This blog was born from a genuine desire to share my happy experiences in and around this great city I get to call home ā Cape Town. I also post easy everyday recipes from time to time; just click on the EAT category at the top lefthand corner of the home page and scroll down to RECIPES to be taken to all my recipes. There, you’ll also find EAT OUT and COOKBOOK REVIEWS.
DRINK & LIFESTYLE
Drink is self-explanatory – as it covers everything from tea, coffee, juices, beer, wines, cocktails
Lifestyle covers outings, events, nightlife, travel, nature, decor, body care and fashion.
Eat is the best places to wine, dine, and set your sights on for foodie experiences.
PRODUCT REVIEWS
PRODUCT REVIEWS is for honest feedback on the many products we either buy or try. If you’d like to share your news, drop us a line!
I love food and I love people. Just call me hungry for life! Iām also a real nosey parker and a bit of a chatterbox, always looking for fun and a good story, so of course I love writing about my adventures to share them with you.
I hope youāll enjoy my blog!
Tribute from the Cabano's - 2021
As a foodie and local traveler, the Cape Town scene is perfect for me to indulge in both. Food and cooking have always played a significant role in my familyās life. Having a mother that produced four cookbooks, hosted Pampoen tot Perlemoen, worked on Expresso and SmileFM, and have fierce cooking passion it was a no-brainer that her next step in life would be food blogging. Which is why my brother and I are continuing her legacy.
Having started Eat Drink Cape Town initially on her own was an obstacle itself, due to technology being so advanced and my mum not being a tech guru. Mamma would always ask myself or Guillaume to help her with her post ideas, her sentence structures, her recipes; even how to use a television remote. She saw this as a mere stepping stone to her goal.
She was courageous in her blogging of new avenues and industrious opportunities in Cape Town itself. She, herself, was a tremendously courageous person when it came to food. She introduced juice detoxes and ate healthily before it was even a thing. Or, as she would say it, a āthangā!
Not only was food and cooking her passion or fire. It was a common ground for not only us as a family to connect, but for the world to see the beauty from her eyes. We founded the blog to usher anyone towards the direction of supporting local. āLocal is lekkerā and we know it, too. Not only did we endeavour into farmerās markets with copious baskets, but we dove headfirst into recipe challenges, tourist attractions, even food trends such as making homemade oat milk.
Spoiler alert ā itās just not the same, tsk.
Documenting our food expeditions and event attendances was our familyās way of showcasing the community. Not only is the richness of cuisine found in person, but at home. We felt from the start that everyone should know about the fun that is involved with cooking, and running off into the sunsetā¦ Or accidentally off-roading on a Segway tour into a field of chickens.
BIO
Sonia Cabano lived in Cape Town and works as a professional speaker, freelance cook and food writer.
Her work is characterised by her passion for local food and culture, especially South Africaās shared culinary heritage, which she eloquently describes:
āSouth African cooking is a wonderful expression of our lively culture, I think, a rich and powerful stream fed by many diverse tributaries ā Dutch, Malay, French, German, British, Jewish, Greek, Portuguese, Indian and African. And all these tastes and flavour-accents can be clearly discerned in our own local culinary language, making South African cuisine a true polyglot with a unique and distinctive voice.ā
Guillaume and Sabah Cabano are her son and daughter duo. Both are graduates with passion in cooking, having attended multiple cooking demonstrations with vastly knowledgable chefs.
The two aim to continue their mother’s legacy in the shape of her blog. Herein, you will find the passions of food as a language and experiences, as carefully expressed through local, reliable industries.
What can we all relate to more than the beauty of a delicious burger? A celebratory lunch, a comfort meal, a sentiment that has every belly dancing with glee. We adore Jordan Stellenbosch. The food, the ambience, the wine, the service. *Sigh* Can we live there, yet?
Every moment spent at the estate is followed with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. And it’s not just from the marvellous wines!
Jordan Stellenbosch wine, ‘The Prospector’ |Photo courtesy of Jordan Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
The Prospector burger and Syrah special this weekend is a perfect end to a long week. We have all felt the dreadful Capetonian weather impart a dreary atmosphere on our moods. I, for one, did not even want to leave the house.
The prospects of the divine special not only ushers us into supporting our thriving local wine industry. It encourages us to get outside. When we step foot into The Cellar Door, it is as if the world melts away like butter from a freshly-toasted bun. Similar to the lip-smacking Prospector burger. Those fries are crunch city, yeowza.
