South Africa Blog

Known for its creatively-inspired accommodation offering, The Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town recently redecorated its restaurant with the help of interior decorator, Tania Reddering. The result is a casual, easy-going eatery for hotel guests and Capetonians to enjoy.

King proteas, light wood and white surfaces, scatter cushions and cool turquoise touches give the open-plan space a re-energized feel that nods to the building’s colonial heritage. The clean, light-filled look is a match for the daytime-focus of the restaurant. The menu has also been revised to include easy-going classics and a lovingly crafted burger that is likely to draw rave reviews.

Now serving a hot breakfast from 6h30 till 12h00 (and a continental buffet until 10h00), The Restaurant has an accessible lunch time menu of crowd-pleasers and an early evening dinner seating on Friday nights. A selection of imported teas from Teabox (teabox.co.za) add intrigue to the teatime experience with the strong aromas of strawberries and rooibos, white peach – and spicy chai pervading the air as guests enjoy a tea ceremony with a personalised teapot that filters the tea directly into the cup.

Kids (ten years and under) will also be able to enjoy a menu especially created for them. Patrons will also be able to connect to the internet on their personal laptop with a free 20 MB voucher compliments of Skyrove. As Skyrove only requires the user to insert their cellphone number, no codes or permissions are required from a waiter.

The Restaurant is fully licensed and opens at 06h30 from Mondays to Sundays. It closes at 17h00 from Mondays to Thursdays, 21h30 on Fridays, Saturdays at 19h00 and at 14h00 on Sundays. As with the hotel’s other spaces (The Venue, Daddy Cool, The Airstream Trailer Rooftop), The Restaurant can be hired or incorporated into a total event package.

The Grand Daddy is proudly associated with Jaci’s Lodges in the Madikwe Game Reserve and Cheetah Plains Lodge in Sabi Sands

Compiled by an enthusiastic group of trendy Capetonians, we present the Cape Town Coffee Route. From well know and highly acclaimed Coffee Bars to off the beaten track discoveries, if you are looking for a great cuppa in Cape Town you’ll find the best of them in this list.

Cape Town’s Coffee Culture is a thriving one. Our list of favourite places to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat includes local favourites to coffee boutiques for the connoisseur. Included are perennial favourites such as Newport Deli in Mouille Point and Giovanni’s in Green Point and highly acclaimed Jardine on Bree – but the list also offers a few lesser known gems like The Daily Deli in Tamboerskloof and C’est la Vie in Kalk Bay. To view the full list see Cape Town Coffee Route.

Related Pages:
Cape Town Things to Do
Cape Town Accommodation

The luxurious Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa in Somerset West is proud to announce the unveiling of Magnolia Restaurant, serving contemporary local cuisine with a twist. This sophisticated restaurant, draped in bold décor, creates a striking setting for patrons to wine and dine away the evenings or lazy Sunday lunches. The inspiration for the name ‘Magnolia’ comes from the spectacular flowering magnolia trees on the hotel grounds, which also inspired the regal décor of the restaurant.

“I am delighted with the ambiance of Magnolia,” comments Craig Seaman, Managing Director of Louis Group Hotels, Spas & Vineyards. “The rich silk drapes, chandeliers and original magnolia paintings, which were commissioned for the restaurant, have amalgamated into a dining experience reminiscent of a bye-gone era … but with a definite contemporary twist,” he adds.

Magnolia’s menu offers a variety of mouth-watering combinations across many cultural influences, creating a melting pot of flavours to cater for every craving. “It’s all about simplicity,” says executive chef Michael Bridgeman. “Magnolia’s menu is about fresh, clean, uncomplicated food. And because we source African spices from Egypt and other exotic regions of the continent, our food has a distinct, unique taste and flavour – we stand out from the crowd,” he says confidently.

Michael worked closely with his younger (“and better looking,” he adds in good humour) sous chef, Shaun Bruce, to create the delectably diverse Magnolia menu. For starters, patrons may order from a selection that includes local mussels from Saldanha Bay, tossed with wild mushrooms and finished in a white wine and saffron reduction. For a main course, patrons have a variety of choice that includes seafood, Karoo lamb and mild masala. ‘Contemporary local cuisine with a twist’ doesn’t come much better than a char grilled beef fillet and biltong flavoured potato gratin, drizzled with a Buchu infused Jus. And a mampoer margarita or traditional Cape malva pudding will put the finishing touch to a scrumptious meal.

Michael Bridgeman completed his chef training at a four-star hotel in Perth, Australia. He worked in London, UK for two years before coming to South Africa in 1995, where he served a one-year stint at the Lord Charles in Somerset West. Michael has been bustling about the Erinvale kitchen for the past ten years, but claims he’s never bored. The executive chef’s philosophy of cooking – namely, fresh, clean, uncomplicated food sourced locally – perfectly compliments the ‘distinctive and captivating hospitality’ ethos of Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa.

“Michael and his brigade are a dream team with a passion for creating memorable food,” says Jean Paul van As, General Manager of Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa.

Other dining options at Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa include:
* The popular Irish-styled Skelligs Pub, which is open daily for lunches and light dinners. The pub offers a relaxed, informal setting in which to enjoy a pint of tapped Guinness or a hearty meal.
* The intimate De Jongh Room can seat a maximum of 14 guests and is perfect for private dining. It also houses the hotel’s breakfast buffet every morning.
* Erinvale also has a number of stylish banqueting venues, which can cater for gourmet breakfasts, buffet luncheons, conferences, cocktail parties, wedding receptions or formal dinner dances.

For more information:
Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa
Telephone: 021 847 1160
Website: www.erinvale.co.za

As well as being a pungent and hardy herb, the direct translation of the French word Sage means culinary wisdom. The primary function of this unique sixty seater dining establishment at The Westville Hotel in Westville, Durban, is as a training school to equip students with the knowledge of modern culinary trends.

At Sage, attention to detail is paramount, a side of the business that is so often lost when students are trained in a large hotel. In keeping with the name, Sage’s décor is fresh, green and herbaceous. The ultra modern white and chrome table settings combined with matching cutlery and crockery enforce the feel of clean cut lines in an uncluttered, aesthetic environment.

From a ‘build your own breakfast’ concept to mouth-watering lunches, every meal is a journey of taste sensations. Salads and fresh breads, homemade ice teas and daily specials tempt guests to a feast of flavours. Visit the hotel at: The Westville Hotel

Related pages:
Durban Hotels
South Africa Hotels