I’ve done a fair bit of “fine dining” in my time, both locally and internationally. I find the local offerings stuffy and artificial, often confusing bothersome over-attention with tip-top service. As any good butler or concierge will know, excellent service can stem from doing nothing at all – ie. knowing when to leave the employer/customer alone. There is nothing I hate more than service staff checking-up over and over again to see if I’m ok. “Well, my friend, to be honest I was ok, before you interrupted my train of thought for the third time today, to ask if I was ok.”

Which brings me to the Planet Restaurant - a plush newly-decorated high-ceiling affair within Cape Town’s most grand and famous hotel, the Mount Nelson. Some people might refer to it as fine dining, but it’s not.

In a good way.

When entering the restaurant itself, there is no doubt that you have arrived at an upmarket establishment, where no expense has been spared in its decoration and presentation. The staff are highly attentive and clearly well-trained, with genuine smiles and warmth replacing the ironically clueless stuck-up snooty attitude that we have grown accustomed to in South Africa’s posh restaurants.

The Mount Nelson’s highly-acclaimed chef, Rudi Liebenberg,  has put together a menu to be proud of, with a selection to suit every palette (check out their awesome menu here). I was not surprised that the cuisine itself was beautifully presented and more than delicious, and want to focus more on the experience as a whole. It should be noted that you are also offered the chance to have a glass of wine to pair with each dish, with an expert available to help you make that choice. I gave that a miss and stuck to the De Grendel.

But the thing that got me was this – once our main meal had arrived, we were checked on just once, and then left alone. Now that might seem like a basic thing to you, but I assure you these days it is not. The waiter could see we were in discussion and I watched him out the corner of my eye – as he looked from across the room, gauging for himself as to whether or not we needed to be interrupted. Every now and then our glasses would be topped up, without a word uttered by the young gentleman.

The “fine dining” “silver service” badge kicked in again, as my partner went to the bathroom. She had just left the table when, quick-as-a-flash, her chair was straightened and her napkin placed, neatly folded, over the arm of the chair – prepared for her return. It’s those little special details that I want out of my dining experience. Those are the important things. Not overdoing the attention and checking five times if “everything is ok.”

The Planet Restaurant at the Mount Nelson is where you want to go for a special dining experience. It could be classed as “fine dining” but I would caution such a description, as that particular term has lost it’s cool. Nobody really wants fine dining anymore. If they want something impressive, classy and cool – with outstanding food and top professional service, this is what they’re after.

You’ll leave satisfied, with a smile on your face – something all too rare in the “fine dining” realm..

Imagine a canope in your left hand, a glass of De Grendel’s 2011 De Viognier in the other. With a tasting note like this, you can’t go wrong:

This wine has delightful apricot, dried peach and pineapple flavours that follow through on the palate. The barrel fermented portion adds a buttery quality to the balanced mouthfeel that finishes with a crisp dry acidity.

A great food wine – will pair well with rich pasta, chicken and pork dishes.

Well, get thee to the winery!

From November onwards you can make sundowners part of the rhythm of your week: a glass of exquisite De Grendel wine and a nibble in hand, the picturesque view of Table Mountain and a week-end to look forward to. What more can you ask for?

Date

Friday afternoons from November

Time:

17h00 till 20h00

Where

Tasting room @ De Grendel

Cost

R100 per person.

The vibe includes a welcoming drink by De Grendel Wines and canapés prepared by our guest chef. These flavour-packed bite-sized morsels might just be enough to replace dinner, depending on your appetite.

Don’t want to miss out? Contact Christelle at 021 558 6280 or Christelle@degrendel.co.za for more info or to book.

MASSIVE thanks goes out to www.idodigital.co.za and www.freehandproductions.co.za for their full-service filming and editing skills. Highly recommended! Follow the link to check the video..

And again, to all the 2oceansvibe liquid brands that made the day so special. Hugs and kisses. Mwah. Mwah.

But because it is so exclusive and ‘intimate’ we can only allow space for eight special people – you and seven friends! So it’s the Cape Royale pool, beautiful boys, beautiful babes, hot music, celebs, super-chilled drinks and some hot tunes!

Oh, and did I mention that the whole thing will be streamed – live via webcam on the internet? So your 9-to-5 mates can watch you from their desks – as you quietly destroy an epic day in the sun! Shame! Shame on you for being such a legend!

I’m FINE with that! See below to WIN the afternoon of your life!!

To win eight tickets (you + seven friends), simply do the following:

- Email competition@2oceansvibe.com and tell us WHY you should win the tickets.

- Send anything you want – photographs, poems – whatever you want.

- We will check it all out and the most fabulous entry (which shows us how much sexy fun you are and and how much you love goldfish and how much you love pool parties and that you promise to be wearing boardshorts, flops, towels and bikinis) will win.

How hilariously awesome is that?

Competition closes at midnight tonight (Thursday night) and if you DON’T hear from us by 8am on Friday morning, then you have NOT won.

If you DO hear from us by 8am on Friday morning, then you will see what the email says – and it will probably say that you are a winner!

Go go go!

The guys behind the tune are none other than I Scream And The Chocolate Stix – the same guys who gave you the sensational online viral tune My Cape Town.

People LOVE that tune – including the likes of Helen Zille, I might add!

So anyway, we’ve had a number of requests for the lyrics of the Seth Song. And here theyt are – along with an online recording of the tune.

Press the orange play button below.

Enjoy!

The virtual tour itself let’s you cruise around the Cape Royale hotel (spinning 360 degrees up AND down in every room), with “hotspots” which allow you access to the next room – ultimately leading you up to my private penthouse..

The Cape Royale lobby – after you click to open the front door

Above is a screenshot from the actual page you can go to for your own mind-blowing virtual tour. You will notice not only the purple icon in the top left portion of the picture (allowing you to “jump” to the next inter-leading room) but also action icons beneath the main image, letting you move around the current room; up, down, left, right- zooming in and out.

Zooming in and out comes in quite handy – especially when you make your way from the lobby, into the elevator and through to my suite. Once you get there, I’d advise you to pop into the bedroom, as I have a bit of a surprise for you..

And don’t even get me started on the bathroom.

No, I’m serious – there is a bubble bath shot.. Let alone the lingerie shot taken in the kitchen..

