I have written previously how the restaurant industry is suffering tremendously, both in being able to pay its bills due to lack of cash flow, and the responsibility it has to keep paying staff, receiving UIF payments for staff appearing to be a difficult process, understandable as every employer in the country is trying to keep head above water and therefore submitting claims. From wanting to jump in to prepare meals to deliver, and thereby keep some staff employed and some cash flowing, most restaurant were disappointed to discover that this was against the Lockdown Law. Yet a handful of chefs and food suppliers have managed to receive an Essential Service certificate, and are preparing food offerings, which they are delivering to clients’ homes or offering on a collection basis. Licensed alcohol-selling restaurants appear to be experiencing the biggest problems when it comes to food delivery permission, even though they do not offer alcohol delivery. Continue reading →
Yesterday I had the goosebump experience of being introduced to the new-in-the-making Gåte at Quoin Rock restaurant at the Quoin Rock winery outside Stellenbosch, which is destined to become a superlative Fine Dining dinner experience, probably the best this country has ever seen! 
It was at a dinner with Katie Friedman of Urban Lime that I heard about the opening of Victoire, a French Boulangerie, Pâtisserie, and Bistro in the newly redeveloped Speakers’ Corner building on Church Square in Cape Town. I attended the opening, as well as had breakfast at Victoire the following day.