Tag Archives: Darling

Fabulous food feast at Bella Niehaus’ #LangTafelopdieDuin in Langebaan!

LangTafel Karen Moyle pic 2On a rainy wintry day last Sunday I and 21 other food lovers were lucky to enjoy a most fabulous five-course food feast at the seaside home of Isabella Niehaus in Langebaan, called the #LangTafelopdieDuin.

Bella is a most enterprising person, having established the Palm’s Market at the Palm’s Centre, she and many of her stallholders bringing the platteland to the city every Saturday. I met Bella there, and she has always been extremely friendly and welcoming to me.  Bella also does food styling, assists others to write books related to food, and seems to be on the go continuously.  She does one #LangTafelopdieDuin per month.

I had seen photographs of previous #LangTafelopdieDuin lunches at Bella’s house,LangTafel Bella Niehaus Whale Cottage and the location of her home and view from there looked impressive.  The rain held off until we arrived in Langebaan, and Bella’s directions were perfect in finding her home.  No matter that it was grey, overcast, and cold, there was such lovely warmth in the collection of guests which Bella had assembled around her long table, set up in the seafacing room with a fireplace, and open plan to the kitchen, where Bella spent most of the time. She seemed in her element, and was not distracted by guests chatting to her, and photographers capturing her dishes from every angle. She had only one assistant helping her with the food preparation and clean-up, a collection of guests Continue reading →

2014 FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 announced at Nitida, Neil Pendock gets some of his own medicine!

FNB Sauvignon B All Top winners Whale CottageI have not been to Nitida wine estate in Durbanville in a long time, nor to its Cassia restaurant.  As the FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc awards were held at the wine estate, it was a good opportunity to revisit, and to experience the new function venue, which comfortably seated 120 guests for lunch yesterday.

Invited guests included two representatives each of the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 20 shortlist, writers, and FNB staff as well as their clients.  Prior to the lunch, each of the 20 Sauvignon Blanc producers manned a tasting table, and provided information, making it a good opportunity to rub shoulders with other guests.   Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 28/29 June

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The price of petrol is to increase by 29 cents a litre on Wednesday 2 July.

*  Fox recommends seven things to do in Cape Town that will make you feel like a local: understanding the struggle by visiting Robben Island; meet the people of Cape Town in the townships; get to know the Cape Malay culture and cuisine in Bo-Kaap; shop at the V&A Waterfront, Chandler House, Merchants on Long, Olive Green Cat, the Woodstock Exchange, and Old Biscuit Mill; chill at the beach in Camps Bay or Hout Bay, and eat there; do a wine tour in Franschhoek, including La Petite Ferme, Haute Cabriere, and Môreson; and eat out at The Test Kitchen, the Pot Luck Club, Bizerca, and Charly’s Bakery.

*   Bruwer Raats wines have scored well in the Tim Atkin Report, due to be launched on 1 July:  the MR de Compostella 2012 scored 95 out of 100; Raats Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2012 and Family Cabernet Franc 2012 scored 93; Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2012 and Family Red Jasper 2012 scored 92; and Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2012 scored 91. (received via media release from Peridot Communications) Continue reading →

Ken Forrester Wines celebrates 21st anniversary with a tasting of 21 wines!

Ken Forresster Wines Banner Whale Cottage PortoflioOn Tuesday last week I was lucky to be part of a small group of writers invited to attend a special tasting of 21 Ken Forrester Vineyards’ wines, in celebration of their 21st anniversary. The range of wines reflects the multi-faceted personality of owner and winemaker Ken Forrester!

We met at the tasting room, and were welcomed with a glass of Sparklehorse MCC, and oysters and salmon canapés.  It was the most beautiful day, and the tasting took place in Ken’s beautiful Cape Dutch manor house, dated 1694 on the gable, with the first vineyards having been planted in 1692. I loved the light yellow walls with a vine leaf mural all along the top part of the walls, the paintings, the vases with flowers, and the ambiance of and views from the Voorkamer.

Previously in the hospitality industry in Johannesburg, Ken and his wife Teresa moved to Stellenbosch in 1993, having bought the property with a house and a vineyard in a derelict state, Ken shared.  He and Teresa painstakinglyKen Forrester Wines Ken Whale Cottage Portfolio renovated the house, to return it to its former glory, and turned the farm around. Despite experiencing highlights as well as low lights on the property (e.g. the toughest ever year was 2002, with downy mildew a number of times), but Ken said that it was all worth while, and that they live in paradise.  They live on a farm but they are Ken Forrester Wines Exterior house Whale Cottage Portfolioalmost in town, he added.  In answering a question, Ken said that their new venture had to be in Stellenbosch.  He had previously worked for Southern Sun when Sol Kerzner was in charge, and then moved into the restaurant industry, buying a share in Gatriles in Johannesburg. His restaurant industry background reflects in the joint ownership with his brother Allan of 96 Winery Road down the road from his wine estate, and he brought Gatriles’ famous duck and cherry pie recipe with him to Stellenbosch, where it has become a favourite too.   Their property is 126 ha in size, and he has rented another property of equivalent size, which he and his team manage, to control the quality of his incoming fruit. Continue reading →