There are also incredible vistas of the mother city, taken from the Sky Bar and pool deck, as well as from my balcony, showing never-seen-before footage of the World Cup Stadium in all her glory, at night.

The genius who made this for me also managed to add hotspots to all the various 2oceansvibe brands which are always found dotted around my life. This allows you to follow-up on those brands, should you wish, simply by clicking the green icons dotted around the virtual tour.

So do yourself a favour and check out this INCREDIBLE virtual tour of the penthouse at my primary residence – The Cape Royale Hotel.

CLICK HERE FOR VIRTUAL TOUR

So whilst Montrose Place deals with the treatment of varying addictions, Montrose Foundation’s aim, through their Youth at Risk program, is “to create awareness of addiction globally and in South Africa and to focus on youth addiction prevention and the optimisation of outpatient treatment.” It is the same program which was supported by the L’Ormarins Queens Plate, and the same program which has, since it’s recent inception, already taken care of over 60 disadvantaged youth.

Back to the party – do you even know where De Grendel is?! You’re in for QUITE a treat!

Click invite to enlarge for details
Including details of the Montrose charities
who will benefit from this event

It’s no secret that De Grendel wine farm is 2oceansvibe’s preferred wine producer, and with unmatched views of Table Mountain and Cape Town from the majestic hills of Tygerberg, you couldn’t ask for a more perfect setting.

The gates open at 17h00, with the concert kicking off at 18h00. You can expect all the trimmings, including champagne bar, wine bar, various food and cheese stands and nothing but great music, including the Cape Town Opera, the Hout Bay Music Project and Cape Town’s very own, the legendary Rupert Mellor!

Due to 2oceansvibe’s constant referencing of South Africa’s very own Billy Joel, I am often besieged by people asking where and when Rupert Mellor is playing. Well, I’m telling you right now where he is playing. It’s on February 14th and it’s at the Montrose Foundation’s Midsummer Melodies concert at De Grendel.

It’ll be good times with good people and it’s a nice change from the norm. What’s more, is you can walk away with your karma in good nick good because this is all going to a good cause.

It’s an experience – rather than a dull Valentine’s Day doing the same thing at the same place with the same crap service.

Live a little and check out the Montrose Foundation website (incl. picnic menu!) and secure your ticket NOW – and trust me, with an event like this, you better MOVE!

See you there!

Here’s a taste of the latest mailer (sorry, couldn’t help myself).

Tracy (as signed above) is the owner of NoMU and, as mentioned in my esteemed wine pairings, I have had the pleasure of her very own private home cuisine. Now whilst I do admit to “making up” the various pairings I gave as this month’s NoMU mailer guest contributor, I do feel my suggestions have merit. And anyway, I was told that there weren’t really any rules when it came to the process – a notion which suits me to a tee!

Please contain yourself as I present the photo and intro I was bestowed:

“Glowing,” you might say?

It’s always satisfying when people take your musings seriously (in both English and Spanish, no less!), and even better when they accompany it with a photo of you taking yourself even more seriously!

Jokes aside, the 2oceansvibe audience has a certain sophistication and I am well aware of the leagues of food fans out there. That said, if you haven’t yet subscribed to the NoMU Food Files mailer, I strongly suggest you do!

After all, it’s NoMU – and it doesn’t get much better than that.

CLICK HERE to check out the NoMU website, subscribe to the mailer (click “recipe mailer” at the top) and check out my wine pairings!

Byt the way, three subscribers will win prizes including 2oceansvibe bubbly of choice (Boschendal Grande Cuvee Brut) as well as our favourite wine, De Grendel (the limited edition “Winifred”)!

I’m not sure if they realised that Wednesday was a public holiday… Naturally, I’ll be taking things to the next level..

Haaaah! Did you see that? They used words like “free reign” and “do whatever you want!!” I mean, really, it’s in black & white, right?

Yes, it is.

That’s why I made some calls and am turning this into a very brief, very exclusive 2oceansvibe party for YOU. I’ve arrange a DJ (DJ Sox, no less) with high-powered sound and apart from this 45% discount on ALL Puma gear, there will also be FREE Jack Black Beer, FREE De Grendel wine, FREE Pussy Natural Energy Drink and, while we’re at it, I got the geniuses at Thirst Bar Services to pull round and fill in the gaps with cocktails and other beautiful concoctions!!

With South Africa’s most exclusive mobile bar service, Thirst, 2oceansvibe’s top beverage brands, our favourite DJ, and virtually half price off all PUMA gear, I couldn’t think of a better way to welcome the Wednesday public holiday! (Let alone Christmas!)

Can you?

No, you can’t.

Make sure you get there!

HOW DO YOU WIN ACCESS TO THIS RIDICULOUS EVENT?

COMPETITION CLOSED

To the people who posted the first 100 comments below, see you there – Tuesday 15th December, Puma Store, V&A Waterfront. From 19h00 to 21h00..

Naah……nothing!

Like this… I mean why would you ever want to learn how to open a bottle of wine with your shoe?

Admit it, that is probably the best thing you have learnt this year.

SAY IT!!!!!

Luckily for me, most of De Grendel’s wines are screw-top and the Boschendal bubbly just needs a bit of coaxing before she pops!

Can’t wait to see various people around Cape Town opening up bottles of wine this way – can you imagine..

Too funny!

Useful! But funny, nonetheless!

[thanks barry]

Mombasa Cafe – Cavendish Square

An excerpt from the article which I wrote LIVE, on location:

Not that I was going to judge them for being empty. The only waiter in the establishment welcomed me as I chose a seat, suggesting he brings me a lime and soda with the menu.

I opened up my divine little Sony Vaio laptop as the drink arrived.

My SHOCKING toasted chicken mayonnaise experience at the Kelvin Grove pool on Friday (where I chilled before getting ready to watch Rupert Mellor and the Thunderbirds in the Kelvin Grove ballroom) had left me yearning for a decent variation, so I gave my order to the waiter.

“Toasted chicken mayo on wholewheat please with chips. Please also bring some cheap white vinegar, Tabasco sauce and a Hansa.” (They didn’t have Jack Black).

“We don’t have Tabasco sauce,” came the reply.

“Chrrrrrist, are you fucking serious?”

“Yes Sir”

“Must I go and buy some for you?” I asked.

“Heh heh,” he laughed nervously. “Can we make you some fresh chilli?”

“Yes,” I said. “I won’t use it but I want you to make it as punishment.”

