ary t n e m i l p m o c
Jan|Feb 2015|16 brought to you by
Banting & beer:
What’s the carb count?
Slap, slop, slide & seek A simple sun sense guide
T
t www.topsatspar.co.za
Loyiso Mkize: The fine art of the comic book superhero
GIN ON THE RISE:
Adding fynbos flavour
Kitesurfing
101
- Wind beneath your wings
Sizzling
win
The ultimate Bunnahabhain Islay whisky hamper
Summer
Copies of the Sunday Times Weekend Cook Book 3
Fruity, fresh & fun
EW
N
INTRODUCING
CASTLE LITE
OGILVY CAPE TOWN 72606/E
THE ORIGINAL CASTLE LITE, WITH A DASH OF LIME
UNLOCK EXTRA COLD REFRESHMENT
Not for Sale to Persons Under the Age of 18.
contents 33 18
4 EDITOR’S LETTER
Getting more than bargained for
6 NEWS
Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc, Facelifts for Bell’s & Scottish Leader and harvest festival fun.
26
14 WINEMAKERS OF THE YEAR
TOPS at SPAR and Diner’s Club
40 16 TINUS TALKS
The finer points of La Pomponette
18 TALKING TOURISM Wine tourism’s worth billions annually
26 JUST THE TONIC Gin’s growth takes on a local flavour
33 COPPER KETTLES
36
Tips on brandy distilling
36 CUTTING CARBS
The calorific news on beer & your body Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
www.topsatspar.co.za 1
contents cont... Publisher | Shayne Dowling shayne@integratedmedia.co.za Editor | Fiona Mc Donald fiona@integratedmedia.co.za Art Director | Megan Knox megan@integratedmedia.co.za Advertising | Shayne Dowling shayne@integratedmedia.co.za Jess Nosworthy | jess@integratedmedia.co.za
66 40 TRADING PUNCHES Great recipes & ideas for summer
44 COMIC RELIEF Artist Loyiso Mkize’s rising star
win
a copy of Sunday Times Food Weekly Cookbook 3
PR & Promotions | Ashlee Attwood ash@integratedmedia.co.za Photography | Ashlee Attwood and Thinkstock.com Contributors | Tinus van Niekerk , Teresa Ulyate Emile Joubert, Gerrit Rautenbach, Clifford Roberts, Norman Macfarlane, Neil Pendock, Julia Chemaly. Head Office | Cape Town Tel: 021 685 0285 Suite WB03 Tannery Park 23 Belmont Road, Rondebosch, 7700 Postal Address: PO Box 259, Rondebosch, 7701 Printing | Paarl Media Cape Published by | Integrated Media for TOPS at SPAR
pg52
TOPS at SPAR | Jess Nicholson, Group Promotions & Advertising Manager - Liquor
stockists:
48 46 KITESURFING
Whatsits, doodads & cool stuff
50 BOOKS & CDS
Big Blue www.bigblue.co.za and Entrepo www.entrepo.co.za
62 BLOGSPOT
Repentance after indulgence
64 EMILE JOUBERT
Wind & water’s thrills ‒ and spills
48 THINGAMAJIGS
SPAR Good Living items are available at your nearest TOPS at SPAR and SPAR outlets. www.topsatspar.co.za and www.spar.co.za
This little piggy...
66 RESPONSIBILITY
Safe fun in the scorching sun
68 NEXT ISSUE
What to look out for in Issue 17
Great reads & tunes
Sunday Times Cookbook 3 up for grabs
57 RETRO SNACKING From cheese straws to stuffed eggs
2 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
Competition submissions should reach us no later than 12th February 2015. The Prize/s is as indicated, no alternatives or cash will be provided. The decision of Integrated Media will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Under no circumstances shall Integrated Media, TOPS at SPAR, SPAR or its appointed representatives and the prize donors be liable to anyone who enters these Prize Draws for an indirect or consequential loss howsoever arising which may be suffered in relation to the Prize Draws. By entering these competitions you make yourself subject to receiving promotional information. Entrants are deemed to have accepted these terms
win
52 BOOK GIVEAWAY
COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS
69 Win a unique prize of
half a century’s worth of Bunnahabhain whisky
and conditions. Prize Draw Rules: The prize draw is only open to consumers who must be over 18 years of age and resident in South Africa. Employees of Integrated Media and TOPS at SPAR, SPAR and their respective advertising, media and PR agencies, as well as the family members, consultants, directors, associates and trading partners of such organisations
72 LOOPDOP Welkom terug
and persons are ineligible for the draw.
Editorial
Clean slate Starting a new year is always somewhat conflicting for me.
T
Fiona McDonald
pray that the That’s when they too hard wind doesn’t blow flowers are because those little nches of what become the bu ter. grapes months la
he duality of push and pull arises from having a part of me which is sad to see 2014 end, especially
sad that the holidays with big social gatherings with friends and family are over – and that work has to start up again! But there’s also excitement and anticipation of what 2015 will bring – fresh challenges and exciting new things to experience. As the years stack up I have new appreciation for the old adage of time
when the bunches of red grapes
“flying by”: I swear there’s an
change colour, taking on a darker
blues of saying goodbye to last year:
incremental increase in the rapidity
shade and gently ripening, all the while
the anticipation of all the potentially
with which the months pass. I just know
gathering more and more sugar in
good wines to be enjoyed has made
that before I rub the sleep out of my
each berry.
me forget about 2014 and its highlights
eyes it’ll be Easter –then winter – then
Harvest is a whirlwind of activity in the
spring again … and then Christmas
winelands. Drive to Stellenbosch, Paarl,
decorations will appear in shopping
Robertson, Worcester or even
malls in October and the festive season
Groblershoop or Upington way up north
will be upon us. It’s inexorable!
on the banks of the Orange River and
Part of the anticipation of new things
full of grapes – or large trucks laden
kicking off early in January. It’s at this
with carefully picked bins of fruit,
time of the year that I stand in awe of
destined for vinification. Pass near a
what winemakers do. They have to
winery and there’s an aroma of
patiently wait for months for the first
ferment in the air, a vaguely winey
green shoots to appear on the pruned
smell as the grapes are pressed
vines, for leaves and canes to grow
and undergo their alchemical
and the first flowers to appear. That’s
conversion into wine. And to think that if you’re a
blow too hard because those little
winemaker, you only get to do what
flowers are what become the bunches
you do best about 40 times in your life!
of grapes months later.
Harvest only comes around once a
The green clusters develop quite
year so they have to be on top of their
rapidly and then comes the all
game – which is why we salute a few of
important veraison period – the time
them in this issue.
4 www.topsatspar.co.za Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
already. Roll on 2015!
Cheers, Fiona
you’ll see tractors pulling along trailers
is, of course, to do with the harvest
when they pray that the wind doesn’t
I’ve also decided to get over the
Fiona McDonald is a trained journalist who has spent the last 20 years writing about wine – and more recently, about whisky too.
News
news news news news French flair Bell’s rings Justifiably dubbed the gastronomic capital of in the South Africa, Franschhoek change is adept at celebrating
everything food and wine.
Plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures
Following hot on the heels of their annual Bubbly Festival held in December, is the Franschhoek Summer Wines festival which takes place at Leopard’s Leap on Saturday, 7 February from 12pm to 5pm. Franschhoek winemakers will showcase their top white, rosé or MCC wines at the intimate event. Patrons will be able to relax on the lush green lawns or the shady veranda while listening to local music and enjoying delicious food. Festival goers have been asked to enter into the spirit of things by dressing in white and keeping it cool.
The latest thing to go under the knife is
Tickets at R120 a head are available from www.webtickets.co.za and include a wine glass and a tasting of all the wines on show. For more info contact the Franschhoek Wine Valley offices on 021 876 2861.
Colour palate
Appletiser welcomed in the warm season by releasing its new Colours range of flavours.
Appletiser Colours Pink comprises apple and strawberry while Amber is a blend of apple and peach. “We’ve worked really hard to find the perfect taste combinations to satisfy and excite our consumers. Appletiser Colours combine the original taste everyone has always loved with a burst of flavour that will please even the most sophisticated palates,” says Andrea Shuttleworth, Appletiser marketing manager. South Africans really love their Appletiser, and we’ve been inundated with requests for sneak preview tastings. We’ve had to work pretty hard to keep it all under wraps until the launch date!” Appletiser Colours are available in 1.25 litre bottles and 330ml cans. 6 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
are becoming more commonplace. South Africa’s top spirit brand – and while the product hasn’t altered, Bell’s whisky has been tweaked a little. “It’s been a year filled with milestones for Bell’s as it was recognised as the number one spirit brand in South Africa by the 2014 ICON Brand survey shortly after the success of its latest TV commercial called The Reader, the most viewed liquor advert in the country boasting over 2.3 million views to date,” said Bell’s whisky brand manager Lungie Mnyamana. “Although the Bell’s packaging has changed, the whisky has stayed the same. It is still, and always will be, the Extra Special Scotch people know and love.” The new pack boasts an iconic bell-shaped neck, an updated label that includes gold foiling around the Bell’s logo as well as prominent angular facets that create a more masculine posture and deliver an undeniably contemporary and premium feel.
what’s happening
news news news news Shimmy Beach Club brings back ‘Goldfish Submerged Sundays’ and launches ‘Summer Calling’ campaign Shimmy Beach Club, the premier restaurant venue and club of its kind in South Africa, has revealed sensational new additions for the summer season. Kicking off on 30 November and continuing for nine Sundays Goldfish plays exclusively at the venue, delivering ‘Goldfish Submerged Sundays’. Known as the best Sunday party in Cape Town, ‘Goldfish Submerged Sundays’ are synonymous with sunshine, cocktails and sun kissed 20 and 30-somethings dancing barefoot in the sand to the duo’s banging house beats. The exciting seasonal campaign,‘Summer Calling’ sees 10 weekends filled with great parties on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting at 3pm. Featuring top local and international DJs like Chris Vargas (France); Camilo Franco (Ibiza); Gareth Kenward (SA); Sox (SA); Sammi Morales, Wankelmut, Lexar and many more. (no under 18’s). Book at NuTickets for the legendary ‘Goldfish Submerged Sundays’ parties which return to Shimmy Beach Club this summer.
Visit www.Shimmybeachclub.com for more information or any of the following: @ShimmyBeach or
shimmybeachclub
shimmybeachclub
Savvy choices
Soirees in Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Street Soirees have become hugely popular with locals and tourists alike, with many folks diarising the dates months in advance. The event, which takes place in Drostdy Street, sees street food of the gourmet kind, live music and of course, lots of local wine. R50 gets you a glass to taste to your heart’s content and the events make the most of the Cape’s long twilights, starting at 6pm and ending after 8pm.
Dates to diarise: 14 January, 11 and 25 February and 11 and 25 March – all weather permitting. More information is available at www.wineroute.co.za or on Twitter - @StellWineRoute.
ANDREW GORMAN
The oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch are periodically blocked off to celebrate the historic town’s wine culture.
Nitida wine farm in Durbanville was the venue for the announcement of the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10, all of which are perfect wines for the South African summer.
At back from left: Bertho van der Westhuizen (Brampton), Pieter de Waal (Hermit on the Hill), Johnny Calitz (Anura), Jacques Viljoen (Zevenwacht), Jacques Erasmus (Spier) Front from left: Riandri Visser (Cape Point Vineyards), Lizelle Gerber (Boschendal), Theunis van Zyl (Du Plevaux), Razvan Macici (Nederburg), Izele van Blerk (KWV)
The Top 10 comprises the following:
Collection 2014; Hermit on the Hill
Anura Reserve unfiltered 2013,
The Infidel 2012; Nederburg Arnold Graue
Boschendal Grand Vin Blanc 2014;
The Young Airhawk 2013,
Brampton 2014; Cape Point Vineyards
Spier 21 Gables 2013, KWV The Mentors
Reserve 2013; Du Plevaux Private
Darling 2013 and Zevenwacht 360˚ 2013. Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
www.topsatspar.co.za 7
News
news news news news Lead, others will follow
Lotsa green bottles Earlier this year, Dutch brewing giant Heineken rejected a takeover bid from South Africa’s SABMiller, preferring to “preserve the heritage and identity of Heineken as an independent company,” a statement from the company read. “The Heineken family and Heineken NV’s management are confident that the company will continue to deliver growth and shareholder value.” And the good news is that in spite of the froth generated by the news, the beer remains unchanged. Heineken has in fact launched its Open your City with Heineken campaign. A range of limited-edition Cities bottles are currently on the market, each featuring one of six global cities – and to show there’s no hard feelings towards South Africa, Johannesburg is one of them, along with New York, Rio de Janeiro, London, Amsterdam and Shanghai. Each Heineken City Edition bottle has a unique code under the bottle cap. SMS that code to *120*222# and you could win a bumper, 72 hour action-packed adventure in New York.
Cruising to GOLD
It might seem like a bit of a hometown or local result but the Cruz Premium Vodka Company of New York is delighted that its Cruz Vintage Black scooped a Consumer’s Choice Award along with a gold medal at the Spirits International Prestige awards in California, following on from the gold the handcrafted spirit won at The Vodka Masters in London a year earlier. Its makers claim that Cruz Vintage Black is super-smooth because it is distilled no fewer than five times! In addition it is charcoal filtered three times… And never let it be said that image is not everything: the premium spirit also scores in the looks department with both its name and jet black bottle and colour co-ordinated box shrieking its style. 8 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
Scottish Leader, a popular blended Scotch whisky, has reformulated its Original whisky to suit changing consumer taste with more body and balance.
Burn Stewart’s master distiller Ian MacMillan also announced the introduction of a new – premium – Signature blend. “The core elements of Scottish Leader Original have not been lost in any way. As a team with over 340 years of collective experience, we’ve worked incredibly hard to give it more richness and balance but ensure it is still immediately recognisable as the Scottish Leader people around the world have come to appreciate. With Scottish Leader Signature we’ve amplified the malt influence to give Scotch lovers a new, complex and layered offering. “Both will appeal to experienced blended drinkers and newcomers, whether they enjoy drinking Scotch neat or with a mixer.” The new Signature has a more pronounced island malt influence, and consequently a somewhat more smoky taste profile.
Scottish Leader, one of the world’s favourite blended Scotch whiskies, sold in 60 countries, is revitalising with a new look, an enhanced recipe and the introduction of an additional, very premium Signature blend. After 12 months of extensive global consumer research, what is now positioned as the Scottish Leader Original, has been reformulated with improved body and balance. The blend of top malt and grain whiskies is the recipe by Burn Stewart master distiller, Ian MacMillan, and now has a higher single malt content with a warm, honey sweet and delicately smoky taste and a silky smooth finish. It has also been repackaged to signify the change. The new, sophisticated Scottish Leader Signature has a more pronounced island malt influence than the Original, with a rich, smoky profile. Modern, tall and proud, the bottle now has clean-edged glass chamfers skilfully designed to show-case the rich gold colours of the whisky. The Scottish Leader ethos is expressed in the new soaring eagle brand icon, an inherently Scottish symbol, which conveys success, vision and power - the characteristics of a great leader and the essence of the Scottish Leader brand. The packaging is also influenced by its proud Scottish heritage. With a Celtic typeface and the landscape of Ben Ledi, the highest mountain in the Trossachs, the label reflects its provenance and Highland home. These whiskies were crafted to encourage people to share and celebrate occasions, recognising individual and group successes across all aspects of life. Scottish Leader Original is available in 1 litre, 750 ml and 200 ml, and Signature in 750 ml packaging.
STAND A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR SHARE OF SPAR VOUCHERS! 1ST PRIZE: R5,000 The core elements of Scottish Leader Original have not been lost in any way. As a team with over 340 years of collective experience, we've worked incredibly hard to give it more richness and balance but ensure it is still immediately recognisable as the Scottish Leader people around the world have come to appreciate. With Scottish Leader Signature we’ve amplified the malt influence to give Scotch lovers a new, complex and layered offering. Both will appeal to experienced blended drinkers and newcomers, whether they enjoy drinking Scotch neat or with a mixer.
2ND PRIZE: R3,000 3RD PRIZE: R2,000
PURCHASE ANY OF THE SCOTTISH LEADER ABOVE. SEND YOUR TILL SLIP NUMBER AND CONTACT DETAILS TO CHEERS@CHEERSMAG.CO.ZA COMPETITION ENDS 28 FEBRUARY 2015. SEE CONTENTS PAGE FOR T&C’s.
Not for Sale to Persons Under the Age of 18.
News
news news news news Seeing red
While the season might call for cool and refreshing whites most of the time, there will be some point when your taste buds want to see red for a bit. Two Oceans Wines has added a new wine to its popular range – a 2014 Shiraz. The tasting notes reveal that it’s a “vibrant and complex mix of red berries, cloves and spices with a hint of white pepper and vanilla”. Its makers recommend it with steak, Moroccan lamb, seared tuna or even a bean and lentil stew for vegetarians. Two Oceans paired up with Sarah Graham in preparing a simple snacking solution for easy entertaining:
Spiced guava and glühwein ice cream
Serves 6-8 | Preparation time, 10 minutes | Unattended setting time, 3-4 hours. Created by Sarah Graham
INGREDIENTS: 2 cups Two Oceans Shiraz 2 cinnamon sticks 6 cloves 6 cardamom pods 1 tsp vanilla paste or 1 vanilla pod, halved lengthways 2 star anise 2 tins guavas, in syrup 1 cup (250ml) whipping cream 1 tin condensed milk METHOD: To a medium-sized pot over medium heat add the red wine, spices and guavas (with the syrup) and leave to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until the wine has reduced to a syrupy texture. Remove from the heat, pick out the spices and discard, and mash the guavas roughly with a fork or wooden spoon. Remove two to three tablespoons of the purée and set aside for serving. Meanwhile, whip the cream until very light and fluffy, drizzle in the condensed milk and fold gently to combine. Also fold in the guava purée and glühwein syrup. Place in a loaf tin lined with baking paper, or a freezerproof container, and freeze for three to four hours or until set.
Up the Creek The foothills of the
Drakensberg outside Underberg come alive in April as KwaZulu-Natalians flock to Splashy Fen while Gautengers head to OppiKoppi. The last weekend in January sees the wheatfields of Swellendam in the Cape play host to Up the Creek.
2015 marks 25 years of one of South Africa’s favourite outdoor music festivals which is described as “Like Woodstock – just wetter!” That’s because the Creek in question is the aptly named Breede River. And with weddings having been staged to coincide with folks lazing around on
lobster-shaped lilos in the water, is it any wonder that one of the country’s most iconic and beloved outdoor accompaniments – Sedgwick’s Old Brown – will be sharing the moment too? The Sedgwick’s Old Brown river raft is legendary; equipped with bean bags, hammocks and room to chill. There’s even an acoustic stage for musicians to take a turn but if you want to relax, there’s invariably a giant Jenga game going or cards to play. Visit www.upthecreek.co.za for more information and to purchase tickets. 10 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
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To view the full range of Frosty 速 Neoprene Coolers visit www.frosty.co.za. For orders mail orders@frosty.co.za
news news news news Celebrating harvest
Diarise 31 January and 1 February because that’s when Delheim’s Start of Harvest celebration allows enthusiastic amateurs to take their shoes off and stomp a barrel or two of grapes for themselves!
The fun in the sun starts at noon, both days, when guests are welcomed with a glass of fermenting
grape must and a sweet ‘mosbolletjie’ – a traditional harvest treat – to toast the new vintage. Grapes harvested on the day will also be out for sampling, whilst young and old can get knee-deep in grape juice glee to get a real hands-on experience of winemaking. If you fancy your stomping skills, you can participate in the grape stomping competition – a mushy clash in which teams stomp their hearts out to produce the most juice. Fabulous prizes are up for grabs for the best team, boldest spirit, and best dressed on the day. A long, buffet-style Harvest Table will entice families and friends in the lush picnic area where they can chill out on the grass at the river’s edge and enjoy delicious food to the sounds of a live band. Tickets are limited to 120 adults per day and cost R285 a head (R175 per child under 12; kids under 2 are free) and includes all the activities and food on the day, including a Delheim wine glass, and the grape must and mosbolletjie on arrival. For more information or to book your spot contact Wilma or Liah at Delheim Estate’s restaurant at Tel: 021 888 4607 or 079 7353257, or send an email to restaurant@delheim.com.
Red governor’s brew
Stellenbrau, the craft brewery based in the Eikestad, has followed up the good news of being awarded a gold medal at the Global Craft Beer Awards in Berlin with the release of a unique new beer: Governor’s Red Lager. Billed as a “world first”, the brew – a tribute to the founder of Stellenbosch, Governor Simon van der Stel – is made with indigenous Rooibos and Honeybush. “There has been a real boom in the local craft beer industry,” said Stellenbrau owner Deon Engelbrecht. “From the outset we aimed to distinguish ourselves through consistent quality products and by brewing accessible, interesting and memorable artisanal beers in the classical tradition.” “There are no shortcuts. We use state 12 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
of the art equipment and only the best available ingredients,” he said. “Lager is the world’s most consumed beer and now we are able to offer beer lovers two of the world’s most interesting options of the variety!” According to head brewer, Stephen de Jager, Governor’s Red Lager is infused with Rooibos and Honeybush leaves (not tea) from the beginning of the brewing process so that a complex flavour develops throughout maturation. “This isn’t just beer with Rooibos tea added to it,” De Jager said.
what’s happening
news news news news Pioneering wine
Winemakers are inveterate experimenters, always trying either a new technique, a new area to plant grapes or even a new grape variety.
But when you have a large commercial operation such as Durbanville Hills, it’s sometimes difficult to find a slot for a new wine. Which is why a limited edition range has been created by the crafty team – The Scout. Just 1 600 bottles of each wine have been made, each hand-numbered and exclusive. Cellar master Martin Moore says the Scout range will include different expressions each year, giving him and the winemaking team the chance to experiment with lesser known varietals using innovative techniques, whilst adding their own creative touch. “Part of the enjoyment for us is the chance to work with unusual varietals and to play around with some of Durbanville Hills’ signature cultivars in surprising and unexpected ways. “The 2014 Pinot Gris Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect example of this. Following on the exciting work done internationally with the blending of Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc, we decided to combine some of the abundant Sauvignon Blanc grapes that favour the cool climate area of Durbanville, along with Pinot Gris, to create a new style of wine.” Joining it in this year’s line-up is a Pinot Noir from 2012.
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Personality
It’s often said that wine is made in the vineyard, that winemakers merely shepherd what nature gives them into the bottle. But there are some who do that better than others – and both TOPS at SPAR and Diners Club recognise their ability and skill. Fiona McDonald reports.
Peak performers B
eing hundreds of kilometres
label bottles and bag-in-box ranges
each facility. Orange River Cellars has
away from the hub of South
improve in order to offer their customers
grasped the nettle and invested in
Africa’s winelands means the
better quality. From Orange River
people and their skills. Winning the TOPS
Northern Cape producers have
Cellars’ side they wanted to turn
at SPAR Orange River Cellars winemaker
historically felt more than just a little
around the perception that they were
of the year is a prize not just with huge
unloved and neglected. They grow
only good for bulk and value.
local prestige but it also carries a good
grapes very successfully in vineyards
And so the TOPS at SPAR Orange River
chunk of cash. Yet the single element of
which stretch nearly 400km alongside
Cellars winemaker of the year
the reward that has produced the
the Orange River.
competition was born. Having judged
biggest results is in the opportunity for
on the panel since its inception 13 years
the winning winemaker to work a month-long harvest in France.
More than a decade ago, TOPS at SPAR and Orange River Cellars
ago I find it heart-warming to see the
(ORC) decided to shake things up in a
massive strides that have been taken.
“win-win” situation. Firstly, TOPS at SPAR
The wines now being made have
prize beyond worth for them. For a
wanted to see the quality of what
changed almost immeasurably for the
winemaker at a winery which processes
Orange River supplied for their own
better. The five wineries which comprise
not just hundreds but thousands of tons
Orange River Cellars –
during a protracted harvest period,
Groblershoop, Grootdrink,
being able to see how processes and
Keimoes, Kakamas and
philosophical approaches differ in
Upington – used to have only
France is priceless. Anything other than
one winemaker per winery.
what they do is small scale…
And one viticulturist to serve all of them!
TOPS at SPAR’s Mark Robinson with Rianco van Rooyen 14 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
Former winners tell you that this is a
It’s when they return that the benefit of that investment is felt – and can be
Nowadays
seen in what makes it across the
there are two
judging bench the following year. ORC
winemakers and
winemakers have improved
one viticulturist
dramatically in a short space of time.
dedicated to
Their management of fruit quality is
The cult of personality cannot be excluded from winemaking. As much as winemakers say they aren’t the ones in charge, that Mother Nature is, it cannot be denied that the decisions they make in both the cellar and the vineyard don’t have a distinct bearing on what goes into the bottle.
Table grape trellises are set high off the ground in order to keep precious bunches as cool as possible.
winemaking vineyard don’t have a distinct bearing on what goes into the bottle. The pinnacle of any winemaker’s career is the annual Diners Club winemaker of the year award. Previous laureates include such great names as Gyles Webb of Thelema, Danie de Wet of De Wetshof, Pieter Ferreira of Graham Beck, Marc Kent of Boekenhoutskloof and Coenie Snyman of Rust en Vrede. All of these wineries are the equivalent of Blue Chip stocks – they are some of the country’s finest and produce excellent wines year after year. It was heartening to hear the 2014 winner, Jacques Erasmus, the white
The winners, Jacques Erasmus & JD Pretorius with Dave Hughes (above) and Margaret Copeland (right).
excellent. Whereas in the past they
winemaker at Stellenbosch’s Spier pay
were perhaps a little too enthusiastic in
tribute to his colleague, viticulturist
their use of oak they have realised that
Johann Smit for his role. “Without good
“less is more” so wood doesn’t
grapes we can’t make good wine,” the
dominate fruit. And in the area of
humble and modest winner said.
blending – both red and white grape
The winning wine was Spier’s Creative
Someone else who shows great maturity and promise despite his relative youth is JD Pretorius,
Block 2, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and
Steenberg’s cellar chief who walked off
Semillon. Erasmus was quite honest
with the title of Diners Club young
about not thinking that he was going to
winemaker of the year. The prize goes
knock-on effect:
win. “One hopes, of course, but usually
to a winemaker under the age of 30 –
Orange River Cellars has seen their
when it comes to white blends judges
and Pretorius admitted he was a
medal tally at the Veritas and
prefer a wine that’s richer and has also
bundle of nerves, despite having three
Michelangelo awards improve and
had some time in wood.”
of the top five wines.
varieties – has shown amazing progress.
There’s also been a
they were judged the Best Value Wine
But this is where the influence and
“I was so chuffed that the wine the
Cellar overall two years ago, beating
impact of decision making enters:
judges chose was our Steenberg Merlot
out a lot of fancied opponents.
Erasmus revealed that the blend which
2012,” Pretorius said. “Merlot has taken
doesn’t display any overt oak
such a knock over the past few years
whitewash for one cellar – Keimoes –
character on the palate, has, in fact,
– just like Pinotage did – but it’s really
with Rianco van Rooyen winning the
spent a bit of time in barrel.
beginning to make a comeback.”
The 2014 event was a near
prizes for best red, best white, best
“I gave the Semillon a bit of time in
Erasmus and Pretorius have earmarked
oak – new oak, but blonde or
the quieter winter months for their
untoasted. It doesn’t display any oaky
respective visits to California, part of the
excluded from winemaking. As much
flavour but it adds a bit of weight to the
Diners Club prize haul, and both are – just
as winemakers say they aren’t the ones
palate.” Erasmus said he did this
like ORC’s Rianco van Rooyen – delighted
in charge, that Mother Nature is, it
because both Sauvignon Blanc and
at the prospect of learning one or two
cannot be denied that the decisions
Semillon can be taut and lean in terms
things and absorbing some knowledge
they make in both the cellar and the
of flavour profile.
from their foreign counterparts.
muscadel and best blended white. The cult of personality cannot be
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
15
Games wine people play…
I
No, this does not encourage irresponsible drinking. Quite the opposite: the ancient games of La Pomponnette and Kottabos require skill and concentration. n recent years, friends have taken to
flinging the dregs towards a
was usually accompanied by some music. What a symposium! Makes any other board meeting seem boring by comparison. Poet Eubulus noted that three bowls were the ideal amount of wine to
gathering for “games night”, usually
target – normally a beaker of various
consume while Athenaeus frequently
involving a board game of some sort
kinds or an amphora balanced on
referred to wine induced hangovers
some kind of support to ensure that if
and the various remedies in his works.
hit it would topple over.
In his circa 375 BC play Eubulus has
– Trivial Pursuit or 30 Seconds perhaps.
THE GREEKS
The “athletes” were normally sitting
Dionysus say the following: “Three bowls do I mix for the
However centuries ago the Romans
or lying down in a circle, propped up
and Greeks enjoyed similar pastimes.
against cushions at different distances
temperate: one to health, which they
from the target, enjoying wine whilst
empty first, the second to love and
played in ancient times, especially
hugely applauded by the ladies.
pleasure, the third to sleep. When this
during symposia in Greece between 4
When the lees was thrown from the
bowl is drunk up, wise guests go home.
cup the player also had to call out the
The fourth bowl is ours no longer, but
name of an object of preference, or a
belongs to violence, the fifth to uproar,
person, particularly one who was the
the sixth to drunken revel, the seventh
object of his affection. The merriment
to black eyes, the eighth is the
The most “renowned” wine game
and 5 BC, was called
“Kottabos”. It
usually involved a participant hooking a finger through the ring of a wine cup and then 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
“SPIRIT OF THE VINE”, DJ OPPERMAN ET AL, HUMAN & ROUSSEAU, 1968, PP 44-46.
Tinus talks
Tinus van Niekerk policeman’s, the ninth belong to biliousness and the tenth to madness and hurling the furniture.”
THE FRENCH
With the amount of skill and control, not to mention hand-eye co-ordination required you can see why a generous sponsorship of Champagne flutes is required to play La Pomponnette!
Hundreds of years later the French introduced an equally unusual wine tasting game called “La Pomponnette.” This involves two participants, or chevaliers, opposing
De la Pomponnette leve son verreaus dessus De sa tete,”
or, “La Pomponnette cavaliers, raise your glasses higher and
each other with a glass one-third filled
touch the top of your heads.”
with wine, balanced on the stretched-
Each contestant lifts his/her wine glass
out fingers of one hand, palm facing
upwards, then moves it towards the
downward. These are the rules of the
head and balances the glass lightly on
game in a nutshell…
top of the hair.
The two contestants face each other, four metres apart, with the referee to one side. The ref serves the
“Chevaliers
trinquons,” is the next
command; “Cavaliers, toast
contestants with a glass each of
each other.” Each of the two
Champagne, filled to about 4 - 5 cm
competitors lowers his/her wine glass,
La Pomponnette! This is not just for the
ensuring that the glasses are balanced
moves it towards the lips and gets
actual contests, but also to ensure that
on the upper side of the stretched out
ready to swallow the last of the wine
the team members can practice
fingers of one hand, and that the arm/
by tilting the glass backwards.
regularly to become “fit” for the real
hand is kept comfortably sideways across the navel or lower chest area. From that moment onwards – i.e.
“Chevaliers, buvons!”
or “Cavaliers, drink (the bubbles!)”
The entrants now empty
games. Furthermore, if you are interested in selecting a strong team make sure that the candidates hands
when the Champagne flute is
their glasses and lower them down
are scrutinized, thicker fingers and
balanced on the fingers of the
and outward to be in line with the
broader hands just play better. Not to
outstretched hand, balance is key and
navel area again.
mention the ability to concentrate, to
it’s crucial not to drop the glass. If that happens at any stage of the contest, the player is disqualified and forfeits the game.
The referee starts by calling “Chevaliers, la Pomponnette!” “Raise your glass and take a
sip of wine.” The participants need
The referee calls out:
“Chevaliers, le haut, levons le
nerve under pressure…
bien!”, “Cavaliers go upwards, sky high,”
upon which the two
opponents throw their empty Champagne glasses towards each other, with each player catching the glass of the other. If the glass is not caught the contestant missing the catch is out, losing the game. With the amount of skill and control,
to raise their glasses in their own time,
not to mention hand-eye
bringing it to their lips, tilting the glass
co-ordination required you can see
and swallowing a mouthful.
why a generous sponsorship of
Next follows: “Tout chevalier
have steady hands and to hold your
Champagne flutes is required to play
Tinus van Niekerk is TOPS at SPAR’s wine consultant and has been instrumental in refining the grocery chain’s wine offering. But wine is not the only thing that fascinates this Northern Cape-bred nature lover. He’s as au fait with bush lore, animal behaviour and geology as he is about wine.
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
17
KWV
Babylonstoren
Leisure
18 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
wine tourism
Just visiting Why does it take visitors from abroad to remind us how blessed we are to live in such a stunning country? Foreign tourists are often dismayed by how casual we are about the many charms South Africa has on display. Their appreciation and delight is just one of the reasons that tourism – specifically wine tourism – holds such massive economic potential. Fiona McDonald reports.
T
ourism is worth more to South
Africa’s bottom line than gold. As
incredible as that statement might
be, it’s what Minister of Tourism Derek
Hanekom wrote in the 2013/14 annual report for his department presented to Parliament.
“From January to June 2013, tourism injected
R35.3 billion into the economy,” he wrote.
“This was more than the R32.6 billion that gold exports contributed during the same period.”
The contribution made by wine tourism –
as well as all wine sales – to South Africa’s
gross domestic product (GDP) is R35 billion and wine tourism has been targeted as one of nine key projects identified by the Wine Industry Strategic Exercise initiated by industry leaders in 2014.
What does the South African wine country
have to offer? Jaw dropping vistas at almost
every turn, for one. No less an authority than Jancis Robinson, regarded as the top global wine commentator, has described South
Add in the history – Cape Dutch manor
houses, properties which have been in the
same families for generations, cutting edge viticulture ranging from hi-tech satellite
imagery to traditional biodynamic farming practices which are ultra environmentally friendly, modern architecture and great
restaurants… and that’s before you taste a single drop of increasingly excellent and world-acclaimed wine!
Jancis Robinson has described South Africa’s wine country as “the most dramatically beautiful in the world” Factor in South Africa romping home with
Africa’s wine country as “the most dramatically
four of the seven categories in the 2014
from someone who has travelled the length
and you can see why this area is imbued with
beautiful in the world” – high praise indeed and breadth of almost all wine regions.
Drinks International Wine Tourism Awards near limitless potential. The categories won
Waterford
Leisure
2015
Great Wine Capitals ‘Best of Wine Tourism’
The wine regions of the world are represented by the Great Wine Capitals programme. Members are Mainz-Rheinhessen (Germany), BilbaoRioja (Spain), Bordeaux (France), Porto (Portugal), San Francisco-Napa (United States), Mendoza (Argentina), Valparaiso-Casablanca (Chile) and Cape Town -Cape Winelands for South Africa. Overall honours for South Africa went to Waterford, while
Waterford
the following wine farms won their respective categories: • Accommodation – Babylonstoren • Architecture and Landscapes – Babylonstoren • Art & Culture – Cavalli • Innovative wine tourism experiences – KWV • Sustainable tourism practices – Waterford • Restaurants – Waterkloof • Wine tourism service – Waterford
20 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
wine tourism
were that of food and wine matching (Leopards Leap – and neighbouring La Motte won the same award in
2013), best promotional body went to Robertson won in 2012), best wine
event – Diemersfontein’s ever popular Pinotage on Tap festival and best
innovative tourism experience which went to Spice Route in Paarl.
And why wouldn’t Spice Route have
trounced any other winery in the
world? After all it has not one but two eating options – the restaurant and Barley & Biltong beer garden, a
brewery which is home to the popular Cape Brewing Company, a
glassblowing studio, an artisanal
chocolate maker in DV chocolates and even grappas from renowned producer, Wilderers.
Having featured not just in the
Drinks International awards but also
the Great Wine Capitals and the local Klink wine tourism awards, owner
Charles Back said the awards meant a “great deal” to not just him but the entire Spice Route team.
KWV
Stellenbosch Wine Routes (after
To succeed, wine farms nowadays need to offer more than just a tasting experience. and entrepreneur who is frequently one or two steps ahead of a developing
curve or trend, Back made the point
that to succeed, wine farms nowadays need to offer more than just a tasting experience.
“We need to offer more of an
“Receiving recognition in both
authentic experience that appeals to a
serves as a true testament to the local
Authenticity and responsibility is
international and local competitions
diverse market, young and old.”
talent we have in South Africa. The
something that Minister Hanekom
and international tourists a group of
influential World Tourism Market
vision for Spice Route is to offer local hand-picked artisanal producers.”
Recognised as a savvy businessman
touched on in a speech made at the held in London in November.
“Many travellers are now making
decisions based on fair trade,
community benefits and sustainable
development practices. In response to this, more of our destinations are
implementing sustainable principles
like recycling grey water and reducing energy use. These establishments are
an inspiration to others to follow suit.” South Africa is the world’s largest
producer of Fairtrade wines with more than 60% of the 20 million litres of
Fairtrade wines sold annually coming from these shores. Every bottle of
Fairtrade wine sees 70c going directly into the hands of farm workers.
Hanekom said it had been widely
acknowledged that the tourism sector has massive potential to create jobs. “We aim to increase foreign tourist
arrivals to 15 million, thereby increasing tourism’s contribution to the GDP to
R499 billion, and creating 225 000 jobs by 2020.”
Hanekom said SA was expecting
substantial growth in tourism over the Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
21
Waterkloof
Leisure
next two decades and that the country
opportunity to sing the praises of
must manage the physical footprint of
South Africa’s myriad attractions.
the projected growth responsibly.
Annareth Bolton, CEO of
Leopard’s Leap CEO Hein
Stellenbosch Wine Routes held the
Koegelenberg is one of the country’s
view that wine bodies had a vital role
most positive ambassadors – and is
to play – and just recently it had
hugely bullish about South Africa’s
partnered with Stellenbosch Tourism
almost untapped tourism potential,
to create a dynamic marketing
especially with regard to wine tourism.
campaign, Stellenbosch Experience.
“Not only do we want to encourage
The wine route, the first of its kind
the enjoyment of everyday quality
in South Africa when established in
Leopard’s Leap wine is available, but
fledgling wine tourism, something
living in the 40 countries where
1971, allowed the region to promote
we would also like to invite visitors to in a series of food and wine experiences that will both entertain and educate,” he said.
He sees the Asian market as holding
huge promise and with a large chunk of his time taken up with marketing wine in the East, he uses every 22 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
Waterkloof
our Franschhoek home to participate
which was not formally acknowledged at the time.
“Today we are recognised as the
leader in South African wine tourism
and the country’s foremost wine route in terms of quality wines, tourism
offerings, professionalism, reputation, innovation and community involvement,” said Bolton.
Leisure
Cavalli
One of the newest additions to Stellenbosch is Cavalli, a wine farm, restaurant and horse stud.
premier wine tourism region, but
South Africa is the world’s largest producer of Fairtrade wines with more than 60% of the 20 million litres of Fairtrade wines sold annually coming from these shores.
oriented destination and the value for
marketing had had on the region as a
One of the reasons that Robertson
analysis of the impact of Robertson’s
Her colleague in Stellenbosch
Experience marketing and former CEO of Cape Town Tourism,
Mariette Du Toit-Helmbold, said:
“Experiential tourism, which includes food and wine tourism, is now one
of the biggest driving forces behind choosing travel destinations with destinations like Australia and
New Zealand investing millions in promoting their wine tourism offerings.”
“Stellenbosch is a desirable
destination, not only as South Africa’s especially as an affordable, family-
money that it offers for UK travellers.” was rewarded for its efforts in the
Drinks International awards in 2012 was because of the impact its 24 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
whole. Some years back an economic Wacky Wine Weekend revealed that
direct spend over the three day festival was R15.4 million while an additional
R6 million was contributed to the
region’s economy by local wine farmers in preparation for the event.
What this goes to show is that it’s
not just about foreign tourists… as
most of the 20 000+ festival goers were local! And there’s a multiplier effect in play too. Attendees don’t only spend money visiting the various
participating wine farms but in local restaurants, shops, guest houses and other businesses too.
There’s one resource which should
never be overlooked when it comes to tourism – and that is the human
resource. Be it explaining Solms-
Delta’s interesting slave history, at
Waterkloof’s perch overlooking False
Bay with the Hottentots-Holland or at the specialist bubbly cellar of Graham Beck in Robertson, the welcome will always be warm and friendly.
spirits
Dutch courage
Stroopwafels and genever, a fiery spirit typically distilled from wheat and rye grain and flavoured with botanicals are two contributions of the Dutch to global gastronomy. Neil Pendock chronicles the local gin scene.
gin
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
27
spirits
I
Two Angolan gins are on the drawing board: Luanda Dry and Rosella, named after the West African Roselle hibiscus.
t is surely no coincidence that Lucas
Bols, the Dom Pérignon of genever, was born in 1652, the year his
countryman Jan van Riebeeck
established a refuelling station at the southernmost tip of the African
continent. Under Dutch management, South Africa has unsurprisingly had a
relationship with genever going back to the founding of the country whilst
retaining popularity in the Netherlands, where it accounts for one quarter of all spirits sold.
Today SA is one of the top 10 markets
for gin in the world, genever having
being abbreviated to gin when Dutch
King William III took ample supplies
with him on his short voyage across the North Sea to claim the crown of
England back in 1689 and started a gin craze that shows no signs of stopping.
Top of the SA gin pops is Old Buck, a
London dry-style gin with a super-retro critter label. Distilled by Henry Tayler
& Ries, it has traditional aromatics and an ambitious tasting note “gorgeous
South Africa is home to a handful of
distilleries with Inverroche in Stilbaai the most recent and perhaps the most unexpected. Unexpected as the brand sounds more Scottish than Dutch.
21-year-old Rohan Scott makes a trio of
gins from 20 botanicals including fynbos
down streams as offerings. Two Angolan gins are on the drawing board: Luanda
Dry and Rosella, named after the West African Roselle hibiscus.
Roger Jorgensen is another fixture at
F|W|D with his range of rustic spirits,
“amber” in ultra classy bottles.
utilizes Macedonian juniper and African
marketed as “classic”, “verdant” and
Inverroche was the hit of the Sanlam
Food|Wine|Design Fair last November and by the end of the show, 30 extra
cases of gin had been shipped to thirsty new fans up north.
Scott’s latest venture is a $15 million
project to distil gin in Angola flavoured
the International Wine & Spirit
The brand name is Kianda, a water
Competition.
November food and fruit are floated
flowers and cardamom pods. They are
release of clean juniper with cleanliness heightened by some zesty citrus” from
worthy she grants wishes, so every
with baobab bark and nutmeg calabash. nymph who lives in rivers. To the
the most recent of which is a gin which Grains of Paradise (a peppery spice in the ginger family) in its recipe.
KWV make a triple distilled gin from
wine spirit macerated with lemon skins
and juniper berries and hosted Bratislavan barman Rusty Cerven in January. Cerven is the reigning Bols Around The World champion bartender who popped up at the hippest bar in Cape Town, The House of Machines, in January.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE
Rusty Cerven, the Bols Around the World Champion 2013 MIXING HIS DELICIOUS COLUMBUS PUNCH
28 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
spirits
Bartender at the Connaught Bar in
London, Cerven beat 3 000 contenders from 66 countries to win the title and first prize was to choose four cities to
visit. Cape Town was his first stop of
choice with Sydney, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro also on the itinerary.
Cerven won his crown with a gin
cocktail – a no-brainer in a competition sponsored by a gin company, I’d have thought – and he whipped up his
Amour, gin and Champagne, topped
Today South Africa is one of the top 10 markets for gin in the world
confirms that cocktails are alive and
water helped ward off malaria, but its
winning creation, William’s Punch, for the top knots and trendies at HoM. Bill’s Punch is “a unique blend of
lemon sherbet, rhubarb juice, Parfait with nutmeg and lemon peel” and writhing in Cape Town.
Cocktails are hip and Cerven notes “a
couple of years ago there was boom in
bitter taste made it unpleasant without a large dose of a sweet, botanical gin.
Like Stretton’s, for example, a tropical
speakeasy style bars from the 1930’s
gin distilled in KwaZulu-Natal’s Durban
However, people come back to simplicity,
coriander seeds, cassia bark, orange peel
prohibition era and it still continues.
reviving classic cocktails and making
them as good and authentic as possible.
“I notice also the increasing popularity
of small batch and handcrafted
from sugarcane with juniper berries,
in a nationalist bar in Belfast. He holds
If anyone is going to call you best bar
of distilled spirits, dating back to 1575
Distell commissioned a trendy style
Cape Town Club at its sparkling new
do it as they were the world’s first brand when they would distil corenwijn (corn wine) in a wooden shed in Amsterdam called het lootsje.
Founder Lucas managed to turn Bols
premises in Queen Victoria Street last
into an international brand and greatly
Queen Vicky would hardly be amused as
herbs and spices of the Dutch East India
month to showcase Black Bottle Scotch. she was more of a G&T gal (even if her
gillie Scotsman John Brown was known to tickle her fancy). G&T was the cocktail that powered an empire.
For troops stationed in tropical or
sub-tropical climes, quinine in tonic 30 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
Cerven’s winning cocktail is named
feel and pronounced orange zing.
than a London dry, there is a rich mouth
have had their day and now belong in
bar of their own in the basement of the
planet, consisting of 18 000 recipes.
after King William of Orange and so is
tender in the world, Bols has the cred to
1980’s soap operas.”
largest online cocktail database on the
and angelica root for flavour. Sweeter
production of liquors and spirits. The
dayglo cocktails with the little umbrellas
today) so no wonder Bols owns the
expanded the range of liqueurs. The
Company (VOC) played an important
role in this development and Lucas was a major shareholder in the VOC.
He started producing his first genever
in 1664 when he was 12 years old which is outrageously precocious (and illegal
obviously not the kind of drink to order that ice is the most important element in a cocktail. He uses ice which has been
frozen in brick block shapes and then he hacks a bit off or crushes the block with a mallet. The trick is for the ice to not
melt so fast that the drink gets diluted. No wonder Eskimos have 50 different words for snow.
Neil Pendock is a member of the TOPS at SPAR Fundi tasting team as well as a celebrated wine writer, mathematics guru and art aficionado.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY CMY
K
Brandy distilling
The ABC of Alcoholic spirits are the poetry of cold, hard science, says Clifford Roberts who reports on the road to his graduation in brandy distillation.
appreciation to fall on the beauty of stills and the silent,
microscopic symphony that plays out in a maturation cellar.
This is how I came to be at the elegant Van Ryn’s distillery, near
Stellenbosch, to take the twice yearly course in Advanced Brandy Distillation. Among the 14 in our number were a brandy
enthusiast from SARS, an Australian, the course’s first foreigner who was quickly dubbed “SA’s favourite” for his brandy
enthusiasm, a Veritas-acclaimed distiller from Montagu, a Durban restaurant chain owner and a property developer from Pretoria.
I
First up, SA Brandy Foundation GM Danie Pretorius sets the
’m not sure when my fascination
tone. Let no-one doubt that brandy is the quintessential South
spirits and their capacity for the
sight of the Cape, with Cape wine, on a Dutch ship anchored in
with the mercurial shimmer of
most ravishing flavour complexity first led me to the paraphernalia behind its
making. But it didn’t take long for that
African spirit, he says. Records have the first batch distilled within Table Bay in 1672. Since then, wine and its distilled essence has
become an industry powerhouse on which people thrive. But even though brandy remains the most popular South African spirit,
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
33
Brandy
Marlene Bester, Van Ryn’s Master Distiller
sales have been in serious decline since
2007. “Old-fashioned!” say some at the
bar; “Expensive,” howl others. Of course, not enough people appreciate its
standard of quality, which is maintained
by laws that brandies from other nations sail beneath.
The course, clearly, is one way the
record is being set straight.
Before long, in the Van Ryn’s
boardroom, we’re wading into the deeper waters of brandy production with Van
Ryn’s distillery manager Marlene Bester and Distell’s technical manager for
spirits, Mare-Loe Prinsloo. Good quality wine makes good quality brandy, and in
“Old-fashioned!” say some at the bar; “Expensive,” howl others. Of course, not enough people appreciate its standard of quality, which is maintained by laws that brandies from other nations sail beneath.
South Africa we prefer using colombar
alcohol, which converts to vapour at a
what exactly provides flavour and how
to evaporate. In a copper brandy potstill
and chenin blanc. There’s a discussion on wine is composed and then we’re into distillation itself.
Essentially, the process separates
liquid compounds using heat. Warm up
the bottom of a pot of base wine and the 34 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
lower temperature than water, will begin this vapour rises into a curved, cooled
and narrowing tube and condenses back into liquid, called low wine. For potstill brandy, the low wines are distilled a
second time, which increases the alcohol
content and smoothes the taste. It also brings out a few compounds you don’t want in your brandy, like poisonous methanol, which requires technical
know-how to remove – the jargon talks about keeping “the heart” and recycling “the heads” and “tails”.
Some five litres are needed to make
one litre of this unmatured spirit, which is then put into oak barrels for a
minimum of three years. Now you know why your drink costs as much as it does, and that excludes the taxes.
Maturation is the territory of Distell
wood specialist, Irmi Hoffmann, who
steps in on the afternoon of day two to
explain why French oak is favoured for making good South African brandy. A
microscopic view, projected against the
wall, is unavoidable and fascinating as she explains exactly how wood interacts with
the spirit, changing its colour, smoothing its taste and contributing flavour.
The talk ties in with the noisy business
distilling
A mixed bag The law makes allowance for
There’s newfound respect each time I look down into that flavoursome amber essence of the vine swirling around in my snifter.
three main types of South African brandy, which must be stated on the label: Standard or blended brandy has 43% alcohol volume by volume (v/v), which must consist of a minimum of 30% potstill brandy that is at least three years old, and a maximum of 70% unmatured wine spirit. Examples include Wellington and Klipdrift. Vintage brandy has 38% alcohol v/v with a minimum 30% potstill brandy at least three years old and a maximum 70% wine spirit matured for a minimum of eight years. Examples include Richelieu 10 and Van Ryn’s 10. Potstill brandy has 38% alc v/v where the complete alcohol content must be potstill-made and matured for at least three years. Examples include Flight of the Fish Eagle and Collison’s.
out back that we visit, grateful for the leg-stretch. Men with thick arms and
leather aprons grapple with staves and
the class today: blend a brandy to match
Distell distilleries in Worcester. By far
Klipdrift) at 43%. I quickly realise that
column stills – large pipes resembling
the colour of Uys’s example (a bottle of even with a calculator, at this scale it’s
fairly tricky, never mind translating that to the thousands of litres that pass
through a big distilling plant. Slip-ups aren’t cheap when you’re adding
multiples of zero’s to the equation across a rainbow portfolio of brands.
Later, we set about blind tasting 14
the biggest part of the operation is the coppices of redwoods in a factory,
soaring through multiples of overhead walkways. Heated by a giant, coal-
hungry boiler, they’re more efficient than potstills and produce distillate with more alcohol, but less flavour. The maturation cellar is just as magical – stacked rows
upon rows of weathered barrels – silent,
barrels, repairing them, shaving them
brandies – a remarkable and rare
The spicy smell of distilled vapours and
Cognac (the equivalent of South African
newfound respect each time I look down
of France) and a regular French brandy,
the vine swirling around in my snifter.
and toasting them over an open flame. oak shavings hangs thick in the air. Back in the classroom, Distell
distilleries general manager Wallies Uys gives an introduction to how brandies are blended before setting us loose on
beakers and bottles of varying sizes, and with contents of different alcohol
strengths. There’s demineralised water of course, which is used in all brandies to
achieve the target alcohol. The goal for
opportunity. Among them, there’s a
brandy, but made in the Cognac region as well as brandies from China, India, Italy, Greece and Spain. Echoing the
award-winning performance of South African brandies in international
competitions, the locals emerged as the class favourites too.
On the last day, following our final
exam, Uys is our guide at one of two
but working nonetheless.
Graduation comes too fast, but there’s
into that flavoursome amber essence of
Award-winning journalist Clifford Roberts loves researching topics such as beer - especially the practical side of the subject!
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
35
Lifestyle
Bttr ofor bo y
Scoffing ooi plates oof lesal li tijoyiing l ofto bttres uest ao bt l ngoo txcuest ofor clrbo pol iing lhtl oof l bing rlct. Aes Norman Mcfarlane rt oraes, aht clrbes ii lpcohop mtli ahla ahies ies ioa li o aioi iof Bliaiing...
www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
Diet when he wrote his seminal book, The
specifically, has the following to say:
runner in those days, before my knees
quite a bit of beer and that puts on
Lore of Running. I know. I used to be a packed up, and the conventional wisdom was quite simple: eat as much pasta,
“Beer is a no-no for me. I used to drink weight instantly for me because it’s a
highly refined carb and it has maltose.
Now that I am at my correct weight, I
T
bread, rice, potatoes as you wanted to,
in the liver and in muscle cells, and when
Noakes of today, physically, are very
have achieved significant weight loss,
into that energy source. Many runners
running like the wind, he says.
hat the paleo or Banting low carb high fat (LCHF) diet
advocated by sports scientist
Professor Tim Noakes is contentious is
all too evident, but what is indisputable, is that many people who follow the diet experience increased energy levels, a
reduction in allergic reactions, better sleep patterns, and a general
improvement in overall health.
particularly before a race. It was known as carbo-loading, and the science said that the carbohydrate would be
converted into glycogen, which is stored
you were exercising, your body would tap used to carry sachets of corn syrup,
which were consumed during longer races, to boost energy levels.
And of course, having that beer the
For sportspeople, particularly those
night before – only one mind you – was
horizontally or vertically, running, power
process. It was after the race, that we’d
that require you to propel your body walking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, rock climbing, swimming,
canoeing, surfing, the list goes on ... at speed, it becomes kind of obvious that
losing weight will improve performance. Prof Noakes, by his own admission,
had it wrong when he recommended a high carbohydrate diet back in the 80s
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU, IF YOU’RE AN ACTIVE SPORTSPERSON, BUT ARE FOND OF YOUR TIPPLE?
If you accept that you want to keep your carbohydrate intake under 50 grams per day, how will each class of alcoholic
beverage contribute to that daily total?
also considered part of the carbo-loading happily have two, maybe three or even
can have a glass of wine every now and
then, but I make sure I stick to 50 grams of carbs a day maximum.”
And the Noakes of the 80s and the
different people. He’s lean, fit, agile, and How come? Because he limits his
carbo intake to just 50 grams per day,
which doesn’t leave much room for that post event beer, or for that post event glass of wine, because beer has the
highest carbohydrate content per serving when compared with wine and spirits. Norman Mcfarlane is a keen cook, amateur thespian and Winewriter of the Year.
four beers, in celebration of course, but
also to replenish our carbohydrate stocks. Yeah, right!
Prof Noakes has since publicly
recanted his recommendation of a
high-carbohydrate diet for sportspeople, and on the subject of beer consumption
Beers
Ciders
12.64g of carbohydrate, but a light beer,
higher in carbohydrate content
A standard 340ml can of beer contains contains only 5.81g by comparison. At least one local Lite beer has a
carbohydrate content of only 1.9g per
serving, so if you stick with that one, you
By comparison, ciders are general than beer at between 10g and 30g per serving, once again residual sugar dependent.
have far more leeway. Once you start moving to the heavier beers, like porters, ales and wheat beers,
carbohydrate content can scream up to as high as 25g per serving. That’s
just two beers and you’ve had it for
the day!
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
37
Lifestyle
Wine & bubbly
Red wine has a slightly higher carbohydrate content
range per serving (125ml glass) than white wine, but of
course the residual sugar in the wine is going to make a difference. A bone-dry red wine, under 2g/l residual
sugar, contains between 3.4g and 5.5g per glass, whereas bone-dry white wine, has between 3g and 4.6g per glass.
The best beverage it seems, for he LCHF diet, is either whisky, brandy, Cognac or bourbon with water
The good news, is that dry bubbly tops
out at 4.5g per glass, but once you start
moving towards off-dry whites, like some Rieslings, both local and German, the
stakes change dramatically, with an off-dry coming in at 6.8g and sweet at 11.3g per
glass. Late harvest wines, because of their
massive sugar content are a no-no, with as much as 20g of carbohydrate per glass.
Some of the monsters we produce in South Africa, with residual sugars over 200g/l
would tip you over the edge with a single serving of 100ml.
Spirits
In the end
whisky, bourbon, brandy, Cognac, cane
LCHF diet, is either whisky, brandy,
So where does that leave spirits, like
spirits, gin, vodka and the like? Well, they top out as kings (or queens) of tipple in
the LCHF diet stakes, with carbohydrate
Dessert wines
Dessert wines, like sherries, ports, and muscadels all tend to have pretty high
residual sugar content, so once again, they will quickly tip you over the daily limit. Wine in general it seems is far
preferable to beer, as a post exercise
tipple, but the watch-word is to watch the residual sugar, so reading the back label becomes de rigueur. 38 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
content of between 0g and a whole 0.05g per serving. That all changes when you
The best beverage it seems, for he Cognac or bourbon with
water, because it contributes almost nothing to
carbohydrate intake.
If, on the other hand,
add a mixer, most of which are
your preference lies in
carbohydrate. A standard 340ml can of
or cider, then
frighteningly high in sugar, and therefore cola contains 39g of carbohydrate,
whereas the diet equivalent contains 0g, but as Prof Noakes points out, the
sweeteners that are used to replace the
sugar, are arguably as lethal as the sugar, so proceed with caution.
the realms of wine, beer moderation is key. But
then again, moderation
ought to be the order of
the day, irrespective of what
alcoholic beverage one chooses to drink, not so?
We say NO to compromising and YES to always giving it 100%. Windhoek Light is proud to be sponsoring 13 multisports events (triathlon, mountain biking and trail running) in South Africa in 2015.
PR O UD SPONSOR OF
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Entertaining
Packing a punch
40 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
mixed drinks
Mixed punches are an easy – and generous – way of ensuring that guests at an engagement, baby shower, kitchen tea or any party or social gathering have something to drink.
T
rends come and trends go…
and then somehow they return once more, usually after some time has
elapsed! Fashion is probably the greatest
example of that: hemlines go down and then inch back up again and, before you know it, the mini or hotpants are showing off leggy flesh from Durban to Dublin or Denver.
Food and drink are no different. In the sixties
and seventies, either giving or receiving a punch bowl was the thing to do where weddings were concerned. That and fondue sets… But the
good news is that mom and dad’s somewhat
underutilised punch bowls need to be dusted
off again – or else added to the gift registry for young couples tying the knot.
Fruity punch
(non-alcoholic)
INGREDIENTS: 1 can mandarin orange segments Juice and pulp of one pineapple, divided
4½ cups orange juice, divided 6 cups pineapple juice 1½ cups of cranberry juice, divided 4 cups of ginger ale
METHOD: Set out three ice trays. Place the mandarin orange segments in one tray and top off with half a cup of orange juice. In the second tray repeat the same with the crushed pineapple and juice. Fill the third tray with half a cup of the cranberry juice. Freeze for at least 4 hours. To serve, stir 4 cups of orange juice, 6 cups of pineapple juice, 4 cups of cranberry juice and the 4 cups of ginger ale together in a large punch bowl. Add the frozen fruit and juice cubes to add visual appeal and to keep the punch cool without diluting the mixture.
Which merely serves to illustrate that what
former Le Figaro editor, Alphonse Karr, once said holds true: “plus ça change, plus c’est la
même chose” or the more things change, the
more they stay the same.
Retro is trendy – and has been for a few
years. Look at the profusion of vintage
clothing shops that have opened or the stalls
at markets which allow you to browse around for something old but newly fashionable to
wear. Even bicycles have followed the retro trend. Hipsters the world over are proud of
their “fixies”… Once upon a time it was cool to have three gears, then it became five or
seven, then 12. No longer is it cool to brag about the 21 gears available to you for
climbing hills and zooming along flats. Oh no! Just one chain looping around a single back
sprocket is acceptable for cutting edge cycle
Non-alcoholic punch (Great for girly brunches or wedding or baby showers)
INGREDIENTS: 1 litre grapefruit juice 1 litre cranberry or pomegranate juice 1 litre soda or sparkling water Mint to garnish (You can boost this basic punch to become an
alcoholic version by substituting the soda or sparkling water with a bottle of bubbly or sparkling wine.)
METHOD: Mix all the ingredients together in a large jug or punch bowl.
commuters these days.
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
41
Entertaining
Bloody Mary Punch (Or Virgin Mary if the vodka is omitted)
INGREDIENTS: 2 litres tomato juice 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice 1 tbsp freshly ground pepper 1 tbsp pepper sauce or Tabasco 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1 cup vodka (optional)
Have you ever noticed that when
people gather for social occasions that
the attentive host is often run off their feet when mixing gin & tonics or
opening yet another bottle of bubbly and pouring it into umpteen flute glasses?
Well, that’s where a punch bowl comes
Celery sticks
in rather handy. It’s mixed up in advance
METHOD:
and, once in possession of a glass, folks
of the party or baby shower or whatever
Mix all the ingredients together in a large jug or punch bowl. Serve over ice cubes with a celery stick for garnish, if desired.
can simply help themselves.
There’s one drawback of punches –
and this is the one that carries the
surgeon-general’s warning: they can be deceptively delicious… Be careful,
Rum punch INGREDIENTS: 1 cup dark rum ½ cup white rum ½ cup Malibu or similar coconut liqueur 1 cup fresh orange juice 1 cup pineapple juice ½ cup grapefruit juice Lime or lemon slices to garnish
METHOD: Mix all the ingredients together in a large jug and serve in tall glasses with lots of ice.
because they usually (pardon the pun!) pack a punch!
It’s a good idea to ask your host or
hostess just how alcoholic or non-
alcoholic the punch is before you go back for a refill for the third or fourth time. Other than being delicious and
thirst-quenching, punches are also an
economical way of making a little booze go a long way. A quarter or half bottle
of vodka, cane, gin, rum or brandy adds
more than enough body to a punch bowl when mixed with a variety of fruit juices or fizzy cooldrinks like lemonade or
ginger ale.
Add there’s also something nice about
having chunks of fruit like pineapple,
orange, apple and mint leaves to nibble on once your drink is finished.
They’re bright, vibrant, super-tasty and
really easy to whip up. Again,
conforming to the easy entertainer’s Available GO TO ‘IN THE BASKET’ at TOPS at ON FOR YOUR FULL SPARPG71 and SPAR stores GROCERY LIST Call the TOPS HOTLINE 0860 313 141
42 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
mantra of maximum enjoyment with
minimum effort. After all, it’s a party
and as the host you should get a chance to enjoy a good time with your guests, rather than slaving over snacks and drinks.
Profile
Shining star Take note of the name Loyiso Mkize: the boy from Butterworth who has created South Africa’s first superhero comic book character – Kwezi. Like his fictional superhero, he’s going places. Fiona McDonald interviewed him recently.
O
ther than
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, how
many people can you think of who set themselves a
fearsome goal – and then attained it before their
25th birthday? (And even Zuckerberg didn’t
appreciate the potential of what he’d created in his early days!)
Mkize is one such man. His dream was
to become a member of the team producing South Africa’s top comic – SupaStrikas, a
football-themed comic which is distributed as far afield as Cambodia, Brunei, El
Salvador, Brazil, Poland and Hong Kong.
Not only did he achieve something that he
thought was impossible, but he’s gone on to
It’s a long way from
Butterworth in the
That’s just one
former Transkei but
Mkize remains modest about his success,
contradictions which Loyiso Mkize both
it all. “I’m very blessed to be in the position
gifted artist is beyond doubt – he’s
seeming to be a bit humbled and shy about I am – where I get to not only attain my dream but exceed it. And to have new
avenues of exploration open up for me,” the softly spoken, modest artist said.
Drawing was just something he always
did. It started at an early age. “My dad has kept some of those early drawings from my childhood, along with a few school reports from teachers and the drawing is always something that’s
remarked upon. When other kids were
outside playing, I was inside – drawing!” Mkize praises his parents for their
support and encouragement. “It was never
character in Kwezi.
parents nurtured me by exposing me to
It was fortuitous that Mkize was
chosen to be the face of the Knights
whisky ad and social media campaign two years ago. Remember the phrase
“My name is Loyiso Mkize, you don’t
an issue of not following my passion. My things like the Grahamstown Arts Festival. Becoming an accountant
or a doctor was never on the cards – for them or me!”
And comics were his thing. He
know me yet.”?
loved them – and cites renowned
the twitter handle #followyourself saw
DC Comics’ Grant Morrison, Jim
A targeted social media campaign using the ad notch up 12 000 YouTube views in just 12 days, along with hundreds of
Twitter followers, and was deemed a big success by ad agency OFYT. 44 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
comic artists and writers such as Lee and Frank Quitely as his
influences alongside some of the old masters, preferring Rembrandt to Van Gogh, for example.
embraces and embodies. That he’s a
already established a solid track record
for his portraiture with those of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond
Tutu the first two that spring to mind.
Yet he’s not one of these arty-farty types who will wax lyrical about intent,
meaning and become all angst ridden
about being commercial. He’s focussed, committed and dedicated and humbly
build a solid reputation as an artist and has now developed his own comic book
example of the exciting
modest about his remarkable
achievements at the tender age of 27.
His parents are again credited with his
work ethic. “If you start something, finish it. That’s what they used to say.” He can talk at length about creativity but
acknowledges that it’s got to be backed up
Qhawekazi
Loyiso Mkize “Graphics taught
me a lot about
Inyanga neenkwenkwezi
aesthetics, about presentation of
concepts and how
to have discussions
with people and not only market the
idea but yourself as
having the luxury of time to sit back and
ponder, giving expression to his thoughts and ideas. His latest series is femalebased, called The Ascending. He’s
completed three works, all of which have already been sold, some abroad. “It’s a
genuine attempt to say something about the strength of women.”
The love of comics comes from his
well.” It was during
childhood when he’d daydream about what
study that he took
powers he’d have, what sort of scenarios
his second year of
along a portfolio of his work to the
SupaStrikas team
and impressed them enough to hire him
an African superhero would be like, what
he’d face. And Mkize is finally giving that
imagination room to run in the form of his self-published comic book series, Kwezi, launched last year.
with hard work and hours in the studio.
– and make that dream come true.
So what is Kwezi?
ideas but you have to have the discipline to
and I’ve learned so much from them.
printed. Kwezi means ‘star’ – and he
while engrossed in painting, frequently
around for 14 years now and are just
“As a creative person it’s easy to dwell on carry it through.” He often loses time
working till two or three in the morning before stepping back and putting his brushes down.
How does he reconcile his ultra-
detailed portraiture with his love of
comics? “Well, the art is a gift. I often amaze myself with what I produce…” There it is again – that frank honesty
which is unexpectedly refreshing from an artist. “I’m literally so close to my work, just centimetres from the canvas, that
when I step back and zoom out and look at what I’ve done I’m amazed!”
Even more surprising is that he really
“They’re an amazing group of people
They’re a solid company that’s been
going from strength to strength. To be part of it is a privilege.”
A startling admission Mkize makes is
that he hated colour – and wasn’t into painting at all. “I used to hate colour!
Hated it... I only wanted to do black and white, graphic-style imagery.” What
“The first two issues have already been literally is the star, descended from an ancient race. It’s about how he’s
wrestling in getting to grips with his
powers as a young man. All he wants is to be famous and get the girls but he
receives guidance from his companions who impress upon him the responsibilities he has.”
Standard superhero stuff… foiling that
changed his mind? A girl, of course. “I
ultimate South African headline grabber,
girlfriend for her birthday – and I actually
exploit. Don’t make the mistake of
decided to do a portrait of my then
blew myself away with the result!” The fact that she is now Mrs Mkize also attests to the success of his birthday gift.
Having only taken up the brush in
the cash-in-transit heist, was his first calling the secondary characters of
Azania and Khoi sidekicks… Mkize will gently say that he prefers them to be
companions as they provide wisdom and
only started painting about five years
2009, Mkize has a solid reputation and
high school he thought he’d follow that
clients from overseas. “I’m blessed
that he’s safe in the hands of a gifted
up and get the space I need to do what I
soon to be on more peoples’ lips.
ago. Having taken technical drawing at
through with aspirations of becoming an architect. That didn’t work out and he
switched to studying graphic design at Cape Town Peninsula University of Technology.
has even attracted commissions and
because that’s enabled me to set myself do best. I’m not under pressure to
produce a certain number of artworks in a specific time frame.” He reflects on
guidance to the exuberant Kwezi.
As Kwezi’s future unfolds, it’s obvious
creator. And Loyiso Mkize’s name is Visit www.loyisomkize.carbonmade.com for more information or to view some of his artwork. Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
45
Leisure
Wind chaser Kitesurfing is the new rage. This might be a good time to trade in your bike and golf clubs, says Clifford Roberts.
A
mazing how quickly things
the outskirts of East London, has a
creep up on you when you’re
lagoon flat-water and surf to offer along
not looking. Inch by tiny inch,
its magnificent tropical coastline.
the world changes and suddenly we
It was only be a matter of time before
popular media – in Die Another Day
realise that car makers have been
impatience got the better of Gauties
(2002), Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond
replaced by internet giants as the
too, who now take to the water at
escaped certain death and kitesurfed his
world’s biggest companies. It’s like that
“Sterkies” (Sterkfontein Dam) and the
way past icebergs and out of trouble.
with everything; even kitesurfing.
Vaal Dam while marking time before
Richard Branson’s love of kitesurfing hit
heading to the coast for their annual
the front pages in 2009 when he was
post-apartheid elections and now, the
beach holidays. After all, it’s still about
pictured with a naked South African
sight of multi-coloured kites became
the ocean.
model Denni Parkinson clinging to his
Sometime between South Africa’s first
familiar along the beach skyline. Like
Once you’ve got the gear, all you
back. Add to this, the constant updates
desert flowers that bloom at the slightest
need is some good wind, a large
from the frontlines of the sport – its longest,
hint of moisture, you just know the
expanse of water and a launch pad.
highest, most extreme tricks and
dancing fingernails will be out when a breeze picks up.
Kitesurfing has evolved from various
expeditions. Among them was a trip by
human occupations and pre-
Zack Buchan and Ross Walters who
occupations, combining sailing,
kitesurfed 430km from Ponta do Ouro in
being fuelled as early adopters lead
paragliding, gymnastics, windsurfing
Mozambique to Durban in late 2012.
business opportunities – schools, retailers
and surfing into one. One source says
and tourism. SA’s “windy city” Port
the earliest patents relating to the sport
location in 2008 where the 50 knot (92km/h)
Elizabeth is a no-brainer, with the best
were issued in the 1970s.
speed barrier was first offcially broken.
Up and down the coast, the sport is
wind-and-wave spots at Sards, Kings Beach and Bluewater Bay. Chintsa, on
As it gathered momentum, kitesurfing was fuelled by its appearance in
And just up the way, Namibia was the
Local numbers on the sport are hard to come by, but a recent study of adventure tourism across Europe, North America and South America added kitesurfing to the study in 2012 and estimated the overall market at $263 billion, with total average
46 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
based manufacturer Switch Kites estimates that kitesurfers number around 1,5 million globally and are responsible for an industry worth just over $300 million. The sport is organised with various international bodies and even has Olympic aspirations. South Africa is served by the SA Kitesurfing Association (www.saka.co.za).
“The trend worldwide is to get to the waves. “With the kite, you’re catching more waves; you’re self reliant too – you don’t need towing and fitness isn’t such an issue either.” Accessibility and variety are its biggest attractions – after a basic capital outlay that can start from around R6 000, you can push yourself as far as
with foil kites and skis in the mid 90s. “We’d
you can go. “In mountain biking, you’ve
activity these days. It’s where SA’s biggest
go down the beach between Westbrook
got the cost of the bike and ongoing
competition, Red Bull King of the Air, takes
and Umhlanga. In around 1999 when water
maintenance; with golf, you buy your
place and for good reason too. “Millions
kites came out, we used surfboards and
clubs and pay every time you play. With
of Capetonians simply don’t realise that
screwed straps to the boards.
a kite, once you have your equipment,
Cape Town is the hive of the most
they live [with] the French Alps of wind,”
“Those days, you went from A to B and
British kite boarder Lewis Crathern is
people watched you go by, but didn’t
quoted in an online feature for the Mail &
know what you were up to.
Guardian by Sean Christie. When the wind’s right, you’ll find kite surfers at Big Bay, Muizenberg, Strand, Witsand and further up the coast, in and around the Langebaan lagoon.
“We got big air like that, but you had a tumble – we did some damage. Moving to the water was a natural progression.” Chrystal says the sport has gone through
the rest is free,” Chrystal says. Essentially, you require a harness, board and kite. But it’s recommended for newcomers to invest in a flotation jacket, and lessons are a must. “Be careful of cheap equipment,” Chrystal says. “The sport is very size
various phases as it developed since then,
specific; conditions in your region will
creating new and interesting styles as
also determine the type of kite you
earliest steps towards kitesurfing on home
boundaries were pushed. Initially there was
should buy.”
ground were made and it’s also where
a strong alignment with surfing and the
warm waters and beautiful scenery
pursuit of waves, but the focus then shifted
generally set you back around
continue to be a major draw card.
to wind and flight. “Now it has returned to
R30 000.
But it was Durban where some of the
Rob Chrystal, who owns Ocean2Air in
using wind to maximise your wave riding
An all-new kite surfing quiver can
But even if you’re not interested in
Durban, recalls how he and mates Alwin
experience,” he says. The trend to use
getting your feet wet, watching kites
van Breda, Gavin Spowart and Grant
boards with straps is changing again and
bob and weave on a windy day and
“Twiggy” Baker began messing around
new generation boards allow a strapless
the acrobatics of experienced sailors
ride, more akin to surfing.
is a sight to behold. It will certainly
Where it’s happening Kitesurfing relies on accurate weather and tide forecasts. Useful online resources are: Windguru.cz, Windfinder.com, Windreport.co.za, Weathersa.co.za and, SANHO.co.za for local tide tables by the SA Navy hydrographic offce.
have you coming back for more.
ROBBY NAISH | RED BULL CONTENT POOL.
growth from 2009 of 65%. New Zealand-
“With the kite, you’re catching more waves; you’re self reliant too – you don’t need towing and fitness isn’t such an issue either.”
kite surfing
47
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www.topsatspar.co.za 49
Entertainment
music
Contemporary phenomena
cd’s
Taylor Swift’s latest album became the fastest seller of the year, making the cash tills ring with more than 1.2 million copies handed over in the first week alone. Then it trounced Eminem’s 2002 record-breaker to notch up the best sales in a decade as well as making Swift the first female artist to produce three albums with million-plus first week sales in history. Taylor Swift – 1989: It’s no surprise by now that this talented artist has shaken off her Nashville country roots and is appealing to a much larger audience with her reinvention as a pop artist. The massive success of ‘Shake it Off’ is in large part due to her collaboration with Max Martin, the man responsible for Britney Spears’ success with ‘Baby One More Time’. Blonde, beautiful and ambitious, the 24-year-old Swift has recorded total album sales of 30 million in her brief career – and is now the artist who is setting records which pundits thought would stand permanently after the advent of digital downloads and music sharing. Rolling Stone magazine reported that Swift said 1989 was titled because that year was “a very experimental time in pop music” – as well as the year she came kicking and screaming into the world.
Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways: A creative break in 2012 gave lead singer of the Foo Fighters Dave Grohl the chance to dabble in a bit of filming – and that in turn inspired the group’s new album, Sonic Highways. America’s greatest rock ’n roll cities are referenced in this musical travelogue which also gave rise to an HBO mini-series to accompany the album. There are just eight tracks but one critic summed it up by writing that although this is something of a departure for the Foo
CORNER
the PAPER
Fighters, “(the) album just winds up sounding like nothing else but the Foo Fighters at their biggest, burliest and loudest”.
Eat Less Crap, Lose That Fat – By Sam Pease – R180 Eat Less Crap... is an entertaining collection of embarrassing selfconfessions about food-guzzling that’ll teach readers easy ways to
lose weight. It allows for screw-ups because we’re human after all. Whether you want to lose five, 50, or 500 kilos – losing weight is easy once you have Sam’s secrets. Five years ago Sam Pease was fat and frazzled. None of the popular diets appealed because they preached the same message: give up all the foods you love and exercise for an hour, three times a week. That was never going to work for Sam (who despises gyms and is a carb-junkie), so she had to find
50
new ways to trim down. She watched weight-loss organisations, spied on slenderellas, followed fatties and developed a diet that allowed her to eat chips, cheese, and carbs. It worked. Within five months she’d lost 28 kilos, without stepping foot in a gym. Five years later she’s still slim (and she’ll never be fat again).
One Mid-Life Crisis and a Speedo – By Darrel BristowBovey – R180 ‘If you don’t choose your midlife crisis, your crisis will choose you.’ When Darrel Bristow-Bovey is about
is a witty, warm, sometimes wise journey into the terrors and absurdities (and finally the grudging, grumpy compensations) of middle age that every man and woman of a certain age will recognise. Running a gauntlet of bucket-lists, prostate examinations and sexual misadventures, Darrel sets himself a task: to follow in the footsteps of Lord Byron and the Greek hero Hercules and swim across the Dardanelles in Turkey. The only problem is that he’s old and lazy and can’t swim very well. This book is funny and insightful, and deals with a universal condition with which everyone can identify: the need to make sense of your life.
arm in Chinese characters, he
Weeping Waters – By Karin Brynard – R235
suddenly realises his midlife crisis is
Inspector Albertus Beeslaar has
already under way, and what follows
left the ruthless city, only to have
to have these words tattooed on his
dvd’s
CD’s, DVD’s and books
Cue escalating tit-for-tat pranks and all
22 Jump Street
hell breaking lose as the situation
Following on from where they left off in the remake of the popular Eighties television series 21 Jump Street (which
escalates beyond rational boundaries – with hilarious results.
introduced the world to Johnny Depp), Jonah Hill as Officer
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Schmidt and Channing Tatum as Officer Jenko are no longer undercover at high school but at college.
The ultimate X-Men
Not only do the two have to crack a case but they have to
ensemble fights a
figure out if they’re capable of dealing with mature
war for the survival
relationships, growing into real men and not just rookie cop screw-ups.
Bad Neighbours
of the species across two time
What would it be like trying to settle down to a life of quiet domesticity in the suburbs – as Kelly and Mac (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) are – when Teddy (Zac Efron) and his fraternity brothers party all night, every night?
periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class in an epic battle that must change the past - to save our future.
his hopes of finding peace and quiet in
hiking tour through the jungles and
the Kalahari shattered by the brutal
mountains of Oaxaca in southern
murder of artist Freddie Swarts and her
Mexico. Eve wanders off the trail, to a
adopted daughter. But Freddie’s
house in the distance with a menacing
journalist sister Sara is not convinced
man in the yard beyond it, throwing
that this was a typical farm attack.
machetes at a human-shaped target.
Amid a spate of stock thefts, Beeslaar
Disturbed by the sight, Eve moves
must solve this high-profile crime, all the
quickly and quietly back to her group,
while training his two rookie partners,
taking care to avoid being seen. As she
Ghaap and Pyl. After more murders, the
creeps along, she finds a broken digital
disturbing puzzle grows increasingly
camera, marked with the name Teresa
sinister, as age-old secrets and hostilities
Hamilton. Later that night, in a rarely
surface, spurring the local inhabitants to
used tourist cabin, she finds a discarded
violent action. No one is above suspicion,
prescription bottle—also with the name
not least the mysterious Bushman farm
Teresa Hamilton. From the camera’s
manager and falconer, Dam.
memory card, Eve discovers Teresa
Don’t Look Back – By Gregg Hurwitz – R170 In Don’t Look Back, Eve Hardaway,
Hamilton took a photo of that same menacing looking man in the woods. Teresa Hamilton has since disappeared. Eve must fight a dangerous foe and
newly single mother of one, is on a trip
survive against incredible odds—if she’s
she’s long dreamed of — a rafting and
to make it back home alive.
Captivated By You – By Sylvia Day – R170 Gideon calls me his angel, but he’s the miracle in my life. My gorgeous, wounded warrior, so determined to slay my demons while refusing to face his own. The vows we’d exchanged should have bound us tighter than blood and flesh. Instead they opened old wounds, exposed pain and insecurities, and lured bitter enemies out of the shadows. I felt him slipping from my grasp, my greatest fears becoming my reality, my love tested in ways I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to bear. At the brightest time in our lives, the darkness of his past encroached and threatened everything we’d worked so hard for. We faced a terrible choice: the familiar safety of the lives we’d had before each other or the fight for a future that suddenly seemed an impossible and hopeless dream...
DISCLAIMER Please note that prices of all books, cds and dvds are recommended retail prices and are correct at the time of going to press. They are, however, subject to change at the discretion of suppliers, without any prior notice. All books featured here are distributed by Penguin Books SA.
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
51
Recipe book
Column inches The Sunday Times newspaper has one of the best food supplements in the country. The pictures look good enough to eat and the recipes are idiot and flop proof!
Things happen in threes – or so they say. And the good news is that the third collation of selected recipes that have appeared in the newspaper’s pages is now available at local bookstores and online.
The Sunday Times Food Weekly Cookbook 3 has been shepherded into print by accomplished foodie and the
editor of the newspaper’s Food Weekly section, Hilary Biller. Biller, who was The Star’s Angela Day columnist for many years, is adamant that any recipe printed in the supplement has been personally tried and taste tested. It’s also important that the enthusiastic home cook can easily replicate it.
Happening trends, such as the nostalgia for retro food like Avocado Ritz or the return of the Champagne cake, are featured between the covers of this very approachable and relaxed book. They are simultaneously familiar but have been given a new twist, even if it’s just in the way that it’s presented. Overall, a great book to add to your collection.
A twist on the ritz INGREDIENTS: 3 large avocados Finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon 3 spring onions, very finely chopped Salt and pepper 3ml paprika FOR THE TOPPING: 300g shrimps, cooked (or use crab meat) 85ml (1/3 cup) quality mayonnaise 5ml (1 tsp) curry paste 1 small red chilli, seeded and finely sliced 5ml (1 tsp) fish sauce Black pepper Dash of lime juice Handful fresh coriander, to serve
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Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
METHOD: Halve the avocados and remove the pips. Peel off the skins and chop the flesh into small blocks. Combine with lemon rind and juice, spring onions, seasoning and paprika. Mix gently without mushing. For the topping, combine the shrimps, mayonnaise, curry paste, chilli, fish sauce, black pepper, lime juice and coriander. Spray 6 stainlesssteel cooking rings with cooking spray and place on a serving plate or board. Spoon the avocado mixture into the rings. Top with the shrimp mixture, gently remove the rings and finish off with fresh coriander. Serves 6
Giveaway
Seafood pasta parcels sauce INGREDIENTS: 30ml (2 tbsp) olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, sliced 3 anchovies 1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped 2 x 400g cans Italian tomatoes, crushed 30ml (2 tbsp) finely chopped fresh basil OTHER INGREDIENTS: 500g spaghetti 45ml (3 tbsp) olive oil 200g calamari tubes 500g fresh mussels, cleaned 500g clams, rinsed 100ml white wine METHOD: For the sauce, heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion until translucent. Stir in the remaining ingredients and
simmer gently for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the bucatini in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and mix with the sauce. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat oil in a large pan and stir-fry the calamari for 2 minutes. Add the mussels, clams and wine, cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes. Discard any mussels that have not opened. Divide the bucatini between 6 sheets of foil or layered sheets of greaseproof paper. Split the seafood mixture evenly between the parcels. Seal each parcel well, place on a baking tray and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Serve with basil pesto, a drizzle of olive oil and extra chopped chillies if desired. Serves 6
Brandy fruity kebabs INGREDIENTS: 500g mixed dried fruit 375ml (1½ cups) rooibos tea (made with boiling water and 3 tea bags) 125ml (½ cup) brandy 250ml (1 cup) ready-made barbecue marinade 1kg boneless lamb, beef or chicken, cubed 12 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes METHOD: Soak the dried fruit overnight in the tea (removing the bags) and brandy. Remove the pips from the prunes, pour the fruit mixture over the meat and leave to marinate for 1 hour. Remove meat from marinade and thread onto kebab sticks, alternating with pieces of dried fruit. Brush with oil and braai, grill or fry in a hot griddle pan for 6-8 minutes per side. Serve with pasta or rice salad. Makes 12
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
53
Recipe book
Pink champagne cake
This American invention, considered the elite of party cakes in the 1950s and 1960s, is making a coconut-laced comeback.
INGREDIENTS: 330g (2¾ cups) flour 15ml (1 Tbsp) baking powder 5ml (1 tsp) salt 180g butter 300g (1½ cups) sugar 185ml (¾ cup) sparkling wine 6 extra-large egg whites FOR THE COCONUT FILLING: 60g butter 6 large marshmallows, chopped 15ml (1 tbsp) white wine 250ml (1 cup) desiccated coconut ICING: 500g icing sugar, sifted 60ml (¼ cup) corn syrup or liquid glucose 60ml (¼ cup) water Pinch of salt 7.5ml (1½ tsp) vanilla essence A few drops of almond essence 2-3 drops of red food colouring 16 large marshmallows, pink or white, quartered.
Available at TOPS at SPAR and SPAR stores
Call the TOPS HOTLINE 0860 313 141
GO TO ‘IN THE BASKET’ ON PG71 FOR YOUR FULL GROCERY LIST
54 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
METHOD: Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl and set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter with 200g (1 cup) of the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture and sparkling wine alternately, mixing to a smooth batter. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, then gradually beat in the remaining sugar till you have a stiff meringue. Fold half the meringue into the batter, mixing through gently, then carefully fold in the remaining meringue. Spray 2 x 20cm loose-bottomed cake pans with cooking spray and line the bases with greaseproof paper. Divide batter between the pans and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 25-30 minutes. Allow to stand for 10 minutes before turning out to cool on a rack. For the filling, combine the butter, marshmallows and wine in the top of a double boiler. Set over simmering water and stir until marshmallows have melted. Remove from heat and stir in coconut. Cool until thick enough to spread and use to sandwich the cakes together. For the icing, place icing sugar, corn syrup and water in the top of a double boiler. Set over simmering water and stir until smooth. Add salt, vanilla and almond essence (go easy, it can be pungent). Stir in food colouring. Spread the warm icing over the cake and decorate with the marshmallow quarters. Serves 8-10
Giveaway
Chai pannacotta with fresh berries & honeycomb
enter now!
To qualify, send in a postcard or e-mail clearly marked Cheers Book Giveaway and containing your name, ID number, physical address (not a PO Box please!) along with a contact telephone number to qualify for the lucky draw. Entry deadline is Friday, 12th February2014. The address to send it to is cheers@cheersmag.co.za or Cheers, PO Box 259, Rondebosch 7701.
win
Stand a chance of receiving one of two copies of the Sunday Times Food Weekly Cookbook 3 from the Sunday Times SEE T&C’S ON PG 2
INGREDIENTS: 10ml (2 tsp) gelatine powder 500ml (2 cups) cream 185ml (ž cup) castor sugar 2 chai tea bags 1 pinch of ground cinnamon 30ml (2 tbsp) warm water TO SERVE: Punnet of fresh raspberries 1 small Crunchie chocolate bar, crushed
METHOD: Sprinkle gelatine over 45ml (3 Tbsp) water and set aside to gel. Combine cream and castor sugar in a small pan and stir over medium heat until sugar has dissolved and cream is heated through, but is not boiling. Add gelatine and stir to melt. Remove from heat, add tea bags and cinnamon and allow to steep for 3-4 minutes. Remove tea bags. Pour into moulds and chill for at least 4 hours. Serve topped with fresh raspberries and a sprinkling of crushed Crunchie honeycomb.
Double your chance of winning! Go to www.facebook.com/ CheersMag and LIKE the Cheers Facebook page.
Serves 4 (Recipe: Rebecca Lund) Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
55
TOPS Nosh Silwood Kitchen
Hip to be retro
Christmas might be a distant memory but there is still call for socialising and enjoying the company of friends and family on lovely warm summer’s days. Silwood Kitchen’s Julia Chemaly prepared a few recipes for fuss-free entertaining while Ashlee Attwood took the pics.
Bacon & cherry skewers with Gorgonzola
Bacon & cherry skewers with Gorgonzola
PAIRING NOTES
Serves 8 Serving size 2
The bright fruit and succulence of the 56 Hundred Merlot will
INGREDIENTS:
the ripe sweetness of the cherries.
16 glacé cherries 16 slices black forest ham or streaky bacon 16x 10g creamy gorgonzola slices 16 bamboo cocktail sticks soaked in water (this prevents burning) Micro rocket or herbs to garnish
METHOD: Preheat the oven to 180°C. Remove the stalk from the cherries and wrap in black forest ham. Secure with a soaked
be ideally matched to the savoury notes of the bacon and
bamboo stick and place on a baking tray. Place into the oven and bake for approximately 12 minutes until the bacon is golden and crisp. To serve: place a piece of gorgonzola on a platter and top with the baked, skewered cherry.
These delicious recipes were prepared and cooked by chef Julia Chemaly, a second year student at the Silwood Kitchen in Cape Town. www.silwood.co.za
Garnish with micro greens. Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
57
TOPS Nosh
Caramelised Carrot Soup
(This recipe requires a pressure cooker.) Yield: 1.5 litre of soup Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes
INGREDIENTS: 500g carrots 60g unsalted butter 30g water 3g salt 2.5g bicarbonate of soda 50g onions, chopped 5g garlic, crushed 400g carrot juice 40g unsalted butter Salt to taste
METHOD: Melt the butter in the base of the pressure cooker. Mix together the water, salt and bicarbonate of soda and pour it into the pot with the butter. Add the carrots to the pot and toss them until they are evenly coated with butter. Pressure cook at a gauge pressure of 1 bar for 20 minutes. Start time once full pressure is reached. Depressurise the cooker according to the instructions for your particular cooker.Blend the mixture to a smooth puree and pass through a sieve into a pot.Bring the carrot juice to a simmer in another pot and strain through a fine sieve. Stir the carrot juice into the carrot puree and add water if necessary to thin the soup to desired consistency. Lastly, blend 40g unsalted butter into the hot soup before seasoning and serving. To serve: Serve with a dollop of crème fraiche and sprigs of coriander.
PAIRING NOTES
The crisp acidity and vibrant lemon freshness of the 56 Hundred Sauvignon Blanc will match the richness of this dish.
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Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
Caramelised Carrot Soup & Cheese Straws
Silwood Kitchen
Cheese Straws Makes 30
INGREDIENTS: Cheese mixture: 5ml cayenne pepper 5ml mustard powder salt and pepper 120g Parmesan cheese, grated 150g Cheddar cheese, grated Pastry: flour for rolling 500g puff pastry 1 egg beaten
METHOD: 1. Cheese: Mix the cheeses, cayenne pepper and mustard powder together then season well with salt and pepper. 2. Pastry: Divide the pastry into two equal pieces, leave one half in the fridge while working with the other. Roll into a 25x 46cm rectangle. Brush the lower half of the rectangle with the beaten egg and sprinkle over half the cheese mixture. Fold the top half over the bottom half, making a rectangle 25 x 23cm. Lightly roll the rectangle again to form a rectangle 25x40cm. Cover and place in the fridge to firm. Repeat with the remaining pastry. 3. Straws: Remove the chilled pastry from the fridge and trim a centimetre off the edges. Cut the dough into 1 ½ cm-wide strips. You should get 15 strips from each pastry rectangle. Twist the strips loosely and place on silicon lined baking sheets. Cover and refrigerate again to firm. Cheese straws can be frozen at this stage. 4. Bake: Preheat oven to 200°C (190°C fan), place cheese straws in the oven, turn down to 160°C (150°C fan) after 5 minutes. Bake until golden. Remove them from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
PAIRING NOTES
The salty boldness of the cheese and the spices in the cheese straws needs to be compensated and lifted by the tangy acidity of Drostdy Hof’s Sauvignon Blanc.
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
59
TOPS Nosh
Prawn toasts INGREDIENTS:
Stuffed eggs Serves 8
INGREDIENTS:
farce: 300g prawn meat, deveined and chopped 1 egg white, lightly beaten 10ml corn flour 10ml ginger, grated 3ml garlic, crushed 3ml soy sauce 5ml lemon juice salt and pepper pinch cayenne pepper
(Makes aproximately 20 toasts)
2 spring onions, finely chopped 5-8 slices of white bread Dressing : 100ml mayonnaise (homemade is best) 5ml Worcestershire sauce 5ml tomato paste 2ml Tabasco sauce 125ml sesame seeds oil for deep-frying
4 small hens eggs (50g) 15ml white wine vinegar 100ml canola oil 3ml paprika 2ml cayenne pepper 10ml Dijon mustard 2ml salt 2ml black pepper 2ml Tabasco sauce
METHOD: Place a medium pot of water on to boil. Lower the eggs one at a time into the water and then use a wooden spoon to stir the water in a circular motion. This helps to centralize the yolks and makes for neater presentation. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the water and plunge into a bowl of iced water to cool. Cut the eggs in half horizontally and remove the yolk. Place the egg whites on a tray, cover and refrigerate. Meanwhile, place the egg yolks into a food processor along with the white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper and Tabasco sauce. Blend into a smooth paste. Once the right consistency is achieved, slowly blend in the oil to result in a creamy, thick smooth mayonnaise-style filling. Place into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. To serve: arrange the halved egg whites on a platter and pipe the mixture into the hollowed out centre. Garnish with micro herbs.
METHOD: For the farce: Dry the prawns well then place in a food processor with the egg white and corn flour. Pulse until the mixture is smooth then place in a bowl. Mix in the ginger, garlic soy sauce, lemon juice and spring onion. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper, then fry off a teaspoon to check the seasoning. Remove the crusts from the bread and cut in half diagonally. Top each with a generous spoonful of the prawn mixture. Sesame: Coat the prawn side of each circle with sesame seeds. For the dressing, combine all the ingredients and season to taste. Deep fry: Deep fry the toast in hot oil at 180°C, for 2-3 minutes, turning frequently, until golden. Drain on absorbent paper. Serve warm. Toasts can be reheated in an oven at 180°C (170°C fan) for a few minutes just before serving.
PAIRING NOTES
The bold dryness of JC Le Roux’s Brut MCC will match the Available GO TO ‘IN THE BASKET’ at TOPS at ON FOR YOUR FULL SPARPG71 and SPAR stores GROCERY LIST Call the TOPS HOTLINE 0860 313 14160
www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
sweetness of the prawns, the nutty notes of sesame seed and toast as well as the salty seasonings used.
Blogspot
&
fresh
2015
is here. Happy
New Year to all! A new year
symbolises a fresh start, not to mention the motivation many of us need to get our diets back on track. Sound familiar?
Luckily this need not mean having to nibble miserably on celery sticks and
The festive season is often when we loosen the reins, relax and indulge ourselves – sometimes a little too much!
lettuce leaves feeling deprived and
miserable however. A few family friendly,
flavourful recipes will hopefully inspire you to get started… because healthy doesn’t
have to be boring. These two recipes are also perfect for the summer season.
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is a
super healthy alternative grain. Whilst this might not sound particularly
enticing, after all have you ever heard someone saying “hold the chocolate
cake, I would much prefer a bowl of quinoa”? Thought not!
You might be pleasantly surprised by
this trendy wonder-food if you haven’t
already tried it. If nothing else, you can
give yourself a pat on the back for making
a good food choice. I prepared a flavourful herb paste to stir through the cooked
quinoa, with delicious sundried tomatoes
and green beans to beef it up, and toasted pine nuts for an extra bit of textural
crunch. Serve the quinoa salad on its own for lunch, as a side to roasted chicken
Berry & mint smoothie
pieces, or even roll it up in a wrap.
(Makes 400ml) INGREDIENTS:
METHOD
or easier to prepare, and you can use either
200g mixed frozen berries
Place all the ingredients in a blender
frozen berries or fresh if they are in season.
125ml (1/2 cup) vanilla or plain yoghurt
and whizz together until combined and
Sharp berries, creamy yoghurt and fresh
50g banana, sliced
smooth. Taste and add extra honey if
mint combine beautifully in this drink that
5 fresh mint leaves, washed
you prefer a sweeter smoothie.
will have you feeling good in no time!
2 tsp honey
Serve immediately.
The berry smoothie could not be simpler
62 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
Seasonal snacking Teresa Ulyate is the writer of Cupcakesandcouscous.blogspot.com and holds the bragging rights as the winner of Two Oceans’ Simple Snacking Challenge 2013.
Rainbow quinoa salad
Cupcakesandcouscous.blogspot.com
Serves 2 as a salad, or 4 as a side dish
INGREDIENTS:
2 tsp crushed garlic
water to the boil. Cut the green beans
Salt
2 tsp lemon juice
into thirds and boil for 6 minutes until
500ml (2 cups) vegetable stock
4 tbsp mint leaves
tender. Drain and set aside. 5. Heat a
250ml (1 cup) tricolour quinoa
Handful of basil leaves, about 10g
griddle pan over a medium heat.
3 tbsp pine nuts
100g fine green beans, topped & tailed
Arrange the baby marrow slices in the
4 tsp olive oil
200g baby marrows, sliced diagonally
pan and griddle for a few minutes on
2 shallots, chopped
60g drained sundried tomatoes in oil
each side until tender. 6. Cut the sundried tomatoes into thin strips. Finally,
METHOD
stir the herb paste through the cooled
1. Place the vegetable stock and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan and bring
quinoa until well mixed. Stir the green
to the boil. Add the quinoa then reduce the heat, cover and allow to simmer for
beans, baby marrow and sundried
15 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is cooked. Set
tomatoes into the quinoa. Top with
aside to cool. 2. Meanwhile, heat a dry frying pan over a medium heat. Toast the
toasted pine nuts and serve.
pine nuts for a few minutes until golden, then set aside to cool. 3. Use the same frying pan to heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Add the chopped shallots and sauté for 3 minutes. Pop the shallots in a food processor with the remaining olive oil, crushed garlic, lemon juice, basil and mint, and blitz to a paste. 4. Bring a small pot of salted Call the TOPS HOTLINE 0860 313 141
Available GO TO ‘IN THE BASKET’ at TOPS at ON FOR YOUR FULL SPARPG71 and SPAR stores GROCERY LIST Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
63
Tuisnywerheid
Jou wonderlike vark Die karkas van ’n heel geslagte vark laat my aan die ikoniese rockrolprent The Last Waltz, Ernest Hemingway se First 49 Stories en die Namibiese skoonheid Michelle McLean dink: daar is net só baie om van te hou.
V
ark is die gewildste eetbare
se braaivermoë,” sê Christophe. “En met
soogdier op aarde omdat elke
’n pan oor die kole of gasstoof kan jy met
deel van sy lyf bruikbaar en
vark toor, aangesien jou vleis skoon en
besonder smaaklik is. Ek dink aan
sappig bly met die strook murgsagte vet
geroosterde varkpote met mosterdsous.
aan die buitekant.”
’n Heel goudbruin gebakte varkkop.
Die truuk van lekker eet aan vark, sê
Worsies gestop met vark ingewande.
Christophe, is om vriende te maak met
Varktonge in witwyn ... die lys van
jou slagter. “Vark is ’n persoonlike vleis.
moontlikhede is so lank soos ’n
Kry jou slagter om die nek te ontbeen
Springbokafrigter se verskonings.
en te rol, die tjops te sny namate van
Soos die meeste Fransmanne, deel my sjefpêl Christophe Dehosse van die
Vakuumverpakte varkvleis hou vir
die N1 buite Stellenbosch my liefde vir
weke in jou koelkas, en raak trouens
als wat “oink” maak. Saam eet ons
smaakliker soos die vesels afgebreek
laatnag allerhande vreemde
word. Beste van als, dis die billikste
varklekkernye.
vierpootvleis wat vandag te kry is.
al dink jy nou ook al wát van ’n Fransman Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
te maak vir die oond of vuur.”
Klein Joostenberg-varkvleisdeli neffens
“Vir my braai niks so lekker soos vark nie,
64 www.topsatspar.co.za
hoe jy daarvan hou en om jou blad reg
Monsieur Christophe, neem my na jou vleispaleis.
Emile Joubert Varkblad op die Weber
buitekant se vet bedrup self die vleis
kole of jou gasstoof gebruik. Braai die
Christophe die Franse Varkman is van
terwyl dit eweredig gaar word.
varknek in die olie totdat hy bruin is. Die
06h00 tot 18h00 agter Klein
Ná 80 minute in die ketel is hierdie
varknek is gewoonlik deur jou slagter
Joostenberg se kospotte. Kom dit by
stuk vleis byna té mooi om te eet.
met tou gebind of in ’n tou-omhulsel
onthaal – iets wat die jolige kosman
Sappig en net gaar in die binnekant. En
geplaas om toe te sien dat hy nie
gereeld doen – soek hy die maklike
met daardie onweerstaanbare lagie
uitmekaar val nie. Moet egter nie
uitweg. Naamlik: vark in die
crackling buite om.
kommer nie – die tou gaan nie aan die
Weber-braaiketel. “Naas die vark, is die Weber se batteryaangedrewe spit die koswêreld se beste ontdekking,” sê Christophe. “Ek maak my kole aan die weerskante van die Weber en nie onder die vleis nie om indirekte hitte te gee. Die draai van die spit sorg vir die perfekste hitteverspreiding om ’n lekker homp
ek het ter wille van navorsing en deeglike rapportering persoonlik hierdie proses aanskou Verwyder die tou en sny die vleis in
brand slaan nie. Haal die bruingebraaide varknek uit die pot en sit eenkant. Braai nou die ui, knoffel en wortels in die olie en vet totdat die ui deurskynend is. Gooi die meel by en roer deur die groentemengsel. Sit die varknek terug en skink nou die melk in die pot, asook die lourierblare
vleis gaar te maak. Asterix en Obelix
dun skywe. Bedien met gekookte
en soveel sout en peper as wat
was rég, my maat!”
aartappels, slaai en mosterd.
beskaaf vir jou kos-koninkryk klink. Jou
Christophe maak die volgende
maak jy ’n haas van jouself.
Net nie té veel slaai nie, Gert, anders
gereg wat ses tot agt persone
deksel kom dan op die pot, maar jy gaan gereeld moet optjek. Die melk moet net liggies borrel en sorg tog dat
hul vingers sal laat afvreet:
Varknek in Melk
1 Varkskouer, ontbeen (sowat 1.5 kg)
Vark en melk is een van die beste
½ koppie olyfolie
kombinasies sedert die Valiant en die
klonte gevorm het, maar moenie
Vars takkies roosmaryn
inrybioskoop. Dit verleen ’n sagte,
bekommerd raak nie. Roer net deur en
Vars tiemie
soeterige geur aan die vleis. Ek het die
kook vir nog so 30 minute.
Sout en peper
volgende gereg op die gasstoof
die vleis nie vassit aan die bodem nie. Goed. Ná 30 minute gaan die melk
Haal die nek uit. Gooi die
gemaak, en selfs die Fransman het
melkmengsel deur ’n sif sodat die
Nadat jou slagter die skouer ontbeen
goedkeurend geknik toe hy dit op die
klonte en groente in die sif agterbly.
het, moet hy dit vir jou rol – vetkant na
proef stel. (Selfs al was my mes nie teen
Druk hard met die vuis om al die
buite. Dit word dan met tou vasgebind.
sy keel nie, sou hy steeds daarvan
vloeistof uit te kry. Verwyder die tou
Steek die roosmaryn en tiemie tussen
gehou het.)
van die nek, sny die sagte vleis in skywe en dompel die gesifte melkmengsel oor
die toutjies. Smeer die vleis met olyfolie. Sprinkel met sout en peper. Steek die vleis aan jou spitjie, plaas
Vir ses tot agt: 1 ontbeende varknek
oor die Weber se hitte en slaan die
2 eetlepels olyfolie
skakelaar om die battery sy draaiwerk
1 eetlepel meel
te laat doen. Sit die deksel op.
3 huisies knoffel, fyngekap
Nou, ek het ter wille van navorsing en
1 ui, fyngekap
deeglike rapportering persoonlik
2 groot wortels, in blokkies
hierdie proses aanskou, en dit is net so
1½ liter volroom melk
eenvoudig soos wat Christophe sê.
2 lourierblare
Geen stroperige smeersels. Geen druk
Sout en peper
en voel en betas van die vleis nie. Die
Jy kan ’n plaatboompot oor matige
die vark. Uit die mond van die suigeling.
Writer and PR guy Emile Joubert was a finalist in the Men’s Health Braai King competition, uniquely qualifying him for this column.
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
65
Responsibility
Be sun
smart What could be better than stretching out on the golden sands of the beach in front of Durban’s uShaka marine world and feeling the warm rays of the sun? And that balmy, gentle glow after a day of sun, sand and sea makes one feel fabulous. But more people develop skin cancer from tanning than develop lung cancer from smoking! Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16
2011 – from $3.6 billion to $8.1 billion.
In the UK alone melanoma rates are five
times higher than they were just 40 years
ago – and each year 100 000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed with 2 500
S
people dying of it. The British Skin
bottom half of the globe.
change but scientists believe that it’s more
tatistically, your chances of
getting skin cancer are much
higher if you live in the southern
hemisphere rather than the northern
hemisphere. Because of the earth’s axis, there’s more direct UV exposure in the
But the medical fraternity are becoming
increasingly worried at the alarming jump in incidence of deadly skin cancers in
Europeans and residents of the United Kingdom. In the United States, skin cancer rates outstrip the combined
incidence of breast, prostate, lung and
colon cancer each year – and it’s estimated that one in five Americans will develop a form of skin cancer in their lives.
Not only that but CBS News in
America reported that the cost of treating 66 www.topsatspar.co.za
melanomas rose 126% between 2007 and
Foundation reports that roughly seven
people a day die from skin cancer. That’s
more than in Australia which records just 1 500 deaths annually!
One theory that has been floated for
this rapid increase is obviously climate
likely that low-cost airlines have more to do with it. Because of cheap flights to
sunny destinations in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, more Britons are
holidaying abroad. And, sadly, they are not sun smart. Their skin is not
accustomed to long hours of sunshine and they also feel the need to get maximum exposure in a short amount of time –
which results in the boiled lobster look
and the attendant pain of a nasty sunburn. Australians are hyper-aware of the
Over exposure
A–B–C–D–E Use ABCDE to look for melanoma where:
A: asymmetry, look for spots that are asymmetrical not round. B: border, look for spots with uneven borders. C: colour, look for spots with an unusual or uneven colour. D: diameter, look for spots that are larger than 6mm. E: Evolving. (Source: www.sunsmart.com.au/skin-cancer)
Prevention tips:
• Seek out the shade, particularly between 11h00 and 15h00. • Don’t get burnt! • Do not use UV sunbeds to tan… • Cover up – with long sleeved shirts and trousers. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and ensure sunglasses have UV protection. • Wear a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen of factor 15 or higher. If you’re going to be outside for a long time, wear water-resistant, higher factor (30 or 50+) sunscreen. • Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before heading out – and reapply all over every two hours while on the beach or sports field. • Keep babies and newborns out of the sun. Apply sunscreen to them only when they’re six months or older. • Check your skin from head to oe on a monthly basis. • Visit a doctor or dermatologist on an annual basis for a more thorough examination.
dangers. Public health authorities came
countries where days are short and which
“Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide”,
enough sunlight is also a bad thing!
up with a catchy campaign, advocating something we should adopt in South
have long, cold and snowy winters. So not Over the years scientists have
Africa. Slip on clothing rather than
concluded that around 90% of all skin
sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek out shade
specifically ultraviolet radiation. There
walking around in our cozzies, slop on and slide on UV-filtering sunglasses.
But this has been a relatively recent
development over the past decade or so.
Recently it was reported on international
cancers are directly due to sun exposure, are three main types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell
carcinoma and the deadly melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is a slow growing
news channels the world over that
form of skin cancer and is rarely fatal. To the
commentator Richie Benaud was
that is sometimes shiny with a small blood
Australian cricket great and renowned receiving treatment for skin cancer. A clip of Benaud showed the
octogenarian saying how much he rued his days spent on the cricket pitch under the
naked eye, it looks like a raised area of skin vessel running over it. It’s usually painless and eminently treatable. It’s sometimes mistaken for a sore that refuses to heal.
More likely to spread is squamous cell
blazing sun without a hat or any sunscreen.
carcinoma. This form usually looks like a red
protection on their heads,” he said.
ulcer. This too can ulcerate and may bleed. If
“I recommend to everyone they wear
“When I was a kid, we never ever wore a
cap. I wish I had. You live and learn as you
go along,” he added. “Eighty-four-year-olds don’t seem to mend as well as they used to.”
It’s been theorised that it takes as little
as five really bad sun burns in one’s life to more than double the chances of developing skin cancer in later life.
It’s a double edged sword: we need
exposure to sunlight – but too much is
dangerous. Vitamin D is required for the body to have healthy and strong bones
and muscles – and the best source of it is sunlight. Luckily, the southern
scaly lump but it can also look a bit like an
not treated it can develop into a large mass. This is the second most common type of skin cancer and can be dangerous.
The most aggressive and fatal form are
melanomas. Caught early, most
melanomas can be treated by means of surgery but they develop and spread
surprisingly rapidly – and can become
dangerous and even deadly within just six
weeks! If you are even vaguely suspicious about a dark freckle or mole changing or growing, consult your doctor
immediately. Rather be safe than sorry. Warning signs of melanoma are very
hemisphere has abundant sunshine so
dark patches of skin that develop. The
– such as walking from the car or bus stop
more than one colour, it itches and
even the most incidental daily exposure to the office – is enough. Research has also shown that UV exposure from
sunlight is beneficial for moods and
mental health. SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is a range of symptoms ranging from heavy sleep, fatigue and even
depression that is relatively common in
outline is usually irregular and its often bleeds. It could also look like a mole which has change in colour, size or shape. Doctors apply the ABCDE
principle – A for asymmetrical or oddly
shaped, B for the borders being irregular, C for colour, D for diameter (6mm or more) and E for evolving.
Jan | Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
67
what to look out for next issue Big is beautiful - The big brand phenomenon – Obikwa, Namaqua, Robertson and more Action stations - From the Hansa Dusi canoe marathon to Castle cricket and rugby, what it’s all about brought to you by
www.topsatspar.co.za
Congratulations to all of last issue’s winners
THE 8 BOTTLE WINE FRIDGE FILLED WITH WINES FROM THE KWV CLASSIC COLLECTION WINNER: Sean de Haas, Pietermaritzburg
DIE WINDPOMP DVD
SECRETS OF A FRENCH COOKING CLASS BOOK WINNERS: 1. June Cook, Hillcrest 2. Marcelle Clark, Mpumalanga
Dawid Koopman, Grabouw
ELLA HENDERSON : CHAPTER ONE CD WINNER:
Dheshree Lamech, Chasevalley
enjoy your spoils! 68 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
wi n
Bunnahabhain
To stand a chance to win either 1st Prize worth R5 300 or 2nd Prize worth R2 550! Answer these questions: Which region of Scotland is
Bunnahabhain from? And what makes Bunnahabhain different from the other 7 world famous distilleries on this island?
1st Prize 2nd Prize PRIZES INCLUDE: 1st Prize - 12,18 and 25 Year Old Bunnahabhain and 6 branded glasses. 2nd Prize - 12 Year Old Bunnahabhain and a genuine leather Gary Player hand luggage bag.
Bunnahabhain’s distinct Islay style
Located on the far northern tip of Scotland’s foremost whisky island ‒ Islay ‒ which boasts seven distilleries, Bunnahabhain (pronounced Bū-na-ha-venn) was founded in 1881. In Gaelic the word Bunnahabhain means ‘mouth of the river’ ‒ entirely appropriate as the Margadale River flows nearby. Still relatively rare, Bunnahabhain’s connoisseur range of single malts is very much to South Africa’s liking with its unique flavour. Most Islay whiskies are renowned for their peaty, smoky notes while Bunnahabhain’s single malts are smoother, lighter and less peaty, due to the distillery’s reliance on both pure natural spring water and unpeated barley in its making. Also setting Bunnahabhain apart is the lack of chill filtering, returning it to a traditional technique and expressing the whisky in its purest form with a full depth of colour, aroma and flavour ‒ as natural as when it comes out of the casks. Judges at the 2014 International Wine & Spirit competition awarded the 25-year-old gold while the same medal went to the 18-year-old at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition while the 12-year-old was awarded double gold.
Go to w th ww. e C fa he ceb er o yo s Fa ok.c ur ce om ch bo /C By entering you stand a chance of winning a an ok he half a century’s worth of Bunnahabhain whisky ce pa er of ge sM Send an email with the subject line Cheers Bunnahabhain Giveaway containing your name, ID number, a wi nn and g, physical address (not a P.O. Box please!), name of the TOPS at SPAR store at which you made any in do g! ub SH purchase from and the till slip number, along with a contact telephone number to qualify for le AR E the random draw to cheers@cheersmag.co.za. Glass not included. SEE T&C’S ON PG 2
how to enter
Not for Sale to Persons Under the Age of 18. Drink Responsibly.
Call the TOPS HOTLINE 0860 313 141
Grocery list
in the basket
TOPS at SPAR
Available at TOPS at SPAR and SPAR stores
Your complete list of ingredients for all the recipes in this issue.
Groceries
Available from TOPS at SPAR Liquor 125ml brandy 100ml white wine 185ml sparkling wine 15ml white wine 250ml vodka 2l tomato juice 1l soda or sparkling water 1l ginger ale
Available from SPAR Dried Spices/Herbs/Stock 6ml paprika 5ml ground cinnamon 500ml vegetable stock 375ml rooibos tea 2 chai tea bags 2 bay leaves 15ml cayenne pepper 5ml mustard powder
Fresh Fruit/Veg/Herbs/Spices 1 banana 3 lemons 2 limes 1 Punnet of raspberries 1.5kg carrots 1 pineapple 3 large avocados 1 bunch celery 6 sprigs mint leaves 1 punnet basil 1 punnet coriander 1 punnet rosemary 1 punnet thyme 1 punnet of micro rocket or herbs 1 small stick of ginger 13 garlic cloves 3 onions
2 shallots
185ml castor sugar
5 spring onions
60ml corn syrup or liquid glucose
100g fine green beans
7.5ml vanilla essence
200g baby marrows
3ml almond essence
2 small red chillies
3ml red food colouring
Cans/Jars/Bottles/Cartons/Tins 10ml honey 60g sundried tomatoes in oil 1 can mandarin orange segments 10ml Dijon mustard 5ml curry paste 5ml fish sauce 250ml barbecue marinade 3 anchovies 25ml pepper sauce or Tabasco 20ml Worcestershire sauce 3ml soy sauce 15ml white wine vinegar 280ml olive oil 1.5l sunflower or canola oil 185ml mayonnaise 2 x 400g cans crushed tomatoes 5ml tomato paste 500g mixed dried fruit 2 packets marshmallows 1 box of glacé cherries 1.125l orange juice 1.5l pineapple juice 375ml cranberry juice 1l grapefruit juice 1l cranberry or pomegranate juice
Baking/Dry goods 390g flour 15ml baking powder 2.5g bicarbonate of soda 10ml corn flour 300g sugar 250ml desiccated coconut 500g icing sugar
10ml gelatine powder 1 small Crunchie chocolate bar 250ml tricolour quinoa 500g spaghetti 45ml pine nuts 125ml sesame seeds ½ loaf white bread
Dairy 125ml vanilla or plain yoghurt 240g butter 100g unsalted butter 500ml cream 1½l full cream milk 8 extra-large eggs 4 small eggs 16g creamy gorgonzola 120g Parmesan cheese 150g Cheddar cheese
Meat/Fish/Poultry 300g shrimps, or crab meat 1kg boneless lamb, beef or chicken 200g calamari tubes 500g fresh mussels 500g clams 1.5 kg pork shoulder 1 deboned pork neck 16 slices black forest ham or streaky bacon 300g prawn meat
Frozen goods 200g mixed frozen berries 500g puff pastry
All ‘in the basket’ items are available at your nearest TOPS at SPAR and SPAR outlets. See www.topsatspar.co.za and www.spar.co.za Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16 www.topsatspar.co.za
71
Loopdop Gerrit Rautenbach
Welkom terug
Goud: ’n aanloklike metaal wat mans (en vrouens) koorsagtig maak. Hier’s nog ’n storie.
D
Hier in 1904 kom ’n ene Arthur Megson te hore van hul
wat in die goudbedryf. So het dit aangehou, dag na dag.
prospekteerdery en kom snuffel self.
Week in en week uit. Maar skielik een
Tog kon hy eers genoegsame bewyse
Maandagaand het die delwers en
gelewer het amper 30 jaar later in 1933
prospekteerder gekom en gegaan
om mense te kry om ’n gat te boor en
sonder dat Bernardus uitdop. ’n Week
meer verteenwoordigende
of twee later het van die grootkoppe
goudmonsters te versamel. So het dit
agterdogtig begin raak en ’n
aangehou totdat genoegsame
afvaardiging Vaalfontein toe gestuur.
bewyse ingepalm was en 13 myne so
Daar aangekom was dit duidelik dat
een na die ander begin oopmaak het.
Bernardus fort is. Die huis en plaaswerf
Een van die eerstes was op die plaas
was verlate. Hulle is toe na die ou toe-
ie stad met die naam Welkom
Vaalfontein van ene Bernardus Saayman.
gemaakte myn. Wat toe nie meer
het ontstaan as ´n direkte
Dit was ’n maklike myn om te beginne,
heeltemal toe was nie. Daar sien hulle
gevolg van die ontdekking
want die ingang was ’n natuurlike grot.
hoe lekker ou Bernardus sy sakke
van goud. Die storie wat mees
Nou ja, kort voor lank het Bernardus besef
volgemaak het. Sy grotmyn het aan-
algemeen as die waarheid aanvaar
hy gaan mos nou sy plaas verloor, maar
gesluit by die rif wat regdeur Odendaal-
word is dat die aanvanklike goud
hy het geweet hy gaan darem redelik
rus tot by die Witwatersrand loop.
ontdek is op ´n plaas genaamd
vergoed word daarvoor. Maar sy geluk
Welkom en dat die eerste nedersetting
was in (of dalk nie, hang af hoe jy daarna
het sy sakke en sakke vol goud gemyn;
daar opgespring het. En siedaar,
kyk), want voor die groot goudmagnate
net genoeg om die Krugermiljoene na
Welkom is die naam van die dorp.
geld vir Vaalfontein neergesit het, het die
Sondagskoolkollekte te laat lyk. Die
Welkom in Welkom sê almal altoos.
goud opgedroog. Dus het Bernardus sy
oomblik toe hy reken het hy genoeg,
plaas behou.
het hy opgehou en die res van die rif vir
Maar dit is helaas nie waar die naam
Die mynmense het aanbeweeg en
vandaan kom nie.
Ou Benardus was nie ’n vraat nie. Hy
die goudbase gelos. Daar waar sy
ander myne op die ryker riwwe
mynery gestop het, het hy ’n mooi
Terug gewees het. Kyk, twee Ingilsmanne
oopgemaak. So het tegnologie ook
naambordjie geverf: Welkom Terug.
genaamd Donaldson en Hinds het al in
aanbeweeg en Bernardus het sy oor
1896 snuf in die neus gekry en begin
teen die grond gehou en gereeld
prospekteer dat die biesies bewe. Hulle is
saans ’n doppie of twee in die Kantien
met hul bevindings stil-stil terug Engeland
gaan drink. Daar was min of meer net
toe om dit daar te laat ontleed, maar
mampoer en tuisgebroude whisky te
wat presies dit was, weet niemand tot
kry (want daar was nog nie ’n TOPS nie,
vandag toe nie. Hulle skip het op pad
sien), maar daai voggies was genoeg
gesink. Miskien was hul ‘fonds’ te swaar.
vir Bernardus om te leer wat is presies
Bonus TOPS at SPAR
Nuwe Welkom Tops (Keetmanshoop) TOPS at SPAR
Die plek se naam moes eintlik Welkom
Address: 19 Pretorius Street, Welkom. Tel: 057 352 7289 Email: bonus1@retail.spar.co.za Business Hours: Mon-Fri: 08h00 - 18h00, Sat: 08h00 18h00, Sun: 08h00 - 18h00.
72 www.topsatspar.co.za
Jan|Feb 2015 Vol 16
Address:194B 4th Avenue Keetmanshoop. Tel: 00264 81 416 8038 Business Hours: Mon-Fri: 09h00 - 18h00, Sat: 09h00 - 17h00, NB: Not open on Sundays.
Freelance writer Gerrit Rautenbach is a man who knows how to spin a yarn, having been the editor of Mooiloop and Wegbreek magazines.
Sylvania TOPS at SPAR
Address:133 Koppie Alleen Road, Welkom. Tel: 057 352 9161 Email: sylvania1@retail.spar.co.za Business Hours: Mon-Fri: 08h00 - 20h00, Sat: 08h00 18h00, Sun: 08h00 - 18h00.