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Tiger’s Milk now open in the Apex building in Century City Square.
IS S UE T WENT Y 2nd Quarter 2016
Ratanga Junction Theme Park
Back by Popular Demand
July Jol: 8 - 17 July
We’ve turned the clock back to 2006
Full Adventurer @ R95 Mini Adventurer & Fun Pass @ R45 Ticket sales also available online via website
OVER 27 ATTRACTIONS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
www.ratanga.co.za Info line: 0861 200 300 Terms and conditions apply
exciting times ahead! Century City staff have been hard at work clearing the storm water system ahead of the expected heavy winter rainfall to prevent blockages and consequent flooding. To this end more than 250 Century City and City of Cape Town storm water inlets, catchpits, drains and channels have been checked and cleared of litter, sand and plant debris. While the weather is getting colder, there is much to keep us warm this winter including our hugely popular Night Market at the Intaka EcoCentre, which returns in May and will take place on the last Friday of the month through to August. On the subject of entertainment and relaxation, there are a number of exciting new eateries that have opened in Century City Square, the mixed-use development which also includes our new Century City Conference Centre and Hotel, offices as well as apartments all set around a public square. So why not wrap up warmly and explore our city within a city, which is growing from strength to strength? I hope to see you out and about!
chris’s corner
Chris Blackshaw
ceo | century city property owners’ association
welcome... This edition of City Edits will introduce you to a number of familiar faces in Century City as well as some more recent additions to our expanding family. In this regard we are launching a new series on Unsung Heroes in our City, with the first focus being on the much loved Xolani Sithubene who mans the parking booms at the Colosseum. If you have any suggestions on any other worthy Century City characters for us to feature, we would love to hear from you. We also feature our Century City Square development, which has literally changed the face of our city, and all the exciting new venues it has brought on line in terms of entertainment will ensure you are literally spoilt for choice. Enjoy!
Maggie Rowley ccpoa communications manager
EDITOR: Maggie Rowley | 021 550 7000 | maggie@rabie.co.za ADVERTISING MANAGER: Bianca Church | 021 552 6889 | bianca@centurycity.co.za DESIGN & LAYOUT: Elinore de Lisle | 083 574 8937 | elinore@iafrica.com COVER PHOTO: Century City Square PHOTOGRAPHER: John Chapman
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our growing city Fifth Oasis block now selling
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emand for luxury apartments in the Oasis Luxury Retirement Resort in Century City shows no sign of abating. In fact 20 of the 52 apartments in Palm Brook, the fifth apartment block in the Oasis Luxury Retirement Resort at Century City, were sold in the first few weeks of the recent launch. Colin Green, a director of Rabie Property Group, which is developing the resort in a joint venture with a Harries Projects Consortium, said this was a fantastic result, particularly for a retirement product, and was testament to the high quality of the development to date and the fantastic facilities – all of which are already in existence – that the
resort offers. “A number of the purchasers have been considering buying at Oasis for a while but are now committing as they realise that we are rapidly running out of new development opportunities. Palm Brook is the penultimate block and there will only be around 50 more opportunities after it.” He said resales in the development had also picked up strongly, with 19 apartments having changed hands in deals totalling around R54 million. Construction of the 11-storey Palm Brook, which follows the sell-out of all 50 apartments in the fourth block, Palme d’Or, five months ahead of completion, is expected to get under way in July this year, with completion set for end 2017.
Palm Brook apartments, which range in size from 78 square metres to 161 square metres, are priced from just under R3 million to just over R6 million, VAT inclusive. No transfer duty is payable. All apartments will have basement parking and luxury finishes. Some will have a storeroom included in the price, with additional storerooms available to purchasers as optional extras. There are four penthouses and three garden apartments, the latter of which have exclusive use areas fronting on to a brook and the magnificently landscaped communal gardens. All but three of the apartments have terraces or balconies ranging in size from 12 square metres to 125 square metres.
for further details, phone cindy on 082 495 7168 or lorenda on 083 270 4755 or linda on 082 785 6160.