Jordan Stellenbosch Burger & Wine |Photo courtesy of Jordan Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
Can you say, “Get in my belly!” with us? Tuck into @jordan_wines once-off weekend special, āThe Prospectorā burger and wine combo, as we raise a toast in support of Shiraz Day, this coming Saturday! I think some Shiraz would brighten up my weekend any day.
The Prospector Burger & Syrah Special at Jordan
From Friday 20th August until Sunday 22nd August dine out on 2 āThe Prospectorā Burgers and a 750ml bottle of The Prospector Syrah 2018 for only R400! Their Syrah has notes of peppered charcuterie, chipotle and red fruits that lends itself to a variety of meat-based dishes and cooking techniques. The burger is made with a succulent a grass-fed Usana beef patty topped with shiraz onions, bacon and Boerenkaas and served with a generous portion of triple cooked chips & a garlic aioli. Not only is that a mouthful, but mouthwateringly delicious. Chef Thys Esterhuysen from Jordan knows that a well-made beef burger is a thing of beauty! The balance of bread, using a good quality beef patty, cooking and preparation techniques, and final assembly are all important to get right. Itās no wonder this is The Cellar Door’s best-selling meal, it is too good to be true!
For more exciting information, follow their Instagram page @jordan_wines as well as their website, for bookings. Their number is open for calls to book, too!
Eatdrinkcapetown was created to share with you the wonderful experiences I have with food, cooking, travelling and just living in Cape Town. I also share easy everyday recipes – to find them, just click on Cook It in the top righthand corner of the home page.
Categories: Look at the top righthand corner on the home page to find them.
Sip Sip is for wine and drink-related stories. Alfresco is for posts about outdoor events, markets and fresh-air feasts. Easy Eats takes you to stories about places to eat or what to eat where. Hit The Road is for travel stories: we love roaming the countryside with our two teenagers and have many fun adventures and excursions!
The theme I use on this blog is Dyad – to see previous posts, find the search bar, comments, tags and archive, please just scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page until you find it.
You can follow me on Twitter as @lusciousCT, on Instagram as eatdrinkcapetown_ (note the underscore, please :-)) and on Facebook as @EatDrinkCapeTown.
I am always happy to chat about food, wine and good times, and I hope you’ll share some of your own stories with me, too!
Happy days!
Sonia xoxo
Sonia Cabano, cook, writer and blogger; author of eatdrinkcapetown.co.za
Continuing its Mission of Becoming the Continentās Leading Hospitality Community Gathering, AJABU Announces Official Line-Up of Participating Bars, Educational Seminars, and More!
Cape Town, South Africa (November 20th to 24th, 2024) – AJABU, Africa’s first bi-annual international Cocktail and Spirits festival! Returning to Cape Town, South Africa, from Wednesday, November 20th to Sunday, November 24th, with another thrilling program of world-renowned, international bars, diverse educational seminars and panels, and exciting new opportunities, such as the AJABU Scholarship Program.
Curated by Colin Asare-Appiah (Bar World 100 Most Influential Figures 2023, Co-Author Black Mixcellence, Tales of the Cocktail Foundationās 2024 Visionary Award Recipient) and Mark Talbot Holmes (founder of U’Luvka Vodka), AJABU ā meaning āmiraculousā or āwondrousā ā aims to become Africa’s leading spirits and cocktail festival. As its name suggests, the festival embraces the amazing diversity of the hospitality industry across Africa, connecting brands, bar trade, media, and cocktail enthusiasts, whilst supporting a new generation of African bartenders and hospitality professionals. The second festival will include bartenders from up to 10 internationally acclaimed bars, spanning four continents, including Miladyās (New York), True Laurel (San Francisco), Jewel of the South (New Orleans), Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City), Atwater Cocktail Club (Montreal), Front/Back (Accra), Hero Bar (Nairobi), Jigger and Pony (Singapore), and Library by the Sea (Grand Cayman).
These global bars will each collaborate with the following outstanding local Cape Town bars to deliver exquisite and unique cocktail experiences celebrating African ingredients over three nights: Cause Effect, Tommyās Chop Shop, Art of Duplicity, Hacienda, The Drinkery, The House of Machines, Anthm, Kloof Street House, Talking to Strangers, Fable and Tjing Tjing.
