Tag Archives: Hermanus

Restaurant Review: Biga Cafe, Bakery and Deli in Hermanus has ‘organic breads’, very rude owners!

Biga Exterior Whale CottageWithin 2 minutes of walking into Biga Café, Bakery, and Deli the rudeness of co-owner Hanli Carstenson came to the fore, and this continued from her, magnified by a rude departure ‘greeting‘ from fellow co-owner Glen Herringshaw, when I popped in there yesterday, after visiting the Hermanuspietersfontein market further down the street!

Biga (meaning sourdough starter in Italian, Hanli said) has been open since December, and has taken over the space of former Season, one of the few restaurants in Hermanus which I enjoyed eating at (mainly for its calf’s liver and mash).  It has also taken over some of the space of Hornbill House, an art gallery, Continue reading →

Hermanus firefighters and community Sweet Service and City of Cape Town Sour Service Awards!

Hermanus fireThe Sweet Service Award goes to the firefighters and community of Hermanus, for its work last weekend in fighting a massive fire in Onrus, which led to the evacuation of residents of retirement villages Kidbrooke and Onrus Manor, as well as residents of Chanteclair and Bergsig. The Windsor Hotel and guest houses also accommodated residents for the night.  Social Media played an important role in preventing residents threatened by the fire from panicking, and to call on Hermanus locals to assist with bedding for those that had to sleep in community halls.  Ultimately too it was Mother Nature, which brought pouring rain late that night, putting an end to the fires. Continue reading →

Festive Christmas and New Year restaurant celebrations in Cape Town and Winelands!

Festive Season 12 ApostlesChristmas Eve

*   La Mouette, Cape Town: 6-course dinner R445.  Tel (021) 433-0856

*   Savour, African Pride 15 on Orange, Cape Town: 5-courses R450. Tel (021) 469-8000

*   The Conservatory at Cellars Hohenhort, Cape Town:  6-course dinner R 750 p.p.  Tel (021) 794-5535

*   Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, Cape Town:  4-course R955 plus eggnog. Tel (021) 437-9000

*   Makaron at Majeka House, Stellenbosch: 4-course dinner R 55o p.p.  Tel (021) 880-1550

*   Bosman’s at Grande Roche, Paarl:   5-course dinner with pianist R1395 p.p. Tel (021) 863-5100 Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 4 December

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Bartho Eksteen Sauvignon Blanc Celebration held in Hermanus recently selected ‘the 10 best of the best’ Sauvignon Blancs locally over the past 22 years, and then compared them to 10 top Sauvignon Blancs from other countries.  The winning Sauvignon Blanc was judged to be Fryer’s Cove Bamboes Bay, 2013, followed by Diemersdal MM Louw 2013, Palliser Estate 2012 from New Zealand, Dog Point 2008 from New Zealand, and Von Winning 1 2011 from Germany. (received via media release from the Bartho Eksteen Wijnskool)

*   Uber supports the Department of Transport’s Festive Season Road Safety campaign, it says in a media statement.  The campaign makes road safety everyone’s responsibility, to enhance law enforcement, and to increase road traffic safety awareness. Uber GM Alon Lits said: ‘Uber fully supports government’s road safety Continue reading →