A unique star studded gala evening destined to become the black tie event of the year, featuring 14 acclaimed South African chefs, seven adept sommeliers and seven celebrated artists all under one roof in aid of youth development, will be held in the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday, 5 September 2013.

Presented by Mercedes-Benz South Africa, ‘Chefs who share – the ART of giving’ will treat guests to an evening of glamour, culinary artistry and fine art – all for a worthy cause. All the monies from the ticket sales and the proceeds of an art auction will go towards two youth development charities: Make a Difference Foundation (MAD) and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

“We are delighted to be in a position to host this inaugural ‘Chefs who share’ event in Cape Town. Together with our partners we hope to take this concept even further with similar events overseas in support of our chosen South African charities,” says event organiser Barbara Lenhard who has worked tirelessly to make her dream of creating this unforgettable evening of sharing a reality.

The chefs are from all over South Africa and will be divided into pairs to share their culinary genius and individual menus with limited groups of guests. Each chef duo will be joined by a highly respected sommelier who will ensure that every dish is paired to perfection with a top South African wine. The evening will culminate with an auction of original works of art donated by participating artists.

The chefs and sommeliers, all acclaimed masters of their craft, have been paired as follows:

·         Margot Janse (The Tasting Room, Franschhoek) & David Higgs (Five Hundred at the Saxon, Johannesburg) with sommelier Francis Krone of the Saxon

·         Bertus Basson (Overture Restaurant, Stellenbosch) &  Peter Tempelhoff (Greenhouse at the Cellars-Hohenort, Cape Town) with sommelier at large, Higgo Jacobs

·         Rudi Liebenberg (Planet Restaurant, Cape Town) & Christiaan Campbell (Delaire, Stellenbosch) with sommelier Carl Habel of the Mount Nelson

·         Jackie Cameron (Hartford House, Mooi River, Kwazulu-Natal) & Reuben Riffel (Reuben’s, Franschhoek) with Chairman of the SA Sommelier Association, Neil Grant

·         Darren Badenhorst (Grande Provence, Franschhoek) & Chris Erasmus (Pierneef at La Motte, Franschhoek) with sommelier Pierre Theron of Pierneef at La Motte

·         Harald Bresselschmidt (Aubergine, Cape Town) & Chantel Dartnall (Mosaic at The Orient, Pretoria) with sommelier Germain Lehodey of Mosaic

·         Marthinus Ferreira (DW Eleven-13, Johannesburg) & George Jardine (Jordan Restaurant, Stellenbosch) with sommelier Isabella Immenkamp of Jordan Restaurant

The beneficiaries of this singular event, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, both share a proud record of running successful youth development programmes that have made a difference to the lives of young South Africans from less fortunate backgrounds. Spearheaded by Francois Pienaar in 2003, MAD identifies and nurtures talented youths to become role models through a mentorship programme. Literacy and environmental awareness is promoted through a broad based educational programme.

With a singular mission of using the power of sport as a tool for social change, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation helps children to overcome the limitations of challenging social issues from poverty, homelessness and violence to drug abuse and AIDS. Founded over 10 years ago under the patronage of Nelson Mandela, the foundation is part of a worldwide programme of sports related community projects.

‘Chefs who share’ is destined to become one of the most prestigious events on the Cape Town social calendar. The event enables guests to get up close and personal with South Africa’s finest chefs, sommeliers and artists and offers companies the opportunity to treat clients to a very special evening whilst supporting a worthy cause.

Tickets to this rare culinary showcase are available at R3 000 per person. Early booking for individual tickets or entire tables is recommended to secure your preferred chefs for the evening.

For more information visit www.chefswhoshare.com, follow #ChefsWhoShare on Twitter, email tickets@chefswhoshare.com or call Tel: 021-433 1699.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Robertson Wine Valley’s biggest annual wine festival, with the ever-popular Wacky Wine Weekend – with Kyknet as the new headline sponsor and ‘celebration’ as the theme - taking place from 6 – 9 June 2013.

