OVERSTRAND HERMANUS: UNESCO CREATIVE CITY OF GASTRONOMY

The Overstrand has a new, unique accolade to add to its already impressive list of reasons for the Whale Coast being a top tourist destination in the world.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) announced in October that the Overstrand had been designated as Africa’s first Gastronomy Creative City, joining Cape Town and Durban as the only other two cities in South Africa to be included, respectively, as Creative Cities in Design and Literature in 2017.

“This is a win for the whole area from Rooi-Els to Buffeljagsbaai. It is a win for the ishermen, pancake makers, bakers, winemakers, beer brewers, distillers, foodies, farmers, coffee roasters, farm stalls, those who pick the fruit, stir the pots and serve the clients,” says Cape Whale Coast Tourism Manager, Frieda Lloyd, who points out that the gastronomy designation covers the whole range of “farm-to-fork” activities that happen every day across the Overstrand and is not speciic to Hermanus or to restaurants.

PHOTOS: Karen Winlet

The candidate cities must present a medium-term, fouryear action plan describing the main initiatives that the city commits to, in achieving the network’s objectives. Already a full programme of activities has been planned for 2020, kicking off in December 2019.

“Cape Whale Coast Tourism wants to celebrate the Overstrand’s UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy award by adding extra creative lair to our outdoor markets – the hubs of local fare. We plan to focus on the personalities, who work so hard at pleasing the palates of locals and visitors. On Saturday 14 December, we would appreciate market organisers asking traders to add something more gastronomic, something in UN- ESCO blue, to their presentations,” said Frieda. “Maybe cupcakes with blue icing or cappuccinos with a ‘U’ on the froth. Traders can go wild.”

In February, once the new school year is underway, there will be a competition with cash prizes. Entrants will have to design a logo for Overstrand’s use to highlight its UNESCO designation.

From 28 – 31 May 2020, Stanford Tourism will host its inaugural Stanford Culinary Festival, an event designed to showcase the best from the Stanford area’s culinary arena, including restaurants, wine estates, food producers and all those involved with food.

Some of the events include a fresh-produce market, a progressive dinner, and ‘Dine with a Local’, for those home chefs, who wish to open their homes and host a group.

Excerpt from Overstrand Hermanus’ 2019 Application to UNESCO:

Sustainable development lies at the heart of Hermanus. Starting out as an inhumane whaling station, it has been rebuilt to being renowned as the whale capital of South Africa and to being voted the top land-based, whale-watching destination in the world. Moreover, the city is home to SA’s first UNESCO biosphere, the UNESCO Kogelberg Biosphere. It is said to have the most diverse species of flora in the world, and is considered a leading food destination, not because it has top restaurants but because of the authenticity of its ingredients, largely sourced from within an 80 km radius throughout the Overberg. Foraging is what differentiates Hermanus from the big cities. The entire food culture is based on sustainability and protecting the environment - from banning straws and bottled water, to restaurants stopping wrapped sweets and wet wipes.

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