Franschhoek, opening one per year since 2018, Le Coin Français and Le Chêne. On 14 October he opens his third restaurant, Oku, an Asian Restaurant with Chef Ryan Shell. Linked to it Yama Sushi Emporium will open later this year. But Chef Darren is not stopping there. He will be handling the Food and Beverage operation of Leeu House, and will also take over the running of TukTuk, for which he has new ideas. Chef Darren hinted at even bigger news to come for Franschhoek, but that he is not yet able to make any details known. More details in my Blogpost tomorrow.

So while people have been talking about the Franschhoek main road being so quiet and that so many restaurants and shops have closed down, Chef Darren’s restaurant plans are exciting, and will fill most of the empty spaces at the top end of the road. I gave Chef Darren a bottle of ADHARA olive oil in recognition of his exciting restaurant plans in Franschhoek. Venishree Mayer.

I heard about a new Indian restaurant opening at the lower end of the main road.

All of Cape Town seemed to have come to Le Lude for a sunny day out in the Winelands, there being hardly any parking available when I arrived. They are a most professionally run restaurant, and the farm owner’s daughter Nicolene Barrow worked at La Gavroche in the UK, a Michelin-Star restaurant. She seems transformed, smiling and happy, so lovely to see. I had an amazing sirloin with Café de Paris butter, on special at R165, and homemade ice cream as dessert, the latter comped by Chef Nicolene, who was clearly generous and in a very good mood. 💙 #thankyou The Cape Town table of eight was so close to me that I heard its conversation, including a run down of each person’s second passport 😱 Correct Covid procedures followed, with temperature taken, sanitising, and  register completed.

I have been roped in to help organize a Camps Bay Jerusalema Heritage Day Dance Challenge at the Tidal Pool tomorrow afternoon. 💃🕺 Please join us there at 14h00.

SA Corona Status: 665188 cases 😷😥

FitBit 9000 steps 6 km 👣

Lovemylife❤️

 

The Corona Virus Lockdown (Level 5), announced by our President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier to commence on 27 March and to continue until 16 April, subsequently extended to 30 April, lowered to Level 4 from 1 May, lowered to Level 3 from 1 June, lowered to Level 2 from 18 August, and lowered to Level 1 from 21 September, is an unprecedented event in my lifetime. I am posting my daily Facebook post to journal this Corona Lockdown Journey, perhaps to serve as material for a future Book.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide

About Chris von Ulmenstein

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