Wacky Wine Weekend: a decade of wine, fun and phenomenal success

A decade ago, the Robertson Wine Valley Board, and marketing team led by Bonita Malherbe, identified wine tourism development as one of its core objectives, envisaging a series of weekend events with wine as the central theme but also embracing the wide diversity of activities and experiences on offer in the Valley. The result was the first Wacky Wine Weekend, a festival where all member farms opened their doors to wine lovers for a variety of fun events. The inaugural June 2004 Wacky was an instant hit and Wacky alone now draws over 18 600 visitors to the Valley annually.

Commenting on the phenomenal success of Wacky, Bonita Malherbe enthused: “Events like Wacky attracted visitors who might otherwise not have travelled to our Valley. It was vital that we offered memorable experiences and ‘wowed’ the visitors into becoming loyal, long-term supporters. The Valley’s picturesque beauty, inimitable country hospitality, extraordinary teamwork, value for money offerings and over-delivery on expectation ensured our success. Word-of-mouth became our best form of marketing and the rest is history.”

Between 2006 and 2009 three more annual weekend festivals, spread evenly throughout the year, were launched: Wine on the River in 2006, Robertson Slow in 2007 and Hands-on Harvest in 2009. Furthermore, in 2010 the Robertson Wine Valley team extended their warm hospitality and superb wines up north when they launched their first wine festival in Gauteng.

Elizma Botha, Bonita Malherbe’s successor says: “These events have evolved over the past ten years through the intelligent use of market research and visionary thinking. Wine tourism has been a key element in building the Robertson Wine Valley brand, locally and internationally. Our Valley has become a destination of note, creating opportunities that have a positive financial impact on members’ businesses as well as the local community.”

Wacky Wine Weekend 2013

The 10^th Wacky Wine Weekend, sponsored by Kyknet and with ‘celebration’ as the theme, is going to be more festive and wacky than ever, so be sure to join the Robertson Wine Valley clan for an indulgently Wacky Weekend….

Wacky 2013 charity drive for winter

Festival-goers are invited to join the Robertson Wine Valley in supporting their local charities. Help take the chill out of winter by donating blankets and winter clothing, for all ages, for those less fortunate. In return the Valley will reward you with wine, according to the weight of your donation, with a maximum of a 6- bottle case of wine which weighs about 9kg. Donations that weigh less than a bottle of wine will be rewarded with vouchers for wine purchases at La Verne online wine shop (www.lavernewines.co.za). All donations are please to be handed in at the Robertson Wine Valley office, corner of Voortrekker and Reitz Streets, Robertson.

The Wacky Bag Project

As part of the 10 years celebration, members of the local community have been commissioned by the Robertson Wine Valley to produce the ±18 000 Wacky ‘goodie bags’, thus providing much-needed employment and the opportunity to learn new skills for the future. The inspiration came from Khaya Power (www.khayapower.co.za) who are empowering communities all over the Western Cape by offering them an energy source powered by solar energy: 5 litre containers that are safe, portable and rechargeable. No more paraffin and candles! These power units are beautifully packaged in colourful, varnished, recycled cement bags with rope handles. The Robertson Wine Valley has teamed up with Langeberg Doulos Trust who provide the homeless with physical, mental and spiritual care, employing them to produce the 2013 Wacky ‘goodie bags’ from recycled cement bags. A total of 7 pallets of cement bags were sponsored by PPC and 29km of rope, 900 litres of varnish and 29km of duct tape are being used to make the Wacky bags. These eye-catching bags, ideal for gifts and function, will be available for order via the Robertson Wine Valley office: email manager@robertsonwinevalley.co.za.

Four days of celebration

With 48 wineries showcasing their wines and myriad key attractions, both old favourites and novel delights, this well-loved event is a ‘must-do’ on the annual social calendar. In celebration of the 10 year anniversary, festival–goers will be pleasantly surprised to find a variety of vouchers and special offers, from various wine farms, inside the Wacky programme in their ‘goodie bags’. Some of these vouchers and special offers will be valid during the Wacky weekend, and others only after the weekend.

