Tag Archives: Hermanus

Why do hotel restaurants not have better patron support and win awards?

five hundred dishIt was a recent article by Nick Lander, husband of renowned wine critic Jancis Robinson and restaurant critic in the UK, about restaurants in hotels he had visited in Dubai that made me consider once again why hotel restaurants fare so poorly in patron support and in the Eat Out Top 10 restaurant awards in our country.
Lander writes that specific rules about restaurants and liquor licences force restaurants to be linked to hotels in Dubai.  In our country no such rules apply, and as a service to guests, hotels have over the years added dining facilities, in early days being the only restaurants offering tea and cake, and lunch and dunner.  My parents drove us with overseas visitors to Franschhoek’s Swiss Farm Excelsior (now the Le Franschhoek Hotel), the benchmark of restaurants in those years.

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WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 13 March

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   UK travelers make their travel bookings via the internet, in preference to calling, and are largely guided by personal recommendations made by friends, family, and colleagues.

*   South Africa is expected to source most of its tourists from India by 2020, according to SA Tourism Country Manager Hannelie Slabber.  Reasons for the increase are better airline connections, and our country’s growing reputation as a business and leisure tourism destination. Our big cities have been the focus of the marketing to date, but now Hermanus, Franschhoek, Port Elizabeth, and Stellenbosch will be promoted.

*   The Cape Town Carnival takes place in Green Point on Saturday afternoon from 16h00, and 50000 or more party Continue reading →

Will Mondiall survive the departure of Chefs Peter Tempelhoff and Lauren Case? Appoints Chef Riaan Burger!

Mondiall entranceWhat a surprise to read this morning that Chef Peter Tempelhoff, co-owner of Mondiall Restaurant with Patrick Symington, is leaving his own restaurant, to focus more time on The Greenhouse and the other restaurants in the McGrath hotel portfolio!

The announcement was made via Eat Out, and Chef Peter is quoted as saying:  ‘Along with the sudden death of one of my greatest mentors, Liz McGrath, a few weeks ago, Mondiall Peter Tempelhoff Whale Cottagehas come a change of thinking and a new challenge. My role in the three Relais & Chateaux hotels of The Collection by Liz McGrath has become more important than ever before, as I have been offered a more significant role within The Greenhouse and the company… a challenge I cannot ignore. Continue reading →

New Restaurant openings in Cape Town and Winelands continue!

Tiger's Milk Main Table and lights Whale CottageEven though we are halfway through the summer season,  new restaurants continue to open, and more are planned before summer ends.  This list of restaurant openings and closings and restaurant staff movements is updated continuously, as we receive new information:

Restaurant Openings

*    Michael Townsend (who owns the Harbour House emporium, with La Parada, Lucky Fish, and Harbour House restaurants) has opened Tiger’s Milk in Muizenberg (photograph).  The Lucky Fish on Long Street will be transformed into Tiger’s Milk.

*    Kokkedoor judge and Chef Nic van Wyk and Roxy Laker have opened bistro 13 at Stellenbosch Vineyards (Welmoed)

*   Idiom Wines is said to be opening a restaurant.

*   The Butcher Shop & Grill has opened next to Sotano in Mouille Point. Continue reading →