South Africa Blog

THE CONSTANTIA VALLEY ASSOCIATION PRESENTS
CRUSH ON CONSTANTIA
18TH APRIL 2010
11.30AM TO 6.30PM
THE CRICKET OVAL, CONSTANTIA UITSIG WINE ESTATE

If spending a Sunday afternoon in the company of good friends, sipping fine wine and sampling dishes prepared by Constantia’s highly acclaimed Chefs’ then The Crush on Constantia is definitely an event for you!

Now in its third year, this grand garden party with live entertainment and a lifestyle market to browse through is truly a celebration of all things Constantia.

One of the highlights of the day will be the hotly contested competition for the best dressed couple title that will see the winners and runners-up walk away with sensational prizes. These prizes will only be awarded to those who have truly embraced the Grand Garden Glamour Theme!

TICKET PRICES: R130.00 PER PERSON (INCLUDES 8 WINE TASTINGS)
For more information:
Tel: 021 794 0542

24 000 Fresh succulent oysters must be eaten at South Africa’s 2nd largest oyster festival!

Fresh juicy oysters, fine wines and a variety of mouthwatering oyster dishes await visitors to this year’s Oyster, Wine & Food Festival. This delicious celebration of food will take place at The Brightwater Commons (Johannesburg, South Africa) on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd May from 11am daily. Food lovers can also sample a variety scrumptious treats ranging from gourmet cheeses and olives all the way to nougat and confectionery.

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better. There’ll be more oyster stations to prevent long queues, and a greater number of participating wine estates will provide wine lovers with an even greater selection for sampling. Live musical performances on the Saturday and Sunday will add to the festive ambiance. Whilst entry into the festival will be FREE, there will be a nominal fee involved for the sampling of various oyster dishes.

For more information, contact The Brightwater Commons on 011 789 5052
For a place to stay see Johannesburg Accommodation.

Having tantalised tastebuds in Cape Town for the past two years, the Taste of Cape Town festival is back from the 24 – 28 March at Rhodes High School, Mowbray (follow signs from Liesbeek Parkway into Durban Road). This stylish event will once again bring together the city’s most acclaimed restaurants and carefully selected exhibitors to attract Cape Town’s most dedicated and sophisticated foodies.

Celebrated chefs from 19 of the Cape’s most renowned and awarded restaurants will join together to serve their fabulous, trend-setting signature dishes to an audience with a taste for unbelievable food. Taste of Cape Town is a fantastic opportunity to try new destinations, explore different cuisines and plan a whole year of dining out!

Justine Drake, Taste Festival Director, comments: “Taste of Cape Town is a much awaited highlight on the city’s social calendar. It’s a one-stop shop for the best food, wine and gourmet goodies the Cape has to offer.” With nine new restaurants, top chefs and exciting features, the reputation of Taste of Cape Town has grown into the most celebrated food festival the Mother City has ever experienced. “Each Taste festival is better than the last and this year will be no exception,” she says.

This year’s show has so much for you to taste and experience including:

The Pick ‘n Pay Fresh Living Chef’s Theatre
Fun, fabulous and informative, this is an opportunity to see the Cape’s top chefs showcased and in action on stage, featuring demos, culinary challenges, entertaining tutorials and enlightening Q&A sessions.

The Checkers Wine Route
Back by popular demand, this year’s Checkers Wine Route Taste Experience is set to rock Cape Town. Clive Torr, along with some of South Africa’s leading wine makers, will be hosting a selection of wines from more than 80 top wine estates in South Africa. The Checkers Wine Route will feature a daily programme of wine tastings, tutorials and advice on wine and food pairing.

The Grolsch Beer Academy
Featuring Beer Masterclasses by a renowned brew master followed by a quenching of the ‘thirst buds’ in the comfortable and stylish surrounds of the outdoor Grolsch Beer Experience area.

Fresh Producers Market
This new feature will showcase some of Cape Town’s local food heroes. From delicious, hand-made cheeses, biltong, sweets to exotic ingredients, herbs and chocolates – to name just a few – the Fresh Producers Market at the Taste of Cape Town is guaranteed to inspire and tantalise with real, wholesome, fresh foods and produce.

