PEOPLE are truly strange. Pandemic aside, I've never been able to understand why they gravitate towards the only occupied table in a restaurant - being mine. I'm a longtime fan of the personal space, the wider the better, and along with an aversion to shaking hands, if conspiracy theorists had it right, they'd be looking at me right now.
At Boschendal, the Deli has a large outside seating area.…
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Uncomplicated eating any time of the day in Franschhoek
SHAKES and cakes, all day breakfasts and classics, and tapas: that's what you can expect at Tapasco which opened on Huguenot Road in Franschhoek on September 1. It's owned and run by German couple Tim and Nadine Roggenbach, who needed to find something to do during lockdown while their guesthouse was closed.Ashbourne House is award-winning but it's like a zombie, says Tim ruefully. "Alive, but…
Rosé Rocks 2020 – more varieties, more excitement
ROSÉ ROCKS, South Africa’s first dedicated rosé wine competition, has released its 2020 results, in which 29 wines were awarded double gold.
Head of the judging team, wine industry expert Allan Mullins commented: “2020 has been an exceptional year in more ways than one. The quality was really standout, as the wines that were presented reflected the fact that the vines have recovered fully from…
DOUBLE gold medals were awarded to 21 gins out of 125 entries from all over South Africa, in the 2020 South African Craft Gin Awards 2020, presented by Takealotand associate sponsor Schweppes premium mixers. It is the only dedicated competition for craft gins in South Africa.
The gins were tasted blind by a judging panel which included Kurt Schlechter, bar owner and spirit expert; Jean…
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Tintswalo Boulders launches marine adventure experience
TINTSWALO Boulders has introduced an experience for guests to explore the fascinating underwater world of False Bay where renowned cinematographer Craig Foster filmed My Octopus Teacher.The three-day package includes a snorkelling safari in wetsuits through the kelp forests accompanied by a trained guide, guided kayaking in the sheltered bays of Simon’s Town, and ample opportunity to visit the…
Kleine Zalze is Platter’s top performing winery of the year
STELLENBOSCH wine estate Kleine Zalze achieved new heights after being named Top Performing Winery of the Year by Platter’s South African wine guide, arguably the most comprehensive guide to South African wine and one of the most highly regarded in the world.
The guide, sponsored by Diner’s Club, bestowed the title on the winery, which saw no less than seven of its wines achieve the five-star…
CELEBRATE summer with some of Cape Town’s best sundowners available at 2-for-1 from 4-6pm on Fridays and Saturdays at Tryn, Steenberg’s signature restaurant in the Constantia wine valley.
With exciting creations artfully assembled by mixologists at Tryn’s ultra-stylish bar to enjoy in the vibrant retro-lounge or in the dappled shade of the vineyard terrace, there’s a cocktail for every taste.…
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Stellenbosch Hills unlocks top wines for festive season tastings
STELLENBOSCH Hills cranks up the festive season this year, giving visitors to the winery a never-before experience to taste its flagship wines by the glass. And because it’s the time for giving, there are a few extra special surprises thrown into the mix.
From November until the end of February, wine-lovers who sign up for one of the winery’s popular pairing experiences will receive a…
Exclusive luxury at Lavender Farm Guest House in Franschhoek
IF you've ever wondered what three hectares looks like - having heard on countless occasions how many of those measurements are under vine at wine farms - Lavender Farm Guest House has a field that size, and is in fact an actual lavender farm.
It prides itself on its exclusivity, promising it is an ideal by which it abides. There is accommodation for 28 guests at this four-star establishment,…
SPICE Route Destination in Paarl is home to a range of local artisans with authentic offerings, who are ready to welcome guests this festive season with new journeys waiting to be discovered and experienced.
With most of the artisans already operational, Jewell’s Restaurant is now open and ready to welcome guests with an updated seasonal menu and extended offering. This summer, guests can look…
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Constantia Glen flagship red marks a decade of wine evolution
CONSTANTIA Glen, the magnificently appointed boutique wine estate known for exceptional cool climate Bordeaux-style wines, will soon be releasing the 11th edition of its flagship red, the much-anticipated Constantia Glen FIVE from the standout 2017 vintage.
Crafted from all five Bordeaux red grape varieties thriving in Constantia Glen’s unique micro-climate and undulating vineyards, the 2017…
Quoin Rock’s Jack Coetzee breathes new life into Gåte Restaurant
GÅTE at Quoin Rock is proud to announce a new concept and fine dining experience which will be represented through the introduction of the new head chef, Jack Coetzee. This chapter for the restaurant will focus not only on using local ingredients from the area, but those found within the Quoin Rock wine estate itself
Taking your senses on a gastronomic adventure, the menu will evolve and…
A PINSA is an oval of handmade goodness topped with scrumptious ingredients and baked in a wood-burning oven to produce a crispy, pillowy crust.
The man behind the PINSA brand is Andrey Tarasov, an entrepreneur who relocated to South Africa from Moscow in 2018. Over the past 25 years he has spent a great deal of time in Italy on business, specifically in Florence where he first encountered the…
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Leeu Estates welcomes La Petite Colombe
LA Petite Colombe, sister restaurant to La Colombe in Constantia that has consistently received worldwide acclaim and been named among the best restaurants in the world, has re-opened its doors at a stunning new location on Leeu Estates, on the outskirts of Franschhoek.
Leeu Collection’s Le Quartier Français was home to La Petite Colombe from its opening in August 2017, when the hotel group…
Bouchard wines, 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa, sunset – pure gold
THE last time I saw Peter Finlayson - declared by Tim Atkin to be the Wine Legend of 2020 - it was in the comfort of my own living room (sigh); the occasion was a tastingof the Bouchard Finlayson Missionvale Chardonnay and Galpin Peak Pinot Noir. When I mentioned this to him, to his real live face on Monday evening, someone eavesdropping said "oh, not your bedroom?"
That's a bit cheeky, but I…