Off he went to put in the order, as I decided to write this article. The beer never arrived as our boy fucked off out of the restaurant for over 10 minutes. I kept an eye on the bar to see when the beer would appear so that I could fetch it myself.

Freak Show came back and I asked him how the beer was looking. “Oh shit” came the reply as he sprinted to the till, realising he had forgotten to put the beer order in. Bearing in mind that I was and STILL AM the only person in the restaurant. WHAT a fucking knob-end!

He brought the beer and the food which was fine, I suppose.

Whilst I was eating I heard a discussion between him and the barman where he mentioned, somewhat surprised, that La Scala and MOST of the other restaurants in Cavendish Square were full.

Yes, my love, they are full.

And I am still the only person in your restaurant.

I wonder why.

I’m not saying the reason is because you don’t have Tabasco sauce – but I’m quite sure it’s helping your quest for zero turnover.

Good bye.

And now, more than a year later, the owners of the establishment GOOGLED their restaurant and found the aforementioned article.

So, firstly, a big welcome for the owners to 2009 and the internet in general. Welcome aboard!

This was their belated email response which came in this weekend (CAPS LOCK ATTACK warning):

From: Pat Pryce-Fitchen
Date: 01 November 2009 12:31:16 PM SAST
To: editor@2oceansvibe.com
Subject: Mombasa Cafe Cavendish

Your write up on Mombasa is way old …..10 march 2008

Please GO & EAT before you speak as its a NIGHT SUPPER VENU FORCED TO BE OPEN BY THE SHOPPING CENTERE TRADING HOURS.

THE BEST AFRICAN RESTAURANT In THE CAPE TOBASCO IS NOT AFRICAN BUT BECEAUSE SOME A>>>>OF A WAITER DID NOT KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE IT,!!!!!! YOU DONT PHONE ME OR ASK FOR THE MANAGER YOU JUST GIVE A BAD WTITE UP< I DONT EVEN WANT TO SELL TOASTED SARMIES BUT WHO EATS GRILLED EAST COAST SOLE AS 10 AM ?????

Fillet out of this world LAMB SHANK In THE MOROCCAN STYLE TO DIE FOR.

Mauritian prawn curry just BRILLIANT

Mombasa is so passionate about food that it makes 3 types of prawn curries all BRILLIANT The SWAHILI one sells by the ton!!!!! No tobasco BUT REAL EASTERN SPICES MAKING MOMBASAS FOOD WORLD CLASS

Potjies served at the table are also to die for

best spare ribs you ever had

Vegetarian foods fantastic
AND IT HAS ALWAYS HAD JIM Beam BLACK

I owned La Scala AS well at the time of your write up & ironicly MOMBASA CAFE has always had the HIGHER TURNOVER BY FAR…………..

You see if you can find better BURGERS ANY WHERE

Try an omelette

TRY A MARGARITA OR A COSMOPOLITAN BEST YOU EVER HAD

The owner cant always know what iddiottic things waters can do or SAY & its unfair to beline a brilliant restaurant beceause of some FOOL>
ALSO SADELY MANY MANAGERS ARE REALLY DAMERGERS!!!

PLEASE LET THE OWNERS KNOW

REGARDS

Pat Pryce-Fitchen
Owner OF the FANTASTIC & OFTEN PACKED AT NIGHT MOMBASA CAFE

Good for you, Pat – look at you go!!!

Passion!!! That’s what we like – beautiful shit!

I’ll be back…in the evening.

I just need to confirm that you definitely have Tabasco sauce? As well as the 2oceansvibe beverages of choice: including De Grendel wine, Jack Black beer, Boschendal Grande Cuvee Brut and Pussy Natural Energy Drink?

Please respond via the comments facility below this article.

Killer Combination
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to Co-Host 2010 Oscars

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to Co-Host 2010 Oscars – Producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman stated, “We think the team of Steve and Alec are the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars. Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event.” [popeater]

Warren Buffett To Buy Railroad – Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. agreed to buy railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. in what he described as an “all-in wager on the economic future of the United States.” The deal, the largest ever for Berkshire is valued at $44 billion. Mellow. [bloomberg]

Anna Wintour is Now a Presidential Appointee – No, she is not leaving Vogue, no she is not moving to D.C., no she has not been installed as the monarch of some European country. She’s just on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. [gawker]

The Many Faces of Agliotti – Norbert “Glenn” Agliotti: A man who “knows all the gangsters” and isn’t ashamed to cry, a fashion connoisseur with a rainbow of ties, a kind-hearted gentleman and a convicted drug trafficker – As seen in the last 11 days as state witness in the corruption trial of his once-friend, former police head Jackie Selebi. [news24]

Rihanna Opens Up About Attack -RIHANNA has finally broken her silence over her attack by CHRIS BROWN. In an interview with Good Morning America which will be screened this week, she warned of the threat of domestic abuse. She said: “This happened to me. It can happen to anyone.” [thesun]

Prince Charles Opens Burberry – The Prince of Wales opened the new global headquarters of British fashion house Burberry, at Horseferry House in London: totalling 160,000 sq ft over eight floors, houses over 800 employees and comprises cutting edge show rooms, design studios, modern contemporary office space and photo studios together with the exterior architectural features of the original 1930s building. [luxuo]

De Grendel Wine Estate Introduces Friday Sundowners – With the most breathtaking view of Cape Town, Table Mountain and Robben Island, it’s no surprise that De Grendel has kicked off this new Friday 17h00 to 21h00 concept – with wine and canapès. Very nice! Check it out. [degrendel]

Robbing a bank is as simple as putting pen to paper – Here are actual demand notes used in successful and unsuccessful unarmed bank robberies – - accompanied by a photo of each robber and appended with details about the robbery itself. [banknotes365]

How Joost Came to Tell the Truth – From the man who wrote the book (the second book, if you are counting), a firsthand account of how the most famous chapter came to be. You know, the one about The Video. [thedailymaverick]

Life of Muhammad to be filmed, but don’t expect to see him on screen – In Hollywood terms, it was the greatest story almost never told – until now. With Middle Eastern money becoming an increasingly powerful cog in the global entertainment industry, it was perhaps inevitable that, sooner or later, someone would embark on a mega-budget epic about the life of the Prophet Mohammed. [timesonline]