CREDIT: @thetetson_ CREDIT: @thetetson_ Colin Asare-Appiah and Mark Talbot Holmes
āWe are excited to bring AJABU back to Cape Town, with another fantastic group of accomplished bars,ā says Talbot Holmes. āWeāre looking forward to seeing these bartenders work alongside the equally outstanding local establishments in one-of-a-kind pop-ups and informative seminars.ā AJABU will host a series of seminars and masterclasses for consumers, cocktail enthusiasts, spirits aficionados, and other members of the bar industry.
These events will be led by renowned industry veterans, such as Steve Olson, (co-founder Del Maguey, co-founder BAR Academy, co-founder Stray Dog Gin and partner in Rieger Whisky), who will be leading masterclasses on Bourbon, Rye, and Kansas City whisky, Simon Ford (founder of Fords Gin), who will discuss all things gin, and more. New this year is the AJABU Scholarship Program, which is designed to uplift the African bar community specifically through educational, hospitality-focused courses. Educational institutions, brands, businesses, and even individuals are invited to get involved through direct donations or purchase of courses, which have been provided by Professional Bar Training, Edinburgh Whisky Academy, and Wine & Spirits Education Trust. While some courses have been allocated for the Sisterhood for Industry Supportāone of AJABUās several official charity partnersāthe remainder are available to any African-based applicant who works in the drinks industry. Bartenders across the continent were invited to submit their applications during the rolling period, which has now closed as the select scholars will be judged and chosen by an independent scholarship board.
AJABU Festival debuted in Johannesburg and Cape Town this past March, to an incredible, unforeseen reception, welcoming 15 participating global bartenders, 13 local partner bars, almost 2,000 pop-up attendees, 150 community brunch attendees, and 290 tasting table attendees across the two cities. Ticket registrations for this yearās festival are available to book via Quicket here. AJABU will host its third week-long event across both Johannesburg and Cape Town in March, in partnership with Cape Town Beverage Show. For more information, please visit www.ajabufestival.com or follow along at @ajabufestival.
A lifestyle label marketing responsibly-made bags and apparel, Sealand has added to its growing list of accolades by scoring top marks as a leading sustainability brand at the inaugural V&A Waterfront Neighbourhood Retail Awards. The awards were announced in September at Spyced Restaurant in the Silo District, where Sealand won the ‘Our Better Nature Sustainability’ Award.
There were 34 judges overall, five of whom judged the sustainability category. They were: Twyg founder and Editor Jackie May, the Green Building Councilās Jenni Lombard, Dr Judy Mann-Lang of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, Heather Parker from V&A SOLVE, and Petro Myburgh, Senior Manager: Sustainability at V&A Waterfront. With a shop in the Victoria & Alfred Mall (and outlets in Sandton, Stellenbosch and Hout Bay), Sealand exemplifies the sustainable goals that define the V&A Waterfront and are practised at this iconic mixed-use destination. “Sealand embodies our mission to cultivate a communitycentred on sustainability,ā says Alex Kabalin, Executive Retail Director at the V&A Waterfront. “Our judges were very impressed by the brandās exceptional delivery of every criteria for the award: measurable proof of a low carbon footprint, significant waste reduction, and active community engagement. We applaud the brand for being a key player in our shared journey toward a brighter future and congratulate it on this well-deserved recognition.” Sealandās award highlights the brand’s strong commitment to environmental conservation, social responsibility, and ethical practices. To date it has saved more than 90 tonnes of toxic material from our earth and avoided 2Ā 226 tonnes of COĀ². Sealand also won a Maker to Market Award at the 2019 Design Foundation Awards and the Sustainable Accessory Award at the 2019 Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards.
Since its inception in 2015, Sealand has created products from textile waste and materials sourced through ethical supply chains that uphold workers’ rights. Founded and run by Cape Town locals, the brand is grounded in the belief that integrating sustainability into its practices is not just environmentally and socially responsible, but also beneficial for business.
Co-founder and CEO Jasper Eales cites a lifelong love of the outdoors as the main motivation behind the brand and its mission statement: āTogether we make our planet betterā. Sealand partners with like-minded businesses and organisations, making custom bags for the NSRI, designing kit for the DHL Stormers, and sponsoring the PONDO Ultra and Coaster trail running events. A recent collaboration with local celebrity and multi hyphenate ‘Map’s Maponyane saw Sealand producing an iconography-based capsule range steeped in storytelling and local context.
The brandās environmentally-conscious approach filters through every aspect of its operations, from recycling office and shop waste to sourcing and manufacturing the gear. Designed to stand the test of time, its product range is durable, functional and undeniably stylish. ECONYLĀ® regenerated nylon, composed of waste including fishing nets and fabric offcuts, forms the base of the bestselling recycled Moon Bag. The Roamer backpack, Sealandās first product to be made in numbers, remains a fan favourite. As Sealand continues to design new products, honouring nature and preserving our environment for future generations remains a core value behind every endeavour.
