Tag Archives: wifi

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 5/6 July

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Knysna Oyster Festival has kicked off, running until next weekend, and is estimated to generate R70 million in revenue for the town and attract 60000 visitors, says Western Cape Minister of Tourism Alan Winde.  ‘The events economy is a big revenue and jobs driver, and a vital part of the Western Cape’s tourism industry. Specifically for our smaller towns, events bring much needed stimulus to their economy.  Domestic travellers are the bread and butter of our tourism industry. By supporting local events, residents are able to contribute to job creation in the area‘, said Minister Winde.

*   The music one listens to while drinking beer can influence its taste, says Professor Charles Spence of Oxford University, after conducting a multi-sensory study amongst 3000 drinkers. which tested the impact of sound, light, and taste. Colour and sound can affect the taste of wine.  The study was replicated for beer, with a similar finding.

*   TripAdvisor has launched its Smartphone App, which allows one to download the information before leaving home, Continue reading →

New Lanique Bar within Andiamo to add pink spirit to De Waterkant!

Lanique Liqueur Spirit !cid_image001_jpg@01CF9154A spirit liqueur with a more than 200 year history is set to light up trendy De Waterkant, when a bar in its name opens within Andiamo in the original Cape Quarter next month.  The history and richness of the Lanique brand will match the heritage of De Waterkant, which is one of the oldest suburbs of Cape Town.

The Lanique Bar within Andiamo is a collaboration between Nigel Price and Andiamo owner Bruce Walker, who got to know each other as Nigel’s company aqua v supplies Andiamo. Andiamo previously had a delicatessen inside the restaurant, and when Bruce did the sums as the new owner, he worked out that it was not lucrative.   Nigel had been offered the rights to distribute Lanique in South Africa, and a brainstorm between the two led to the idea that the Lanique Bar within Andiamo be established.

Nigel walked me through the previous Deli space, which is being cladded with red brick, to give the space an old world feel.  A stage for live music, a dance floor created by moving the tables out of the space into Andiamo, a door separating Andiamo restaurant and Lanique Bar within Andiamo when the restaurant closes at night, old timber ship decking, corrugated iron, floating shelves, rich opulent fabrics for the upholstery of the chairs, new tables, and chandeliers are planned to create an old world and opulent luxury feel. During the day the Lanique Bar counter will be closed off, but breakfast and lunch will be served and its coffee Continue reading →

Are ‘frikkin’ bloggers’ the bread and butter of Restaurant marketing?

Mount Nelson Rudi Liebenberg BloggersOn Sunday the Sunday Times had a lengthy article, entitled ‘Food Soldiers’, about the blood, sweat, and tears that go into the preparation of ‘fine food’ and the running of good restaurants. The article concluded with a denigration of ‘frikkin’ bloggers‘ by newly renamed Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel Chef Rudi Liebenberg, quite out of character of someone who comes across as gentle and kind.

I Tweeted the last paragraph of the article, and posted it on Facebook, and an interesting discussion arose on the latter forum, threatening to become a ‘Chefs versus Bloggers’ fight. Veteran Chef Billy Gallagher fully supported Chef Rudi, writing ‘I believe you write good stuff Chris and I follow your blog which is always interesting to say the least, having spent 40 years in the hotel business. It was hotel chefs that laid the foundation. The South African chefs Association created the platform for today’s South African chefs and this 40 years ago was a hotel chefs initiative.  Many of the top 10 restaurants are on wine estates which adds a wonderful backdrop to these very talented chefs. Let’s give Rudi his opinion right or wrong‘.   Twelve Apostles Executive Director Horst Frehse also wrote in support of Chef Rudi.   Susanna Tecklenburg of Oude Wellington wrote  ‘I eat, sleep, sitting on the loo social media between cooking and running my restaurant. It sure brings in business and you meet new people all the time and guests appreciated when you comment on their posts. Read all the blogs and specially yours Chris Von Ulmenstein and value your opinion. Thanks for all your input and info all the time. With my busy lifestyle you ‘frikkin’ bloggers help us to be in touch what’s going on out there!’.  Chef Anton Bekker of Taste Restaurant was critical of the effect of MasterChef SA on diners: ‘Social media keep my restaurant afloat! I do have problem when people watch masterchef and then think they know everything. Lol. Or when a food writer comments that the hollandaise needed some more cream. … haha’. Sarie Kos Food Editor Herman Lensing was the first to react to the Facebook post, stating that all diners have the right to express an opinion, and that chefs should cook for their customers and not for critics.  Amanda Brinkmann was very vocal about the subject, saying that due to the politics in food writing, she believes in and supports ‘citizen journalism‘.  Deon Schutte clearly wrote from a chef’s perspective: ‘I think that Continue reading →

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

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Hotel star ratings are becoming increasing irrelevant, in that they do not reflect travellers’ needs any more.   The lack of a consistent international definition of the star categories is largely to blame, as recommendations seen on Social Media as well as online reviews influence what accommodation is booked and at what price.   Location, type of trip, features such as wifi and parking, value for money, and reviews are the factors influencing the choice of establishment.

*   The Good Food & Wine Show will be bugged at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 31 May, when the Pop-Up Rentokil Pestaurant is set up for the day, serving a host of edible insects!  Tasty treats to be served are cricket crostini, crispy mealworms, roasted locust canapés, chocolate covered ants, and scorpion lollipops!  Pestaurants will be setting up world-wide (in London, for example) on 4 June, but the Cape Town event has been brought forward to tie in with the Show. Insects are high in protein, Vitamin B, iron, and zinc. (received via media release from Affinity Strategic Communication)

*   Diners Club SA has received an award from its global head office for Best Integrated Marketing Campaign in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, for its 2013 Winemaker of the Year campaign, an annual highlight of the wine industry. (received via media release from African Sky Communications)

*   The Zingara Group has been awarded the tender by the City of Cape Town to operate the Company’s Garden Continue reading →