MANY wine estates and farms in the Western Cape have old manor houses. Some you can visit, usually with limited access, but at Weltevreden in Stellenbosch, you can spend a night or three in one which has been proclaimed a national monument.
The first title deed of the property is dated March, 1692. The cellar was built in 1804 and the homestead in 1812 by Deborah Retief, sister of the…
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Rare Grill is a worthy finalist in the Wolftrap Steakhouse Championships
WHEN the finalists - as voted for by the public - for the annual Wolftrap Steakhouse Championships are announced, I eagerly skim the list; firstly for Cape Town steakhouses, and secondly for ones I haven't been to.
The competition is in its fifth year and has become well spread out around the country. This year, two of the top 10 finalists are in our city: HQ and Rare Grill. I immediately fired…
Your gateway to dark chocolate with Lindt Excellence Mild 70%
IN my kitchen is a "man drawer" - if you don't know what this is, watch here- and in my man drawer there is always chocolate, usually Lindt.
For most people, darker chocolate is an acquired taste and Lindt has many ways to make this journey pleasurable. Cocoa percentages increase gradually, and a wide variety of flavours give you options from fruity to salty to a spike of chilli. I find many…
ONE of the best things about Cape Town winters is the abundance of restaurant specials. It's the perfect time to take advantage of these and enjoy exceptional value for money.
Today we had lunch at the multi award-winning Terroir in Stellenbosch. It's always a treat but the four-course tasting menu (with or without wine pairing) provides all the excellence for which the restaurant is renowned,…
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Last few days to see Funny Girl at The Fugard
THEY - whomever "they" are, although the quote is widely attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt - say do something every day that scares you. That's a bit extreme; a more moderate and achievable goal is to try new things as often as possible.
And so it came to pass, after many years of theatre opening nights, I took myself on a solo date towards the end of a run, for a Sunday matinée performance of…
uber takes you out, uberEATS keeps you in
UBER has been a game changer for me in so many ways, from getting me home safely when I've been out somewhere alcohol is involved, to never having to negotiate city traffic or look for parking.
As much as the ride app takes me where I going and back again, its companion uberEATS seems determined to keep me at home. As much as I love to cook, a busy lifestyle means there are times when I haven't…
FRANSCHHOEK - the world renowned and picturesque food and wine capital of South Africa - is abuzz with the imminent opening of the iconic La Colombe’s new La Petite Colombe, which is replacing The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français – an exciting new partnership with the owners of the stylish and luxurious Leeu Collection.
Proprietor chefs and business partners, Scot Kirton (Eat Out Chef of…
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Celebrate the June long weekend with Constantia Glen Magnum
CONSTANTIA Glen is making a big deal out of the June long weekend starting on Youth Day on the 16th till Father’s Day on the 18th of June 2017.
Visitors to the tasting room can enjoy 20% off for the entire weekend when purchasing 1.5 litre magnums of the award winning Constantia Glen TWO 2016. This flagship white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon received considerable acclaim on the world…
Monday nights are made for magic
WHO doesn't love magic? Like those who don't like wine or chocolate or kittens, I don't understand them and it makes me vaguely distrustful. But that's their problem. For the rest of us, there is Monday Night Magic.
Founded and produced by Marcel Oudejans of the Cape Town Magic Club, Monday Night Magic returns for its fourth season - making it the longest-running magic show in the country - on…
GIN is without a doubt the spirit du jour. Already having what I consider to be a fairly impressive collection, I'm always excited to discover something new. So when the announcement arrived that there is a new player in the Cape Town market - the only gin in the world distilled with Atlantic Ocean sea water - my interest was immediately piqued and I set up a meeting with its creators, Jess…
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A spontaneous tattoo is a good thing
PEOPLE, normally of the non-tattooed variety, often comment: "Aren't tattoos addictive?" My answer is usually that they are not, but I must confess to something of a compulsion.
I've been collecting ink for many years, from different artists and countries I have visited, planning and booking appointments with specific designs and ideas in mind. One of the places I go to is Good Things Tattoo…
New prix fixe menu at Shortmarket Club
WHEN Ian Manley from Manley Communications drops you an email inviting you to lunch at Shortmarket Club, declining is not an option.
Since opening almost a year ago, Shortmarket Club has become one of THE places to eat in Cape Town, and who can resist a promise that it will be "the best lunch you have this week"?
The occasion was the launch of chef patron Wesley Randles's new prix fixe lunch…
IT'S mushroom time again! Soon, wild mushroom foragers will head into the forests in search of these delicious delicacies that only pop out for a short time in the year and you’ve got the chance to join them too. Delheim Estate’s popular Mushroom Forage on June 15, 16, 30 and July 1 will open up the mesmerising world of the fascinating fungi and teach you how to identify, forage and clean your…
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