Thursday, December 05, 2013

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, near Gansbaai

The main reception building of the Garden Lodge, which also houses the bar and one of the restaurants.
Thatched and clad with local stone, it rises up out of the fynbos
No, this is not two suites.  It was all ours with our treed deck
The view from the other side
The lounge
The bedroom we chose - because of its beautiful view of the bay from the bed which, sadly, was invisible the next morning
The bathroom was behind the bed and had a great rain shower and a hand held shower spray. The bath was the perfect shape for lazing and reading in. A great place to drink the real Ethiopian coffee and black pepper biscotti we had early morning.  The loo is separate and private
The small ‘kitchen’ area with minibar just off the lounge
The main bedroom with its own en suite bathroom
Relaxing in reception before the SAWI Awards
The breakfast menu.  Who can choose between Eggs Benedict, Rösti with smoked salmon or Flapjacks with streaky bacon and maple syrup!?
Manager Sean chats to the owner Michael Lutzeyer and Izak Smit of SAWi in the dining room while we have breakfast. It was rainy and chilly, so they had a nice fire lit.
John, sensibly, had muesli and fruit...
The breakfast bar laden with choices, healthy and maybe not...
Good selection of seasonal fruit
...and then he had a couple of muffins
Lynne chose the luscious Potato cake with smoked salmon
Relax with the papers at the bar
Wonderful African art is everywhere, including these witty depictions of most normal women’s bodies, pregnant or cuddly
A small private table between the forest trees
This is the new Forest Lodge which is about a five minute drive from the Garden Lodge
The comfortable lounge area with a bar and, behind that, the restaurant
Looking across the reserve to the Garden Lodge
Apparently, this is a perfect space and place for a wedding
These are the luxury forest lodges. Check out http://www.grootbos.com
You can also read the papers in the Forest Lodge lounge
Very clever architecture gives unexpected angles and views and the buildings all sit well in the landscape

The chicks have flown.  There are many of these weaver nests all over the reserve, always close to water
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Seafood lunch at The Hotel School, Granger Bay








 Jerome Peters, head chef
 Ian Manley












© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Launch of Mondiall restaurant at the V&A Waterfront

Mondiall’s entrance
It has a good deck for sitting outside
The bar, with mojitos and other cocktails lined up
Lots of space on the large covered veranda with doors that open up onto the deck in front 
and to the terrace facing the bay
Double volumes and industrial decor, and a balcony area on the right
above the semi-open kitchen
View of the wine bar from the balcony above
Chef Oliver Cattermole
CanapĂ©s came fast and furious. 
These were crayfish Vietnamese rolls
Moroccan chickpeas on chiabata
Josh Roland helping to feed the guests
A good jazz and bongo band
Organised activity, with the chef directing in the sparkling kitchen
The sommelier does not have to climb that high,
these empty bottles are for display
Good design can be a mix of modern and traditional
A wall of back lit wine bottles is part of the design
Coenie Visser, Ellen Raubenheimer, Dawn Jorgensen & Lynne
Christmas comes to the Waterfront
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013