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our growing city Construction of Waters Edge to start shortly
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onstruction of Waters Edge, a new high-rise residential development overlooking the spectacular 16ha Intaka Island wetlands reserve and surrounding waterways, is due to start shortly. Waters Edge comprises 144 apartments, of which 115 have been sold for a total value of more than R280 million, ahead of construction starting. There are 41 one-bedroom apartments, 71 two-bedroom apartments and 32 threebedroom apartments including two penthouses. All apartments will have balconies and will be hard wired offering high-speed internet connectivity.
Units vary in size from 62 square metres to 205 square metres, including balconies, and are priced from R1,7 million to R5,7 million, VAT inclusive. Designed by Munnik Visser Architects, the eight-storey building is built on a plinth, which elevates the height of the structure by two floors and allows for pedestrian movement and extensive landscaping of the ground-level plaza. Waters Edge, which will be north and northeast facing, is to be built on a site between Aurecon and KnightsBridge and backing onto Canal Walk Shopping Centre. An adjoining structured parking garage will act as
a buffer between Waters Edge and the shopping centre. The building will be serviced by three lifts. At least one allocated basement parking bay will be provided per apartment, with residents able to rent additional bays in the public parking garage, which will also provide parking and 24-hour concierge services for visitors. Basement parking for residents will have a separate entrance to the structured parking garage and offer direct access to the apartments via two lift lobbies. Construction of Waters Edge is expected to be completed in late 2017.
for further inquiries, go to www.watersedge.cc or telephone brian usher on 082 571 7024.
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our growing city Tenant demand for Matrix offices heats up
Jean Theron, Sedica Knight and Jason Elley in the Matrix foyer.
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enant demand for sectional title offices in The Matrix, a mixed-use development in the heart of Century City’s new commercial hub, is heating up, with more than half already occupied ahead of transfer and further deals in the offing. Jean Theron of Rabie Property Group said all 24 offices in The Matrix, which vary in size from 118 square metres to 345 square metres, had been sold to a mixture of owner-occupiers and investors well ahead of completion. “We are now letting space for our investor clients at R165 per square metre and as the building nears completion, interest has picked up phenomenally. We expect to be fully let in
the near future.” Theron said The Matrix offered small users a unique opportunity to be situated in this new bustling hospitality and commercial precinct, which is home to a number of large national and international corporates such as Absa, Chevron, Philip Morris and Thompson Reuters. He said tenants and owneroccupiers to date include IT, mining, asset management, finance and media. “With over 1,300 parking bays, owners and tenants will have no shortage of parking, and flexible parking solutions are available allowing high parking users unrivalled parking ratios,” he said. He said many factors added to the appeal of The Matrix to both
residents and businesses. “These include its location at the heart of the new commercial hub of Century City with a plethora of restaurants and coffee shops spilling out on to a public square; its access to highspeed fibre optic connectivity through Century City Connect; its access to public transport with its own MyCiTi stop and easy walking distance from the Century City Railway Station, and the fact that it had been developed as a Green building, which will substantially reduce operating costs going forward.” According to Theron, negotiations for the ground floor showrooms and retail space are proceeding with interested parties to ensure the best possible tenant mix.
for further information, contact sedica knight or jean theron on 021 550 7000.