The Wacky Wine Weekend will include four festive days, with each day boasting its unique signature wine theme, to cater for all palates…. Whether you are a fun-seeker, novice or a wine connoisseur, there is something for everyone with: ‘Seriously Wine Thursday’, ‘Wine Up Friday’, ‘Full On Wacky Saturday’ or ‘Wine Down Sunday’.  ‘Seriously Wine Thursday’ promises to inspire wine aficionados with a range of tailor-made activities, for instance: master wine-tastings, wine- and food-pairings, educational wine presentations and private tastings with the Valley’s most esteemed winemakers.

The Wacky Wine Weekend will embrace the usual line-up of fun-filled activities, for example: ‘meet-the-winemaker’ tastings, brandy tours and tastings, fun wine competitions, river cruises, tractor trips, cheese- and olive tastings, a simulated rodeo bull, a mountain bike challenge, a fresh goods market and local performing artists. The Valley will also be presenting a gastronomic extravaganza, with visitors spoilt for choice: oysters, perlemoen, sushi, riverside picnics, ‘braaivleis’ and ‘potjiekos’ are just a few of the gourmet delights on offer. And while the adults are revelling in all the above, there will, as always, be a wide range of children’s activities including: fishing, farmyard tours, jumping castles, pony rides, a treasure hunt and face-painting.

As part of the Robertson Wine Valley’s commitment to ensure a safe festival, a Zero Tolerance Policy is implemented towards ‘drinking and driving’. Visitors are requested to make use of the Buddy Bus or appoint their own designated driver.  The Buddy Bus facility enables groups of seven or more visitors to hire a chauffeur-driven mini-bus.

Wacky Wine Weekend Bus-In Packages are also available. A2B Charters will be offering one day packages, with transport departing from the Waterfront, Tygervalley, Stellenbosch (Butterfly World) and Paarl, to Robertson, and ‘Buddy Bus’ transport between the participating wineries.  See contact details below.

For visitors from further afield, Beyond Reach has once again put together great Fly-In Packages that include flights, car rental and accommodation. See contact details below.

So head out to the Robertson Wine Valley for a winter getaway at the Wacky Wine Weekend – where the fun never stops!

Admittedly I have not been to Spier for nearly a decade, apart from taking tour guests to the Cheetah Sanctuary which has obviously now moved. What an amazing surprise when we got to spend a couple of days there!

They are promoting the estate as a destination to visit for fabulous food, wine and the tranquility of nature – tick, tick, tick. We started our day on the unique walking audio tour which is a truly special experience transporting you back to 1836 and narrated by a fictional slave woman – Sannie de Goede. Onto the pairing tasting of their top range 21 Gables in the bright and buzzing tasting room. Lunch at Eight was fresh and homely and totally incorporating the farm to fork philosophy. The picnics being enjoyed along the grassy banks of the Eerste River looked equally wonderful. The “village-style” accommodation laid out around swimming pools was relaxing and spacious.

We missed the Eagle Encounter and Segway gliding tour, a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicle, to learn even more interesting facts about their estate and waste-water treatment plant, both of which have been raved about by those who attended.

Be sure to make your way to Spier for a day brimming with fun for the whole family!

