Tag Archives: Icon

Diners Club Winelist Awards 2019 top Icon Award status goes to two Gauteng restaurants!

The most coveted 2019 Diners Club Winelist Award, its Icon Award, recognising restaurants that meet all the requirements of a Diamond Award, but also feature an extensive collection of international wines, as well as Reserve and vintage wines, having a sommelier on the floor, and having ‘a deep interest in wine curation’, were awarded to Restaurant Mosaic at the Orient Boutique Hotel in Pretoria, and the Saxon Hotel Villas & Spa in Johannesburg. This is the second year that the Icon Awards have been presented, to both restaurants.  Continue reading →

Boschendal wins ‘iconic’ legal trademark battle against Groot Constantia!

imageOn the surface one sees the wine industry as very collegial, so it was a surprise to read about the court case between The Groot Constantia Trust and DGB Limited, the owners of the Boschendal brand, about the latter’s use of the pay-off line ‘A Cape Icon since 1685‘, which was contested by Groot Constantia. Continue reading →

Imibala Restaurant: fresh foods add colour to new Somerset West Rupert eatery!

Imibala interior painting Whale CottageIt was a ‘wow’ reaction when I entered newly opened Imibala Restaurant on Bright Street on Monday, at the invitation of Ian Downie representing the restaurant owners Johann and Gaynor (Ian’s sister) Rupert, and of PR Consultant Ann Wallis-Brown. The Imibala Trust, its Gallery and its Restaurant is focused on giving back to the Helderberg community through the monies that it raises, a very noble initiative.

Ian and I connected immediately, very interested in good food, Ian having founded Gastronauts in Johannesburg when he still lived there.  We both have been members of Slow Food in Cape Town, when Jos Baker was Continue reading →

Ken Forrester celebrates 20 years of Rhône varietals and blends!

Ken Forrester Wines Whale CottageYesterday we were invited by Ken Forrester Vineyards to attend a tasting of twelve of its Rhône blends, produced in the last twenty years of its journey in making Rhône varietals and blends.  One could not help associate owner Ken Forrester with the character of these wines, having interesting names of Renegade, Three Halves, and Gypsy.  The tasting was followed by lunch at 96 Winery Road, a restaurant co-owned by Ken with his brother.Ken Forrester View Whale Cottage

We met at the Ken Forrester Tasting Room, on a gorgeous sunny autumn day, dressed with a Gypsy theme, in table cloths, carpets, staff outfits, bunting in the vineyard, a banner at the entrance, and ribbons on our media packs, all reflecting the Gypsy theme. Continue reading →