Musgrave Crafted Spirits launches first alcohol-free spiritINSPIRIT
Musgrave Crafted Spirits, known for disrupting the luxury spirits industry, has launched INSPIRIT – an aromatic, alcohol-free infusion made with 12 rare botanicals inspired by the ancient spice route of Africa.
After many hours of tinkering and experimenting INSPIRIT is distinctive in flavour, pink in colour, and delivers a light and elegant alternative to Musgraveās other botanical offerings. Infused with cardamom and juniper notes that complement those of African ginger, lime, and grains of paradise, gives it a harmonious and fragrant finish.
āINSPIRIT is all about finding the balance. The pandemic has certainly highlighted the relationship many people have with alcohol and as a result has ignited a move to reduce oneās daily intake. Whether youāre looking to cut down on calories or stick to a fitness routine, consuming less alcohol during these times can really help to maintain a balanced lifestyle. It then makes those days when you do enjoy a Musgrave Original Gin or Pink Gin cocktail, that more special.ā Says Simone Musgrave, owner, and founder of Musgrave Crafted Spirits.
Musgrave Pink was South Africaās original pink gin, which has been the inspiration for INSPIRIT and was developed with the same pioneering spirit of adventure. Born out of the African explorations of the Musgrave Family at the turn of the 19th Century. The familyās tale is one of adventure and discovery, embodied in the tenacious spirit of patriarch Maurice Boon Musgrave.
My favourite way to enjoy this yummy newcomer to the gin world, is to enhance the natural flavours of Musgrave Crafted Spirits with a tangy, spring-essential base of a cocktail. Tag me if you try the following recipe!
1 cup of ice
1 1/2 tots of Musgrave Inspirit
240ml freshly pressed naartjie or orange juice, blended in a Nutribullet or store bought from Checkers
1/5 cup crushed ice
1 chilled glass
Thyme and pink peppercorns for garnish
Shake your ice and Musgrave Inspirit in a metal mixer until cooled, then add your naartjie or soft citrus juice. Shake a bit more, then pour over your crushed ice in a chilled glass. Garnish with fresh thyme and some pink peppercorns to serve at your next dinner party!
If you have a bit of a curious eye to cocktails or mixology, then follow their social media according to the following handles: Twitter/X @MusgraveGin Instagram @Musgravespirits Facebook Musgrave Gin
The winners of the inaugural V&A Waterfront Neighbourhood Retail Awards have been announced. Honourees were named on 25 September 2024 at a gala event MCād by popular public figure and radio presenter Carl Wastie. Newly-opened Spyced restaurant, in the Silo District of Cape Townās renowned destination, hosted the evening.
There were 17 awards across 8 categories as decided by a prestigious panel of judges, with two additional People’s Choice Awards voted for by members of the public. Over and above the awards decided by the judging panel and the public, the V&Aās CEO David Green personally selected his own winner for the CEO Award.
Born out of the V&Aās previous tenant awards, the reimagined Neighbourhood Awards acknowledge brands and persons that have achieved best-in-class in retail within todayās competitive and challenging commercial environment.
The individual award-winners within each category are as follows:
Small Business Service Excellence Award: Rabinowitz PhotographyĀ
Staff Talent
Store Manager of the Year: AAFRICAA
Retail Service Star Award: AAFRICAA
Retail Excellence
Retail Excellence Award: Afrika Joe
Neighbourhood Champion Awards
Global Brand Ambassador of the Year: ONEOFEACH
Good Neighbour Award: The Fermentary
Peopleās Choice
Favourite Eatery: Spur
Favourite Retail Shop: Woolworths
Special Recognition
CEO Award: Oranjezicht City Farm Market (OZCF)
Each of these winners walks away with substantial prizes specifically tailored to the respective award. The prizes include a variety of cash components, marketing support packages, trophies, certificates and bragging rights for the next year.
āWe are committed to our vision of creating an inspiring waterfront destination in a 350-year-old working harbour. An integral part of bringing it to life and creating value for our visitors from Cape Town, South Africa, and across the world, are the many relationships we foster with our much-valued tenants. Weāre all part of an ecosystem which operates at a pioneering level of excellence. Our awards programme aims to recognise the stand-out
contributions from the many retailers, store owners and brands that help make the V&A what it is today,ā says Alex Kabalin, Retail Executive at the V&A Waterfront.
