Tag Archives: Middle East

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 15 January

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Every day the world’s airlines fly 8 million passengers around the world, a total of 3,1 billion in 2013, breaking through the 3 million passenger mark for the first time.  More than 50 million tonnes of cargo is transported annually, and the airline industry’s direct global economic contribution is $540 billion.

*   South African wines will be represented at the Wine Buyers Forum Windsor 2014, at which buyers with a buying power of $2,2 million each will attend on 10 and 11 March.

*   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that passenger numbers stabilised in November 2013, relative to the same month a year prior, with a growth of only 4%.   The Middle East had the highest growth rate at 10%, while Africa saw a decline Continue reading →

Restaurant food and beverage trends for 2014!

Food Trends

American restaurant consultants Baum + Whiteman have predicted twelve food and beverage trends for this year, reports Fine Dining Lovers:

1: Restaurants in Retail Stores:  restaurants will be used as a means of attracting more shoppers into malls, department stores, hotels, airports, and museums.

2: Tasting-Only Menus:  Tasting menus are increasingly replacing à la carte menus in fine dining restaurants, the diners having a more exact idea of what they are in for in terms of cost.

3: The Rise of Fine Dining Chicken (Posh Chicken):  Chicken is predicted to become as desired as a good steak when eating out, ‘cooked Sous Vide and served alongside foie gras, black mission figs or quail eggs’.

4: Out with Food Courts, In with Food Halls: Food Halls serving fine fresh foods in malls, even if more expensive, will replace the fare of fast food chains dominating shopping malls currently.

5: The Rise of Fish:  Oily fishes such as anchovies, sardines, and mackerel are increasing Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 23/24 November

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Garden Route has been named as the best golf destination in Africa and the Middle East.

*   Solms-Delta is one of only 15 recipients  (one of three from South Africa – Bushman’s Kloof Wildlife Reserve and Camp Jabulani) of the Travel + Leisure Global Vision Awards 2013, ‘all of which ‘embody the extraordinary ways that travellers can give back to the places we visit’.  Solms-Delta empowers its workers through profit-sharing, equity, land-ownership, educational scholarships, music-based heritage projects, and other socially and culturally uplifting programmes. (received via media release from Paula Wilson Media Consulting)

*   Tim James of Grape blog has won the inaugural Du Toitskloof Wines Wine Writer of the Year competition, of which the theme was Climate Change and its effect on the South African wine industry.  The prize value is R30000. (received via media release from De Kock Communications)

*  Neil Ellis Sincerely Sauvignon Blanc is recommended for Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 23 October

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   South African born Heston Blumenthal has been named ‘Chef of the Decade‘ by the Observer Food Month.

*   SA Tourism CEO Thulani Nzima has promised the tourism industry an Indaba 2014 that will be ‘an intensely business-focused’ one.  He has promised a revamp, which will be ‘relevant and future proof‘!

*   Beerhouse is organising an Oktobeer Fest on 31 October, from 17h00, at its Long Street premises.  (received via Facebook)

*   SA Tourism and Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding Continue reading →