Tag Archives: SABC3

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 21 July

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   In honour of Mandela Day last Friday, and the launch of the new DVD of the ‘Lego‘ movie, a collection of limited edition Lego figurines of local presenters, including Gareth Cliff,  Bonang Matheba (ex Metro FM), Lee-Roy Wright (SABC3 presenter), DJ Fresh (5FM), and Casper Lee (actor Spud 3) has been created.  A set of three Nelson Mandela mini Lego figurines has also been launched.

*   The few women honoured in Cape Town by means of statues is soon to become something of the past, when steel cut-outs  of such women luminaries and outspoken leaders as the late Albertina Sisulu, Miriam Makeba, Adelaide Tambo, and Nadine Gordimer are erected along the Fan Walk leading to the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point, a World Design Capital 2014 project called ‘Wonder Women’.   Architect Mokena Makeka will make up the steel statues of the women, with a positive and negative image.

*   This coming weekend the focus in Cape Town will be on Street Food, with talks at Sidestreet Studios on Saturday 27 July by Andy Continue reading →

Australian Hayden Quinn makes Capetonians proud of their beautiful and sustainable city!

Hayden Quinn Title page sunflowersIt is ironic that Australian 2011 MasterChef Finalist (and not even a winner) has become a celebrity, to such an extent that he has become the host of a 13 series SABC3 programme about sustainable eating in our country, also combining the travel highlights of the regions Hayden will visit. Beautifully filmed, with some product placement overkill, the first episode last night made one proud to be a Capetonian, and to see our beautiful city through the eyes of the guest chef! Hayden described Cape Town as the ‘tip of the iceberg‘, whilst raving about loving South Africa.

The episode begins with Hayden doing some surfing, sharing his passion for the ocean, saying it is the place at which he feels most at home.  The link to the ocean  is made, to share that he is a WWF SASSI ambassador, our local organisation that educates consumers about only ordering and buying orange-listed fish.  It explains Woolworth’s dominance in the programme, with a number of TV commercials, although none match the beautiful ads which it created for MasterChef SA in Seasons 1 and 2.  Hayden is ‘crazy about adventure’ and good food, he shared.

The start to Hayden’s food adventure was the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill, where he sampled sandwiches from The Kitchen, and samoosas from Cumin Catering.  He described it as a ‘buzzing inner-city market‘, reflecting the flavours and fresh foods of Cape Town. Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 6 May

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The City of Cape Town has developed a new parking policy based on transport trends in Cape Town, including increasing numbers of delivery vehicles, and traffic congestion in peak times.  The City plans to discourage parking of 2 hours and longer, by encouraging parking outside the city centre and then to use a different form of transport (the MyCiTi Bus no doubt) to reach the city centre. Demand-based pricing is to be introduced, the bays in higher demand areas having higher charges, and higher demand times of the day attracting higher charges.   Smartcard payment is being considered yet again.  The cost of the first phase of the parking policy is R15 million.

*   SA Tourism is running a massive #MeetSouthAfrica blogger campaign at the moment, 14 local and international bloggers having arrived in Johannesburg last Friday, and heading in different directions in groups, to discover various parts of our country, until they meet up again in Durban at Indaba this coming weekend.

*   The Palm Beach Daily News has chosen Glenelly Lady May 2009, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot blend, as one of its ten top picks for the coming American summer season.  It is the only South African wine selected.

*   SA Tourism has appointed Risuna Mayimele as its Global Manager Communications. She previously Continue reading →

‘Exploring the Vine’ from vine to wine: puts SA wines on the international screen!

Despite having been filmed in 2009 already, the 13-part reality TV series ‘Exploring the Vine‘ had not been aired on local South African TV until it premiered on SABC3 three weeks ago.  Not only will the series stimulate interest in wine-drinking amongst local South Africans, but it has also received international exposure on the National Geographic Asia channel.

The series, produced by ‘Cooked in Africa’ Films, the company that made Charlie’s Bakery famous through their recent ‘Charly’s Cake Angels’ reality TV series, filmed three young winemakers for a year, living their passion for wine making.   Howard Booysen, James Corder, and Stuart Botha met at Elsenburg Agricultural College, and each of the winemakers are featured at the wine estates at which they worked at the time.  Filming was done on weekends over the period of a year, and covered all aspects of winemaking, including nurturing the vines, trellising, harvesting, making the wine, and winetasting.  The three friends also share stories of the South African wine industry, and its history.  The TV series was sold to National Geographic, and was flighted in 2010, achieving international coverage.

Executive Producer Justin Bonnello said about the series: Filmed in and around Stellenbosch, Constantia and Elgin, the Series provides a unique and entertaining showcase of what makes South African wines among some of the best in the world. Stuart, Howard and James represent a new generation of local winemakers who have each proven that the opposite is true when it comes to wine production: youth is not a handicap when it comes to making an excellent wine.”

Howard Booysen was one of the first to participate in the Protégé programme of the Cape Winemakers’ Guild after his Elsenburg studies.  This led him to meet and work with a number of top winemakers.  He has since started making his own wine, under the Howard Booysen Wine as well as Pegasus labels. He is the sommelier at Aubergine.

Stuart Botha started his winemaking career at Constantia Glen, and then went to St Emillion in France before joining Eagle’s Nest.  His winemaking skills have already been recognised, having been named the Best Red Winemaker of the Year in 2010 for his 2008 Eagle’s Nest Shiraz.  His 2009 Shiraz was named the Best Shiraz in the 5 Nations Wine Awards.

James Corder comes from a winemaking family in Elgin, and worked at Villiera as well as Domaine Grier before returning to the family farm.  His Elgin Vintners Viognier 2009 won Best South African White Wine at the Nova Scotia wine show in 2010.  He will launch a sparkling wine next year.

Wine drinking is receiving a welcome boost from the film industry, in the airing of ‘Exploring the Vine’ reality TV series, and the romantic comedy ‘Semi-Soet’, which is currently on the movie circuit.

‘Exploring the Vine’, SABC3,  Saturdays, 16h00.

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