He continues: āWe heartily congratulate this yearās winners on their outstanding achievements. Weād like to thank all our many excellent tenants who entered, as well as the judges who evaluated their entries. A special thank you must also go to all of you ā our visitors ā who voted in the Peopleās Choice Awards. Our destination is much-loved by Capetonians, who visit us time-and-again to enjoy and mark special moments, create memories and bring our neighbourhood to life. Their patronage and voting is so important to us!ā
This yearās judging process was facilitated by loyalty specialists Truth, which structured the judging input based on global best practice. There were 66 entries across 12 self-nominated awards, evaluated by 34 judges. The number of judges was unusually high for an awards programme of this nature because the V&A wanted to ensure each category was judged by a specialist in that sector.
Due diligence was also done: The V&Aās internal marketing team checked and validated each entry to make sure it met the stipulated entry requirements, such as, for example, the entrant needed to be an active tenant at the time of judging.
Of particular note was the high number of entrants in the Evergreen category. The V&A Waterfront celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, and this significant milestone is made all the more impressive by the high number of its tenants who have remained active on the premises over decades.
However, it was the Our Better Nature Sustainability Award which received the most self-nominated entries overall, bearing testament to the increasing importance of sustainable practices within retail and the emphasis that the V&A itself places on its own sustainability practices and vision.
The members of Organic Wines South Africa are delighted to announce the formation of their Association. Created formally on 4th September 2024, and encompassing the core, established, certiļ¬ed-organic wine Estates of South Africa, the objective of the Association will be to broadly market the merits of sustainability in our agricultural processes and of the non-chemical production methods of our wines. We aim to promote the development of sustainable production throughout our sector, including information sharing and the pooling of technical experience & expertise, while collaborating in collective marketing, both domestically and throughout the globe. While there are 11 founding members (see list at the foot of this release), our intention is to extend membership to any willing South African Producer of Organically-certiļ¬ed wines, present or future, including those oļ¬cially in conversion and those certiļ¬ed organic regenerative. We have adopted EU criteria, in terms of veriļ¬able Certiļ¬cation parameters, so as to ensure that an optimum level of compliance is ensured in order to qualify as a member.
The membership has appointed a Management Committee to develop and drive the objectives and plans for the Association. This is constituted of:
At the signing into being of the Association, Chairperson Alex Dale stated:
āThe South African Wine Industry has, in the past 30 years, come a very long way. To the extent that in many well-informed markets around the world, South African wine is recognised for its ever-increasing quality and its immense value. With the formation of Organic Wines South Africa, we have an opportunity to provide energetic leadership in the mission of upping our collective game in regards to sustainability, and with a particular focus on viticulture,ā
Most of our members distribute throughout South Africa, and many export already to markets across the world, providing a well-established network on which to hitch our collective message. We aim to create a situation where we help to directly and signiļ¬cantly develop the numbers of organic wine Producers in South Africa and to bring into the contemporary mainstream these principles of sustainability.
Clarity
It is common knowledge that there tends to be a prevalence of āGreenwashingā when it comes to the marketing of āsustainabilityā in many sectors and wine production is certainly not immune from this. For this reason, and to avoid any uncertainty, we will limit our membership to certiļ¬ed-organic and or certiļ¬ed-biodynamic wine producers. Commenting on the advent of Organic Wines South Africa, co-founder and Treasurer Johan Reyneke quoted novelist Victor Hugo by saying : āThereās one thing stronger than all the armies in the world and thatās an idea whose time has comeā.
Industry Background
In 2022, 8.4% of the Global vineyard was Organic. Up from 1.4% in 2005 (according to Organic World). In the EU, at the same date, more than 10% of all Agriculture is now Organic. With this rate now escalating, it is estimated that organic agriculture will represent in excess of 1/3 of the industry within a generation.
