Tag Archives: ‘From BBQ to Braai’

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 20 January

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   SA Tourism is taking 60 local product suppliers on a road show through India, being one of the top 5 source countries for our tourism industry. Cape Town Tourism and Wesgro are representing our local tourism industry.  In the first eight months of last year more than 76000 tourists arrived in South Africa from India.

*   A new Fossil Trail has been launched in the Karoo National Park, a joint venture between SA National Parks and the University of the Witwatersrand. The trail demonstrates how nature formed the geology of the area.  Entrance is free.

*   Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is kickstarting its ‘From BBQ to Braai’ national tour of ten events in the USA in New Orleans, using a traditional South African barbeque to help Americans understand our country’s culture via food, wine, and music.  South African chef Hugo Uys and multi-media artist Xander Ferreira will create a cultural American/South African mix, with a ‘bottle of wine and a boerewores (sic) roll‘!  Proceeds will go to a charity.

*   Bouchard Finlayson is one of the wine estates participating in the inaugural Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir Celebration, to be held on 31 January and 1 February.   Winemaker Peter Finlayson, who brought Pinot Noir to our country, will host a talk and tasting of 30 years Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 12 December

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   A TripAdvisor TripBarometer survey has found that hotel guests expect free wifi, free parking, and free breakfast.  Items which guests are most likely to take home with them are toiletries, tea and coffee, towels, clothes hangers, and TV remote batteries. Guests are interested in learning more about the culture of the inhabitants of the town in which they are visiting, in visiting a unique icon of the town, trying new food but also wanting to eat food from their home country, as well as watching TV and movies in their home language.

*   London hotels have received the lowest ratings of hotels in 30 European destinations on the measure of recommending a hotel to others, according to a survey in the last 24 months on bookings made via Expedia, scoring even more poorly than Paris and Nice. Berlin tops the recommendation rating.

*   Grande Provence in Franschhoek is celebrating its 2014 harvest with a Harvest Festival on 22 February, starting the day with coffee and muffins, followed by a talk by the vine grower, winetasting, and then a country feast.  Cost is R450. (received via e-mail from Grande Provence)

*   It is sad to see how the death of Mr Mandela is being used by his daughter  Dr Maki Mandela and his granddaughter Tukwini Mandela to market their House of Mandela wines, saying that his legacy lives on through their wines! Continue reading →