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our sporting city Record turnout for eighth Century City Sports Festival
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he 2016 Century City Sports Festival held in mid-March attracted a record number of participants, with just under 2,500 runners competing in the signature event – the 10km Century City Express – and a further 700 participating in the 2.5km Family Fun Run/Walk. The three-day festival, which includes both participatory and spectator sports, is the highlight on the Century City sports calendar and this is the eighth consecutive year it has been held. Runners, including many top athletes, came from around the country to participate in the road race, which offers one of the country’s largest purse prizes of R10,000 for the first male and female runners home plus R3,000 in Canal Walk shopping vouchers. First home was Gladwin
Mzazi of Boxer Club, Gauteng (29:52), followed by last year’s winner Sibusiso Madikizela of Khayelitsha, running for MSA (30:22), and Moketi Tsleiso, also of Gauteng, two seconds later. The first woman home was Nolene Conrad of Stellenbosch, running for KPMG (34:57). Nolene beat Zintle Xiniwe of FNB – who has won the race every year since inception. Zintle, from Khayelitsha, was home in a time of 35:30. The third woman runner was Fortunate Chidzivo of Blue Downs, running for Nedbank (35:59). This year veteran runners put in a strong showing, with not only 15 men and 10 women over 60 running but eight men and five women over the age of 70 and three men over the age of 80 – Casper Greeff and David Wingrin, both of Sea Point, and Arthur Dakas of Green Point.
The Century City Sports Festival is aimed at both corporate and individual participants. In addition to the road race and fun run it includes five-a-side Touch Rugby tournaments, five-a-side Corporate Soccer, Kermesse Road Circuit Cycling races, Canoe Polo, Stand-up Paddling (including the National 10km race), Dragon Boat Racing and Junior Cricket. Chris Blackshaw, CEO of the Century City Property Owners’ Association, says this year’s festival was the biggest to date, with well over 4,000 sports men and women competing. “It continues to grow exponentially every year and is now a major attraction on not only the Century City calendar but for Cape Town as a whole. The number of runners coming from up country is also testament to the stature of the 10km Century City Express!”
for full sports festival results, go to www.centurycity.co.za
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city life A visual masterpiece greets commuters
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he Century City Station Walkway is being transformed into a visual masterpiece by South African artist Petru Lötter. A versatile artist who studied fine art at Tuks University, Petru has spent the past 25 years working as a graphic artist in South Africa and for a while in Germany, has staged a number of exhibitions of her fine art, and more recently extended her repertoire to include mural art. Having recently given a facelift to Noordhoek Farm Village, Petru is hugely excited about her new commission to transform the two pedestrian tunnels on the Century City Station Walkway – one is 11m long by 4m wide and 4m high and the other 10m long, 4m wide and 3m high. Her murals depict screenshots of Century City with a strong emphasis on Intaka Island wetlands reserve, its birdlife and its flora. But they also embrace the human element and other iconic landmarks that make up our City within a City. Petru says per her brief the art will welcome pedestrians travelling from the station to Century City and back home again and not only provide a visual attraction but also play an educational role about what constitutes our City. The pre-planning of the murals was “intense” and allencompassing for Petru. Firstly rough drawings were done, followed by image selection and a colour dissection
of the animals, birds, plants, buildings and real-life Century City human characters that are included. Paint had to be selected and ordered – a total of 45 shades and colours of paint are being used in the renditions, some of which are 3D – and the tunnel walls had to be cleaned and primed, ready for action. “The preparation period is a crucial time for me to get into
her footsteps doing a degree in fine art at Michaelis, Petru says she finds working in the outdoors with the cement of the tunnel as her canvas invigorating. “For years I have toiled long hours behind a computer. It takes a toll on one’s body and I ended up with a blood clot which I am sure was caused by being so inactive. Working
character for my artwork – I eat, sleep and dream it. I immerse myself in it – every aspect of it is meditated upon in fine detail. It is like playing a symphony.” As she works, pedestrians chat and engage with her – some of these characters she has captured on her camera and they will feature as part of the human element of the murals. A single mother of a 21-yearold daughter who is following in
in the outdoors like this is the complete opposite; it is physical, active work and it is building my strength. “I am in my element. This is exactly where I want to be and exactly what I want to be doing.” The murals are expected to be completed around the end of May. They really are worth viewing and you might be lucky and get to meet the effervescent Petru in person!