Recycled Vespa Scooter Furniture Takes Salvage to New Heights – If different modes of transportation are to be blamed for leaving a major share of carbon footprints, their salvage is to be credited for contributing to a green lifestyle. The category just got wider with furniture made from vintage Vespa scooters. [bornrich]

Photog Dies After Taking Lady Gaga Pics – Lady Gaga stepped onto the red carpet on Monday night sporting a widow-esque black veil, and minutes later, celebrity photographer A.J. Sokalner was dead. Sokalner was working the red carpet at the ACE Awards that the ‘Poker Face’ singer was attending in New York City when he collapsed just minutes after Gaga took to the carpet. [pdnonline ]

Victoria’s Secret Model Stephanie Seymour Divorce Case Reveals Lavish Lifestyle – Starting Oct. 23, Brant, who lists assets of about $490 million, was to begin paying his wife of 16 years $270,000 a month in alimony and support for their three children, according to the order of Judge Elaine Gordon. But that appears just to be drop in the bucket to what Brant is worth, according to the judge’s decision.[stamfordadvocate]

Boris Johnson Was My Knight on a Bike – Boris Johnson has been hailed as a “knight on a shining bicycle” after he rescued a woman being attacked by a group of young girls. Documentary film-maker and climate change activist Franny Armstrong was walking home in Camden, North London last night when she was surrounded by a group of hoodie-wearing young girls. [sky]

Friday’s EuroMillions Lottery Jackpot is over R1 billion – With the Rand / Pound exchange rate at 12.82, the £90,000,000 (Ninty Million Pounds) jackpot works out to R1.153 billion. You will be able to be an island and a private jet and a sexy pad in every big city in the world!  [EuroMillions]

[thanks fred, marc]

Arthur Jones, the winner of the Seth Rotherham Experience, moved into my Cape Royale Suite on Friday night for a weekend of top brands and luxury. I popped in to visit him and the gorgeous Jess (turns out Arthur is playing out of his socks!) shortly after they checked in

Arthur Jones’s residence for the weekend.
Shame.

The 3-bedroom Seth Rotherham schweet at the Cape Royale
Jess toasts her good fortune at meeting a guy like Arthur

We addressed a few Jack Blacks and De Grendel sav and discussed the various aspects of his MONSTER PRIZE!

Perhaps I should remind you of the finer details?

• Two nights in Seth Rotherham’s suite at the Cape Royale hotel from a Friday to the Sunday (incl. underground parking and free internet).
• A spa treatment for you and your partner at the Cape Royale Equinox spa .
• Free car wash (just next door) at Plush Boutique car wash.
• Free meals at Cape Royale’s 1800 restaurant during your stay
• De Grendel wine and Jack Black beer on the house during your stay (at 1800 bar, as well as stocked in your own fridge).
• Free Vida e coffee (just next door) on Seth’s account.
• A case of Pussy Natural Energy Drink in your fridge.
• Free breakfast or lunch at Miss K (just next door).
• Free Butlers pizza on Seth’s account.
• 2 pairs of Ray Ban Wayfarers from their new Colorize range.
• 2 X R1,000 shopping vouchers for the PUMA store at the Waterfront.
• Being so close to the Green Point stadium, we had to throw in a pack of Kika-Sack balls!
• A test drive in an Audi R8.
• A R1,000 sports betting voucher for www.greatodds.com – SA’s largest online sportsbook!
• Sunday lunch to the value of R500 at Cafe Roux, Noordhoek.
• And, just to top it all off, you’ll be able to skip the queue and enjoy R1,000 on Seth’s tab at Caprice , Sunday night.

I gave him my camera and asked him to take as many pics as possible.

Check it out (click thumbnails for bigger pics):

  
Chilling at the Sky Bar / Taking a 2 hour test drive in the Audi R8

Killing the Waterfront Puma store / indulging in the Equinox spa
at the Cape Royale. It should be mentioned that Arthur is now in
Puma “Cabana” range gang.

Vida e was naturally on the house, as well as the best
breakfast place in town – Miss K in Green Point

Very cool!

But it gets BETTER!

See the rest of the pics of Arthur Jones’s
Seth Rotherham Experience (AWESOME pics) HERE

I would also like to say a hearty congratulations to the beautiful couple, who became engaged the weekend before the Seth Rotherham experience! Well done!

To the rest of you out there who didn’t win, keep an eye out – we’ll be doing another one soon.

Work is a sideline, Live the holiday…

All the professional behind-the-scenes pics are right here.

The boys…the boys!

You’ve seen that face somewhere before?

The venue – shame..

Get in, babba..

I could go on forever. There were many more pics and I thought I would put them in a sexy slideshow for you. They include MANY more beautiful boys and girls and bikini’s and even this week’s WeatherGirl.

By the way, the 2oceansvibe Show is coming out tomorrow..

CLICK HERE TO SEE A SLIDESHOW OF ALL THE PICS!!

pics courtesy anthony fox

It’s too damn funny and I must caution those of you with weak bladders to perhaps relieve yourselves before pressing play.

Will Ferrel is in it. That’s all I’m saying.

Comeon, man!

Seriously – stop it.

[thanks travis]

2 – 4 October 2009
Durbanville Wine Valley

Escape from your winter-cocoon

Join us for sushi and Sauvignon …sway to the sounds of Abba and a zesty white …. Blanc and Blues … Jazz and Prawns. Sip diamond award-winning beauties and sing-along to Neil Diamond classics. The Durbanville Wine Valley signals the start of white wine season with a jubilant week-end long celebration of extreme fun.

So sip into something white and indulge in Spring with us. Here’s to go about it:

Match fun with family and friends on wine farms in the picturesque Durbanville area …. all blending beautifully with the region’s signature style Sauvignon Blancs.

This year sees the debut of the Durbanville Sauvignon Wine Ferry, taking to the air on Saturday, October 3rd for an adventure of fine wines and brilliant views in a fleet of Base 4 helicopters. With stop-overs at De Grendel, Durbanville Hills and Meerendal, this unique way of exploring the winelands allow for leisurely wine-tasting before taking off to the next wine destination.

Take to the skies at Hillcrest with a helicopter flip around the Wine Valley or simply lounge on their lush lawns listening to the brilliant line-up of bands.

Bookings

Bookings are essential and must be done directly with each of the wine farms.

