WHILE many businesses closed due to pressures brought on by the pandemic, the Central City has seen its already varied selection of bars enhanced with new venues opening. Some of these spots are included in a new retail map, which is part of the Cape Town Central City’s Improvement District’s (CCID) #ComeBackToTown campaign, to bolster the Central City’s economy and encourage people to support…
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Grab a pizza this action in the City centre
NO one does soul food quite like the Italians, and no one does Italian quite like nonna. But some of Cape Town’s CBD chefs do get pretty close.
One of the major trends sweeping the Central City right now is the Neapolitan pizza – or pizza Napoletanain Italian. A UNESCO-affirmed national treasure, this soulful sensation is one of many “authentic” Italian masterpieces local chefs have mastered.…
Vergelegen releases rare, robust reds
COLLECTORS of top South African wines have the opportunity to add some notable bottles to their cellars with the release of three highly anticipated Vergelegen wines dating as far back as 2001.
Vergelegen GVB Red 2014 and 2015, from the 321-year-old Somerset West estate’s flagship range, were awarded five stars in the Platter’s Wine Guide in the red blends, Cape Bordeaux section. “Only the…
AS the man who brought specialty coffee roasting to South Africa, David Donde has a history of pioneering flavour profiles that win over South African palates. Realising the world of chocolate looks like coffee did before the rise of speciality coffee, a journey into chocolate began. Now, Donde has transferred the expertise of Truth Coffee to cacao for a Minimalist chocolate that defies…
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Tokara brings vibrant Reserve Chardonnay to the table
IT'S suddenly autumn so it's time to enjoy the last weeks of warm weather with a top tier white wine. Tokara's acclaimed Reserve Collection Chardonnay ticks all the right boxes when only the best will do.
A wine of restrained power and finesse, Tokara Reserve Collection Chardonnay 2019 was crafted from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown on the family owned Stellenbosch wine estate by accomplished…
Innovative and creative food and wine pairing at Hazendal
THERE are so many reasons to visit Hazendal in Stellenbosch's Bottelary region, from the Russian tea ceremony to the open-air Pivnushka beer garden, from the Marvol Gallery to the classic car collection, from the Babushka Deli to Wonderdal edutainment centre for children, and jazz events like the one happening on Friday, March 26 at 6pm - a concert and a picnic.
From April, there is a new…
ONE of South Africa’s most loved and quirkiest fine wines celebrates its 60th anniversary this year with the latest release by Delheim in Stellenbosch. What some first derided as a failure, the late Spatz Sperling resurrected to become a beloved choice of South African new wine lovers. He called it Spatzendreck.
The story of how the wine came to be however, is the stuff of legends. Spatz…
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New white wine releases from Constantia Glen
STOCK up on the new Sauvignon Blanc vintage and take in the sweeping views at Constantia Glen while savouring generous platters or linger over lunch or early supper.
Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is beautifully refined and elegant with a mineral edge and crisp acidity. Initial aromas of lemongrass and lime lead to a bolder, more tropical spectrum enlivened by hints of blackcurrant,…
Seeing is deceiving in riveting BBC crime thriller, The Capture
CALLUM TURNER (War & Peace) was nominated for a 2020 BAFTA as former Special Forces Lance Corporal Shaun Emery in The Capture, who’s accused of assaulting and kidnapping human rights barrister Hannah Roberts – with damning CCTV footage to prove the crime. But as Detective Inspector Rachel Carey of Homicide and Serious Crime Command digs deeper, she begins to uncover a conspiracy that calls…
THERE is much to love about Groote Post's Seasalter 2020, a West Coast story in a bottle: the elegance and purity of fruit, vibrant acidity, oyster shell minerality and saline finish, so typical of Sauvignons from the unique maritime cool-climate Darling Hills terroir; the charming name that captured the essence of the wine; and the refreshing distinctive label that visually portrayed the West…
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Snuggle in the lap of luxury at Leeu Estates
YOU know that feeling when someone knows what you want even before you do? No, me neither, not so much. But when you're a guest at Leeu Estates, the flagship Franschhoek property in the Leeu Collection, that's exactly what happens.
I checked in on Friday afternoon after a superb five-course meal of chef Jess van Dyk's favourite dishes she'd chosen for me at Protégé. Later I was to ambitiously…
Dining at its absolute finest at La Petite Colombe
AT La Petite Colombe, you have two exceptionally fine dining options: the Chef's Reduced Experience (which is by no means a reduction in sensory pleasures) or the Chef's Experience. Both can be combined with a Fine And Rare Wine Experience for ultimate pleasure.
La Petite Colombe is now located on Leeu Estates, the luxury travel destination which you can read more about here. We had a lunch…
WHEN I first visited Epice, shortly after it opened in December 2019, I reviewed it for Daily Maverick, concluding with "what a joy this flawless meal was"; that verdict remains firmly intact.
Chef Charné Sampson was previously a sous chef at La Colombe, which is not only a fabulous restaurant (spoiler: they all are) but the umbrella group headed by Scot Kirton, who has given young chefs…
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Feasting in Franschhoek – Protégé chef Jess van Dyk’s favourites
A WEEKEND of eating and drinking wine at some of Franschhoek's finest restaurants, while based at a luxurious estate...no wonder people keep saying they want my job.
As a guest of Leeu Collection, I arrived at my first stop on Friday afternoon: Protégé. There have been movements and relocations during the past year but this one is still where it always was. Its former neighbour, La Petite…
Arnold’s in Kloof Street is an institution – and still going strong
OH the memories! Arnold's has been around since 1998, pretty much the same time I embarked on a particularly hedonistic phase of existence which required all-day breakfasts, and breakfasts with an ice cold beer.
Although the owners are new-ish (four years), the vibe is the same (and the smoking section is still in the same place). You can still get your sausage and eggs any time; there is a…