IWSR (International Wine and Spirits Record) reports that global sales of organic wine have grown from 29 million cases in 2012 to 71 million cases in 2022 (+145%) and are said to be in an exponential growth phase. Sales of non-organic wine over this period fell from 2.4 billion cases to 2.06 billion cases (-14.2%) and continue to decline. In South Africa, it is estimated that there are between 2 ā 3 dozen Organic Wineries today, counting for only a small fraction of total production, below 1%. As we lag behind the more advanced global wine regions, there is a signiļ¬cant opportunity to be seized and marketshare readily available. Organic Wines SA aims to seize this opportunity and to signiļ¬cantly develop the sector within South Africa. South Africaās top 3 international markets (UK, Germany, USA) are already among the four leading global markets for the consumption of Organic wine. The global organic wine market size is expected to reach USD 21.48 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2024 to 2030. The rising demand for organic food and beverages and the increasing presence of organic vineyards are among the key factors driving the market growth across the globe. Organic wines have gained signiļ¬cant popularity owing to their ļ¬ne taste and health beneļ¬ts such as promoting health and longevity, thus contributing to market growth.ā Research & Markets
Benefits
The great beneļ¬ts of organic wine farming (and those who support it) include that:
It is the most eļ¬ective tool available to mankind to sequester carbon (unlike conventional agriculture which is one of the 5 biggest drivers of climate change).
It builds robust farming systems and more resilient vineyards better able to withstand the eļ¬ects of climate change.
Wines made organically are free of chemical pesticides, fertilises, and other synthetic chemicals whose negative health and environmental impacts are increasingly recognised.
Consumers are realising this, and as consumption patterns change, production must follow. Commenting on the formation of the Association, Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa (WOSA) stated: āWines of South Africa is delighted at the formation of the Organic Wines South Africa grouping. This collaboration highlights the importance for sustainable practices within our industry as one of our core pillars, and we look forward to supporting the producers via our platforms in our key focus markets.ā
With a R3 500 voucher up for grabs, public voting is underway to decide the top store and eatery at the V&A Waterfront š
Eager to learn whoāll be the best of the best? That decision is up to youā¦ Between now and midnight on 11 September 2024, you can cast your vote for your favourite store or restaurant in the V&A Waterfront Peopleās Choice Awards. By doing so, you could win a R3 500 V&A voucher to celebrate the Waterfrontās 35th birthday!
The Peopleās Choice Awards are part of the V&Aās annual Neighbourhood Awards. There are two Peopleās Choice accolades, one given to the top store and the other to the top restaurant in the precinct, and these are determined entirely by public vote ā giving visitors the power to support the establishments that make their Waterfront experience a special one. The final shortlist of Top 5 stores and Top 5 eateries was also chosen by public nomination.
āCongratulations to all 10 tenants who have made it into the Top 5 in their respective sectors. We acknowledge their hard work and dedication, and we thank all the people who nominated them. Now, weāre excited to see who gets the final vote,ā says Executive for Retail, Alex Kabalin.
Your vote counts more than you might think – it is an opportunity to support the shortlisted businesses and celebrate their success. The Peopleās Choice Awards honour the tenants who are the most beloved by visitors and customers, solidifying their reputations as the favourite brands among patrons and setting benchmarks for excellence. The two winners of the Peopleās Choice Awards will be announced at a gala event on 25 September 2024 where all the Neighbourhood Awards winners will be named. Find out more about the awards programme here: https://www.waterfront.co.za/tenant-awards/.
Winter is a time for hearty and comforting food and drinks. Flavours tend to be rich, earthy,
and warming, with spices like cinnamon and star anise along with citrus, inspiring culinary
creativity. Owen OāReilly, master mixologist at SIP Exclusive shares his inspiration for the
perfect winter gin cocktails using one of his favourite gins, Whitley Neill Gin in four delicious
variants. Their range boasts incredibly unique gins, which I’ve gone and done you the courtesy of sharing recipes for your next dinner party (available via their website here)! Here, I’ve listed two out of the four gins’ recipes to pique your interest.
Whitley Neill Original Gin
This gin is slightly softer and much smoother than traditional gins, with rich notes of juniper and citrus, pot-pourri and exotic spices. The finish is a long one, with a subtle fade of herbs, cocoa and candied lemon peels, while the nose is both citrus-sweet and peppery, with a distinctive floral aroma.
This gin works well with:
Indian tonic and garnished with a pine sprig to evoke the scents of winter forests and
add a hint of evergreen freshness to the cocktail.
Stick and star anise ā for a hot toddy alternative. Indian tonic and garnished with a medley of dehydrated citrus wheels for a touch of citrus aromas.
Whitley Neill Protea & Hibiscus Gin
Handcrafted gin of exceptional quality, inspired by the wild and natural beauty of Africaās
landscape. Protea and hibiscus flavours combine to bring a distinctive floral note to create a
smooth gin with a unique and remarkable taste that reflects the majestic beauty of the two
flowers.
