I invited my friend Jenny Stephens to a Birthday Breakfast at Hemelhuijs, not having been to the restaurant for a couple of years. Despite it being a wet and cold Saturday, the restaurant was full, and I was grateful that the manager had advised me to book when I popped in a day ahead.
Hemelhuijs opened almost eleven years, and remains a firm favorite, despite being under the radar.
Brother and sister Jason and Melissa Laing have taken over Roots Café and Kitchen in Roeland Square, across the road from Wembley Square, both having left Firefly Café in Camps Bay. The restaurant ownership change took place a month ago, the former owner Jess being friends with the siblings. I was invited to try the restaurant by Jason.
When Firefly Café opened seven months ago Chef Mel headed up the tiny open-plan kitchen, and she was always busy with food preparation, making it difficult Continue reading →
Last Friday I joined a media table to experience the new High Tea offered at Harbour House Constantia Nek, the first and only High Tea offering in Constantia. Continue reading →
The Sweet Service Award goes to Pick ‘n Pay Franschhoek, and its manager Craig, for organising individual Parmalat milk portions, a hospitality product one does not expect to buy at a retailer, but which we had seen sold in single servings at its Daily branch in Franschhoek. The main branch in Franschhoek did not have enough boxes in stock, so sent for the balance of our requirement from its Daily branch whilst we were shopping, and had them available within a few minutes. The price of the box of 50 Parmalat portions is R37,99, far cheaper than the price charged by Ciro.
The Sour Service Award goes to Ciro Beverage Solutions, a company servicing the hospitality industry with individual portions of Ciro coffee, Huletts sugar, Parmalat milk, Baker’s biscuits, Five Roses tea, LavAzza, House of Coffees, WEGA, N&W, Schaerer, Cafitesse, BUNN, Chilla Beverage, and more, and from which we have ordered for more than ten years. The service declined (except for the sales service from Debra Ruthven), the prices increased, and the trading conditions re quantity purchased and charging for delivery worsened over time, accompanied with rude interaction from the contracted-out delivery staff, who appeared to be new staff at every delivery. Complaints lodged were dealt with defensively, and in the 14 year period of doing business with them we have never met a Ciro staff member! Cheques posted to their head office in Johannesburg were stolen from their post box. The Cape Town branch manager Gustus Bergman was previously a financial manager at the Johannesburg head office, and does not know how to communicate with and treat his customers, nor has he fixed the service problems. For years we believed this company was the only source of hospitality products, and we are delighted that we can now source the Parmalat portions from Pick ‘n Pay at a far better price!
The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog. Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com. Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTales newsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.