Tag Archives: Wolfgang Leyrer

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 4 October

October 4, 2013

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* Virginie Taittinger is following in her famous Champagne family’s footsteps by launching her own label Virginie T, a non-vintage Brut, 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay. She has made 100000 bottles. She has also made a Rosé, a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. She sells her champagnes directly from her website at £25,90, which includes delivery.

* Bouchard Finlayson is pairing its wines with a 4-course meal prepared by new Executive Chef Christo Pretorius at Azure at the Twelve Apostles hotel on 29 November, at R545. (via newsletter from Bouchard Finlayson)

* Waterkloof is hosting a ‘Six Senses Evening’ at the 2013 Helderberg Continue reading →

New Restaurant openings celebrate Spring in Cape Town & Winelands!

September 3, 2013

Despite one of the worst winters ever experienced by the Cape hospitality industry, few restaurants have closed down recently. A surprise however is the movement of staff between restaurants. This list of restaurant openings and closings is updated continuously, as we receive new information:

Restaurant Openings

* Beerhouse has opened on Long Street, with 16 beers on tap and 99 bottled beers from around the world.

* The House of Machines has opened on Shortmarket Street, building motorcycles, offering good Evil Twin coffee, and serving very healthy food.

* Pure Good has opened downstairs in the Associated Magazines building opposite Parliament, and is owned by Shannon Smuts, the first MasterChef SA Finalist to have been eliminated.

* The Harbour House group has opened La Parada Spanish Tapas restaurant on Continue reading →

Tough winter for Cape restaurants, many restaurant and staff changes!

July 22, 2013

No significant events have been planned to attract visitors to Cape Town and the Winelands this winter, and it appears to be the worst winter ever experienced by the hospitality industry in the Cape. A surprise is the number of restaurant changes, as well as the the movement of staff between restaurants. Given the poor winter business, many restaurants have taken/are taking generous winter breaks. This list of restaurant openings and closings is updated continuously, as we receive new information:

Restaurant Openings

* Four & Twenty Café and Pantry has opened in Wynberg

* The Crypt Jazz Restaurant has opened below St George’s Cathedral.

* Orphanage Cocktail Emporium is opening Orphanage Club upstairs, with 1920’s style music by live performers, later this year.

* Cavalli restaurant on the stud farm on the R44 must be opening shortly, as Carl Habel has left the Mount Nelson Hotel as Restaurant Manager and Sommelier to join the restaurant.

* Shake your Honey is to open in the original Madame Zingara building on Loop Street next year, after renovations commence later this year, according to an iolTravel report. The ‘vibrant spirit of India’ is to be reflected in the 5-storey building, with a theatre, markets, restaurants, and shops.

* Burger King has opened its (second) Tygervalley branch. Branches at Cavendish and at Grandwest are to open soon. Continue reading →

Arrival of winter likely to freeze Cape Town and Winelands restaurant income!

June 2, 2013

The first taste of the Cape winter this weekend is likely to be felt by the restaurant industry, which will see hard times in the next two months, if close to zero accommodation bookings in the Cape are anything to go by. Other than Hermanus FynArts and the Wacky Wine Weekend kicking off next week, ‘Cook Franschhoek‘ running over the Youth Day long weekend, and the Bastille Festival weekend on 13 – 14 July, no significant events are planned to attract visitors to Cape Town and the Winelands. A number of restaurants are closing for an annual break in the next two months.