This gin works well with:
Regular tonic garnished with a few naartjie segments and some dried hibiscus
flowers. Pour with some cranberry juice and soda and garnish with a beautiful leaf for an
Instagram moment. Zest over some orange oils and discard for aroma.
Grapefruit tonic garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel and a sprig of rosemary. Feel
free to set the sprig alight for some drama.
With so many interesting and exciting garnishes at our fingertips thereās no excuse not to
experiment and all the more reason to invest in a home gin bar to ‘wow’ your friends and
make your home the place to be this chilly, unexciting wintry season.
Being able to move around in a beautiful city such as Cape Town, is an absolute privilege. We are so lucky to have abundantly available mobile social spots, as well as gyms for us to exercise in. A passion of mine is rock-climbing!
Ironically, Iām absolutely poopoo-scared of heights. Itās an actual phobia – however, this daunting hobby helps me regain control of where I challenge myself constructively, as well as giving me an incredible opportunity to move my body in a manner of ways. Being desk-bound is a reality in the digi-native era, so moving dynamically is important for our general health.
The two best ways to get into rock-climbing is figuring out which way you want to move. There are three types of climbing which most gyms assist you in:
BOULDERING – Bouldering is the activity where you partake in ‘free-climbing’ on rock walls with jutting pieces at varying shapes, colours, and spacing. The colour-coding and shapes often follow a sequence of difficulty levels, which you only use your hands to climb and rock-climbing shoes. It is advised to use chalk when bouldering to protect your hands from skin-injury.
ROPE ASSISTED CLIMBING – When climbing with a rope-assisted belay system, it is imperative to be familiar with the system at your gym. Only select rock-climbing gyms offer the rope-assisted and lead climbing opportunities – as this activity can often start you off with a 1m to 16m high wall to scale. Fun! Lucky for you, the rope-assisted climbing is professionally known as ‘top rope climbing‘. It utilises a belay system, however this is an automatic belayer system which has a brake system installed into its roping. This is a fun single-person activity, but many people can partake on different walls at the same time! Be sure to practice caution in your rock climbing gyms to where walls are occupied, as this requires a spatial awareness to not place yourself nor the climber in harm’s way.
LEAD CLIMBING – This is more professionally known as ‘belayer climbing’ or ‘lead climbing‘, as it requires a belay system and two people. Be sure this is a person that is familiar with rock-climbing and adept in this activity, as many gyms require a test to pass as a belayer and lead climber. This form of climbing is much more challenging, so be sure to familiarise yourself with your rock-climbing gym’s safety protocols, belay systems, and locations to belay when manually doing so.
Out of these three types, bouldering is the most appealing. It has taught me to challenge myself constructively, but assists in memory, too! Bouldering challenges your mind to map your movements and retrace your steps, whilst lead and rope-assisted climbing helps you build stamina and strength.
Additionally, rock-climbing is a fantastic team and trust-building activity. Gyms such as CityRock offer corporate team building activities, whilst Bloc-11 allow for various classes and training opportunities for groups as well as the individual. So, make this a fun and functional, friend-activity for the next time your plans leave the group-chat!
What have YOU done for your mobility lately? Let me know in the comments!
For more info, contact my two favourite rock-climbing facilities in Cape Town at the following links: Bloc-11 Operating hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, Friday to Sunday (and public holidays) 9am to 7pm. Email: climb@bloc11.co.za Telephone:078 924 3934 Diep River branch OR 021 510 2454 Paarden Eiland branch
cityRock Cape Town Operating hours: Monday to Thursday: 11am to 9pm, Friday to Sunday: 9am to 6pm. Public holidays: 9am to 6pm. Closed Christmas & New Yearās Day Email: capetown@cityrock.co.za
Telephone: 021 447 1326
Against the backdrop of one of the worldās most vibrant cities, Decorex Cape Town returns to impress decor and design enthusiasts from 6 to 9 June 2024 at the CTICC for another year of cutting edge design, curated exhibitions, inspiring talks and product launches.
Decorex Cape Town offers a unique opportunity for industry professionals and design connoisseurs to explore the latest trends and innovations in a showcase of more than 230 of the most dynamic and creative companies in Africa.
One of my favourite pastimes is to go visit local exhibitions, frequent design stores to ‘window shop’ (a girl can dream), but most importantly, to not gatekeep what’s happening in the Mother City. So, coming to you hot in the wintry month of June is the return of Decorex Cape Town!