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city life Unsung Hero – Xolani Sithubene
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or the past nine years Xolani Sithubene has been the parking manager manning the boom at the Colosseum retail parking. In fact his sunny disposition and personal greeting for every motorist entering or leaving the parking lot has made him as much a part of the Colosseum as Woolies or Vida e. Xolani, who hails from the Eastern Cape, arrived in Cape Town in 2007, the same year he started his job at the Colosseum. He lives down the road in Joe Slovo with his girlfriend Nomahlanga, their son Luhle, two, and his eight-year-old daughter Mbalenhle. What does he enjoy the most
TANYA TAKES SILVER AT TWO OCEANS! Century City’s star woman runner, Tanya Posthumus-Fox, earned a silver medal in the Two Oceans Half Marathon, finishing 17th out of 7,324 women runners in a time of 87:15. A total of 13,764 men and women athletes participated in this premier Cape race and she was placed 136th overall and was the fourth Western Province woman athlete home. Way to go, Tanya! We are extremely proud of you!
about his job? “ Definitely the people. I have got to know many of them well over the years and it is always good to see them again and yes, also to meet new
people.” The hours are long – 7am to 8pm, six days a week. “And if I need the overtime, it’s a sevenday week,” he laughs.
GUESS WHO WAS SPOTTED IN RATANGA? None other than Mariah Carey, the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 18 Billboard #1 singles. Mariah, pictured here with Ratanga Junction General Manager, Bill Taylor, spent a day in the park to celebrate her twins’ 5th birthday at the time of her Sweet Sweet Fantasy tour.
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city life Bus stop branding opportunities
#PRICES HAVE FALLEN @ RATANGA
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ooking for a novel way to advertise your business and get your brand out there? Look no further than the busy roads of Century City and our newly introduced MyCiTi Bus Stop Advertising opportunity. Bus stop advertising is a highly effective advertising medium as your ad is always on and works for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These ads offer great visibility and will
be seen by drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bus commuters alike and in many cases probably many times over. Bus Stop ads also enable the advertiser to take advantage of precise geographic targeting. With a choice of 13 different stops throughout Century City, this is the perfect platform to market your business and maximize your exposure and brand awareness in a cost-effective way.
for more information or to book your space, contact tatum on tatum@centurycity.co.za
Due to popular demand Ratanga is turning the clock back 10 years and will charge 2006 prices when it opens for a 10-day Jol in July. “We did this for four days for the Labour Day long weekend and it was so popular we had to turn people away as the numbers exceeded the park’s capacity,” says General Manager Bill Taylor. Taylor said that as a measure of goodwill they would extend the promotion during their July operating season – Friday July 8 to Sunday July 17 – to give more Capetonians and visitors to the city the opportunity to experience “The Wildest Place in Africa”.
New E-Parking site on N1 A new E-Parking facility has opened on a site bordering the N1 and accessed from Century City Boulevard. The new facility accommodates 380 cars and replaces the existing Steel Bridge E-Parking, which is being discontinued to make way for a new residential development, Waters Edge.
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our green city Two new sustainability exhibits for Intaka
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ntaka Island Eco-Centre’s thriving environmental education programme is set to be boosted by two new sustainability exhibits – an aquaponics system and a wind turbine. Alan Liebenberg, Century City’s Environmental Officer, says aquaponics refers to a system that combines conventional aquaculture – that is the raising of aquatic animals – with hydroponics, which is the cultivation of plants in water, in a symbiotic environment. “Our exhibit will comprise two tanks – one with deep water, which will be home to fish, and a second with shallower water, pebbles and plant floaters. “Nutrient-rich water from the fish tank will flow into the other tank where the plants will strip out the nutrients and polish the
water before it is pumped back into the fish tank. “As such it will mimic a natural wetland system.” Liebenberg said the aquaponics was currently being installed and would be open to the public during May, while the wind turbine, which will help Intaka
achieve its long-term goal of being off the grid, will be operational by the end of April. Intaka Island hosts around 30,000 visitors a year including a large number of school groups and offers age-appropriate and curriculum-compliant environmental education.
for further information, please contact alan liebenberg on alanl@centurycity.co.za or on 021 552 6889.