• Nitida is one of the closest wine estates to our home and we love to get out to Durbanville as often as we can to do tastings. We picked this beauty, their Coronata White 2009 white blend up a few years ago. Perfect drinking!
• It always amazes me when I meet people who have lived in Cape Town all their lives but never gone to a wine estate. We not only “broke them in” at Steenberg but offered them their first ever wooded Sauvignon Blanc –  HMS Rattlesnake 2011
• The Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2012 lives up to every preceding vintage 0f fruity tropical deliciousness with layered oak notes adding creamy texture to the palate and a wonderful length. The hints of botrytis are very attractive to in this R70 bargain bottle
• Our second trip to Plettenberg Bay in a year and another stop at Bramon for lunch and to purchase a couple of bottles of their unique Sauvignon Blanc MCC,  this time the 2008 vintage, which we got to share with friends visiting from Australia
• When my hubby and I first met he had about 5 bottles in his wine collection (my how things have changed:)), one of which was this Chocolate Block 2005 from Boekenhoutskloof Well worth the wait to enjoy this years later along with a fillet and red wine jus
• I hosted Nabygelegen and James’ other label, Snow Mountain wines for my wine club for February and March and felt compelled to finish my stock of his from last year which included this 2010 Pinot Noir. Bright, bold fruit and the silky tannins we seek in a Pinot Noir. His 2011 is slightly more subtle and a steal for R110 from the estate
• Barely a week passes, let alone a month, that we don’t enjoy a bottle of our CWG purchase of the Graham Beck Brut Non Plus. This time enjoyed with sushi at Blowfish, once again with our mates from Oz
• I have been a fan of Hendrik’s somewhat quirky and experimental MCC’s since his first release a couple of years ago. This Chabivin 100% Semillon MCC 2006 has been bottle fermented for 6 years. The Semillon offers such incredibly unique notes of fynbos and herbaciousness along with a wonderful vanilla and creamy brioche
• I’m always keen for an good, aged Sauvignon Blanc but never sure how far I can push my luck:) This Pheasants Run 2009 from Graham Beck

Winter is synonymous with safaris and self-indulgent moments and to comfort the cold, the luxury 5-star Robertson Small Hotel turns this period of hibernation into a Robertson lifestyle celebration with complimentary Savoury Safaris on offer from May until the end of August.

Guest who will be staying at this award-winning boutique hotel for two nights or more, will be able to buckle up for exuberant taste adventures during their stay, to explore a plethora of attractions unique to this bountiful valley at no additional cost.

“Our picturesque Robertson Valley is more than an experience, it is a lifestyle and with these tailor-made Savoury Safaris we share with guests our true country hospitality, great local talent and countless unique attractions, ranging from award-winning cellars to fabulous restaurants and artisan delights. Crowning your winter-breakaway is the fact that you get to lay your head down on our plush pillows at the end of an eventful day,” shares Riaan Kruger, General Manager of The Robertson Small Hotel.

The Robertson Small Savoury Safaris whisk winter blues goodbye with a melting pot of bespoke taste encounters and day trips and guests can indulge in three activities during their Winelands sojourn.

These stopovers range from a sparkling affair at Graham Beck savouring its latest Méthode Cap Classiques, to a ‘boys day out’ in the company of Klipdrift…met eish ja!

Viljoensdrift, a family-owned wine estate nestled on the banks of the scenic Breede River, beckons with a relaxing boat cruise or you can try your hand at wine blending and label your own vino creation under the watchful eye of seasoned father and son winemaking duo, Freddie and Peter De Wet of Excelsior Estate.

Other wine-related encounters to choose from include an enlightening cellar tour and tasting at the boutique Arendsig cellar, celebrated for its single vineyard, hand-crafted wines; and a romantic tasting by candlelight in the underground cellar at Weltevrede Estate where the Jonker family will let you in on the secrets of a fine Cap Classique.

Adding culinary bliss to these Savoury Safaris is the newly revamped Van Loveren tasting room which offers tutored Food & Wine pairings with chocolate and nougat; cheese and charcuterie, to a Four Cousins fan experience and a kids tasting platter. The Christina’s @ Van Loveren Bistro, renowned for its wood-fired pizzas and gourmet burgers, offers the perfect spot to perk up jaded palates on chilly days.

Olive aficionados can take a stroll through the olive groves at Rhebokskraal Estate and get up close and personal with these noble delights. Your ‘safari’ includes a trip to the olive factory and a laid-back lunch under the oaks with homemade specialities such as farm fresh bread, olive pâté, olive soup, pork fillets in olive chutney and even olive chocolates. Or spend a soul-quenching afternoon at Montagne Deli with an exquisite Cheese & Wine Platter served up with breathtaking views of the valley.