Johnnie Walker Whisky Theatre
This year at the Festival, The House of Johnnie Walker invites you on a journey to explore the flavours of the world’s greatest whisky house. Taste the bold, vibrant, Red Label, the deep and smoky Black Label, the flagship House of Johnnie Walker blend, and the enigmatic natural flavours of Green Label blended malt whisky.

Taste and Buy Experiential Exhibitors
You’ll discover a mouthwatering array of gourmet food suppliers at Taste of Cape Town. Browse the stalls and try delicious speciality food and ingredients to buy and enjoy at home.

Kidz Zone
We haven’t forgotten about kids at this year’s Festival. Clamber Club will ensure that the young ones are entertained with a host of activities for all ages. With professional entertainers keeping kiddies busy and happy, parents can relax and enjoy the festivities that Taste of Cape Town has to offer.

Make a date with Taste of Cape Town – a world-class event where visitors who are passionate about food and drinks can indulge in their passion in the company of like-minded individuals.

There are a limited number of tickets available and bookings are advised. Book through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or www.computicket.com. Entrance is free for children under 12.

R80 Standard ticket – Entrance and free access to P’nP Fresh Living Chef’s Theatre, Checkers Wine Route wine and cheese tastings, Grolsch Beer Academy and various other features at the Festival.
R170 Premium ticket – Including the above plus R100 worth of Taste of Cape Town CROWNS.

Festival times
Wed 24th March 2010: 18h30 – 22h30
Thur 25th March 2010: 18h30 – 22h30
Fri 26th March 2010: 18h30 – 22h30
Sat 27th March 2010: 13h00 – 17h00; 18h30 – 22h30
Sun 28th March 2010: 12h00 – 17h00

2010 Participating restaurants
Bistro Sixteen82
Cape Colony at The Mount Nelson Hotel
Ginja and Myoga
GOLD restaurant
The Restaurant at Grande Provence
Il Leone Mastrantonio
Jardine Restaurant
Le Quartier Francais and Bread and Wine
Maze by Gordon Ramsay
Nobu Cape Town
Overture
Signal at Cape Grace
Reuben’s and Reuben’s @ The Robertson Small Hotel
Societi Bistro
The Greenhouse
Wang Thai

Knysna, February 25, 2010 – The popular Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival will take place as usual this July (2-11), despite the 2010 World Cup. That’s the message from the festival team which is already working to put together a bumper programme for visitors to the 10-day event.

“It’s business as usual for the Oyster Festival”, says festival manager Nicci Rousseau-Schmidt, “and we’re ready to show South Africans that Knysna is the perfect place to be during the long holidays that schools will enjoy this year. “Our sponsors are on board and we’ve already had our first Joint Operations Committee meeting. We have no doubt that this year’s festival is going to be a great one.”

Rousseau-Schmidt said that Knysna was very excited to be hosting both the French and Danish football teams during the World Cup, the final games of which will overlap with the festival. “We are planning to add some French and Danish cultural events to the festival programme. However, from the end of June the final World Cup games will be played in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg and if the French and Danes qualify, that’s where they’ll have to be. So the Oyster Festival will be a great opportunity to escape from the soccer madness to Knysna.”

Rousseau-Schmidt said that Knysna Tourism has been working with its members to ensure that there will be accommodation available at reasonable rates over the period of the Oyster Festival. “Most establishments have undertaken not to hike rates over this period”.

The festival has grown considerably in the last few years, specifically since 2004 when Pick n Pay signed a five-year partnership agreement with Knysna Tourism, which is the custodian of the festival. This agreement was renewed in 2009 for a further five years until 2013.

Today the festival programme has over 100 events and attracts more than 13,000 cyclists and runners who participate in the two main sporting events, the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour and the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Marathon and Half Marathon. Last year the festival raised a record R1, 189,957 for local charities.

To find a place to stay visit Knysna accommodation and for more information about the festival visit www.oysterfestival.co.za.