Tag Archives: Bruce Palling

Chef Reuben Riffel goes back to his restaurant roots with Racine in Franschhoek!

March 23, 2015

I met with Chef Reuben Riffel in December, for a coffee date at Crisp. I spoke to him about going to Racine, his second restaurant in Franschhoek which he opened two years ago, and he requested that he accompany me to Racine. Last Thursday our diaries both had a lunch opening, and we met for what was an early but long lunch.

He told me that the idea of the second restaurant arose when Chamonix wine estate owner Chris Hellinger ate at Reuben’s Franschhoek, and suggested that Chef Reuben take over what was already a vacant restaurant, after the owners of the former Mon Plaisir had left. The rental offer by Mr Hellinger was a very generous one, and Chef Nico Pretorius working with Chef Reuben at the One&Only Cape Town was looking for growth, so Chef Reuben signed the lease and offered Chef Nico the job two years ago. I met Chef Nico when I arrived, and he seems very quiet and introverted, not returning to our table during our three-hour lunch.

Having only been to Racine once before, I had not noticed that Racine has its own entrance, Continue reading →

Babylonstoren celebrates 3rd anniversary with Long Table in the Garden!

October 19, 2013

The invitation I received from new Babylonstoren Food & Beverage Manager Simoné Rossouw did not reveal what a special honour it was to be invited to the third anniversary celebration of the innovative wine estate, with a top restaurant, boutique hotel, wellness spa, wine tasting and shop, and retail outlet.

We met outside the retail area, which has been expanded to add the shop which originally was located opposite Babel restaurant. Owner Karen Roos (with husband Koos Bekker) has created the most amazing transformation of the wine estate, which had commenced behind the scenes three years prior to their opening, with their GM Terry de Waal and his team planning and implementing their future direction. Karen is one of the most stylish South Africans, having won most stylish dress awards when they were still awarded, and having been the editor of Elle Decor.

We were welcomed with three drink options, being home-made ice tea with waterblommetjie, mint and lime; melon and mint cordial with fresh thyme; and strawberry and rose geranium with lavender and lime. Alternatively one could drink the Babylonstoren wines. On the table was the most interesting ‘pick up sticks’ presentation of smoked salmon and Serrano ham bread sticks. The new Spa will be the reason for a future visit, as I never saw it, being distracted with the extensions to the retail building. Continue reading →

Eat Out Top 20 Restaurant Awards 2014 shortlist: a prediction!

October 7, 2013

It’s that time of the year again, and this week Eat Out will announce its shortlisted Top 20 Restaurants for the Eat Out Top 10 Restaurant Awards 2014. The judges have been furiously eating their way around the country, and top restaurants are licking their lips in the hope of cracking the Top 20 list, from which the Eat Out Top 10 Restaurants will be announced at the gala dinner in the V&A Waterfront on 10 November.

Given the turmoil in the judging of our country’s Top 10 restaurants in the past two years, Eat Out publisher New Media Publishing communicated with the industry, and invited past Top 20 chefs and some restaurant owners to chat about what they want in restaurant awards. The overwhelming majority of respondents requested a panel of South African judges (British blogger ‘judge’ Bruce Palling used last Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 7 August

August 7, 2013

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* Few companies have made changes to their travel policy in the light of the terror attack threat warning issued by the USA for August. Travel to countries in which embassies have closed temporarily has been put on hold however.

* Nobu at the One&Only Cape Town has launched a new ‘Nobu Lite Lounge’ menu of light tapas-style tasters, available daily from 18h00 – 20h00. The menu features culinary offerings for the lighter-diner, three Lite offerings, served family style for four people to share, including a meat lite option with Beef Kushiyaki, Chicken Anticucho, Pork Belly, and Beef New Style. The Pescetarian Lite option features Salmon & Tuna Tacos, Hot Miso Chips, Tuna Tataki with Ponzu, Tuna Tempura Roll, and Salmon Anticucho Skewers. The Vegetarian option includes Broccoli Chili Salsa and Shojin Tempura. Guests can create their own platters or to select dishes individually. Six-piece sushi rolls as well as a selection of other innovations reflecting Nobu’s unique Japanese and Peruvian mix are also available. (via Manley Communications)