Great Brak River Chef Wins CXPRESS Culinary Award

Caption

Stefan Jamneck (left) of the Transkaroo Restaurant in Great Brak River is the CXPRESS Garden Route Gastro Nomix Chef of the Year for 2011. A special award was made to Mike Clarke from Clarke of the Karoo in Barrydale.. The Ordre Mondial Wine Server of the Year (this new category was announced at the 2010 awards): went to Joseph Pietersen of Serendipity and the Eden School of Culinary Art Young Chef of the Year went to Matteo Battaini of La Locanda. The function was held  on Monday at the brand new stylish Salina’s Beach Restaurant in Wilderness.(Photo: Denise Lloyd)

Stefan Jamneck from Great Brak River is the Gastro Nomix Chef of the Year for 2011.

Stefan Jamneck of the Transkaroo Restaurant in Great Brak River is the Gastro Nomix Chef of the Year for 2011. He was given this prestigious award at the annual CXPRESS Garden Route Culinary Awards evening which took place on Monday at the brand new stylish Salina’s Beach Restaurant in Wilderness.

The runner up was Alma Oosthuizen  of Chef Alma @ Groenvlei. The Gannet Restaurant in Mossel Bay is also one of the Top 20 restaurants in the vicinity.The cream of Garden Route restaurateurs, chefs and servers were there to share in the fun while the Top 20 restaurants in the area were announced. This year the function was graciously sponsored by Nell-Marie le Roux from NLR Wines.

Chef Francois Ferreira headed the Panel of Judges

Celebrity Chef Francois Ferreira,  Bailli Délegué of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs South Africa and foodie par excellence Anne Hadley spear headed the panel of judges. Anne’s late husband and long-time CXPRESS food critic, Ian Hadley, was the initial driving force behind the Gastro Nomix Top 10 Garden Route restaurant awards more than a decade ago. Recently the official nod was received from the South African Chefs Association, who declared the awards a nationally recognised event.

The other floating trophies went to the following persons

• Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Server of the Year: Shane Schoeman  of Pomodoro
• Ordre Mondial Wine Server of the Year (this new category was announced at the 2010 awards): Joseph Pietersen – Serendipity
• Eden School of Culinary Art Young Chef of the Year: Matteo Battaini – La Locanda

 Special Achievement Award went to Mike Clarke from Barrydale

This year the panel   made an exception to the geographical criteria, i.e. just off the Garden Route track, in selecting Mike Clarke from Clarke of the Karoo in Barrydale.  Mike was at the Beacon Isle Hotel for many years and then popularised Crabs Creek in Knysna. Over the years, Mike has worked hard to keep a consistent high standard of cuisine and service, and Clarke of the Karoo has become a destination restaurant on the R62.

 The Top 20 Culinary Destinations on the Garden Route in 2011 are

• The Rose on York (George)
• Transkaroo (Great Brak River )
• Lemongrass (Plettenberg Bay)
• Chef Alma @ Groenvlei –(Sedgefield)
• Cruise Café ( Knysna)
•  Kafe Serefe (George )
•  House of Flavour (George)
• Caloroso Café –(George)
•  The Gannet ( Mossel Bay),
•  Joplin’s ( Wilderness )
•  La Capannina (George)
• Pomodoro (Wilderness),
• Thyme & Again ( Plettenberg Bay )
•  Bramon (Plettenburg Bay),
• Kurland Hotel (Plettenburg Bay)
•  La Rosa Blu (Hops Valley)
•  Roadside Deli (Hops Valley),
• Waterside Grill @ Hyatt Hotel,-(Oubaai)
•  Cornuti al Mare –(Plettenburg Bay) a
•  Zucchini at Timberlake (Wilderness)

Lalakoi Publishing Salutes the  CXPRESS Culinary Legends

During the past decade of CXPRESS Culinary Awards, some of the restaurants have consistently performed so well that they have always claimed a place on the Top 10 and Top 20 lists. This year the judging panel suggested a new category called CXPRESS Culinary Legends, which are restaurants that have made the grade for three years and longer and especially those on the ‘Best’ list for three or more years.

The Garden Route Culinary Legends for 2011 are:

• Serendipity –(Contemporary South African Dining
• La Locanda (Casual Italian Dining)
•  Pembreys –(Elegant Dining)
• Sand at The Plettenberg ( Fine Dining)
•  The Girls ( Casual Dining)
•  Ile de Pain –(Bistro Style Eatery)
•  The Bell Tavern at Belvedere (Pub Style Eatery)
•  Travel Bugs  (Coffee/Tea Emporium)

Special Merit Award went to Kelvin Appelgren of Caloroso Café

This award will not necessarily be granted annually, but only when there is cause to. This year the award went to Kelvin Appelgren of Caloroso Café who, through dedication to his art, has inspired everyone on the Garden Route coffee scene to up their game.

Kaaimans Kaya

Wilderness Self Catering Accommodation

Kaaimans Kaya is located on the banks of the Kaaimans River adjacent to the N2 between George and Wilderness on the Garden Route and offers  self catering accommodation for 14 people.

Kaaimans Kaya in Wilderness

Access to the house is by boat only – making a stay at Kaaimans Kaya in Wilderness even more unique and exiting!

Widerness Accommodation

Kaaimans Kaya in Widerness offers accommodation for up to 14 persons in the main house (Sans Souci), the Waterfall annex and the Far Side Honeymoon suite.  Ideal for couples, families and groups. Here you can relax, enjoy the tranquil setting or have a big braai/ “kuier” with friends!

