Tag Archives: Neil Ellis

New Webb Ellis blend reflects past, present, and future of Neil Ellis Wines!

August 2, 2015

Neil Ellis Wines is launching a Webb Ellis wine to reflect the role of Neil Ellis’ family in the success of his forty-year wine-making history.

Having set up the Neil Ellis Wines brand in his own name over the past 40 years, Neil Ellis has now incorporated his son Warren into the business, as winemaker and as viticulturist.

To recognize the broader family role in the making of Neil Ellis wines, a Webb Ellis wine has been launched, recognizing the past, present, and future of the wine brand. The name Ellis has been added, acknowledging the role of his wife Stephanie (whose maiden name is Webb) in Neil’s journey, and being his pillar of support in it. All three their children are involved in the business, with Charl handling accounts, and Continue reading →

The Hinds Head in Bray: historic British dishes with a twist of Chef Heston Blumenthal!

July 6, 2015

Yesterday I was spoilt by my friend Katie Friedman, who took me to lunch at The Hinds Head in Bray, one of three restaurants owned by Chef Heston Blumenthal in this tiny Berkshire gourmet village.

Bray first attracted attention when the Roux brothers Michel and Albert opened The Waterside Inn in the village in 1972, and have held a three star Michelin rating for the past 25 years. Chef Heston, whose father grew up in South Africa, was attracted to the village too, Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 9 June

June 9, 2015

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* The DA Shadow Minister of Tourism James Vos will lodge a complaint against Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom to the Tourism Portfolio Committee, for not calling a review of the controversial Immigration Regulations, having previously said that he would review them. Last week the Minister said: ‘we need to review the regulations to find the right balance, …, hurting South Africa‘.

* Internationally the accommodation sector is bemoaning the impact of Airbnb, for its ‘illegal’ advantage of lower costs, and operating illegally, short-term rental being prohibited in many American city centres, and the accommodation not complying with insurance, fire, and disability access regulations which apply to the formal Continue reading →

A whale of a Hermanus FynArts Festival: 5 – 16 June! A feast of food, wine, music, art, books, and more!

June 7, 2015

I did a quick visit to Hermanus yesterday, and at a stop at Rivendell Restaurant, between Bot River and Hermanus, I was told that Chef Thomas Sinn was coming back from his overseas holiday especially to participate in a super-sounding feast, for which he is one of eight chefs cooking on Monday evening. The staff brought a copy of the programme, and I could not believe what the organisers have planned for the 11-day Festival, ‘A Celebration of South African Arts’ its 80-page Festival brochure proudly proclaims!