Read all the latest news in the hospitality industry, from appointments at Brookdale Estate and Sun City to award-winning gin and a dreamy beach restaurant.
NEW MANAGER FOR BROOKDALE ESTATE BISTRO
Michelle Michaels has been appointed as Bistro and Tasting Room Manager at Brookdale Estate in Paarl. Michaels comes with extensive experience in the wine and hospitality industry –she hasspent the past eight years as Group Head Sommelier of The Liz McGrath Collection, and as Head Sommelier at The Greenhouse Restaurant at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel and Spa, and later at Matt at Homespun at The Andros Hotel.
Her career first started as Junior Sommelier at The Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl, after which she went abroad to Gravetye Manor House, a Relais & Châteaux property in England and its One Star Michelin restaurant, where she was the appointed Head Sommelier for four years. On her return to South Africa, she spent the next ten years as Head Sommelier at The Marine Hotel in Hermanus and The Plettenberg in Plettenberg Bay.
WESLI JACOBS APPOINTED EXEC CHEF OF THE PALACE AT THE LOST CITY
Previously Executive Chef at Sun International’s The Table Bay Hotel, Wesli moved with his wife and two children to Sun City in November 2023. “It’s hot,” is his reply to how he is finding Rustenberg. “I’m enjoying the new culture and languages –from Xhosa and Afrikaans in the Cape to Setswana and Sesotho here. I am adapting to my employees and understanding what they need to do their jobs well.
”His portfolio includes eight departments, with 85 people reporting to him. Jacobs is responsible for feeding guests at the 30-seater Tusk Bar, 240-seater breakfast buffet Crystal Court, 300-seater Banqueting space, 50-seater Croc Lounge at the golf course and 70-seater The Grill Room. “I also oversee catering staff, where we can do 300 meals each day.”
IMAGIN CLASSIC WINS AT WORLD GIN AWARDS
Amidst hundreds of well-known and established gins, Imagin Classic Gin, has taken the top spot as the South African winner for the Classic Gin Category at the recent World Gin Awards 2023*. This handcrafted, double-distilled gin is one of the most affordable in its class, further adding to its appeal.
“This is a massive honour for our team”, says KWV Spirits Marketing Executive, Nuno Fernandes. “This award shows that a high-quality gin doesn’t have to break the bank.”Imagin Classic retails at R169 per bottle and is described as having a distinct botanical taste, with a blend of juniper, fruity aromas and lemon flavours.
MORUKURU FAMILY DE HOOP LAUNCHES BEACH CAFÉ
Bites Beach Café has opened its doors in the ‘Koppie Alleen’ Cape Dutch cottage within the De Hoop Nature Reserve. The remote fisherman’s cottage has amazing views of the shoreline and has been sensitively converted incorporating modern architectural elements, such as floor to ceiling glazing, in order to capitalise on its position.
With a casual daytime menu of fresh fish, wood-fired pizzas and burgers, Bites is open to walkers and day visitors to De Hoop Nature Reserve for lunch and coffee whilst in the evening it will be exclusively for Morukuru Family guests, either from Beach Lodge or Ocean House, when the menu will offer African-themed fine dining featuring South African dishes with a twist.
