I cannot resist writing a story about Chef Bertus Basson’s latest TV series, ‘In die Sop: Restaurant Evolusie’ on kykNet, a Gordon Ramsay-style ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ reality TV series in which restaurants are given 72 hours in which to be transformed. It is aired on Wednesdays on KykNet at 20h00, the first episode airing last week. The title of the series ‘In die Sop’ refers to restaurants being in trouble.
The irony is that Basson himself has been no expert in restaurant design when one considers his ‘crap’ Spek & Bone off Dorp Street (one of the most widely read reviews on my Blog), and De Vrije Burger on Plein Street, both in Stellenbosch. Surprisingly, Basson admits to his restaurant faults: ‘I’ve achieved great success, but I’ve also made a lot of mistakes and learned lessons that have cost me dearly. I want to share these insights with other restaurant owners.’! His admission should lead him to unban me from his restaurants!
Restaurant Review: Spek en Bone has no bacon nor beans, little SA cuisine, crap in most respects
Background information to the new series, which details the transformation of ten restaurants, is as follows:
‘But should the pandemic and economy take all the blame for restaurants’ problems? Could bad service, outdated menus, and uninspiring decor not be blamed in some cases? Owners might think hard work is enough, but sometimes, something is missing that even they can’t see, which is preventing them from making enough profit.
If you are an owner of a restaurant – whether it’s a food truck, fine dining, or family restaurant – and down on your knees, don’t be despaired, because kykNET has good news.
In die sop: Restaurant Evolusie is kykNET’s new reality series that might be the solution to all of your problems. Well-known super chef, Bertus Basson, supported by a team of experts, will guide restaurant owners so that their dream of having a successful restaurant becomes a reality.
Bertus was born in Cape Town. From a young age, he helped his mom in the kitchen, and at the age of 17, he started his career in the food industry. At the age of 19, he went to London where he worked for the Michelin awarded Chez Bruce. Back in South Africa, he won various awards, including the Eat Out San Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Chef of the Year in 2019. He is the owner of and chef at five restaurants in and around Stellenbosch!’
Restaurants transformed to date are the following:
# The Red Tin Roof in Riebeeck-Kasteel, now a Portuguese-style taverna restaurant owned by none other 
than infamous journalist Jacques Pauw, who made news headlines earlier this year when he couldn’t pay for his meals and drinks at Den Anker in the Waterfront, and spun a story about the incident, followed by his admission that he lied in his first story in Daily Maverick about the incident, and was drunk!
The interior designer Misi moved the bar counter in the restaurant, the green and red colours were toned down, an ‘unwelcoming’ welcome note about dogs, chili, and garlic on a menu board was removed, a backroom was transformed into a private dining room, chips and pizzas were removed from the menu, the restaurant logo was amended, new staff uniforms were sourced, Portuguese style wall tiles were added at the entrance, chili plant pots were added at the entrance, a short and sweet season-driven Menu was created, and more. Its name was changed to Tin Roof Tavern.
# Kossie Sikelela at Evita se Perron in Darling, taken over by the owners of 
Darling Sweet last year. No details are available about this episode. The big transformation was receiving direction from Basson and his team, the teaser trailer indicates. The ultimate goal was to transform this restaurant into the best in Darling. This episode is airing this evening at 20h00.
The names of the eight other Restaurants that have been transformed in this series have not been divulged! I will update this post as the other restaurant transformations are revealed week by week.
‘In die Sop: Restaurant Evolusie’, kykNET, DStv, Wednesdays 20h00.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com 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
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