The Robertson Small Hotel Savoury Safaris are exclusive to hotel guests only (from Monday till Saturday) – and they must stay at the hotel for two nights or more. For more information on the hotel and its winter accommodation packages visit www.therobertsonsmallhotel.com; contact Tel: (+27)23 626 7200, or send an email to reservations@therobertsonsmallhotel.com

Graham Beck already has a large portfolio as a brand which includes restaurants and wines but they have recently launched an new range onto the local market (the range is already available globally in about 30 countries having been launched at Cape Wine 2012 and Prowein 2013), called The Game Reserve range which is aimed at making sustainability part of the brand.

The media launch event was hosted at the gorgeous and fitting venue – Camps Bay Retreat. Mossie Basson, Graham Beck’s Conservation Manager stated that “People will conserve nature if its in their interest to do so. We’re trying to find that spot of interest. We must be the stewards to look after nature and find extremely creative ways to enhance nature. Where is my ‘sweet-spot’ with nature?”

This is the only wine brand in the world associated with a private nature reserve that can demonstrate measurable actions taken to conserve the natural environment. The Graham Beck property, Madeba, located in Robertson, is situated in the heart of the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem in the Breede River Valley, an area extremely rich in plant and geological diversity.

Bordering Madeba is the Graham Beck Private Nature Reserve, an area that extends to the eastern slopes of the Rooiberg.  The reserve was set aside in the 1990s shortly after the Becks purchased the farm, in the hope of reversing the devastating effects of 200 years of over-utilization of the natural resources. By May 2006, 1 885 hectares of land had been registered with Cape Nature as a voluntary conservation site.  In July 2007, 27 neighbouring landholders pledged to join the conservation effort.  The Rooiberg Breede River Conservancy was born, and remains a strong focus of the efforts, comprising no fewer than 13 500 hectare of natural vegetation. For every 1 hectare of land utilized for producing wine or stud horse farming on the Graham Beck Estate at Robertson, 4,5 hectares of land are today conserved.

Erika Obermeyer concentrates on the brands natural wines and introduced the range to us. She says “It is such a natural fit for me as I’m in my most happy place when out in nature. Being able to craft wines with a company that takes care of its people and conservation responsibilities is a great privilege. I am looking to take the legend of the brand forward.”

The range consists of 9 wines, 4 white, 1 rose and 4 red – all single varietals to express the grape as much as possible. Each wine has an animal or plant depicted on the label endemic to the region and nature reserve on the property. Each wine therefor provides wine lovers with a captivating glimpse into the world of the indigenous Fauna and Flora. The wines are intended to taste like sunshine with upfront fruitiness in an easy to drink style made in a sustainable and responsible way. The wines are primarily aimed at On Consumption, wine by the glass offerings and are thus mainly make use of screw cap closures.

The range is made from Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Chenin Blanc 2012, Viognier 2010, Chardonnay 2010 (my favourite white), Rose 2012 (mainly Shiraz with a dash of Pinot Noir), Pinotage 2010, Merlot 2011, Shiraz 2010 (my favourite red) and Cabernet Sauvignon 2011. All the wines are exceptionally well priced at between R45 and R85.

I will be hosting these wines for April and May for KGB Wine Club. If anyone is interested to host an event or attend an open event which I am hosting in Cape Town CBD and Blouberg please contact me.

I believe that all the interest and build up to this years Taste of Cape Town festival was well worth it. I’m told they had record numbers through the gate and the exhibitors seem to be reporting pretty similar feedback in terms of sales and feedback.

We’ve not been on a Sunday before but we loved the family atmosphere. Despite the numbers of people the festival attracted we found underground parking at the stadium which we accessed and exited easily. There was enough space to walk around and relax over a glass of wine between heading off for our next treasure and queues seemed to move pretty quickly.

