The Restaurant Collective, which includes restaurants such as Tasha’s and Ocean Basket, has called on Government to not extend the Level 4 Lockdown Sit-Down Restaurant closure from 12 July.
The Restaurant Collective is a voluntary association which is ‘a unified voice for positive change for the Sit-down restaurant industry in South Africa’. Its members are predominantly Johannesburg based, in a province which is currently severely struggling with Covid case numbers. Continue reading →
Friday 4 September 2020, Day 18 of Level 2, Day 162 of Lockdown 😷
Corona Gratitude 🙏
#Grateful for a very successful and well organized day, having written my Blogpost for the day last night already; for getting my head together in writing a summary of issues relating to overcharging by Sandak-Lewin in numerous respects, needed for a meeting with my lawyer this afternoon; for not having Loadshedding at 12h00, giving me extra time to complete my summary, and to do a walk through Camps Bay, so excited to see Firefly open today, only serving beverages this weekend, and food from Monday onwards; for a quick pop in at Dinkel Bakery to get my favourite poppy seed roll; for fetching my restrung pearl bracelets from FreeRange; for a very productive meeting about Sandak-Lewin with my lawyer, finding it hilarious that they are managing agents for the Keerom Street building in which my lawyer has her chambers too, and she had little nice to say about them as well; for a shop in the Garden’s Centre; for a second Camps Bay walk, seeing The 41 and Mantra Café having reopened today; for being invited to The 41 by Marius Blanc as I walked past, not only offered an Aperol Spritz but also gifted a brightly designed mask; for a lovely sunset, taking photographs at the Tidal Pool; for a lovely 18C sunny day; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙 Continue reading →
Today ends one of the less nice years, and the number 13 in it should have been a warning of how bad it could become. While it has many negative associations, it also was a year of highlights, from our perspective.
For me personally the year was overshadowed by the passing of my father, and while I was lucky to have him in my life for such a long time, reaching the ripe old age of 97, it still was a shock when he went in April. He brought our family to South Africa, and specifically to the Cape, for which I will be eternally grateful. He helped shape my interest in the business world, and took a keen interest in my Market Research, Public Relations, and hospitality careers. Added to this was the further loss of our beloved Madiba, who passed away on 5 December, a shock when it happened, despite one knowing that it was just a matter of time. It felt like a double whammy loss year. Heaven has gained two truly great gentlemen.
2013 has had some positive aspects: we celebrated the fifth anniversary of our Blog, well established and with more than 30000 unique readers per month. We thank our loyal readers and commenters, as well as the Public Relations companies which feed us with up to date information and invite us to launches, particularly in the wine industry. We particularly commend Waterford Communications for its professionalism in dealing with us as friends as well as writers, never taking any coverage for granted, always being willing to assist with more information, having a knack for choosing excellent weather days for client functions, and saying ‘thank you‘ for coverage received, a rare treat! The PR company leads an industry plagued by poor writers, who bombard one with media releases (often being irrelevant), repeating information already written about, and demanding proof of coverage granted to the client brand! Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The number one World 50 Best Restaurants, El Celler de Can Roca in Spain, is taking its ground-breaking cuisine on a world ‘Roca and Roll World Tour 2014‘ , with pop-up events in different countries, starting with Mexico, Columbia, and Peru. It is not known whether Cape Town is on their world tour itinerary.
* Former Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois will take her dismissal to the CCMA or Department of Labour.
* Constantia Glen has created a new Tasting Room, using the services of top decorator Graham Viney, who has created a ‘fusion of European and Cape design‘. The wine bar previously was the stables and cow byre. ‘The Arts and Crafts, Victorian and Cape Dutch idioms employed all combine to make a wonderfully stylish, contemporary venue, with ravishing vineyard and mountain views falling away to the north towards Kirstenbosch and rising steeply to the south to the Constantiaberg’, said Mr Viney. The Waibel family, owners of the wine estate, have displayed their collection of pottery by Hymie Rabinowitz, who used to create his works of art on the estate. A dining room for private functions has also been created. (received via media release from GC Communications)
* To follow in the footsteps of the late Nelson Mandela, a number of sites are recommended to be visited on an informal Nelson Mandela Route in Johannesburg.
* The organisation of the late Nelson Mandela’s memorial service at the FNB Stadium yesterday, and attended by world leaders as well as music, film, Continue reading →