Accommodation on the Kaaimans River near Wilderness

The main house has been a family beach house for the past 100 years and has recently been renovated.  All accommodation options have access to the communal outdoor braai and a huge wooden deck with spectacular views of the Kaaimans River and Kaaimans Bridge!

Eco Friendly Accommodation in the Garden Route

Kaaimans Kaya on the Kaaimans River in the Garden Route offers Eco-friendly accommodation, with no Eskom electricity or municipal water. We are powered by generator and solar power in the evenings, water is supplied from rain water tanks.

Visitors to Kaaimans Kaya can also make use of the row boat and canoe and explore the wonders of the Kaaimans River!
Knowledge and Francis live next to the house and are there to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Accommodation at Kaaimans Kaya in Wilderness
The accommodation at Kaaimans Kaya on the banks of the Kaaimans River in Wilderness on the Garden Route consists of the following.

SANS SOUCI – MAIN HOUSE

This 100 year old house offers accommodation in 2 bedrooms and a spacious loft with its own wooden deck boasting 180 degree views of the river The kitchen is equipped with cutlery and crockery as well as a 2 plate stove and fridge both powered by gas.  The living area with TV, large dining room table and couches opens to the deck area with bar, braai and outside kitchen area.

Two additional bedrooms are available in the Waterfall annex.

Main house Bedroom 1: 1 x Double Bed

Main House Bedroom 2: 1 x Double Bed

Main House Loft : 4  x single beds

Waterfall Annex:

Bedroom 1: 1 x Double bed

Bedroom 2: 2 x Single Beds

Separate Shower and toilet.

FAR SIDE HONEYMOON SUITE.

This free standing unit is secluded from the main house and offers a fantastic view of the river, Kaaimans Bridge and ocean.  This open plan unit offers simple cooking facilities, double bed and bathroom with toilet and basin.  Shower is available in the Waterfall annex.

Rates:

Sans Souci – Sleeps 10 to 12 persons

* Weekend (in Friday afternoon, out Sunday afternoon) – R1000 for weekend

* Week (7 nights) – R2000 for week

Far Side – Sleeps 2 persons

* R250 per night

Should you wish to rent Kaaimans Kaya exclusively for your group for a weekend  the rate will be R1500 for two nights!
Contact Details:
Dirk – 082 579 0208

LOCAL FINE DINING AWARD WINNERS

Southern Cape award winners at the 2010 American Express Platinum Fine Dining Award Ceremony at the One and Only Hotel in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Monday 28 September. From left: Pamela White (Amex Merchants), Leon Coetzee (GM Stonehill Restaurant), Allan Robertson (owner Stonehill Restaurant, Klein Brak River), Victor Strugo (selector and well-known food critic), Lizelle and Rudolf Stolze (owners Serendipity in Wilderness), Lannice Snyman (judge and award-winning culinary expert and author), Peter Vadas (Pembreys in Knysna) and Vanessa Singh, Head of Card Marketing for American Express. (PHOTO: DENISE LLOYD)

La Laconda, Italian Restaurant received its first Platinum Award

La Locanda, the delightful Italian restaurant at the top of York Street in
George is one of the 13 new restaurants country wide to join the ranks of
the American Express Platinum Fine Dining Programme. The restaurant received its first Platinum Award at the Award Ceremony held at the One and Only Hotel in Cape Town on Monday 28 September.

Serendipity ( Wilderness) and Pembrys (Knysna) also received their awards

Rudolf and Lizelle Stolze from Serendipity in Wilderness and Peter Vadas
from Pembreys in Knysna were present at the ceremony to receive their
awards.

Their third consecutive award was awarded to Stonehill Restaurant from Klein Brak River

Stonehill Restaurant in Klein Brak River is the only Mossel Bay restaurant
to received this award. This was their third consecutive award and
especially a feather in their cap seeing that the restaurant has been under
renovation and construction for the past few months.

Stonehill Restaurant will reopen on 17 October 2009 with new cellar and tasting facilities

According to owner Allan Robertson Stonehill Restaurant and Cool Bay Wines
will reopen to the public on Saturday 17 October. The brand new cellar and
tasting facility, the brainchild of Boplaas’ Carel Nel, will be open daily
for tasting and the selling of wine.

Plettenberg Bay award winners were Hunters Country House and Sand at the Plettenberg

“We will be bringing the winelands experience to the coast” Allan said.
Jemima’s in Oudtshoorn is the only Klein Karoo restaurant to win and the
Plettenberg Bay restaurants to be honoured are: Hunters Country House
Restaurant and Sand at the Plettenberg

American Express Platinum Fine Dining Awards are a sure source of motivation

Victor Strugo, selector for the American Express Platinum Fine Dining
Programme since its inception in 1998 and a well-known food critic who
reviews restaurants for a number of publications, believes that the renewal
of 72 awards bears testimony to the fact that restaurants are continuously
ensuring that quality is foremost in their menus and the that the standards
set by the .

Although belts have been tightened, quality prevails as consumers with an
appreciation of fine dining continue to satisfy their discern palate

Vanessa Singh, Head of Card Marketing for American Express, said that
although belts have been tightened, quality prevails as consumers with an
appreciation of fine dining continue to satisfy their discern palate. “It is
pleasing to see that independently owned restaurants with innovative,
individualistic and superior quality menus are winning the approval of food
lovers across South Africa” she added.

Strugo said that the renewal of 72 awards country wide bears testimony to
the fact that restaurants are continuously ensuring that quality is foremost
in their menus and the standards set by the American Express Platinum Fine
Dining Awards are a sure source of motivation.

Author: Denise Lloyd