Tag Archives: KFC

Mourning Madiba: Sunday Times laughs all the way to the bank!

Nando's Madiba adIt should have been a surprise that the Sunday Times last weekend contained 10 full page and 16 smaller advertisements in honour of the late Nelson Mandela, given his passing on Thursday evening, and the deadlines of newspapers to ensure their distribution in the early hours of Sunday morning.  It was interesting to evaluate corporate South Africa’s response, in their advertisements, to the passing of our country’s greatest leader, most quoting the wisdom of Madiba in their tributes to him.

Given the two days in which ad agencies had to book their clients’ advertisements, it is clear that they could not have created them in such a short time period, given lead times to conceptualise the ad, obtain client approval, and to produce the material.  It is clear that the major corporates had their farewell ads to Madiba prepared and mothballed for the announcement of his passing.

The most touching and most genuine advertisement, in our opinion, is the one by Nando’s, demonstrating the power of consistency in advertisement layout and typeface, recognisable to any South African without its logo or branding.  The most disgusting of all Mandela AVBOB Whale Cotatge Portfoliothe ads is that by funeral organisers AVBOB, depicting Madiba in daisies, and shouting its pay-off line ‘We’re here for you’!

Pick ‘n Pay’s advertising disappointed, with three full page advertisements in last Sunday’s edition, the one on page 12 in the main body being a crass ‘Price Cuts’ one, amidst the remaining ads all being tributes to Madiba.  Pick ‘n Pay and the media department of its ad agency could have done a better job in planning the placements, requesting its tribute ad in this slot, and its special offer ad in other sections of the paper.  Cynically one could think that the retailer purposely capitalised on the above Continue reading →

WhaleTales: Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 16 October

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* La Residence in Franschhoek is the joint Best Hotel in the World, on the Conde Nast Top 100 Hotels as chosen by its readers, and Singita Sabi Sand and Bushmans Kloof Wilderness are in joint 3rd place. Lion Sands, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, and Singita Kruger have all made the Top 100 Hotel list.

*   Cape Town has been ranked joint 11th Best City in the World, out of 25, on the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, following San Miguel de Allende in first place, followed by Florence, Budapest, Salzburg, Charleston, San Sebastian, Vienna, Rome, Siena, and Quebec City.

* ‘All these must see lists are nonsense because they sell books, magazines and they push websites but there is no truth behind it. What makes sells a place is if you had a great experience there and that’s something only you can do’ writes Lonely Planet Guide writer Doug Lansky about Continue reading →

SABC2 ‘Dinner Divas’ a winning recipe, first Food Blogger TV cook-off in the world!

Today an exciting new reality TV series starts airing on SABC2 at 8h30, which will do for food blogging locally what the release of the movie ‘Julie and Julia’ did internationally three years ago. ‘Dinner Divas’ is a 13-part series with 12 contestant Food Bloggers, vying for the title of the Ultimate Dinner Diva 2012, with prizes to the value of close to R100000.  It is the first food blogger TV series cook-off in the world.

2 Blonds and a Redhead Filming Producer Anne Myers is a Diva in her own right, having produced many programmes and Advertising Funded Programmes (AFPs) for SABC2 and SABC3 over the past 27 years, the latter being televised credible advertorials for sponsor brands.   Myers had watched MasterChef SA, and found that it had many deficiencies, given her production experience, and therefore devised the unique ‘Dinner Divas’ concept, signing up sponsors, contracted with SABC2, invited food personalities as judges, and used Social Media to find 12 suitable food bloggers, the majority being from Cape Town. The shoot took place at Kitchen Cowboys, which belongs to MasterChef SA Judge Pete Goffe-Wood.

