Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The Cape Town International Jazz Festival blows its first notes from 17h00 tomorrow, with a free community concert on Greenmarket Square. Shakatak is the biggest name group, while Tasha’s World and Good Hope FM DJ Luwayne Wonder will also be seen on the stage. Burg and Longmarket Streets near Greenmarket Square will be closed all of tomorrow and part of Thursday. (received via media release from espAfrika)
* Durban’s ‘crime and grime’ deters tourism to the city, and could be the reason why the number of tourists to KwaZulu-Natal has declined for three years running, according to the province’s tour operators. The poor economic climate, the crime rate, the lack of unique tourist attractions, and the lack of cleanliness all put tourists off visiting. Durban’s head of tourism, Philip Sithole, disagrees, saying that the city’s tourism numbers are increasing, compared to the provincial decline! Passenger numbers at King Shaka International as well as road traffic arrivals have declined, but the tourist spend has increased. Tourists are said to fear walking on the Durban beachfront at night.
* The House of JC le Roux is pairing its three MCCs with home-made chocolate Easter eggs from 14 April onwards. Their Pinot Noir Rosé 2009 will be paired with a milk chocolate egg with a rose infused truffle filling; the La Vallée NV is paired with Belgian white chocolate egg with a cream and coriander filling; and the La Vallée Rosé NV is paired with a Belgian white chocolate combined with a chai spice blend. Cost is R50 per person. (received via media release from GC Communications)
* Grande Provence has launched a monthly Wine & Dine Collaboration with other guest winemakers, offering their wines to pair with Chef Darren Badenhorst’s 6 course menu. On 25 April the wines paired will be Grande Provence, Val du Charron, Lourensford, and Ataraxia. The cost is R495 per person. (received via e-mail from Grande Provence)
* Lanzerac has introduced guided Vineyard Tours, available at 10h30 and 14h30 on Mondays and Fridays at R70 per person. (received via media release from Smart Communications & Events)
* A Guinness Book of Records challenge will take place on Table Mountain on 5 April. The World Record for ‘greatest vertical height climbing stairs in 12 hours’ challenge is to run the 2,1 km, with 800 double-sized steps, up the mountain via Platteklip Gorge, come down with the cable car, be driven back to Platteklip Gorge, and run up the mountain again. Last year athlete AJ Calitz managed 11 Table Mountain ascents, and this year he is aiming to increase it to 14. Monies raised for the K-Way Platteklip Charity Challenge will go to educational projects.
Chris von Ulmenstein,Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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