Our highlights were:

• Beef from Signal at Cape Grace
• Prawns from Fyndraai
• Risotto from Societi Bistro
• The best value was definitely the burger and glass of wine combo from Asara where we got to taste their White Cabernet Sauvignon and the two new easy drinking reds – Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Morgenster called Nu
• My finds of the show in terms of wine were the MCC from Neil Joubert and the Viognier/Semillon blend from Waverley Hills

Congrats to all involved and I am already looking forward to the next one!

Tours have been incredibly busy during March and April. I am always most humbled and grateful to have return guests and many days have been filled with people returning from Canada, the USA and Seychelles to spend more days with KGB Wine Tours.

Its incredibly difficult to take photos during these tours as each moment seems to be filled with tastings and sharing stories but I managed to sneak a few in to share some of our daily experiences, food and wine with you:) Enjoy!

Held at the Green Point Cricket Club, in association with Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum, the region’s most celebrated carnival of the senses will run from 11 to 14 April 2013.

“Part of the collection of Taste Festivals taking place in 18 world cities, the Cape leg of the international celebrations will once again enthral food lovers, flavour hunters and the city’s social set with its unique format of part-party, part trend-spotting, part gourmet-shopping and full-on feasting,” says Justine Drake, festival-organiser.

“As part of our commitment to Cape diners and an energetic food scene, we have once again kept the ticket price unchanged – and at the same level as the first event six years ago!”

This year festival goers will also have a modern guide, the new Taste app for smart phones, so they can traipse between flavour hot spots dotted around the foodie playground without missing a beat.

Drake also foresees that the pop-up restaurant concept added to the festival last year will have foodies in awe. “It brings with it a very adventurous way to enjoy the diversity of tastes Cape Town is known for.” Taste-hunters can try dishes as diverse as champagne poached oysters and seafood bredies, a dish named ‘Message in a Bottle’ and miso glazed short rib with fresh kimchi. The pop-up dining experience brings rebel with a food cause Bruce Robertson of The Boathouse, Luke Dale-Roberts of The Test Kitchen/The Pot Luck Club, La Colombe with Scot Kirton and Tanja Kruger of Makaron Restaurant at Majeka house.

In addition to the pop-ups, the eleven restaurants chosen to represent the spectrum of tastes of the Mother City dish up their signature creations in started sized bites. The Restaurants include: Henrico Grobbelaar of The Twelve Apostle’s Azure Restaurant, Natasha Wray of 96 Winery Road. De Grendel Restaurant debuts at the festival with Ian Bergh, Shaun Schoeman of Fyndraai Restaurant on Solms-Delta, Signal Restaurant at Cape Grace with Malika Van Reenen,  Sanel Esterhuyse from Savour at 15 on Orange, Jewel of India’s Dayanand Shankar Poojary , Beefcakes Burger Bar, represented by Wonderful Ndhlovu, Il Leone Mastrantonio and Daniel Toledo Dash Restaurant and Bar at the Queen Victoria Hotel  with Craig Paterson and Stefan Marais of The Brasserie.

A brand new initiative at the festival - Taste Craft Beer Project – will showcase more than 18 of the country’s best quality craft beer on tap. This collection of micro-breweries will be on hand to quench the thirst for craft beer, with each brew paired with dishes featured at the festival.

“With so much to enjoy, guests simply can’t let go, returning several times over the four days to savour it all,” says Drake.

Other culinary highlights include:

Food Market hand-picked artisan producers, premium drink brands and award-winning wineries in the laid back atmosphere of a boutique food market. Sip on Bain’s Mountain Whiskey or the Fairtrade wines on offer while dipping into pesto, munching on gourmet cheese and stocking up on pantry stuffers to get you ready for autumn entertaining.

For those looking for a 2013 dinner party wow-factor, the Pick n Pay Chef’s Theatre will feature live demos by top chefs. For the hands-on visitors, the Pick n Pay Wine and Canapé Experience will reveal the secrets to creative pairings of canapés and wine in an interactive area.