Bookings at Computicket for the three-destination Durbanville Sauvignon Wine Ferry helicopter rides stopping over at De Grendel, Durbanville Hills and Meerendal. R500 per person.

Bookings for Hillcrest helicopter flips: R300 per person: book at Hillcrest Estate.

CLICK HERE for more info, including bookings and full programme of activities on all the participating winefarms.

[thanks joel]

I swear it. Our boys at Diletto have done the right thing and added the drinks to their online gourmet food and beverage emporium!

www.diletto.co.za

So they’re rocking with the De Grendel whites (here), reds (here), as well as our favourite, the Rosé (here). You can order that by the case, and at around R40 a bottle you’ll be laughing!

De Grendel Rosé

The Rosé is also finally available at Caprice, by the way. I’d order it if I were you. It tastes great and you will look cool too.

Back to Diletto. They’re also offering Jack Black beer (here) by the 6-pack. Personally, I’d order a case at a time – because then you can get it delivered in one of their awesome black boxes.

So crisp. So clean.

Awesomeness

And no online gourmet food and beverage emporium would be complete without the 2oceansvibe energy drink of choice which is taking Cape Town by storm, Pussy Natural Energy drink (here).

Natural Energy
Radness

Your can order those puppies by the 8-pack or you can be true to yourself and do like I do – order a case of 24! They go faster than you think. Also don’t be shy to knock one back in the morning if you’re feeling sluggish. It’s FAR more easy on the palate than some of the other energy drinks out there, which can be quite ghastly in the morning!

Well done Diletto, and well done to YOU, the 2oceansvibe reader, for finally getting what you wanted!

Last Sunday, for example, featured what could only be described as “Aladdin’s Grandmother” getting carried away as the live music took her to new levels of amazingness.

You simply have to see this video, as she displays pole dancing skills you never thought possible for a fully grown mature woman.

*pause vid and let it load up fully before you play.

So there you have it. Amazing how a steamy sexual pole dance can blend so seamlessly into a family Sunday lunch at Cafe Roux. All this going on, as the kiddies play in the sand pit and pet the odd Shetland pony and pot-bellied pig on its way through.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the owner, Paul le Roux (the balding fellow with the white jumper) didn’t bat an eye, as he continued tending to the guests. Standard stuff around there.

Because professionalism is….and that’s…what I want.

Welcome to the most wonderful Monday celebration!

Given that he is the victor, he has just won:

Good evening, Mr. Jones
Welcome home

• Two nights in Seth Rotherham’s suite at the Cape Royale hotel from a Friday to the Sunday (incl. underground parking and free internet).
• A spa treatment for you and your partner at the Cape Royale Equinox spa .
• Free car wash (just next door) at Plush Boutique car wash.
• Free meals at Cape Royale’s 1800 restaurant during your stay
• De Grendel wine and Jack Black beer on the house during your stay (at 1800 bar, as well as stocked in your own fridge).
• Free Vida e coffee (just next door) on Seth’s account.
• A case of Pussy Natural Energy Drink in your fridge.
• Free breakfast or lunch at Miss K (just next door).
• Free Butlers pizza on Seth’s account.
• 2 pairs of Ray Ban Wayfarers from their new Colorize range.
• 2 X R1,000 shopping vouchers for the PUMA store at the Waterfront.
• Being so close to the Green Point stadium, we had to throw in a pack of Kika-Sack balls!
• A test drive in an Audi R8.
• A R1,000 sports betting voucher for www.greatodds.com – SA’s largest online sportsbook!
• Sunday lunch to the value of R500 at Cafe Roux, Noordhoek.
• And, just to top it all off, you’ll be able to skip the queue and enjoy R1,000 on Seth’s tab at Caprice , Sunday night.

Overall value? God knows.

R20,000?

R30,000?

Not too kak!

Arthur, all you have to do to claim your prize is to email editor@2oceansvibe.com from the email you used to enter the competition.

Arthur Jones’s name was picked at random by our Euro Millions Lottery affiliate, according to the rules of the competition. For the rest of you that entered, thanks for being a part of the vibe, and remember to keep trying.

You gotta be innit to winnit, my boet!

*By the way, did you see someone won the SuperEna lottery this weekend? It’s true – they won €146.9 million (just over R1.5 billion). You can enter the SuperEna lottery online safely and securely here.

Anyone who buys two lines or more in this weekend’s Euro Millions lottery (it rolled over again and the jackpot works out to virtually R1 billion!) and emails their confirmation email to editor@2oceansvibe.com, gets automatically accepted into the draw for The Seth Rotherham Experience.

I know. How rad?

Experience it..

What is the Seth Rotherham Experience, you ask?

It is a weekend for two in my suite at the 5-star Cape Royale Hotel & Residence with so many extras, you’ll be confused as to what the main prize is.

You see, the weekend isn’t JUST about the stay at the 5-star Cape Royale and all the luxuries that come with it, you also get to live the vibe, just like Seth – indulging in some of the biggest 2oceansvibe sponsored brands.

The prize will include:

• Two nights in Seth Rotherham’s suite at the Cape Royale hotel from a Friday to the Sunday (incl. underground parking and free internet).
• A spa treatment for you and your partner at the Cape Royale Equinox spa .
• Free car wash (just next door) at Plush Boutique car wash.
• Free meals at Cape Royale’s 1800 restaurant during your stay
• De Grendel wine and Jack Black beer on the house during your stay (at 1800 bar, as well as stocked in your own fridge).
• Free Vida e coffee (just next door) on Seth’s account.
• A case of Pussy Natural Energy Drink in your fridge.
• Free breakfast or lunch at Miss K (just next door).
• Free Butlers pizza on Seth’s account.
• 2 pairs of Ray Ban Wayfarers from their new Colorize range.
• 2 X R1,000 shopping vouchers for the PUMA store at the Waterfront.
• Being so close to the Green Point stadium, we had to throw in a pack of Kika-Sackballs!
• A test drive in an Audi R8.
• A R1,000 sports betting voucher for www.greatodds.com – SA’s largest online sportsbook!
• Sunday lunch to the value of R500 at Cafe Roux, Noordhoek.
• And, just to top it all off, you’ll be able to skip the queue and enjoy R1,000 on Seth’s tab at Caprice , Sunday night.

* if you don’t use up all the prizes on the weekend, you will be given vouchers to enjoy each prize whenever you want.

