Tag Archives: Woodstock Exchange

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 25 May

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Transit passengers, traveling with children through our country’s airports to other destinations, will not require supporting documentation such as unabridged birth certificates, to the relief of our neighboring countries.

*   The success of the Franschhoek Literary Festival has given it coverage in the New York Times, with an article focusing on the controversial nature of some of the sessions, especially the one at which Bongani Madondo spoke. The biographer of Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 17 November

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines‘

*   The Western Cape government has committed R 2,4 million to ‘preserving the Western Cape’s culture and heritage and therefore is committed to providing continued support for them’, MEC Nomafrench Mbombo has said, supporting the Cape Minstrels and Malay and Christmas choirs, and their Christmas Choir Bands March on 24 December, The Nagtroupe March on New Years Eve, and the Tweede Nuwejaar Minstrel March.  The community will organise its own Cape Annual Minstrel Carnival next year, after the City of Cape Town’s interference in the past led to problems and poor publicity for the City.

*   Australia has been using its unique food and wine bounty to market tourism via the ‘Restaurant Australia‘ campaign to the country.  Last week it hosted some of the most important food and wine VIPs to its ‘Invite the World to Dinner‘ event in Hobart.  Different creative dishes were served in different artistic venues.  The organisers claim to have reached 400 million viewers through the event.

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 28/29 June

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The price of petrol is to increase by 29 cents a litre on Wednesday 2 July.

*  Fox recommends seven things to do in Cape Town that will make you feel like a local: understanding the struggle by visiting Robben Island; meet the people of Cape Town in the townships; get to know the Cape Malay culture and cuisine in Bo-Kaap; shop at the V&A Waterfront, Chandler House, Merchants on Long, Olive Green Cat, the Woodstock Exchange, and Old Biscuit Mill; chill at the beach in Camps Bay or Hout Bay, and eat there; do a wine tour in Franschhoek, including La Petite Ferme, Haute Cabriere, and Môreson; and eat out at The Test Kitchen, the Pot Luck Club, Bizerca, and Charly’s Bakery.

*   Bruwer Raats wines have scored well in the Tim Atkin Report, due to be launched on 1 July:  the MR de Compostella 2012 scored 95 out of 100; Raats Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2012 and Family Cabernet Franc 2012 scored 93; Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2012 and Family Red Jasper 2012 scored 92; and Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2012 scored 91. (received via media release from Peridot Communications) Continue reading →

First signs of winter as first Cape Town/Winelands restaurants close down!

Chef's Warehouse Bree Street Whale Cottage Portfolio (2)Many restaurants opened this summer, but the industry is taking its first toll, with restaurants closing down.  It may be a tough winter ahead, given the poor state of the economy.  Yet Neil Grant and Barry Engelbrecht (Burrata), Clayton Howard and Mico Botha (I Love my Laundry), and Michael Townsend (La Parada, Lucky Fish, Harbour House) are expanding their portfolios.

This list of restaurant openings and closings is updated continuously, as we receive new information:

Restaurant Openings

*    Chef’s Warehouse & Cookery School has moved to Bree Street, in the Cape Heritage hotel building, where Awestruck/Caveau used to be, and is now called Chef’s Warehouse & Canteen, with Chef Liam Tomlin in the kitchen.  Street Food has also opened as a take-away outlet (7h00 – 15h00)

*   Diesel & Creme, a diner, restaurant, and coffee shop, has opened on the R62 in Barrydale.

*   Idiom Wines is said to be opening a restaurant.

*   The Tap Room has opened at Devils’ Peak Brewery

*   I ♥ my Laundry has opened another (its third) branch on Buitenkant Street.

*   Jordan Wines has launched a Deli and Bakery.

*   Lucky Fish & Chips has opened on Bree Street, on Regent Road in Sea Point, on Long Street, in Kalk Bay, and in Muizenberg, belonging to Michael Townsend of the Harbour House group.

*   Tümi has opened as a health food café in St John’s Piazza in Sea Point, being part of the Col’Cocchia group. Continue reading →