The twelve Food Bloggers are Anel Potgieter (‘Life is a Zoo Biscuit‘ Blog), Barry Gerber (‘What’s Cooking’ Blog), Candice Le Noury (‘Gorgeous Gourmet’ Blog), Janice Tripepi (‘janicetripepi‘ Blog), Kate Liquorish ‘undomestiKATEd’ Blog), Kristy Snell (‘FoodMonger‘ Blog), Nina Timm (‘My Easy Cooking’ Blog), Sue Green (‘Sous Chef’ Blog), Tami Magnin (‘Rumtumtiggs’ Blog), Thuli Gogela (‘Mzansi Style Cuisine’ Blog), Usha Singh (‘Healthy Vegetarian Foods’ Blog), and Zirkie Schroeder (‘PinkPolkaDotFood’ Blog).  Both Anel and Candice entered MasterChef SA, and did not make the Nederburg kitchen. Anel shared that not making it on MasterChef SA had triggered off a depression, which she tried to get out of by eating Zoo biscuits, and led to her creating her Blog as a type of therapy. Initially she and Candice (photograph left) were hesitant about participating on ‘Dinner Divas’, given the stress they experienced at MasterChef SA, which had taken the fun out of food making, but they loved the fun of ‘Divine Divas’. Janice shared that participating in ‘Dinner Divas’ had led her to relook her Blog, and to ‘make it even more perfect’. She raised the question many Bloggers ask: ‘Who is reading my Blog?’. Candice said that ‘Divine Divas’ had re-inspired her to become a better cook and blogger. Anel blogs once a week on average, and said that it takes up to ten hours to write a Blogpost, having to research a story, buy the ingredients, prepare the dish, and photograph it (good light is best when she gets up early in the morning) before work, or over weekends.  Barry shared that his Afrikaans Blog ‘Wat Eet Ons?’ became more English, to attract more readers.  MasterChef SA Finalist Lungi Nhanhla was present at the launch, in her capacity of new deputy Food Editor of Drum, and she shared that things were much more controlled on MasterChef SA, given that it is a franchised programme series.

In introducing the programme at the media launch on Thursday, Producer Michelle Coleman said that ‘Dinner Divas’ recognises the best Food Blogger and not necessarily the best cook amongst the twelve finalists.

The Food Bloggers were evaluated by five judges (chairman of the judging panel Aubrey Ngcungama is the ambassador of the One & Only Cape Town, was on ‘Come Dine with Me’, and is an absolute hoot from the first episode we were shown at the launch, more than a Diva himself!) over the series,  but only three per show.  The judges of the first episode are Aubrey, Leila Padayachi (pastry chef), and Caro de Waal, editor of Food24, and they evaluate the meals of the Divas without knowing who prepared the recipes and cooked the food.  The other judges used for the series are Chef Fernando Roman of the Five Rooms restaurant at The Alphen, and Andrew Lieber of ‘Gourmet Guys’ Blog.

The sponsors are Mr Price Home; Rhodes Foods (who make cheeses – such as the award-winning Portobello – under their own brand name and some for Woolworths, as well as canned jams, and tomato, fruit and vegetable products); Nulaid eggs, Sasko Flour; and Whirlpool kitchen appliances. Prizes for the winner of the Ultimate Dinner Diva 2012 title includes exposure for the winner’s Food Blog, as well as R50000 cash, a cookbook deal, vouchers of sponsors’ products, and R25000 worth of Whirlpool appliances.

In preparation of their appearance in the TV programme, each Food Blogger had to create a menu for a family weekend meal, with the recipes, and blog it in 100 words.  On set the Food Bloggers had to cook their meal within 90 minutes, set the table for the judges, and style and present their dishes. The judges evaluated the dishes ‘anonymously’, on authenticity, originality, balance and nutritional value of the menu, seasonality of the produce, the reasonable cost of the menu, the creativity in blog writing, the styling of their food and the table setting, and the food preparation skills.

The first episode we saw showed only two of the twelve Food Bloggers competing against each other. Nina Timm prepared a most colourful Mexican family dish, which included meat balls, refried beans, guacamole, and healthy tacos, a meal which she described as a ‘maaltyd om te eet’, and as ‘fingerfood’; while Kristy Snell made fillet steak and her mom’s Peach and Almond baked pudding.  Aubrey will be remembered as the most direct and honest judge, who does not put across his opinions diplomatically at all, making for fun TV. He was critical of Nina’s dish being too salty, while Kristy was not spared, Aubrey describing her salad as ‘a bit tired’, the sauces being confusing, and her dish being an ‘unexciting concoction‘. Yet both Nina and Kristy went through into the Semi-Finals.

Filmed in Cape Town, the first episode we saw had beautiful shots of Cape Town, which will benefit tourism to our city too, with the TV series’ national viewership.  Seeing the first episode, the comparison to MasterChef SA was immediate.  Only focusing on two contestants per episode, means that one can get to know each Food Blogger better, and the pace was much slower, allowing one to understand how the dish was made, and pick up some cooking tips, proving to be far more educational than MasterChef SA.

