Tag Archives: South America

Chef Arno Janse van Rensburg leaves Janse & Co, restaurant will continue to operate when it reopens!

 

The Corona Lockdown brings interesting news, and challenges and changes, so it was a surprise when I opened up my Instagram to the Janse & Co post last night, announcing the departure of Chef Arno Janse van Rensburg at the end of this month. No future plans are revealed. The restaurant is currently closed, but the Instagram post hints at the reopening of the restaurant at an undefined time.

Chef Arno is one of my favourite chefs, demonstrating no ego, staying in the background with very low key Social Media presence, and does things differently in every way.  During the beginning of Lockdown he and his wife Liezl worked tirelessly in cooking with Ladles of Love to feed many disadvantaged communities in Cape Town. He opened Janse & Co just over two years ago, after leaving Maison in Franschhoek, which was then my favorite restaurant in the gourmet village. Whilst at Maison, Chef Arno took the month-long restaurant winter closures to travel to Spain, South America, and other countries, to learn more about food.

Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 9, 4 April 2020.

 

Saturday 4 April 2020, 20th Day of SA Corona Virus, Day 9 of SA Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for another beautiful day, at 21 C, with morning mist, the clouds clearing, and rain clouds on their way; for the most beautiful sunsets tonight; for being in touch with friends from around the world; for being motivated and inspired by the TED Talk of ‘Eat Pray Love’ author Elizabeth Gilbert; for the further excellent service of Woolworths Camps Bay, getting an item for me in less than 24 hours; for hearing the praise by Bill Gates of our President Cyril’s handling of the pandemic in our country and the rest of Africa too, on the Trevor Noah show today; for Kfm’s fabulous music to dance and walk to; for feeling excited to be observing this World Event from the comfort of my home; and for being fit, heathy, and happy. 🙏💙 Continue reading →

The Chilean wine industry: an overview, and visiting the Casablanca wine region in Santiago, Chile!

In August last year I spent four days in Santiago in Chili, visiting two sets of friends. I tasted some of the good Chilean wines, and even went on a wine tour in the Casablanca Valley outside Santiago. To prepare myself for the wine tour, I read up about the Chilean wine industry. Continue reading →

Chilling in Chile, Santiago: an excerpt from ‘SwitchBitch: my journey in travelling Solo, step by step’!

 

I had no plans to visit Santiago in Chile. The Chileans are very friendly, maybe a little like South Africans. Two Chilean couples I met on my trip, unrelated to each other, invited me to come and visit them in their city, and stay over. As I only had four days in Chile before a last day in Buenos Aires, at the end of my trip, I split the visits into two two-day stays.  I am so happy I took up their invitations, getting to know more about their wine industry, and being able to eat at Boragó, the 26th Best Restaurant in the world! Continue reading →