Tag Archives: Haas

Fun foodie day in Cape Town with MasterChef Finalist Seline van der Wat!

Seline van der Wat 4 and 20 Cafe Whale Cottage PortfolioIt was on Twitter that I saw Seline van der Wat, MasterChef SA Season 2 Finalist, request suggestions for food destinations in Cape Town.  I had so enjoyed her spunk on MasterChef SA that I invited her to join me in sharing my Foodie Cape Town yesterday.

We met at Melissa’s on Kloof Street, where I had my favourite iced coffee for the day, and Seline gave me some feedback about where she had been in Cape Town relative to my list of favourite food destinations.   The Neighbourgoods Market at the Biscuit Mill and Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants were the only two food stops she had been to already.

We talked about MasterChef SA Season 2, and she wore the wooden rabbit brooch which she had worn throughout the show.  She wears it every day, and her sister and fellow MasterChef SA Finalist Leandri was given an identical one as a gift.  One senses that they are very close, Seline being slightly older, and having an older sister who recently made them aunts, as well as a younger sister who is still at school.  She lives in Pretoria, and has resigned her job as an engineer working on renewable energy via Hydropower.  From a rigid day job she would escape to the kitchen to express her creativity via cooking, she and Leandri sharing an apartment. Seline could not stop raving about Chef Chris Erasmus at Pierneef à La Motte, loving his passion for food, and his sense of community.  She plays the piano, guitar, and cello.  They grew up in Mafikeng, and lost their mother about ten years ago, necessitating them to cook for the family of four daughters and their dad.  Having such famous daughters has made their dad a celebrity in their home town, and he has met many more of the locals since his daughters were on TV.  He himself now hosts Moroccan dinner parties, while the youngest sister is starting to learn to cook and bake as well.  Seline said that she and Leandri did not watch soaps on TV Continue reading →

Codfather Sweet Service and Lyoness Sour Service Awards!

Codfather Sushi Whale Cottage PortfolioThe Sweet Service Award goes to the Codfather in Camps Bay, for hosting the Camps Bay Guest House Association earlier this week, to thank the members for the business referred to the restaurant last summer.  The Codfather is the most popular of all the restaurants in Camps Bay, in offering fresh fish which is prepared after the guests have selected Continue reading →

Café Puerto Cabo adds Spanish touch to Cape Town, combines Coffee and Couture!

Puerto Cabo exterior Whale Cottage PortfolioCape Town is a city of surprises, and a walk yesterday along Loop Street led me past Café Puerto Cabo, its bright blue awning and patrons sitting at a pavement table attracting attention.  I went to have a look, and discovered a small chic Café that thrives on design not only of its interior but also by offering a men’s clothing couture range branded Issa Leo, and also serves quality coffee by Deluxe Coffeeworks in thirteen styles.

The Manager Zacharias Lopez recognised me as a regular customer of Haas, as he had worked there for about three months as their barista. His brother Issa is the owner of the business, having come to Cape Town from Spain in 2009, and having slowly built up his Issa Leo Puerto Cabo Clothing poster Whale Cottage Portfolioclothing brand, made in Cape Town, over time.  He started at the Biscuit Mill, selling the clothing as well as leather bags there.  A business partner has enabled him to open his clothing and leather bag store within Café Puerto Cabo, the name meaning Port of the Cape.

Using the services of interior designer Zaayan Rasdien, they focused on the colours of the Spanish flag, the wooden table tops being set in yellow or red metal frames. The tables were especially designed for the Café, Issa finding little to please him in Cape Town.  Continue reading →

New Restaurant openings celebrate Spring in Cape Town & Winelands!

Beerhouse Bottled Beers Whale Cottage PortfolioDespite one of  the worst winters ever experienced by the Cape hospitality industry, few restaurants have closed down recently.   A surprise however is the movement of staff between restaurants. This list of restaurant openings and closings is updated continuously, as we receive new information:

Restaurant Openings

*    Beerhouse has opened on Long Street, with 16 beers on tap and 99 bottled beers from around the world.

*    The House of Machines has opened on Shortmarket Street, building motorcycles, offering good Evil Twin coffee, and serving very healthy food.

*   Pure Good has opened downstairs in the Associated Magazines building opposite Parliament, and is owned by Shannon Smuts, the first MasterChef SA Finalist to have been eliminated.

*   The Harbour House group has opened La Parada Spanish Tapas restaurant on Continue reading →