‘Dinner Divas’ plays an important role in enhancing the contribution of South African Food Blogs, which will have a stronger voice via the new TV series, and which are already characterised by their passion and inspiration. Food Bloggers’ success already is evident by the increasing number of cookbooks being launched by them. It was emphasised that the days of print media are numbered, and that Food Bloggers are taking over. Season 2 has already been committed too by the SABC, it was announced at the launch, being a winning recipe for the programme sponsors, SABC2 viewers, and Food Bloggers!

POSTSCRIPT 20/10: Episode 2 surprised this morning, in two respects: Judge Fernando Roman, Executive Chef from The Aphen hotel, offended bloggers when he said outright that he does ‘not fancy bloggers at all’, ironic as ‘Dinner Divas’ is a TV programme about bloggers cooking their recipes!  Not surprisingly, this caused a flurry of Tweets from critical bloggers, sure to avoid the hotel’s Five Rooms and La Belle restaurants!  In addition, contestant Sue Green cooked a pork dish, but judge Leila Padayachi does not eat pork!  However, Sue still made it into the semi-finals. Tami Magnin’s KFC-style chicken dish was dished by judge Aubrey, describing it as ‘boring to look at’ and as ‘inedible’!

POSTSCRIPT 5/1: Anel Potgieter has won season 1 of Dinner Divas.

Dinner Divas, SABC2, Saturdays, 8h30, from 13 October, for 13 weeks. www.ilovecooking.co.za Twitter @DinnerDivas1

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

Department of Home Affairs Sweet Service and KFC Sour Service Awards!

The Sweet Service Award goes to the Department of Home Affairs in Caledon, and Sonia, Crystal and Yneatte in particular, and is nominated by David Snoek:” Joan-Anne and I set out to renew Joani’s passport at The Dept. of Home Affairs in Caledon this morning. On arrival, we were greeted with an empty parking area and more than adequate signage welcoming visitors. We entered the offices and were welcomed by a very stern and official looking man at the door and 3 delightful ladies behind the counter. We were the only customers in the entire building and were ‘gobsmacked’. Such a difference from what we have being subjected to on TV. After arriving and completing the required documents, Joani and I were out of there in less than 10 minutes. This is the quality service we appreciate from a Government Department. PS What struck me was the friendly manner in which we were received! Totally Awesome”!  Dave wrote subsequently, to feed back that the passport was received within one week, unbelievable service.

The Sour Service Award goes to KFC in Robertson, and is nominated by Simon Bernstein: “How the South African Consumer is being ripped off. My wife and I decided to have some KFC last night as we have not had any for a very long time. We ordered 9 pieces of chicken no chips, salad or cool drinks just chicken. The cost was R94-90 that is over R10-00 for a piece I could understand this cost if you received decent pieces. Our nine pieces included 2 wings, 2 drum sticks, 2 quarter breasts with cartilage 1 rib cage area and 2 thighs so not even a whole chicken. I’m in the hospitality business and an acceptable practice is to carve a whole chicken into 8 pieces2 wings, 2 drumsticks, 2 thighs and 2 whole breasts why can KFC not conform to this? I’m paying R21-00 from my supplier for a whole bird I’m sure with your buying power as a group you get it cheaper than that. Considering we did not even get a whole bird your cost must be around R15-00 for the chicken. Add in the other costs like oil, gas and spices which can be no more thanR4-00 you get a total cost of R19-00. Take off the vat on R94.90 is R83-25 the cost ex vat R16-66 you get a food cost of 20% the industry norm in the food business is between 32-38% please explain to me how you justify the additional 18%!!!!! The selling price should have been R49.95 ex vat with vat R57-00 that would still give you an acceptable GP to pay wages, rent and whatever other operating cost you have. It should relate to around a 12% NP. Once again please justify for me how you can over me R37.90 over what should have being charged. To further illustrate how much you are overcharging. My wife also ordered 8 zinger wings cost R22-50. This works out to R2-81 per wing totally acceptable to me take off the vat 2.46 on a selling price working to a normal food cost of 33% the cost would be: 9 pieces : 2 wings R1.62, 2 drum sticks slightly more than a wing R2.86, 2 Quarter breasts R4.39, 1 rib cage no real meat just bone R2.21, 2 thighs R5.39, Total cost R16.67 industry norm mark up R49.41 plus vat R56.32. So both calculations show how you are almost charging double as what the norm is. A family could come to my café eat a wholesome freshly made meal with salad and it would cost them less than to eat KFC. I feel it is high time that big brands start to justify their costs to the consumer”.
The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog.  Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com.   Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTalesnewsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.