Nothing wrong with that, right?

And it’s pretty easy to enter as well.

HOW TO ENTER THE COMPETITION

Buy two tickets (here) to this weekend’s EuroMillions jackpot and send the proof of your entry (they will email you confirmation of your purchase, which you should forward) to Seth at editor@2oceansvibe.com.

Competition closes Friday 21 August at 18h00.

Winner will be announced on Monday 24.

What are you waiting for? CLICK HERE to enter the Euro Millions lottery for this weekend. They will email you confirmation of your tickets. All you have to do is forward that confirmation to editor@2oceansvibe.com .

The more tickets you buy for the lottery, the bigger chance you have of winning the 2oceansvibe competition!

Shame, not a bad consolation prize, should you miss the $101 million jackpot!

Good luck!

Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon
Share a joke..

So we’ve established that the financiers of the Clint Eastwood directed 1995 Rugby World Cup movie “Invictus” also happen to own ESPN. It’s to do with the likes of Disney and Warner and that level of vibe.

So now that we’ve got our head around that, it comes as no surprise that Rupert Murdoch’s THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, of all publications, suddenly does a MASSIVE article on the Springbok rugby team. Out of nowhere. You know, just to sort of bring the nation up to speed about a team (and sport!) they may not have heard of before. Because the paper just feels it is important and something that needs to be highlighted. So now, when the movie comes out in December, everyone will be like, “Oh my God, they’ve finally made a movie about that amazing team – and Nelson Mandela is in it as well!”

ASIDE: I remember chatting to a yank in Martha’s Vineyard a few years back. He asked where I was from. I said South Africa. His face went blank. I said it was the country connected to Nelson Mandela. He was over-the-moon and said he loved Nelson Mandela. I asked if he knew why Mandela was famous and he said, “because he’s Nelson Mandela!!!”

Beautiful vibe.

So back to this manipulation of the media and ceremonies and awards and Hollywood. Ja, very clever. We do a similar thing here at 2oceansvibe, although we’re struggling to get a testimonial from Barack Obama, with him sipping on a Jack Black beer, opening a bottle of De Grendel, wearing a Puma tracksuit top and Ray Bans – filmed in my suite at The Cape Royale hotel, following a lunch at Caprice with a Vida e coffee already down the hatch and a Butlers Pizza menu in front of him, while he tap-tap-taps Kika Sack ball with his feet and uses his one free hand to bet on some sports game at Greatodds.com and buy lottery tickets at PlayEuroMillions. Would have been nice if he was dropped off in an Audi as well.

You get the picture.

Well anyways, check out this article from the WALL STREET JOURNAL:

The Toughest Team in Sports?

South Africa’s rugby players maul their way to the top; a punch in the scrum

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—Just before a recent game, South African rugby player Schalk Burger stated his belief that a rugby match isn’t a rugby match unless it “starts with a bang.” After less than a minute of play, Mr. Burger was sin-binned, or penalized, for what looked like an attempt to gouge an opponent’s eyeballs.

Far from condemning the act that earned Mr. Burger an eight-week ban, South Africa’s head coach Peter de Villiers suggested that the offended parties “go to the nearest ballet shop, get some nice tutus and get a great dancing show going.”

South Africa’s Springboks, named after the graceful and rather docile springbok gazelle, have run afoul of rugby laws more often than most. But this team’s physical prowess and aggressive mindset have helped put them at the pinnacle of the sport. The reigning World Cup-champion Springboks have just vanquished some of the best British and Irish players in the game, and last week beat New Zealand 28-19 in their first match of the Tri-Nations, an annual rugby competition for southern hemisphere teams. A victory in this tournament, which continues through Sept. 19, would cement their place as the undisputed kings of rugby.

The Springboks have demonstrated their toughness throughout the last century—sometimes playing with broken bones or honing their skills by tackling large animals—but the origins of their physical dominance can be traced back much farther.

In rugby, size matters, especially when it comes to a team’s pack of forwards. Weight is an undeniable advantage in a scrum, a fearsome tangle in which players fight for possession of the ball. Height is a distinct plus in a lineout—where players leap high in the air to receive a ball thrown back onto the field. South African rugby has long been dominated by Afrikaners, a population group that has a seemingly endless supply of large people .

“They’ve got some big old dudes, and it’s always physical,” said Lee Mears, an English player, after a recent match. “The South Africans pride themselves in the scrum, so they’re never going to disappoint you in that area.”

Most observers explain Afrikaners’ oversized proportions with genetics . After all, they say, the first Europeans to colonize the southern tip of the continent came from Holland, and the Dutch are among the tallest people in the world.

Raj Ramesar, professor of human genetics at the University of Cape Town, said there is little scientific evidence available, but he said genetic selection likely played a role as only the fittest and strongest specimens made the grueling boat trip and later thrived in an environment plagued by disease and angry Zulu warriors. A “sissy ” would not have survived the hardships, Mr. Ramesar said.

Locals also credit arduous farm work for enhancing their inherent physical attributes, and rarely did it get more arduous than for Tiaan Strauss, who has represented both the Springboks and Australia. Mr. Strauss, who played much of his career before the game turned professional in the mid-1990s, said he used to make extra money by capturing wildebeests and other large antelopes .

“Sometimes you tackle them, but mainly you sort of catch them by the horn and wrestle them to the ground,” Mr. Strauss said matter-of-factly.

Mr. Strauss said the activity, while earning him cuts, bruises and the occasional shoulder injury and twisted ankle, also helped condition him for the game.

Mr. Strauss’ feat was topped by that of Andy MacDonald, who wore the Springbok jersey in the mid-1960s. Mr. MacDonald was tracking a livestock-killing lion when the predator leapt on him, and he was left fighting off the feline with his bare hands .

“The lion bit off part of Andy’s ear and clawed his legs and lower body,” wrote South African rugby historian Paul Dobson [Dobbo, you beaut!] in an email. “Andy put one hand into the lion’s jaws and eventually the lion left him.” Mr. MacDonald received more than 400 stitches, Mr. Dobson said.

While some display their toughness by manhandling large beasts, others show their courage by staying on the field after sustaining serious injuries. André Joubert broke his hand in a tackle during the quarterfinals of the 1995 World Cup, yet went on to play two more matches—this without taking any painkiller. Mr. Joubert said he suffered few long-term consequences other than a shortened finger. “I had to change my golf grip a bit,” he said.