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Winter Preparedness Plan
taff of Century City Property Owners’ Association have been hard at work clearing the storm water system ahead of the expected heavy winter rainfall. According to CCPOA Facilities and Infrastructure Manager, Gordon Ralph, this was done to help prevent blockages and consequent flooding and to ensure that pollutants do not enter the canal system during the first heavy winter rainfall. He said as part of the CCPOA’s winter preparedness plan, more than 250 storm
water inlets, catchpits, drains and channels had been checked and cleared of litter, sand and plant debris. “Due to the hot, dry conditions since last winter we have had to remove a lot more debris and sand than usual. We have also paid particular attention to those areas where construction has been under way as this also contributes significantly to the dust and debris that has to be removed.” Ralph says the entire system will be rechecked after winter.
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city life Enjoy the new tastes of our City
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number of exciting new eateries are now open in Century City Square, a new mixed-use precinct bounded by Sable and Ratanga roads. Nearing completion, the Square is set to become the new commercial and hospitality hub of our City within a City. It comprises not just restaurants but also a 1,200-seat Conference Centre, a 125-room hotel, offices, 51 apartments and showrooms all set around a public square, with all five restaurants and coffee shops having opened in May. The Square Cafe & Wine Bar in the Century City Hotel offers delectable fare for breakfast, lunch or dinner in elegant surrounds. Every lunch time there is a Harvest Table with specials of the day – two or three meat dishes to choose from, a vegetarian option, breads and salads – while dinner is à la carte. Square Cafe is running a daily happy hour from 5pm to 7pm where you can buy a house wine or craft beer and get a second one free. In addition, on Thursday evenings there is live music to entertain patrons during Happy Hour. Then there are Café Frank and Seattle Coffee, which are both open for breakfast and lunch and are rapidly building a loyal clientele. Café Frank serves wholesome, fresh, light meals and if you have not yet tasted their freshly baked chicken and leek or venison pie in phyllo pastry you don’t know
what you are missing. Seattle Coffee, which is situated on the doorstep of the Century City Conference Centre and opens at 6.30am, also offers light meals, biscuits and muffins, and much of this is baked daily on the premises. Famed for its array of ontap craft beer, pizzas, ribs and burgers, Tiger’s Milk, with its eye-catching interior, is the largest of the restaurant offerings in the Square and opened its doors this May. As with its sister restaurants in the CBD and Muizenberg, Tiger’s Milk is expected to become a trendy and popular lunch,
sundowner and dinner venue and to be particularly lively in the evening. Last but not least is Punjab Wok, offering an explosion of Indian and Oriental flavours as well as sushi, which also opened in May. So whatever your mood or your palate, there is no doubt you will be spoilt for choice! And what’s more there is plenty of parking right on site in a basement parking garage accessed from Energy Lane. If you park in the red zone you can take the stairs to the ground level right in the heart of the Square.
“nearing completion, the square is set to become the new commercial and hospitality hub of our city within a city.”
