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31 July 2018
Hermanus restaurants getting back on their feet
T
wo weeks ago, when I went on a walkabout to find out how our restaurants were doing in the midst of the stay-away, I found several closed doors, and those that were open, were operating under extreme pressure due to a lack of staff. On the whole, though, the morale of our local businesses was bolstered by the many volunteers who lent a helping hand to keep their doors open and their kitchens functioning, even if they were only able to offer a limited menu to their customers.
What’s Cooking RESTAURANT NEWS Hedda Mittner
It was a different picture this weekend, with our restaurants and coffee shops all open for business and most, but not all of their staff having returned to work. There can be no doubt that all these establishments have suffered enormous financial losses due to the unrest, yet most owners have treated their staff members with compassion and supported them as best they can. “It is still very quiet,” says Rayno Rabie of Betty Blue, “as visitors have been dissuaded from coming to Hermanus due to the unrest. But I realised that we have a choice, every morning when we wake up, whether we are going to be positive or negative. We can’t move forward if we are negative; we have to lift our heads up and look to the horizon. As Winston Churchill said, ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going’; it’s the only way to get through to the other side.”
Nic Kennedy and Theo van Niekerk of the Vanderbolt Coffee Company are opening a new restaurant in Sandbaai called Vb. on 1 August.
At Vb. Theo, who managed the Newton Johnson Restaurant until June, will start off by focusing on pizzas and gradually build the menu. Although the opening was delayed by the recent protest action, Theo remains upbeat. “We haven’t been able to interview staff or get the signage done, and we still need a pergola and umbrellas outside, but we’re getting there,” says this plucky entrepreneur, who previously managed several restaurants in Cape Town. He was also a co-owner of Van Hunks in Kloof Street and owned a coffee shop cum deli called Tamboerswinkel before relocating to Hermanus three years ago with his wife Amy and their now three-yearold son Samuel. “It’s hard to be negative when you are living in a place as beautiful as Hermanus,” says Theo. “I feel very privileged to be a part of such a caring community where everyone pitches in to help one another. I am especially grateful to Amy and my partner Nic, his wife Liz, and the many friends like Anton and Nicole Verhoogt who have helped us with everything from renovating the kitchen to painting the walls.” Vb. will be open from Wednesday, 1 August, serving a variety of pizzas, beer and wine. They are open Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00 – 21:30; Sundays from 12:00 – 16:30; and Tuesdays from 16:00 – 21:30. Closed on Mondays. Call 072 368 3991 to book.
And on that note, it is encouraging to see not only our existing restaurants getting back on their feet, but even new ones opening. In the midst of all the unrest, Theo van Niekerk of the Vanderbolt Coffee Company pursued the opportunity to open his own eatery by taking over Casa Beira-Mar in Sandbaai, after its owner, Ricardo Braganca, relocated to the CBD to open Casa Ricardo in Aberdeen Street. Theo has renamed Casa Beira-Mar, also previously known as Bamboo Beach, as Vb. after his well-known coffee company. His business partner, Nic Kennedy, will continue to focus on Vanderbolt Coffee, whose mobile coffee bar trades from their funky three-wheeled tuk-tuks at various locations, including the Whale Garden next to the Old Harbour Market, at
Curro Hermanus in the mornings and at the Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market on Saturdays.
Partners Tam Yeatman and Gordon Schoeman are the new owners of Embers, which opened last month in Harbour Road where Piccolo’s used to be.
Another eatery where pizza takes pride of place on the menu is Embers, where Gordon Schoeman and his partner Tam Yeatman have infused this little gem on Harbour Road, previously known as Piccolo’s, with a funky and youthful vibe. The previous owners, Mike and Cherie Pallas, ran Bella Napoli in Onrus for many years before relocating to the CBD and they are once again moving to a new location. Having purchased Eat Restaurant from Sheena Bruce, they can now be found in Hemel-enAarde Village, from 1 August.
They have taken over all the staff, including the chefs. The only ones who will be missing are Sheena and head chef Connel Massyn, who have decided to focus on their charcuterie business, which they’ll be running from Caledon. I, for one, will surely miss them! Back at Embers, Gordon and Tam are not only business partners, but will be heading down the aisle soon. While Gordon was born and bred in Hermanus and matriculated from Hermanus High, Tam hails from Johannesburg. Both spent several years working on yachts overseas and met in the Caribbean. When they finally decided to settle down, they chose Hermanus and started looking for a place “to call our own”. Having found Piccolo’s and concluded the deal with Mike and Cherie, they rolled up their sleeves and spent several weeks renovating the premises. Since opening last month as ‘Embers’, several finicky diners who are not easily pleased informed me that their thin-based pizzas are superb. Although I haven’t put their recommendation to the test, the premises surely are a delight – fresh, modern and uncluttered. A narrow staircase leads to the dining area on the first floor, with a little balcony that affords an attractive view of Lemm’s Corner and bustling Harbour Road. Gordon and Tam were hardly up and running when the worst of the unrest flared up, but they remain undaunted. “It was a challenge to get through it,” says Tam, “but fortunately it’s a small restaurant and we could manage. It also showed us what we are capable of.” As in many other instances, family and friends helped them through, including Gordon’s brother Gideon. “Our vision was to create a welcoming space where young people can relax without having to go to a bar,” says Tam. “We are in a good location as there is a lot happening in Harbour Road and we feel very positive about the future of Hermanus – and our business.” Embers is open Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 – 21:30. Closed on Mondays. Call 028 312 1950 to book.