[read more here - it's a pretty rad article]

Don’t be surprised if you see John Smit on the red carpet in Hollywood when this movie launches..

Keep a ticket handy for the vibe, Barn Dog..

We can do a documentary along the way, you know, similar to the Pauly Shore Hollywood videos (here)..

Then it’s the Gumball 3000 Rally after that, right?

I’m sorry to do this to you, but daddy is going away for a little bit. I know you must be scared, but just realise that it is very necessary as it will bring me us one step closer to global domination. You know how busy daddy gets.

I will be gone for just over two weeks and will return somewhere around the second week of August. But don’t fret, you’ll be hearing from me the whole way through – with a whole new angle. A Los Angeles angle!

In fact. Actually.

Let me fill you in: You’ll recall a few days ago I gave you the trailer (here) to that new Pauly Shore “mockumentary,” called ADOPTED, which was filmed predominantly in Cape Town. Remember the movie has to do with Pauly attempting to adopt an African child. Think Angelina and Madonna, but in a far more hysterical way (although those two are pretty hilarious in their own right).

ADOPTED, with Pauly Shore

I went to the premiere last night and suggest you go ASAP – it’s an absolute hoot. Ex Pats in the UK, US, Dubai and God knows where else will also get a major kick out of the visuals – everything from Camps Bay and Table Mountain, to game farms and orphanages.

So anyway, that movie is launching this week and Pauly Shore will be taking an ADULT African on a trial adoption in Los Angeles for a week. Because he can. The winner was announced on Radio 5 on Friday and it is none other than DJ Fresh lookalike, Zinzi Mangweni!

Zinzi Mangweni
Is being adopted by Pauly Shore

Take a good look at him, because that very same fully grown African man is going to be Pauly Shore’s child for a week. I know – can things get any more ridiculous?

Where do I fit in? Well I’ll be going with, my love! To report back – for YOU in the form of a daily video diary! Think 2oceansvibe Weather Girls (here, here, here, here and here) with Pauly Shore, gallivanting around the best and worst of LA’s shops, bars, restaurants, clubs, strip joints, ball games and house parties.

Yup, you heard me!

I leave today and will be setting things up a week ahead of Zinzi and the team’s arrival. Much fun to be had as LA is also home to all sorts of 2oceansvibe Characters, including The Advertising Guy, The Italian , Cokey Falkow and others. Nic Marais will be coming up from New York to spend time with the vibe as well.

Thanks to the Cape Royale for looking after me these past few days and taking care of my sweet suite while I’m away. Although I was only back for a couple weeks since my South of France 2009 Strengthening Ties Tour, I’m glad we managed to get that Jack Black Beer tap installed at the 1800 bar downstairs. Mmm, sweet sweet nectar! Matt Damon will be pleased.

With their stock of De Grendel wine in the fridges, that bar is complete and can finally get Seth’s seal of approval. Congratulations!

Chat later – articles will carry on as per usual, featuring everything from Los Angeles to Cape Town. Regulars will know to follow 2oceansvibe on Twitter (here ) for live updates along the way..

I want you inside me.

Anyway, he did INCREDIBLY well by sending this in. It’s a website which strings together random video clips that people send in of themselves moonwalking across the screen – all linking together to form an ETERNAL MOONWALK! It starts with Michael Jackson doing his moonwalk and when he reaches the end of the screen, the next one (sent in by the general public) starts.

IT.IS.PURE.GENIUS!

You need to see it to understand/believe it. It even measures the amount of METRES covered!

Naturally, we HAD to make our own eternal moonwalk and send it in to that website! So that’s exactly what we did next to the pool at the Cape Royale Sky Bar!

And then I made a seperate version JUST for you.

So here it is – enjoy The Dude, me and G-Man (in that order!) doing the “eternal moonwalk” next to the pool at the Sky Bar on the top of The Cape Royale , overlooking the Green Point Stadium, Table Mountain, the harbour and pretty much everything else!

Look, we had just klapped a bottle of De Grendel red..

Click here to see it as a part of the Eternal Moonwalk website.

Go check out the website and send in your own at www.eternalmoonwalk.com.

Your life has just improved by 20 points.

[thanks dave, thanks rich]

ps. don’t forget all original 2oceansvibe vids can be seen at 2oceansvibe TV – slightly different web address – www.2oceansvibe.tv

Aah, good, the 10 larges had obviously arrived! Wonderful. They’ve got a lovely bunch of staff, here at the Cape Royale hotel and 1800 restaurant . Some of them, including the likes of Patrick, have been here since the beginning.

It is my first time in the suite I acquired some time ago, and I must say I am pleased as punch. Of the many views from my residence (including the likes of Dan Skinstad waving from a neighbouring building!), I do enjoy this one of the Green Point World Cup Stadium .

One of the many views from the suite

Do you know the entire phone at the Cape Royale is VOIP (same concept as Skype)? Seriously, they’re very tech-aware here – with wireless networks on every floor, as well as downstairs.

I have my meetings either in my suite, or downstairs at 1800 restaurant. We’ll chat about that another time. But read up on their mind blowing (first in South Africa, imported from New York) grilling technique here.

Did I mention the SKYBAR, at the top of the hotel? It’s pretty rad – check it out:

Nothing wrong with that

That’s where we live

But how could one go to the top of the building without having another glance at the stadium? This is probably the highest and nearest point that you can get to it:

Pretty awesome!
(here is another very cool one I took on Twitter)

I know, very cool. And to think there is a Vida e on the one side, and Miss K on the other!

I’ll keep you up to date on my vibe here. I still have to try the spa.. let alone find the gym (having not exercised since I left on the 1st of June for the South of France!). God, I hope I’m not turning into a fatty boom boom!

Oh, and a MASSIVE thanks to De Grendel, Jack Black, Vitamin Water, Steri Stumpie, Puma, Ray Ban, Haut Espoir, Cosmo & Marie Claire for stocking up the penthouse before I arrived! Why you so naughty?

That’s all for now, folks! Remember to follow 2oceansvibe on Twitter to get the LIVE behind the scenes action all day, every day.

ps. CLICK HERE to check out the Cape Royale’s “love winter” special. It’s something like R747 per person, including breakfast, dinner, spa and chauffer.

No, I’m not kidding. Click here.