VETERINARY SERVICES
Ixia St Animal Hospital & dental clinic
Tel: 021 555 4040
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9 Ixia St Milnerton
Dr Natalie Bosman BVSc, Dr Cato Müller BVSc & Associates
We are a 15-year established, well-equipped, modern Veterinary Hospital, offering a broad range of medical, surgical, high-care and dental services. The Doctors and staff of Ixia St Animal Hospital are committed and equipped to provide up-to-date, caring, professional, efficient and high-quality care for dogs, cats and other small pets. Our long opening hours offer convenience and availability, accommodating the time pressures of almost any pet owners’ lifestyle! Veterinary Services Include: •Consultations & Vaccinations •Medical Diagnostic Investigations •Radiology & Ultrasound •Surgery-General & Orthopedic •Hospitalisation & High-Care •In-house Laboratory Services •Veterinary Dentistry •Weight Management
our loooong opening hours Monday-Friday : 7am - 8pm Saturday : 8am - 5pm Sunday/Publ.Hol : 9am - 12pm modern medicine ~ old fashioned care
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city life Café Frank – Slow Food Fast
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he owner-chef of Café Frank, Debora Wynne’s love affair with food began purely by chance. Having studied Economics at university, she went to London at the time of the dotcom crash but was miserable there so she took a job on a sailing boat to the Caribbean as nothing more than a glorified maid. She spent the next five years working the boats while she finished her degree through Unisa, timing the jobs so that she could fly to London to write her exams once a year. There were highly qualified chefs on the boats and it was from them she developed a passion for food. “I used to help them in the kitchen during a break. I also did a cookery course in London. After two years of being a skivvy I landed a job as a chef on another boat and cooked my way around
the world for the next three years.” On her return to South Africa, she got roped into helping her brother-in-law start up an online business with the idea that she would be able to save enough money to start her own restaurant. That did not quite work out as planned, so her first foray into the restaurant business in 2009 was with a “hole in the wall” chicken rotisserie outlet, Rotisserie 360, in Bree Street, which was an overnight success. By 2012 she was ready to launch a fully-fledged bistro and the inaugural Café Frank was born in buzzy Bree Street . That too proved a great success and for the past year or so Debora has been ready to expand the business with a second outlet but could not find the right location. That was until Century City Square. “It was the
first location I looked at that I had a gut feel was perfect.” Her new restaurant is modelled on the same formulae, namely communal tables, pouring out onto the hustle and bustle of the street in a highdensity urban area, catering for working people who are prepared to pay for convenience with no compromise on quality. Not only do they serve breakfast and lunch but if you book in the morning they will cook you dinner which you can pick up to take home. They also do catering and their liquor licence has been approved. Café Frank is currently operating weekdays from 7pm to 4pm but these hours will be extended shortly to seven days a week and to 6pm in the evening. Watch this space. 087 150 2562 www.cafefrank.com
for one of debora’s winning recipes go to www.centurycity.co.za
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city life Iconic Tiger’s Milk store now open
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new Tiger’s Milk branch – the third for Cape Town – opened its doors in Century City in May. The first Tiger’s Milk store opened in Muizenberg in 2014 and the second on Long Street in the middle of the Cape Town CBD in mid-2015. Both stores boast eclectic interiors showcasing a combination of old and new. A menu consisting of mostly ribs, burgers, pizzas and steaks – generous portions, perfectly prepared – quickly became known as “Dude Food”. Tiger’s Milk draws funseekers of all ages, with a great selection of local craft beer complementing the food and mood. Spurred on by the success of these two stores, the new Century City store promises to be the perfect setting for lunch or
dinner offering the same “Dude Food” menu with the brass woodfired pizza oven and the large semicircular bar serving up the best craft beers, making it the perfect spot to hang out after a day in the office.
Tiger’s Milk hosted a preopening, roof-wetting function for the Rabie Property Group, which was attended by more than 200 contractors and professionals who had worked on the R1 billion Century City Square project.
opening hours: every day from 11:00 to late. for more details visit www.tigersmilk.co.za
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city life Garth Johnson shares his winning recipe yoghurt baked red roman 1 medium-sized Red Roman or similar sized fish like Silvers, Jacopever or Gurnard. Get your fishmonger to scale, gut and remove the eyes of the fish. Yoghurt marinade ½ cup plain Bulgarian yoghurt ½ cup crème fraîche 1tsp toasted cumin seeds 1tsp toasted onion seeds 2tbs toasted flaked almonds 1tsp smoked paprika 1tbs shredded mint juice of half a lime large sheet of wax paper 1 small sweet potato, washed well and sliced thinly thinly sliced baby onion rings
Kedgeree ½ cup Basmati rice 1 shallot, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 1 bay leaf 5 fresh curry leaves 1 large tomato, roughly chopped coriander leaves salt and black pepper small handfull of fine beans, top & tailed and pan fried 1 soft boiled egg, shelled garlic chips for garnish pine nuts for garnish 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. 2 Mix all the ingredients together well for the yoghurt marinade. 3 Cut three slits on either side of the fish and rub all the marinade over both sides of the fish, making sure to get some on the inside of the cavity.
