Not having been to Johannesburg in 25 years since moving to Cape Town, it was now or never to get to five hundred before Chef David Higgs leaves on 11 December. I combined the visit with meals at Mosaic at The Orient, DW Eleven-13, and Cube Tasting Kitchen.
While I will write a detailed review about each restaurant, I Continue reading →
Interesting news from the Oranjezicht City Farm is that the City of Cape Town has announced a public participation process for Greenmarket Square, calling for proposals as to how the historic city centre space can be used to its best potential.
In the weekly newsletter of the Oranjezicht City Farm the historic use of Greenmarket Square is detailed, dating back to 1696. Its first building is what is now the Old Town House. After a number of name changes over a hundred year period, the block was named ‘Groente Markt‘, home to the city’s vegetable market. The area has subsequently served as a slave Continue reading →
Cape Town has a new new-generation BMW Motorrad Cape Town lifestyle showroom on Buitengracht Street, a pilot 2600 m² hub for motorcyclists, and home to a smart Tribe restaurant. The German BMW Motorrad CEO is extremely happy with how the Donford BMW Motorrad Cape Town has turned out, the first of a new-generation of lifestyle stores they will open up around the world. The centre is an extension of Donford Motors in Stellenbosch, which sells BMW vehicles as well as motorcycles. The design was done by Kalla Smit of TV3 Architects and Planners.
The red carpet was literally rolled out on the steps of the building which once housed the Bloomberg antique car showroom, and we felt quite out, male bikers dominating the guest list. The showroom had been standing empty for some time, and Donford Motors’ Mark Continue reading →
When the Cape Town branch of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international association of gastronomy, organised its first function of the year at the Table Bay hotel, I booked, on the off-chance that it could be held at Camissa Brasserie, which opened two months ago. It was a convivial evening with good company, but disappointed on its promise of Cape heritage food.
The Chaîne members are serious food-lovers, and include restaurant owners, chefs, wine estate owners, and gourmands. The Cape Town branch of the Chaîne has about 70 members, its Bailli of the Bailliage du Cap Samm Bain told me, and 35 members and guests attended the dinner, including Chaîne members from Saudi Arabia and Sweden. On arrival we were served The Table Bay Captain Table Brut, which Gershwin told me is made for the hotel by Graham Beck. Canapés 
served were oysters, duck confit croquettes with an Asian style plum sauce, tempura crab claw, and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto with hollandaise sauce.
During the drinks I had a look at the 45-seater New York style Brasserie interior, which had been booked out for the Chaîne dinner, and Gershwin told me that the space previously was The Conservatory Restaurant and Terrace and Palm Court, which was an overflow venue for their breakfasts and when the Atlantic Grill restaurant was full, with a view onto the V & A Waterfront and Table Mountain. It received a make-over by designer Carolyn Davies, with a new grey ceiling with a pressed steel effect, bookshelves along the walls, and an impressive chandelier made from crystal whisky decanters in the main and slightly separate Captain’s Room at the end of the rectangular restaurant space. The length of the wall has black leather banquettes. Above these are brass railings. A wine room has been created too, for wine storage as well as tastings. A lounge area has been created outside Continue reading →