This year’s event, together with show partners Plascon, Samsung, Lexus and the City of Cape Town, promises to be another knockout occasion with a slew of stand-out features presented.
International award-winning Cape Town-based interior designer Kim Williams is ready to demonstrate her unique approach to interiors which blend creative, behavioural and design strategies in her Designer Spotlight presentation, while much-loved South African coatings brand Plasconwill spotlight the creativity and expertise of South African interior designers, with a special focus on the vibrant use of colour, in the Plascon Colour Design Pods – a collection of room sets created by renowned interior design studios Hocus Interior Design Studio, Okhre and Mezzanine. Themed āVibrant Harmony: A Collaborative Celebration of Colour with Plasconā, the room sets will see each of the designers selecting colours from the 2024 Plascon Colour Palettes and creating lively and immersive spaces that will showcase the diverse and dynamic possibilities within the realm of colour in interior design.
For the first time, The Decorex House brought to you by Private Property, will display the highest quality construction elements and the latest technology in a conceptual house installation. Top brands and products like Fenster, Mixx Cement, Plantation Shutters and HDL Home have been chosen by Decorex Africa to present a construction element – windows, doors, lighting, floors, surfaces and home automation – that will contribute to the overall aesthetic of the house.
With dedicated restaurant areas, Decorex Cape Town will have no shortage of spots for attendees to pause, grab a refreshing drink or a tasty bite, and catch up with colleagues and friends between perusing the show. Foodies will enjoy the Samsung Bespoke Cooking Theatre which will see local chefs like Imtiyaaz Hart, Jade de Waal, Mash Mugwena and Jocelyn Myers-Adams firing up the latest state-of-the-art Samsung appliances, including the Bespoke 4-DoorFlex refrigerator which can integrate multiple modules from two different models to create personalised fridge/freezer combinations. Explore Samsungās entire customisable Bespoke range at the Samsung Bespoke Home stand and discover how to design your space, your way.
At the Future of Design area, which will host this yearās Future Talks – a pioneering series of talks from industry leaders delving into the most pressing and transformative topics shaping our world – visitors can gain a better understanding of the role of design in the exciting possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead. Select talks in the series will also be CPD (Continuing Professional Development) accredited.
Lastly, Decorex Africa is curating a pioneering exhibition on circular design, which will be launched at Decorex Cape Town. Engaging and informative, the Circular Exhibition aims to educate and inspire visitors by providing actionable knowledge and demonstrating how circularity principles can be integrated into everyday life.
Numerous activities as well as exhibitions will be available exclusively to Capetonians between the 6th of June until the 9th! So, be sure to pop by and visit their links to purchase tickets.
General admission tickets cost R10 less if you buy online ahead of time instead of at the door, and the first 2 000 people who purchase a ticket online will receive a 10% discount voucher for Samsung.com.
Members of the trade can pre-register at https://register.decorex.co.za/cape-town/delegate/register/default for complimentary trade access. On acceptance of their application, members of the trade will also get the chance to upgrade to the VIP Buyers Club which gives access to exclusive perks like free parking, VIP lounge access, and priority updates on networking events and workshops.
Pssssssst! One last thing – if you download the new dedicated Decorex app from the App Store or Google Play (launch date 6 May 2024) to help you plan your Decorex experience, making it smoother and more efficient. Donāt miss a beat!
There are countless activities to frequent during your visit in Cape Town, whether an international tourist or a local. One event that you simply must include in your April itinerary, is the Cape Cheers 2024 hosted by the one and only, Two Gingers Gin!
The fantastic saying coined by Wynand and Simon come together to bring the unanimous beauty of a well-crafted, local gin into a social celebration. Tapping into the uniquely South African essence of party and ‘local is lekker’-gees, we are getting ready to see a day dedicated to the artful flavours of Two Gingers Gin in the heart of their distillery. Cape Cheers 2024 will bring food trucks, live music, lucky hampers, and lekker gin! Of course, there will be a well-stocked bar for many to order their delightful poisons to sip on.
This event is looking to tackle a Guiness World Record of most recorded people in one spot, drinking gin. With various expertly blended gins and even better treats to nibble on, you can find the 6th of April at Gember Distillery to be the place to be.
Kick off your April the right way with this fantastic feast for the senses by booking your tickets at the link below! Also, by visiting @capecheers2024 for latest updates you can also see snippets from much-anticipated attendees, such as DJ Andre who will be the host of the day. Tickets are hot and moving fast, priced at R280 for the entire day’s access with the added bonus of a gin hamper upon arrival.