4 Now either fold the wax paper to have double sheets or cut two identical sized sheets to wrap the fish in. TIP: make sure the sheets are at least 2½ times the size of the fish’s width and only about 10cm more than the length of the fish. 5 Lay the wax paper down, then lay the sweet potato slices just off centre of the wax paper, to the length of the fish. TIP: This is to prevent cooking juices from seeping through the wax paper. 6 Season the sweet potato slices and lay the fish on top. Arrange the baby onion rings on the fish, season with salt and fold the wax paper parcel. Twist the edges well to prevent the parcel from opening during cooking. Bake for 20min for a 400g fish at 180°C. 7 In the mean time start the kedgeree. In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onions, garlic, bay leaf, curry leaves and tomato until the onion is cooked. 8 Add the rice and season with salt. Cover the rice with fish stock, up to 2½cm above the rice. Simmer until all the liquid has evaporated and until the rice starts making a light “crackle noise”. Remove the saucepan from the heat and put a lid on to allow the rice to steam for 20min in the residual heat. 9 The fish should be done now. Tear the wax paper open from the top to prevent juice from escaping. Serve the kedgeree on the side garnished with pan-fried fine beans, garlic chips, coriander leaves, boiled egg, pine nuts and a lemon wedge if you wish.
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city life Garth Johnson – Chef Extraordinaire
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arth Johnson (the Executive Chef at the Square Cafe & Wine Bar in the Century City Hotel) became fascinated with food when he was a young boy. In fact at around the age of 11 he would raid his mother’s cupboards for ingredients, which he mixed together with one or other liquid and served up to his bemused and tolerant family. Since then he has phenomenally refined his skills to become a household name in South Africa, creating elegant yet wholesome cuisine that both excites and delights. Born in Namibia to a South African father and a Namibian mother, Garth spent holidays in Cape Town and when he decided on his career path, the Cape was the natural destination. His journey to Chef Extraordinaire began at the age of 18 with a six-month culinary training programme at Warwick’s Chef School in Hermanus, where he graduated with a City & Guilds International Diploma in Culinary Arts. He was one of six chefs in his graduating class to be sent to a Red Carnation property for a six-month apprenticeship, which he took up at The Montague on The Gardens Hotel in London. Back in South Africa, he joined the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa as Chef de PartieSaucier for a three-year period before moving to the One&Only hotel where he was part of the opening kitchen team of Maze Cape Town. From there he spent
two years on cruise ships further honing his skills and seeing the world before returning to The One&Only where, as Chef De Cuisine, he was responsible for helping to run all the hotel’s food outlets including a 130-seater à la carte restaurant; banqueting for up to 250 people, in-room dining and a 60-seat poolside restaurant. Then followed a year as Executive Sous Chef with Western Province Caterers overseeing 240 production kitchens. It was while he was here that he was approached by Reuben Riffel and invited to join Reuben’s Restaurant & Bar Group where for the past year he has served as Executive Chef of the brand responsible for the group’s five à la carte restaurants. While he loved the Reuben’s job, when the opportunity arose for him to be his own boss, to use the business and management
skills he had acquired along the way and to grow a restaurant from scratch, it was too good a challenge to let go. His years of being the man behind the many great chefs who have mentored him have come to an end. From now on, he will be centre stage but will also pursue his other passion: mentoring and growing young talent and in so doing giving back what he has been given. “The Century City Hotel is really exciting. It is a fourstar hotel run like a five-star establishment with an emphasis on excellence and I feel truly privileged to be a part of it.” So what can you expect from Garth in the way of food? Elegant but not pretentious; exciting and novel dishes but with wholesome, hearty flavours that conjure up memories of family favourites and farmstyle cooking. In one word: Sublime. Century City Hotel: 021 204 8000