It’s a pretty rad idea, with the best foosball table design winning their very own branded foosball table! Quite nice.

I had a little poke around and there are some pretty sick designs. There are about 20 at the moment and it was tricky choosing my favourite.

I went for this one in the end. A design sent in by Glasshouse.

Check it out:

Pretty sick..

I dig it.

It reminds me of the toys you find on the likes of Colin Jeffery and Alex Hulley’s desks. Those funny little creatures.

So anyway, I gave them my vote.

Go check it out and give them your vote. Just for fun. Let’s win them a foosball table.

Then, if they win it, they will be forced to play along with any request that we may have. Like a picture of the designers in speedo’s and bikini’s, playing a game of foosball.

Hey? Wouldn’t that be fun?

Exactly – let’s do it.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THESE CLOWNS.

Quite something!

An ocean of cloud

God only knows what is going on under that blanket!

The oldest wine I can remember consuming was a bottle of Nederberg Baronne 1979, which I shared with the rest of the rabble at The Film Guy‘s bachelor party in (Jennifer) Arniston a couple months back. It was pretty good, if I remember correctly.. (the evening was “getting on”).

Some of you might be impressed by the aforementioned vintage. You shouldn’t be – it is 252 years shy of the oldest drinkable wine in existence. I am, of course, talking about the Rüdesheimer Apostelwein 1727.

Rüdesheimer Apostelwein 1727

Check this out, from finestandrarest.com:

The city of Bremen owns the famous Ratskeller or town hall, underneath which is a legendary cellar known as the Schatzkammer (treasury cellar). In here are 12 very large elaborately carved casks of wine dating from the 17th and 18th century, named after the 12 Apostles. The oldest dates from 1653, but the wine is no longer drinkable. The most famous is the Judas cask, containing Rudesheim wine of the 1727 vintage, by repute the greatest vintage of the 18th century. Wine from this cask has never been sold, but periodically very small quantities have been bottled as civic gifts from the Bremen municipality to important dignitaries, visiting heads of state, royalty etc. When any wine has been drawn off like this, the cask (about 3000 litres + in capacity) has been topped up with young Rudesheim wine of the finest quality. In this way the barrel has been refreshed, as the old wine feeds on the sugars in the younger one. But only a handful of half bottles have ever been drawn off at one time, and so this top-up wine only constitutes a tiny percentage of the overall volume, the vast bulk of which is still the original 1727.

This is, quite simply, the oldest drinkable wine in existence.

Renowned authority on wine tasting and old wines, Michael Broadbent , has sampled this very wine:

I first tasted the 1727 at Schloss Vollrads in 1973 at a tasting of wines of the world to celebrate Count Matushka’s 80th birthday. Another memorable occasion took place at a dinner in Sydney on the evening of my first visit to Australia in February 1977. By way of welcome, my host, the irrepressible Len Evans had invited the Prime Minister and a group of the best ‘palates’. Among other fine and rare wines was this 250 year old Hock. Just as it was about to be served, there was a shattering crash followed by an agonized Australian voice ‘Gee Len, sorry we’ll just have to have the 1928’! (The ‘waiter’ Anders Ousbach, who had dropped a handful of spoons, was a wine expert and opera singer
known for his practical jokes).

Very good – I’m sure everyone in the room aged to a similar vintage during that little incident!

If you’re keen on tasting the Rüdesheimer Apostelwein 1727, you can order it from the extensive wine cellar kept at the historic Graycliff Hotel (here) in Nassau, Bahamas.

I warn you though, it’s probably a bit pricy.

And what better moment to remind you that this week’s EuroMillions lottery is sitting at R1 billion – the EXACT minimum required for a mention on 2oceansvibe! CLICK HERE to get involved.

That should sort out your litle trip to the Graycliff!

Positioned next to the town of Wellington and owned by Woolworths co-founders, The Sonnenberg Family, the farm is one of the most picturesque settings I have ever come across on the Cape Wine Route. My God, it was glorious! We took it in as we meandered along the lake.

The Woolworths Wine Festival at The Diemersfontein Wine Farm
The radio controlled ducks came in handy

There was much on the go as we hastily took in our surroundings, grabbed a goody bag (equipped with some Woolies crisps, biltong, nuts and wine glass) and got to work, tasting the multitude of wines on offer. With this short time away from 2oceansvibe’s beloved De Grendel wine, The Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc got a double thumbs up, as we got comfortable at the champagne and oyster bar.

Stunning!

We tasted (downed) The Steenberg Sav in this very tent.

The word “lush” could be used.

The Muse and I were the first to scope out and position ourselves next to the swimming pool with a dozen oysters and a bottle of Krone sparkling. And, I tell you what, it does wonders!

You know. For all sorts of things..

That’s what I’m talking about

The sexual energy of the oysters was felt by everyone.

A cougar, spotted at the watering hole.

Yes, you’re absolutely right, that is a cougar right there. Along with the comprehensive wine sales area, eating courtyard and live music, it was just another one of the attractions that added to the success of the day. Seriously, tick all the boxes : 30 degrees, plenty shade, no wind, live music, gorgeous setting, swimming pool, wine, oysters and cougars on the prowl – what more do you want?

Indulgence was the order of the day. I wouldn’t say I got completely vrot, but I certainly haven’t felt so content in quite some time.

It’s like a refined and sophisticated Rocking The Daisies!

Congratualtions Woolworths, you nailed it. This is definitely one for the annual calendar.

See you next year!

Message shown to Distell employees
when they dare attempt to access 2oceansvibe.com

For a company so highly regarding in the SA beverage industry, one wonders how long this China-like restriction on websites will be condoned. Even the likes of DiData, Discovery and Saatchi & Saatchi eventually lifted the block, realising that the country’s most well-read lifestyle blog should surely form a part of their employees’ local online vocabulary.

With big companies and ad agencies in the US and most of the developed world focusing so heavily on blog advertising and marketing, it becomes more and more frightening how “innovative” brands are still entrenched in yesteryear’s “traditional” marketing methods.

To find out more about advertising right here, where YOU and your friends are right now, CLICK HERE.

Enjoy the 2oceansvibe article on De Grendel at the number two position in Google (after De Grendel’s own website!).

Wake up, folks. It’s 2008 and everything has changed. Did you know, for example, that the US has a black president? No, I’m not shitting you.