Cape Town Angels Benefit Stage: An eclectic group of performers the likes of, Janie and  The Beard, Natasha Meister, Philip Malan, and Silent Side are brought to Taste of Cape Town by the Cape Town Angels.

LINDT Al Fresco. Luxurious, with a hint of the forbidden – nothing stirs the senses quite like Swiss chocolate. LINDT’s Master Chocolatiers from the Cape Town Chocolate Studio create fresh LINDOR truffles and pralines by hand to enjoy along with LINDT Hot Chocolate in the alfresco dining area. The LINDT shop will have decadent goodies from their EXCELLENCE and CREATION ranges on sale, to satisfy the craving on the go. At the Chefs Theatre the LINDT Chocolatiers will do more sweetening up, demonstrating their master craft with amazing chocolate sculptures.

Royal Thai Embassy puts Thai chefs on show preparing popular dishes in cooking demonstrations throughout the festival. Savour the culture, traditions and lifestyle through authentic dishes and flavours. To add to the experience visitors will also get a chance to enter the lucky draw and win a round trip for two to Thailand.

Taste Fest App: Apple, Android and Blackberry users can enjoy an interactive map to navigate the show and stay up to date with the Pick n Pay Chef’s Theatre timetables with a ‘My Diary’ feature to make the most of the visit.  The app puts all the interesting facts on chefs, restaurants and festival exhibitors in the palm of the hand. It is available to download from 30 March from your device’s app store.

Do Good/ Feel Good by supporting The Chipembere Rhino Foundation. They are committed to on the ground assistance in the protection and conservation of Africa’s rhino. Show your support by stocking up on branded caps and shirts at the festival.

Cape Town Angels. A non-profit company driven by a group of young professionals operating in and around Cape Town. Through commitment, partnership and collaboration they share “The Magic of Compassion” by boosting other social responsibility initiatives and developing community based projects.

Green as you go “Taking the environment into account and ensuring best practice in terms of sustainability can only add to the flavour experience that epitomises Taste,” says Drake.

The sponsors, Pick n Pay and Orbit Sugar Free Chewing Gum, place a high premium on  environmental issues and actively promote and operationalise sustainability in their core activities.  Pick n Pay is considered South Africa’s “greenest” retailer with multiple green awards, including the Retail Sector of the Climate Change Leadership Awards (CCLA) 2013.

The festival has partnered with green companies Interwaste which will be providing recycling facilities on site and Green Home Products, leaders in biodegradable food packaging, who will supply the eating utensils and bowls- all made from natural and renewable materials. Water suppliers San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna preserve their sources and look for solutions for controlling and reducing the environmental impact from conserving water.

Culinary currency: Restaurants and special feature areas operate on the Festival Crown, the event’s official currency. Festival visitors use these Crowns to purchase dishes and drinks from exhibitors and bars. Each Taste of Cape Town Crown is worth R5 and prices range from 4 to 8 Crowns per dish.

Standard R80 tickets include entrance to the festival and tasting glass. Premium R180 Tickets include entrance to the festival, a tasting glass and R100 Festival Crowns .Taste Clubhouse Experience by DStv R685 includes fast track entrance to the festival, tasting glass, R150 Festival Crowns and complimentary bar service (malt, wine and soft drinks) in a private clubhouse and a Taste of Cape Town gift.

All tickets can be bought online from www.itickets.co.za or by calling ITickets on 0861000291.

Festival details:

Venue:  Green Point Cricket Club, Corner Vlei and Fritz Sonnenberg Roads

Dates and Time: 11-14 April 2013

Thursday 11^th: 18:30-22:30

Friday 12^th: 18:30-22:30

Saturday 13^th: 1^st session 13:00-1700 and the 2^nd session 18:30- 22:30

Sunday 14^th: 12:00-17:00

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tasteofcapetown

Twitter: @tasteofCT

Website: www.tasteofcapetown.com