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city life
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Serving it up at Seattle Coffee Co
he team of five baristas at Seattle Coffee Co in the Square – three and a half from Zimbabwe, half from Malawi, and one from SA – have plenty in common. For starters they love drinking good coffee, they love making good coffee and they love interacting with customers. They are warm and exuberant and take great pride in their work, enjoying a friendly but competitive camaraderie which ensures standards don’t slip. Heading up the team is the lone South African, Thabo Dube from Wynberg, who has been
Michelle Mkwangwnyah, the only woman in the team, came to Cape Town from Zimbabwe in 2009 and has worked for Seattle Coffee Co since 2011. “My best is when the customer takes that first sip and he or she says it is the best cup of coffee they have ever had,” says Michelle, who lives in Phoenix with her husband Victor and two daughters Chatelle (8) and Vongai (2). Fellow Zimbabwean, Themba Mugadzakieta, has had four years’ experience as a barista and joined the company in
December last year. For him, interacting with the customers and consistently delivering his very best is what drives him. Themba and his girlfriend Ennie live in Summer Greens. Samuel Jonas, whose father is Malawian and his mother Zimbabwean, is the newest recruit, having joined Seattle in January, but is determined to make his mark as a barista! He and his wife Hazel are expecting a baby shortly. The fifth member of the team is Adrian Baloyi, also from Zimbabwe, who has worked for Seattle Coffee Co for the past three years. “It is so enjoyable. We have so much fun, it is so relaxed and free. It doesn’t feel like work.” They are a very close team, and their customers leave there feeling like part of the family. From left, Samuel Jonas (Barista), Thabo Dube (Store Manager), Michelle Mkwangwynah (Barista), Jean-Marié (National Head Chef), Themba Mugadzakieta (Assistant Manager) and Adrian Baloyi (Head Barista).
with the company for six years – the first four in Cavendish until he was sent to open a number of other new branches including Strand Street, The Standard Bank Towers and now Century City. “I just love this place. I just love the people, so hopefully I am here to stay. I can see from this week with more people moving into the new offices that we are going to be very busy. It’s great. This is my destiny.”
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city life Upcoming events at Century City CENTURY CITY NIGHT MARKET 27 May, 23 June, 28 July, 25 August Snuggle up in one of the cozy seating areas at the Intaka Island Eco-Centre and enjoy some delicious food and live music.
CENTURY CITY FATHER’S DAY ADVENTURE 19 June Dads and kids are in for 24 hours of fun at this annual event at Intaka Island Eco-Centre, including canoeing, night hikes and wall-climbing – this is the ultimate campout adventure!
GIN TASTING Date to be confirmed
4TH JULY PARTY 4th July Flags are up and sparks will fly! Come and celebrate the 4th July! Celebrating all things American, you’ll be treated to craft beers, good old American fare, live music and tons of festivities at Knife Restaurant.
Gin lovers take note! From sampling our gins and enjoying the live music, to learning a little more about the wonder of juniper, there are ample opportunities to soak up the atmosphere – and a G&T or two!
QUIZ NIGHT 22 July Play for personal glory or shared success – come and get your game on at Century City Quiz Night at Brick Lane Eatery.
PAINT NITE 17 August If you haven’t yet attended Paint Nite, this is a must! Sip wine and jam to music while you create your masterpiece led by a professional artist. An evening of pure fun and creativity at Intaka Island Eco-Centre.
CENTURY CITY WOMEN’S DAY 5 August Be spoilt and be fabulous this Women’s Day at African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa! Take time out and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, gifts and giggles at this popular annual event. for information on all century city events please contact bianca at bianca@centurycity.co.za