Tag Archives: Paul Duncan

Franschhoek Restaurants during Lockdown: which are open, closed, and opening soon!

September 28, 2020

Last week I spent two days in Franschhoek for a catch-up visit, after not having been to this lovely village known for its eateries and good wines in eight months. From having heard that the village was so quiet, and that many restaurants had closed down, I was pleasantly surprised to find the village bursting with excitement about new restaurants about to open in October, and later this year. I could not resist eating at Orangerie at Le Lude, what to me is one of Franschhoek’s best restaurants. Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 2 of Level 1, 22 September 2020.

September 23, 2020

Tuesday 22 September 2020, Day 2 of Level 1, Day 180 of Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a change of scenery, my first visit to Franschhoek in almost two years; for a number of stops in Stellenbosch, dropping off a bottle of ADHARA extra virgin olive oil to Avontuur Restaurant co-owner Zunia Boucher-Myerson, and for tea at Java with sisters Lisel Fourie Burger and Janine at Java, bringing Lisel my SwitchBitch Book 3; for reconnecting with Jade pearl shop on Church Street, so happy to see them open again; for a fabulous relaxed lunch at Boschendal Deli with Linda-Louise Roosenschoon, having struggled to find a restaurant open on a Tuesday on a wine estate; for a first introduction to Franschhoek in visiting Grande Provence, also having set up a Deli; for a quick shop at Woolies; and for finding my home at Maison Montagne, a brand new boutique guest house on Dieu Donne wine estate, seeing my Bestie Llewellyn Lambert for the first time in 18 months 🍎; for a beautiful sunny 23C day; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙 Venishree Mayer Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 24 March

March 25, 2014

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* UK X Factor judge and singer Cheryl Cole was spotted at The Duchess of Wisbeach in Sea Point on Saturday evening, and Tweeted to her 4,5 million Twitter followers, The Daily Mail reports.

* Internationally revered and feared Wine Advocate reviewer Robert Parker is to publish a new magazine ‘100 Points by Robert Parker‘, with German Hubert Burda Media as publisher.

* Beer sales in Africa are expected to be the fastest growing, predicts a report by Rabobank, the continent having the fastest growth in legal beer drinking population between 2013 – 2018. SABMiller has announced that it will triple production at its plant in Nigeria, with an investment of £110 million.

* The Good Food & Wine Show 2014 will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 29 May – 1 June, and an action-packed program has been announced: 8 top restaurants will offer signature dishes; Woolworths and Robertsons will Continue reading →

Cape Town Art Fair a marriage of art, food, and wine!

October 26, 2013

On Thursday evening 800 art lovers descended onto The Lookout in the V&A Waterfront for the opening of the first ever Cape Town Art Fair, the largest mega art exhibition ever held in Cape Town under one roof, with 40 galleries exhibiting 800 works of arts of 130 top artists. It was an excellent platform to enjoy the art of food, of visual art, and of wine art!

In a clever display design, the art galleries were given one, two, or three panels to display their artists’ work. While most pieces were described, I did not see prices, giving the exhibition a classy feel. It was more about meeting the gallery owners and representatives and connecting with them, based on the style of art they were exhibiting. Some of the galleries, auctioneers, and artists at the Cape Town Art Fair include Strijdom van der Merwe, with an exhibit at the entrance to The Lookout and having recently created an impressive exhibit in honour of Nelson Mandela outside the Stellenbosch Town Hall; Strauss & Co; The AVA Gallery; holden manz collection; Whatiftheworld Gallery; Frank Joubert Art Centre; Stephan Welz & Co; Erdmann Continue reading →