Tag Archives: 96 Winery Road

Restaurant Review: Cape cuisine cocooning at Cocoon Restaurant & Bar in Munich!

imageIt was a chance bumping into each other at Raith in the Gardens Centre less than a week before I flew to Germany that led Simon and Celia Obholzer of Simelia Wines from Wellington and I to arrange to meet each other in Munich, being in the city in the same period. Traveling with their fellow wine marketers Johanimagein Innerhofer and Laura Mauri from Capelands Wine Estate in Somerset West, we had a superb cosy cocooning dinner together last night.

Cocoon is the name which was given to the restaurant by its previous Continue reading →

Ken Forrester celebrates 20 years of Rhône varietals and blends!

Ken Forrester Wines Whale CottageYesterday we were invited by Ken Forrester Vineyards to attend a tasting of twelve of its Rhône blends, produced in the last twenty years of its journey in making Rhône varietals and blends.  One could not help associate owner Ken Forrester with the character of these wines, having interesting names of Renegade, Three Halves, and Gypsy.  The tasting was followed by lunch at 96 Winery Road, a restaurant co-owned by Ken with his brother.Ken Forrester View Whale Cottage

We met at the Ken Forrester Tasting Room, on a gorgeous sunny autumn day, dressed with a Gypsy theme, in table cloths, carpets, staff outfits, bunting in the vineyard, a banner at the entrance, and ribbons on our media packs, all reflecting the Gypsy theme. Continue reading →

Cape Town and Winelands Restaurant Winter Specials (and winter closures) 2015

Bungalow fireplaceIf it depends on the Cape weather, it is hardly winter yet. However, the first restaurants are sending out their Winter Specials information, summarised below.  The list is updated continuously. We welcome information about new specials:

Cape Town

*   Umi in Camps Bay: 2 course set menu R155, 3 courses R195.  Beef shortrib R105, beef sirloin R95, fish & fries R85, Tataki Beef R55, Beef sliders R55, Baby squid R45. Half price sushi. Cocktails R40  Tel (021) 437-1802 (added 1/5/15)

*   Pepenero in Mouille Point : 2 courses R150, 3 courses R190. Sirloin R90, Rump R90, Lamb cutlets R120, Seafood platter R160, Sushi platter R130, Veal schnitzel R110, Oxtail R110, prawn platter R130, chicken liver pasta R80, and chicken curry R90 .  Half price sushi (selected items) all day. Cocktails R35. Daily. Tel (021) 439-9027 (added 1/5/15)

*    5 Rooms, Alphen Boutique Hotel: 2 courses R160; 3 courses R 200; Sirloin R95, slow braised lamb shank Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 22 April

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Only two South African hotels have made the Conde Nast Traveler list of 60 Hot Hotels, on the basis of ‘Good Food’.  This is a surprise award for the Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard (now owned by Sir Richard Branson, but not much is new or ‘hot’ in this restaurant, having the same chef and waitron staff since he took over!).  The Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff has also made the list in this category, with a chef unknown to most.

*   Travel agents and tour operators are no longer marketing South Africa as a destination due to the new Continue reading →