Tag Archives: Karoo

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 13/14 February

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Pernod Ricard, international marketer of Absolut, Mumm, and Martell, has seen a 18% decline in sales in China in the first half of its financial year.

*   The Karoo is one of the world’s top nine stargazing destinations, which includes the Algarve in Portugal, Ayer’s Rock in Australia, Atacama Desert in Chile, Jasper National Park in Canada, Mauna Kea in Hawaii, Grumeti in Tanzania, Kitt Peak in Arizona, and Gülpe in Germany.

*   SAA has applied to introduce new routes, and new codeshare agreements with a host of new destinations, including Moscow, Asuncion in Paraguay, Lomé in Togo, Praia and Ilha do Sol in Cape Verde, Jakarta, Kingston, and Port of Spain  in Trinidad and Tobago.  The airline has also applied to increase the frequency of its African routes, including Lagos, Blantyre, Lilongwe, and Accra.

*   Twitter now has 5,5 million users in South Africa, up by 129% in just one year. (via Twitter)

*   Michael Jordaan, owner of Bartinney wine estate and former CEO of FNB, found parallels Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 22 July

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   SA Tourism has launched a new ‘Bucket List’ TV commercial for the Australian market, which includes Cape Town, the Winelands, and shark cage diving. Unfortunately no city/town names are mentioned at all, and whales don’t feature.

*   The Peninsula All Suite Hotel is hosting a Wine&Dine dinner on Thursday 25 July, pairing with Graham Beck Wines (via CSA media release)

*   Six semi-finalists for the Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award 2013 have been announced, two being from the Western Cape, according to Hazell PR & Wine Consultants:

 

Gauteng Current employment Previous success in this competition
Germain Lehodey Restaurant Mosaic, Pretoria
Sean Trollip Kream Restaurant, Pretoria 2011 Semi-Finalist
Xolani Manconywa Saxon Boutique Hotel, Johannesburg

  Continue reading →

MasterChef SA Season 2 episode 10: Spicy Test, Blatant Branding, Beulah Bashing, SASSI Slating, fishy end to Neil Lowe!

MasterChef 2 10 Pressure Test team Whale Cottage PortfolioWhat a diverse and controversial episode 10 was last night, generating many emotions at different levels, as well as criticism of M-Net and MasterChef SA on Twitter for the first time since the commencement of Season 2.  There was little that was judged to be favourable in the episode:

‘Spice’ Test

The losing Red Team (Joani Mitchell, Karen Els, Khumo Twala, Jason Steel, Leandri van der Wat, and Neil Lowe) from Tuesday evening had to go into the ‘Spice’ Test when they lost the Pizza Challenge by two points.  Robertsons ‘Spices’ were the focus point of the Test, annoying viewers for such strong blatant branding of the sponsors’ products, in addition to being subjected to so many TV commercials, especially relative to Season 1.  MasterChef 2 10 Robertsons Whale Cottage PortfolioThe criticism was two-fold:

*   Herbs and spices are two different things, yet the contestants had to guess which combination of Robertsons ‘spices’ had been used in a number of dishes they could smell and taste (the company advertises spice and herb combinations), according to the judges’ brief, yet they had both herbs and spices to evaluate, including in a tomato dish, and in caramelised butternut.  Chef Andrew Atkinson said that one’s tastebuds must be attuned to seasoning, so thatMasterChef 2 10 Tomato Whale Cottage Portfolio one can change or enhance a dish’s flavour profile.

*   No serious chefs would use Robertsons spices in their kitchens (except Chef Reuben Riffel of course, who endorses the brand and appears in its advertisements!), as ‘fresh is best’, the trend in restaurant and home cooking! Continue reading →

Top Cape wines to be served to Prince Harry at charity dinner!

Jordan Estate and Graham Beck wines will be served at the Sentebale Gala Dinner at Summer Place in Johannesburg next Wednesday, launching a fundraising programme to build the Mamohato Centre for children and young persons in Lesotho.  Guest of honour will be Prince Harry.

The new Mamohato Centre is named after Lesotho’s late Queen Mamohato Bereng Seeiso, and will be built on what is said to be the birthplace of the Lesotho people.   The Centre will care for young persons whose lives have been affected by HIV, to build their self-confidence and improve their quality of life.

Prince Harry set up the Sentebale charity in 2006, in honour of his late mother Princess Diana and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso’s mother, the late Queen Mamohato.  Princess Diana was well-known for her charity work, especially for AIDS/HIV awareness and prevention.

Graham Beck Wines is the official Cap Classique sponsor for the Sentebale Gala Dinner, while Jordan will sponsor their Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2011, the Cobblers Hill 2009, and the Mellifera Noble Late Harvest 2011.

POSTSCRIPT 24/2: The Sunday Times reports today that Prince Harry’s girlfriend Cressida Bonas has accompanied the Prince on his visit, and may attend the dinner with him. ‘Top Billing’ presenter Bonang Matheba, wearing a Gavin Rajah creation encrusted with Swarovski crystals, will be the hostess for the evening, and singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka will entertain the 250 guests. ‘A five-course feast with an African feel’ will be served by caterer Vicky Crease, and will include crocodile, Karoo rack of lamb, and pistachio mousse.  Prince Harry may stay on to attend the South African wedding of Sir Richard Branson’s son Sam to the half-sister of Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, in two weeks time.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage