About Karisa

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My stay at The Westin – part 2: time for some pampering

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Karisa

The Westin‘s 19th floor is not only the home of the Westin Executive Club Restaurant which I told you about yesterday. Oh no, there’s far more there to discover.

They have a WestinWORKOUT Gym, where you can burn off some of that buffet breakfast while enjoying some amazing views. They have super fancy equipment which even allows you to browse the web while you’re exercising. Facebook, Twitter, you name it. Just be careful not to lose track of your feet. You don’t want to be flung of the treadmill and end up on a massively popular Youtube clip.

The gym’s equipped with free weights, a TechnoGym circuit, treadmills, stationary bikes, swiss balls and a power plate machine, rowing machine and stairclimber. There’s also some disposable headphones for you to use (in case you forgot yours) and a personal trainer is on duty from Mon to Fri who is available (upon request) and for a complimentary fitness assessment and consultation.

Another pretty cool thing is their Pack Light Stay Fit initiative where they’ve partnered with New Balance to provide hotel guest with athletics shoes during their stay. For only R50 you can rent a freshly cleaned pair of trainers for use while you’re there. They’ll also throw in a new pair of socks, which you can keep afterwards. I personally love this idea. Trainers take up so much space in your bag and it’s just a mission lugging them around. This way there’s more space for your holiday shopping! #perfect

Now let’s talk about the Arabella Spa. Firstly, it’s absolutely beautiful. Secondly, they’re nicely kitted out. They’ve for 15 treatments rooms, a heated infity lap pool, a jacuzzi, a steam room & sauna and a really nice relaxation area where you can chill & take in the view. But let me show you around…

Here’s the reception and relaxation areas:

And this my friends, is probably the coolest indoor pool I’ve ever seen:

The jacuzzi is so much fun, there’s even an emergy shut-off switch in case you just can’t take the awesomeness any longer:

And the sauna might give you a bit of vertigo, but it’s well worth the risk:

Ooooh and then my favourite room was their “Sea of Dreams” sleep room. Here you’ll find 4 rather unique heated water beds for your enjoyment. Once tucked in here, I guarantee you, you will never ever want to leave again:

Just looking at this photo again makes me feel all happy and warm…

To pay them a visit, contact the Arabella Spa on 021 412 8200/01 or 01445.arabellaspa@westin.com – bookings are essential.

You might also want to abuse some of these special offers:

Soul Food Autumn Special
Join them for a delicious & healthy spa lunch, a glass of bubbly and your choice of Dermalogica Microzone Treatment, all for only R280.00 per person.
Heavenly dinner & spa
A 3 course dinner for two in the Westin Executive Club plus a 45 minute treatment each at Arabella Spa at R1050 per couple. (available Mon to Sun from 17:30 to 19:00)
- Dinner selection: Choose from their Dinner with a View menu.
- Spa selection: 45 min back, neck & shoulder massage, 45 min facial, or a 45 min manicure/pedicure.
Secret lunch hour
For R500 (Mon – Sun) – choose 1 luxurious treatment & 2 delicious courses from their special menu at the Westin Executive Club, and they guarantee that within 90 minutes you’ll be back at your desk looking and feeling fantastic. Or earn serious brownie points by treating your partner to a surprise ‘rendezvous for two’ at only R950.
- Lunch Selection - 2 courses, one starter and one main or one main and one dessert.
- Spa Selection: 45 min back, neck & shoulder massage, 45 min facial, or 45 min manicure/pedicure.

I know what you’re thinking… why am I not there right now?? My feelings exactly.

Check out their full spa brochure & price list over here.

Another thing I loved is that on your way out, you can even get you hair spruced up at the hotel’s Cut Above hair salon (also on the 19th floor):

How about an awesome blow dry to go with that massage & facial hey?

How’s that for a top-to-toe pampering experience…

xxx

My stay at The Westin – part 1: dreaming & dining

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Karisa

Two weekends ago I was invited by the lovely folks at The Westin to come and experience the ultimate luxury they have to offer… yes, yes, I know, life as me can be really tough some times.

The Westin is connected to the CTICC and therefore they service quite a lot of conference/business travellers. But something I didn’t know going into this visit, was that they also have some amazing dining options (not just for the guests) and an incredible spa, high up on the 19th floor (but that deserves it’s own post – hence this being a part 1 post).

We’ll kick things off with a mini tour of the hotel:

Sit outside, grab a light snack and enjoy the sunshine…

There are incredible local art pieces all over the hotel. In fact, they are so into their art, there’s a whole book dedicated to all the different pieces on show (which I’ll admit, I haven’t read through just yet)

The elegant entrance hall.

They have their own wine shop. Got a last minute birthday party to attend and have no gift? No worries, they’ll package something up for you. Want to send some wine back overseas? No stress, let them take care of all the details.

Thirty7 is their French brasserie style restaurant on the ground level.

Louis B’s & Terrace is a little jazz bar for those who enjoy some soothing sounds.

This is the Raleigh’s Cigar Bar which offers a wide selection of cognacs, whiskies and the finest cigars.

The Raleigh’s Cigar Bar lounge

They have conference rooms a plenty. And they’re quite stunning as far as usually boring business spaces go.

We stayed in one of their deluxe rooms, all the way up on the 17th floor, which meant we had a pretty insane view of the city:

The room itself was really great. Fresh colours, lots of space, fully equipped – and when I mean fully, I mean fully… for example, the room came with it’s own ironing board & iron (love that! My clothes are always super wrinkled, even if I use that stupid rolling-of-the- clothes tecnique, which so does not work) and it also came with a printer/scanner/fax machine in case you needed to get down to some serious business.

Oh and possibly most importantly, the room comes with a fully stocked mini bar:

Woohoo!

Just before we headed out to dinner, we got a little sweet surprise with our turndown service:

Mmmmmm… I think we were supposed to keep it until bed time, but that didn’t happen.

Dinner was up on the 19th floor, at the Westin Executive Club Restaurant. This restaurant boasts some amazing panoramic views of Cape Town and I have to say has quite a romantic atmosphere. (And that was before any wine…)

The food was quite a taste experience. A lot of attention to detail, complex flavours & fresh ingredients. I really couldn’t ask for anything more and can highly recommend this spot for your next date night (just make sure you ask for a window seat).

Price wise you’re looking at about R210 for 2 courses and R260 for 3 courses.

Clockwise from top left: Marinated goats cheese croquettes, Springbok nicoise, neck of lamb on sun dried tomato risotto & braised and grilled rib eye of beef.

Delice Aux Chocolate – Triple choc chip biscuit, warm chocolate pudding, petit champagne truffles and chocolate Bavarian crème, espressotini and confit Brazilian nuts…

Their executive chef, Johann Breedt, is actually currently competing on kykNET’s KOKKEDOOR cooking show. So you can see him in action there as well.

With full & happy bellies, Bjorn and I headed back to our room, where our Heavenly bed totally sucked us in (these beds are specially made for the hotel and they are true to their name). Waking up the next morning to this, I have to say, was pretty damn cool:

Breakfast was yet another bad-for-your-bum experience. But oh so good for your soul.

Just check this buffet which has pretty much everything your heart could ever desire, even oysters & sushi and just about every fresh fruit juice on the planet:

For only R160, you too can experience this treat. That price includes free rein over that buffet, plus a glass of bubbly AND your choice of hot breakfast. Hell, I didn’t even make it that far. So I advise arriving wearing stretchy pants.

Now I’m going to share with you a little hidden gem not a lot of people have seen… I got to go up to their rooftop garden where they farm all their own fresh herbs and stuff. Check it out:

How cool is that? City living at it’s best…

We had an absolutely amazing stay and I left there feeling totally relaxed and weighing in at about 5kgs heavier. But it was so worth it.

If you know of someone who’s coming to Cape Town and looking for a luxurious treat (or if you are that someone), here are some current accommodation specials that I can share with you:

ENJOY UP TO 30% OFF WHEN YOU BOOK IN ADVANCE
Book by August 24, 2013, for stays up to August 31, 2013.
Stay 3 nights and save 20%
Stay 5 nights and save 30%
10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY – BOOK OUR RATES FROM 10 YEARS AGO
Book your room with rates from 10 years ago when we opened our doors the first time for you. For just R1350 single or double occupancy, book your Deluxe Room early and receive:
- Upgrade to Westin Executive Club Room (based upon availability)
- Bottle of Bubbly in the room upon arrival
- Breakfast included
- Offer only valid for August
DO YOU NEED A BREAK? DISCOVER CAPE TOWN
Explore the city’s attractions and landmarks at your own pace from the comforts of the Hop-on Hop-off City. Our package includes:
- Rates from R2360 per double room (Deluxe Room)
- Daily breakfast buffet per person
- One Day ticket for two to utilize on the Hop-on Hop-off bus
ROOM WITH A VIEW
You’ll witness the city of Cape Town awaken, come to life, and gracefully retire for the night from your very own room, accompanied by views of the beautiful Cape Town Stadium, Robben Island, the famous V&A Waterfront and the Cape Town Harbour.
Guarantee your view – Rates start from ZAR 1,940 per room per night.
GOURMET GETAWAY FROM R2800 PER DOUBLE ROOM
Relax, escape and indulge during a 3 course dinner at The Westin Executive Club on the 19th floor. Your package includes:
- Deluxe Room
- Daily breakfast buffet per person
- 3 course dinner with a glass of wine at The Westin Executive Club for two

Or if you’re concidering something to eat (or drink) at the Westin Executive Club to experience that view, there’s also a few restaurant specials to take note of (booking is essential):

The Sunset Sushi Special
Every Wed, Thu & Fri between 3pm and 7pm: Sushi and a complimentary glass of bubbly. Platters include Sashimi, Nigiri, California rolls, Maki, Fashion sandwiches and Salmon roses for only R125 for 16 pieces.
The Sun downer
Every Thu &Fri between 5pm and 7pm: Enjoy a variety of canapés and a glass of local wine for only R75.
Dinner and Wine
Every Wed, Sat & Sun for dinner: 3 course dinner (from their Dinner with a View set menu) and a complimentary glass of wine per course for only R260 per person.
The Business Lunch
Mon to Thu: 2 course meal with a non-alcoholic cocktail or soft drink for R195. This will be served within 45 minutes. They offer free secure underground parking and complimentary bottled mineral water for the table.

For reservations, contact The Westin Cape Town on 021 412 9999 or 01445.info@westin.com.

Their physical address: Convention Square, Lower Long Street

Thank you so much to the team at The Westin for making us feel so incredibly welcome. Any chance there’s a spot for me there permanently? I’ll be very quiet and won’t eat too much, I promise…

xxx

5 for change – the night that was

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Karisa

Shoes – Zoom, dress – YDE, headband – Woolies, cuff – Lovelee in Kloof st, clutch – Accessorize

Wow, Saturday eve I partied like I was still twenty two-oo-o-oooo (sorry, but that damn song is so freakin’ catchy)… then I woke up the next morning, reality hit, and felt like I was 100 and bloody 50.

But hey, nobody said partying for a great cause was going to be easy on the body. All I can say is that I loved every minute, and therefore the pain afterwards was totally worth it.

5 for change pulled off another amazingly successful event & I now get why everyone was raving about last year’s bash for ages after. This will definitely be something I make sure I have on my calendar for next year.

I’ve been a little swamped of late, which meant I had to do a very last minute scramble to sort out my Great Gatsby look (I heard there was going to be a prize for best dressed, and my competitve side was all “yeah, bring it”). Thankfully a little shiny number from YDE caught my eye on Friday eve, followed by a cute little feather & diamante headband from Woolies. Then the rest just kinda fell into place from my wardrobe.

To complete the look however, I needed my Mr Gatsby, right? Unfortunately the boyfriend was working, but his friend, actor & general great guy Francis Chouler graciously stood in as his stunt double for the evening:

Thanks again Francis! Lookin’ very dapper indeed.

The event took place at our very elegant Cape Town City Hall. This was in fact my very first time inside this historic landmark and I was totally blown away by how incredible it is. Let me give you a quick tour:

Upon arrival we were treated to a Patron & Appletiser cocktail, followed by some really yummy capanes (of which I have no photos because they jumped into my mouth to quickly – apologies). My poison of choice for the rest of the evening was a not-so-bright mix of Graham Beck bubbly and coffee Patron shots. (now you’re starting to understand why I felt like total death the following day)

Besties Leigh & Clouds were also rocking their best Daisy flapper looks. Together we kinda looked like we could’ve been a sultry singing trio from the 20s (but you certainly don’t want to here me sing – we would’ve needed some serious Milli Vanilli magic, that’s for sure):

Clouds was lucky enough to be wearing a gorgeous creation by Cape Town based designer, Jacques Lagrange.

But of course, the evening was all about the 5 amazing initiatives we were there to support. We got to chat to the inspiring people behind them and learn more about what they do and what they need.

I briefly discussed them in my pre-party post last week. But let’s recap:

Waves for Change: They use surfing as a tool to create an alternative learning environment for children and young adults who are identified by their schools and communities as ‘at-risk’. You’ll see from the pic here above that they say 80% of the surfers in the programme have dropped out of gangs since joining. It’s truly amazing that something so simple can have such a big impact on someone’s life…

Ilizwi Photo Club: A youth development initiative that works with young people in under-resourced communities by encouraging creative self expression through photography and multimedia. A slightly different variant to the Waves for Change initiative, but with similar goals. Giving people a creative outlet, a sence of belonging, as well as a support structure…

Iyeza Express: An affordable delivery service for prescription medication to residents of Khayelitsha. Iyeza Express was founded by Khayelitsha community member Sizwe Nzima in 2011. He started out by doing deliveries for 3 family members, and it’s grown in leaps and bounds since then. I was really impressed by Sizwe’s energy & passion. They’re achieving so much with very little resources. This is certainly a guy to watch…

See-Saw-Do: They focus on the physical transformation of the spaces in which children develop, as well as on the production and distribution of mother-tongue reading material to these facilities. We had the opportunity to write little messages to some of the kids from the schools they are involved in, which really made you stop & reflect. Kids need love & support and a safe learning environment, which makes what See-Saw-Do are doing so important…

Trashback: An incentivised recycling project where participants bring in recyclable materials and are rewarded with vouchers for their efforts, which can then be exchanged at local community stores. They are currently only based in Hout Bay, but have plans to move into the city. Oh and anybody’s welcome to bring their recycling in, as you can also opt to donate your vouchers to someone in need…

I loved this little bin they had on display which shows you how many recycling items had been collected:

That’s a good start, let’s keep ‘em coming!

Other opportunities to show some support was a raffle at R50 a ticket where you could win anything from designer wear to holidays and such. As well as a big auction where they had some extra special items, like a signed rugby jersey & some custom jewels.

It was great to see everyone whip out those wallets and get involved, after which we were treated to some great live performances by The Rudimentals & Goldfish.

I missed the best dressed announcement. All I know is it wasn’t me. (What?? I demand a recount??) And somehow, Leigh & I lost our dates towards the end of the evening…

But we partied like rock stars till the very end, then still continued on to have some crazy adventures over in Long St (which I’m not going to elaborate on), before finally settling in at my 2nd home – the Steers at the 24hr Woolies/Engen in Gardens. #bliss

I don’t even remember us taking this pic… oi…

A big thanks to Kirsten Hopwood from Prestige Communications for a really great event. And to the guys at 5 for change and everyone involved with the initiatives above, thanks for doing the incredible work you are doing.

xxx

Cool jazzy vibes at The Crypt

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Karisa

About two weeks ago, some friends and I decided to try out The Crypt – Jazz Restaurant in town.

We all fell in love with the idea of being able to enjoy live music while sitting down for a meal because let’s face it, there’s not a lot of those kinds of places around. The only other place I can think off of the top of my head is Pigalle over in Green Point. But Pigalle hurts the wallet a bit, so it’s not really the type of place I would frequent regularly, it’s more of a special occasion spot in my book.

The Crypt sits beneath the St. George’s Cathedral and dates all the way back to 1898. Today it is an important Cape Town landmark as well as a museum… and of course now also a very cool jazz spot. Let me show you around:

You have to admit, that’s pretty damn cool hey?

The menu is quite simple – it starts off with some tapas style options and for mains you can choose between items like prawns, steak, battered fish, linguini, chicken stew and a gourmet beef burger. There’s also some pears poached in red wine, chocolate mousse or lemon mousse, if you want to finish your night off with a little bit of sugar.

To kick things off we opted for some dips & bread – Chicken liver pate, Hummus guacamole & Roasted red pepper and olive (R28 each) – served with choice of tortilla, bruschetta or pita bread. And then for mains I opted for the Grilled steak special with fries (R110). Other dishes at the table included the battered fish & beef burger.

Left: the 3 dips & bread; Top right: Traditional beer battered fish, chips & aioli (R85); Bottom right: my steak

The food, I have to admit, was very average. It made me think of the Spur, but just not at Spur prices. I can however really recommend this great Chardonnay from Glenwood Vineyards:

But listen, I kinda feel like the vibe of the place makes up for the food. So what I will say is, don’t go expecting the best meal of your life, but if you appreciate jazz and want to experience something a little out of the ordinary, then do give this place a try.

I’m going to give The Crypt the following Miss K Kiss-o-Meter ratings:

Atmosphere/vibe/concept:
Food:

Things you need to know:

They are open: Tue to Sat 12h00 – 24h00 serving lunch, light snacks & dinner
They can seat up to 80 people & sometimes people might need to share tables (but just double check this when you make your reservation – we had our own table)
They add an extra R45 Live Jazz cover charge to your bill for each person. And you can expect to enjoy live music on Tue to Thur from 19:00 to 22:00 as well as Fri & Sat from 20:00 to 23:00.
Address: 1 Wale Street, Cape Town CBD
Contact them on: 079 683 4658 or thecryptjazz@gmail.com

xxx

My brandy love affair thanks to Van Ryn’s

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Karisa

(From my Instagram feed – follow me there: CTmylove)

Last Saturday was one of those days where I set out on a mini adventure, not quite sure what to expect…

After battling with that very serious dilemma of “what shoe is going to be appropriate today? Heels, flats or wedge…” (I went with the latter), I headed off to Stellenbosch to join a group of gorgeous ladies for a brandy blending experience at Van Ryn’s.

The week before I had to endure quite a few brandy related jokes about how I needed to be careful of the karate water kick and all that. But after a fantastic day of learning new things, I can now say to those folks, karate water se gat. There were no Coca-Cola mix vibes here my friend. We were there to experience the true art behind a fine brandy – something which should be savored and appreciated, much like you would with a great bottle of wine.

Now I will admit, I was certainly no brandy drinker going into this. And I won’t say it’s now taken over the place of wine in my life. But what was really great was that I left there being able to tell a great brandy from a not-so-great brandy and knowing what to look out for if I for example wanted to purchase someone a nice bottle as a gift. Also, if I was presented with the option of a brandy on ice in future, I would now be more inclined to go, why yes, that sounds lovely.

Before I go on, a special mention has to go to Nico Gründlingh from Image Solutions Photography. Nico followed us around on the day and captured the most amazing moments way better than I could ever dream of with my click-and-go, or even with all those fancy filters on Instagram. So below you’ll be seeing his photographs rather than my own (unless otherwise specified).

Right, let’s go. Firstly, the Van Ryn’s property is absolutely beautiful. Let me show you what I mean:

We were welcomed with brandy cocktails and brandy infused canapes (which was certainly a great way to kick-start our day), after which we moved on to a tour of Van Ryn’s with brandy expert, Brink, who took us through all the intricate details of the brandy making process...

Just look at that intense concentration…

We learnt so many interesting things – like the term “Angel share” which is what they call the brandy that is lost through evaporation throughout the maturation process. Basically the saying goes that the missing brandy has gone up to the angels as a gift. Isn’t that lovely?

We also learnt that South Africa has been making brandy for nearly 3 1/2 centuries and is currently the 6th largest producer of brandy in the world. The French call it Cognac, which is very much the same as that whole Champagne thing where we can’t use the same term and have to go with MCC, but Cognac is a variety of brandy nonetheless.

South Africa also produces award-winning brandy, like the Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve 12 Year Old, which has won the title of ‘Worldwide Best Brandy’ a whopping four times. Take that Frenchies!

To get a detailed breakdown of the brandy making process, do check out this page called What is Brandy? via the SA Brandy website - they explain the finer details a lot better than I’m going to be able to.

The part of the tour I found most interesting was checking out the Cooperage. This is where coopers still perform the age-old skill of handmaking the French Oak barrels used to mature brandy. At Van Ryn’s, very little mechanisation is used in this process, and they train up a few new coopers every year to make sure this skill is not something that is lost over time.

Abie was there to give us a demonstration of the very skillful process. He’s been a cooper for 39 years and makes it look very easy, but I can assure you, it’s certainly not. They use only handmade tools, in fact, during their apprenticeship, they have to make their own set of tools, and coopers also mark their barrels, so that you can tell exactly know who made each one.

When a cooper completes his apprenticeship, he also has to come up with his own unique song. Abie was kind enough to share his with us:

So cool… After the tour it was time for our inner scientists to shine. We took our seats in the Paradise Room where Brink explained how we were going to go about blending our very own brandy. I didn’t actually know this before, but a brandy is blended from various brandy “building blocks”. It’s not a single barrel process like you’d find in the whiskey world for example, which makes it quite an intricate process.

We were each given 8 brandy building blocks to play with (38% alcohol each). Brink explained that each building block was a typical main component in different types of well known brandies, each with its own very unique aroma & taste. For example nr1 was quite fruity with a vanilla & honey taste and is the main building block in Fish Eagle brandy. Nr3 had a wooded aroma with a spicy, biscuity taste and is the main building block in the Van Ryn’s 10 yr old. And so forth…

The process of then coming up with our very own blend involved a lot of smelling, tasting, planning, brainstorming, mixing and creating.

The blend I settled on was 60% nr2 (main building block for Klipdrift Premium), 30% nr6 (main building block for Van Ryn’s 15 yr old) & 10% nr8 (main building block for 10 yr old Hanepoot). I set out to create a fruity, sweet & perfumy brandy with a smooth & creamy taste, and Brink noted after tasting mine, that I had created the perfect “ladies brandy” – success! I called it “The Love Affair”… (of course)

Ta da… (Pic my own)

With our new titles of Master Brandy Blender under our belts, we settled in for a late lunch prepared by Chef Laurent from Bizerca Bistro.

He had prepared a bit of a brandy-meets-tartare taste journey for us, kicking off with some yellowtail and moving on to some ostrich, beef & venison – all carefully paired with a particular Van Ryn’s brandy.

The yellowtail (top left) was my absolute favourite… (Food piccies my own)

Prizes were also handed out for best brandy blend of the day, which went to Misha (aka @Brandslut_) for her cinnamon, apple pie inspired blend. And best name, which went to Kayli (aka @kaylivee) for her blend called Dark Angels’ (she used the Angel share concept explained above as her inspiration behind the name). Nicely done ladies.

To the whole team at Van Ryn’s, Brink our fantastic guide, and all the girls – @Brandslut_, @kaylivee, @missemmajude, @natalieroos, @the_foodfox & @KaminiPather - thank you so so much for an amazing day.

If you want to experience some of the Van Ryn’s awesomeness for yourself. They offer the following great activities:

Brandy tours: Mon – Fri 10:00, 11:30 & 15:00, Sat & Public holidays 10:00, 11:30 & 13:00, Sun – no cellar tours
Tastings – opening hours: Mon – Fri 9:00 to 16:30, Sat 9:30 to 15:30 and Sun 11:00 to 16:00
Pairings: Brandy, coffee & chocolate pairing and a Florentine tasting (those yummy Tuscan biscuits)
Or just try their Angel’s share cocktail – Van Ryn’s 5 year old Viceroy, coffee & caramel, garnished with chocolate shavings.

Just contact them on 021 881 3875. And also check out the Fine Brand by Design website for more info on how to properly taste brandies, some cocktail ideas & also food pairing tips.

I’m thirsty now… is it happy hour yet?

xxx

Make a change in someone else’s life this weekend with 5 for change

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Karisa

This Saturday it is time to put on your best threads and get ready for a big night out with this year’s 5 for change event:

A party in support of some great causes…

5 for Change is an annual black tie fundraiser aimed at raising awareness for five inspiring local social enterprises which are making a big impact on people’s lives where it really counts. This year they are showing support for:

Waves for Change: They use surfing as a tool to create an alternative learning environment for children and young adults who are identified by their schools and communities as ‘at-risk’
Ilizwi Photography Club: A youth development initiative that works with young people in under-resourced communities by encouraging creative self expression through photography and multimedia.
Iyeza Express: An affordable delivery service for prescription medication to residents of Khayelitsha.
See-Saw-Do: They focus on the physical transformation of the spaces in which children develop, as well as on the production and distribution of mother-tongue reading material to these facilities.
Trashback: An incentivised recycling project where participants bring in recyclable materials and are rewarded with vouchers for their efforts, which can then be exchanged at local community stores.

To find out more about these amazing initiatives, read on over here.

People who attended last year’s bash raved about it, so I’m really excited to be checking it out this year. They’ve lined up Goldfish and The Rudimentals to keep you movin’ and shakin’ as well as some great giveaways and prizes as little special surprises on the night.

How do you get in on the action?

Just hop on over to Quicket over here to secure your ticket.
Tickets cost R300 pp (which includes welcome drinks and canapés)
When: Sat 18 May – 7pm till late.
Where: Cape Town City Hall
Dress code: Black tie… well in fact, I’ve heard that this year they are planning a Great Gatsby theme. So if you add a bit of Gatsby swag to your look, you might even be in the running for a best dressed prize… Here’s some inspiration from the upcoming film remake to get those creative juices flowing:

Photo credit: http://www.hdwallpapers.in/

Hope to see you guys there. Remember, it’s all for a good cause and your support will certainly make a big difference to the folks involved with the initiatives mentioned above.

To further entice you, check out some pics and a video from last year’s event over here.

xxx

Check out Lady Luck at the Intimate Theatre

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Karisa

Tonight is the opening night of Lady Luck at The Intimate Theatre in Gardens.

It’s a proudly South African play written by Marlisa Doubell, directed by award-winning Yvonne Copley and brought to you by Sugar-daddy Theatre Co.

The synopsis is as follows:

Set in the seedy underbelly of Cape Town, exotic dancer, Lisa (Sabine Palfi), tries to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.

Things soon spiral out of control and she finds herself thrust into a dangerous love triangle with Dean (Bjorn Steinbach), her explosive former fiancé, and his Greek boss, Nic (Aidan Whytock), a seductive mobster…

From left to right: Bjorn Steinback as Dean, Sabine Palfi as Lisa & Aidan Whytock as Nic

As you can see, it’s a bit of a saucy storyline. So no under 18s are allowed. But if saucy is right up your alley (and you know it is ), here’s all the important deets you need to know to reserve your seat:

When: Wed 15 May to Sat 25 May (excluding Sun/Mon)
Venue: Intimate Theatre, UCT Hiddingh Campus, 37 Orange Street
Time: 8pm
Tickets: R80 (students/pensioners/SAGA members R70). If you buy more than 10 tickets online, you can also get them for R70 AND on Tue 21 May, they’re doing a “half price Tuesday” special where you’ll only pay R40. Get your tickets from Computicket over here. Some stand-by tickets will also be available at the door (at full price only), but I’d say it’s better to plan ahead in case there are no spots left. Plus, Computicket has enabled the “print at home” option for this event, which means no queuing. Love it.

See you at the theatre folks.

xxx

A great night with Cape Royale’s Bistro 1800˚ Menu Launch

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Karisa

Photo credit: Justin Davis

Last week Thursday I attended the new menu launch of Bistro 1800˚ which is situated at the beautifully elegant Cape Royale Hotel & Spa over in Green Point.

Now as far as launches and events go, this one was certainly a goodie. Think flowing drinks all night long thanks to the folks at Nitida Wines, mini massages thanks to the Equinox Spa team (click on the link for my review of their spa), oysters and canapes at the VIP Sky Bar, followed by a 3 course sit down dinner, and out the door with a goodie bag filled with lots of little treats like some TRIBE Coffee and more (TRIBE has recently partnered with Bistro 1800˚, just so you know). Oh AND they also threw in a grand tour of the hotel, including their luxurious suites…

It was a jam packed evening, filled with great folks and great conversation and I woke up the next morning with a glorious hangover. Let’s just say Friday at the office was loooooooong & painful, but all worth it of course.

Now let me share my evening with you in pictures (and some words).

First we have one of their 2 bedroom suites. The place is bigger than my apartment, the kitchen is kitted out with anything you might need (including a dish washer) and on your first night, you’re treated to the most special turn down service I think I’ve ever seen:

That’s right folks. A monkey… a freakin’ monkey made out of a bath towel! (If I got one of those, I’d be the happiest chappy ever)

Then we moved up to the VIP sky bar where we watched the sunset while enjoying some bubbly, those mini massages I mentioned earlier and even some live music.

Photo credit: Justin Davis

Photo credit: Justin Davis

Then we headed back down to Bistro 1800˚ where we got to sample a selection of dishes from the new menu:

Cape Royale MD, Johann du Plessis, with (top) Chef Jonathan Gargan and (bottom) Food & Beverage manager, George Sakulias – Photo credit: Justin Davis

My favourite things were the chicken salad, both meat dishes and that orange infused chocolate mousse.

Jonathan & George say they set out to create a menu that is hearty with lots of comfort food options and dishes which are authentic, homely & uncomplicated. They’ve always been known for their steaks and the new menu still has lots of succulent options to choose from. Actually on that note, just an interesting little titbit – the bistro gets its name from their signature New York style grill, which cooks your steak perfectly at exactly 1800 degrees fahrenheit. So now you know. The new dishes include things like grilled loin of lamb (R135); phyllo baked Atlantic salmon (R139); Kingklip en papilote (R125) and slow roasted breast of duck (R125).

Find them at 47 Main Road, Green Point. And to make reservations, you can make use of the following contact details:

Bistro 1800˚: 021 430 0506 or info@18hundreddegrees.co.za

I’m also just going to leave you with some specials currently running which are definitely worth a mention:

VIP Sky Bar cocktail special: R30 a cocktail every day from 3pm – 6pm (just in case you weren’t sure – this bar is open to the public, it’s not only for hotel guests)
Equinox Spa Mother’s Day Special: For the whole month of May – book any facial, body treatment or spa package and receive a free 30min back neck & shoulder massage or 30min petite manicure.
Corporate lunch special at Bistro 1800˚: Two-course lunch starting at R99.00

Thanks to everyone at Cape Royale and Bistro 1800˚ as well as Jade, Aneeqa & Leozette from Red Carpet Concepts for an amazing night out. High 5s all round guys & girls…

Me with Leozette from Red Carpet Concepts – Photo credit: Justin Davis

xxx

** All pics my own unless specified otherwise.

Societi Bistro plans to take you on a Tour Through Italy

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Karisa

If you ever saw out my first blog, My Love Affair with Italy, you’ll know that my number one activity while touring through that incredibly beautiful country was definitely: eating. Italians love their food and it’s therefore a big part of their culture. (along with family, fast cars & fashionable dressing of course)

So no surprise then that I was super excited to hear about Societi Bistro‘s 2013 Tour Through Italy! (some of you might remember their 2012 Tour Through France).

They’re planning 10 weeks of Italian cuising, each week dedicated to a different Italian region with a different menu & carefully selected wine. I sadly missed out on their latest menu tasting session which took place this past Saturday (as I already had another commitment), but I’m definitely going to be paying them a visit for the full Italiano esperienza…

Things kick off this Wed, 15 May and will run until the week of 17 Jul. This is what’s waiting there for you each week:

Region 1 Sicilia- Wed 15 May to Tue 21 May
Pasta alla Norma R55
aubergine, tomato and ricotta
Cape fish of the day served with Caponata R115
traditional agro-dolce aubergine dish
Cannoli alla Siciliana R40
Sicilian ricotta pastries served with vanilla ice cream, citrus syrup
Suggested Wine: Flat Roof Manor Pinot Grigio
Region 2 Calabria & Basilicata - Wed 22 May to Tue 28 May
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca R42
Spaghetti with tomato, anchovy, olives, capers & basil
Melanzane Parmigiana R70
aubergine, pomodoro, Grana Padano bake
Chilli Infused Gelato R10 per scoop
Honey
Suggested Wine: OBiKWA Moscato
Region 3 Puglia - Wed 29 May to Tue 4 June
Orecchiette con Broccoli R50
“little ears” pasta with broccoli, garlic & chilli
Braciole al Sugo con Polpette R90
fresh mussels steamed with tomato, white wine, garlic, chilli and finished with olive oil
Bitter Chocolate & Cherry Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: Thelema Muscat de Frontignan
Region 4 Campania - Wed 5 June to Tue 11 June
Mozzarella in Carrozza R25
deep fried mozzarella sandwich, dressed rocket
Braciola di Maiale Pizzaiola R89
pork chop with Pizzaiola sauce
Chocolate & Almond Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: Idiom Bianco di Stellenbosch Pinot Grigio
Region 5 Molise, Abruzzo & Marche - Wed 12 June to Tue 18 June
Spaghetti all’ Aglio Olio e Peperoncino R42
spaghetti with garlic, olive oil & chilli
Cape Fish served with Inzimino & Salsa Verde R115
traditional chickpea, swiss chard & tomato stew with green sauce
Salame di Fichi Gelato R22
fig, almond & walnut ‘salami’ crumbled into Gelato served with an espresso
Suggested Wine: Idiom Sangiovese
Region 6 Lazio & Umbria - Wed 19 June to Tue 25 June
Lenticchie Con Salsicce R45
lentil stew with sausages
Saltimbocca R118
veal escalope, Prosciutto, sage
Gelato al Espresso R15
espresso flavoured ice cream
Suggested Wine: Idiom Rosso di Stellenbosch
Region 7 Tuscany & Liguiria - Wed 26 June to Tue 2 July
La Ribollita R38
hearty Tuscan bean soup
Bistecca alla Fiorentina R145
grilled 500g T-bone steak, fresh lemon
Candied Fruit Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: Terra del Capo Sangiovese
Region 8 Emilia – Romagna - Wed 3 July to Tue 9 July
Chicken Broth with Tortellini Bolognese R52
pasta filled with pork loin, Prosciutto & Mortadella stuffing, floating in a rich chicken broth
Lasagnia al Forno R80
oven-baked lasagnia with Ragù alla Bolognese
Grappa Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: La Vierge Satyricon
Region 9 North Western Italy - Wed 10 July to Tue 16 July
Canederli R45
broth, bread dumplings
Osso Bucco alla Milanese R130
veal shin, bone marrow & saffron risotto, Gremolata
Chocolate & Hazelnut Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: Steenberg Nebbiolo
Region 10 Veneto & Fruili, Venezia Guilia - Wed 17 July to Tue 23 July
La Jota Triestina R42
rich bean soup from Trieste with bacon
Fegato alla Veneziana R89
sautéed calf ’s liver, caramalised onion, soft polenta
Tiramisu R40
Suggested Wine: De Grendel Pinot Gris

Mmmmm… they had me at Gelato… (OK and many many other things) To make your reservation, give them a shout on: 021 42 42 100.

And then their address for those who are new to Societi Bistro: 50 Orange St, Gardens

Ciao ciao for now signore e signori! (that’s my last Italian reference, I promise - at least you can’t see my hand gestures from where you’re sitting. I mean we all know the Italians can’t speak without their hands )

xxx

PS. Check out the Tour Through Italy page for more info on the regions & the different wines.

Hot ticket – The Miser now showing at the Baxter until the 25th

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Karisa

How much do you love the Baxter?

According to Wikipedia:

A miser is a person who is reluctant to spend, sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. Although the word is sometimes used loosely to characterise anyone who is mean with their money, if such behaviour is not accompanied by taking delight in what is saved, it is not properly miserly…

This sets the scene quite well for The Miser which opened at the Baxter Theatre last night. Based on the 1668 five act comedy by French playwright Molière & directed by South African actress, voice-over artist & director, Sylvaine Strike, it certainly opened with a bang.

Brilliant performances by an incredible group of actors & actresses, amazing set & costume design, a fresh, sleek production which will have you on the edge of your seat throughout. No wonder this play won a whopping 4 Naledi Theatre Awards for Best Production of a Play, Best Director, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (for Patricia Boyer) and Best Costume Design.

In essence the story follows a man who loves his money more than anything else in the world. He is mean-spirited and selfish and runs a very strict household. When his children then fall in love with what he would class as the wrong kind of people, a crazy sequence of events unfolds…

It’s showing until 25 May, tickets cost only R150 each and you can get them from Computicket over here.

The play finds its home at the Baxter’s Flipside, which got its name because it’s basically the back side of the main theatre. It gets quite chilly in there, so do dress warmly. But they provide blankets as well if you need.

High 5s to the Fortune Cookie Theatre Company as well as the Market Theatre in Johannesburg for making sure us Capetonians also get to experience the brilliance of The Miser.

This will be a theatre experience that’ll transport you to a different world and stay with you for years to come. That I guarantee.

xxx

My Love Affair with Cape Town…

Just random fun in my mother city

Author Archives: Karisa

About Karisa

My stay at The Westin – part 2: time for some pampering

My stay at The Westin – part 1: dreaming & dining

5 for change – the night that was

Cool jazzy vibes at The Crypt

My brandy love affair thanks to Van Ryn’s

Make a change in someone else’s life this weekend with 5 for change

Check out Lady Luck at the Intimate Theatre

A great night with Cape Royale’s Bistro 1800˚ Menu Launch

Societi Bistro plans to take you on a Tour Through Italy

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