Neighbourhood 2 FEBRUARY 2020
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Still a firm favourite Laid-back lifestyle, homely eateries, lovely beaches and mountains, communal markets – Hout Bay remains one of everyone's favourites, page 6
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TANTILIZING TOKARA
yourneighbourhood.co.za
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FOREST DINING
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TECH IT UP
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SUBURB FOCUS: HOUT BAY
Connecting homeowners with great communities
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NEWS & LIFESTYLE
2 FEBRUARY 2020
Editor’s exclusive CARLA REDELINGHUYS
Neighbourhood
In your hood:
Stellenbosch winelands
Tokara Restaurant | 021 885 2550 | tokararestaurant.co.za
Hit a six! T he fifth annual Sasfin Cape Town Cricket Sixes, Africa’s biggest sixes tournament, takes place from 14 to 16 February at the Western Province Cricket Club in Rondebosch. The Sasfin Cape Town Cricket Sixes incorporates men’s, women’s and junior leagues across all skills levels by allowing entrants to participate in the social league, lager league, development league, and the much-anticipated VIP Corporate Cup. Players from all over the world enter their teams, some as far away as Dubai and Qatar. This year, local favourites GoodLuck will be performing in the evening. There will also be a selection of artisanal food stands and local pop-up
restaurants in the global food village. So if you’re looking for something for a day out for the whole family, head to the suburbs.
win One lucky reader can win a full weekend VIP experience for six friends worth R3,000. Simply visit our Facebook page for more competition details.
Fine views, finer food
If you haven’t yet visited Tokara Restaurant to taste their summer menu, now is the time
If you’re in the ’hood…
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isit popular Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay.
The market boasts an intimate atmosphere with live music, local wines, craft beers and cuisine for every palette and every mood. “We get about 25,000 visitors per month, making us one of the most visited markets in the Mother City by both locals and tourists. We also won the award this year for the best market
in Cape Town – so we’re very proud to be associated with Cape Town’s leading destinations,” says Bay Harbour Market spokesperson Lyn Mance.
OPENING TIMES Friday 5pm to 9pm Saturday and Sunday: 9:30am to 4pm
WORDS: RICHARD HOLMES IMAGES: SUPPLIED
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t’s not hard to see why Carolize Coetzee is passionate about channeling a sense of place onto the plates at Tokara Restaurant. As executive chef of this acclaimed winelands eatery, Carolize has perhaps the best kitchen views in the country, gazing out over the Stellenbosch winelands to distant Table Mountain. But it’s not (only) the views that will be filling tables this season, rather Carolize’s menu that shows plenty of inspiration from her three weeks in New York, cooking alongside chef Daniela Soto-Innes, the 2019 World’s Best Female Chef, at her restaurant Cosme, currently ranked 23rd in the world by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. There’s no shortage of refinement on the menu here, but Carolize balances that with an obvious passion for tapping into the local produce of the region. That includes no fresh greens from the Tokara gardens. A standout example is the spinach plate; a colourfully geometric plate of “bright light” stalks with renosterbos and shavings of cured egg yolk. Fynbos flavours find themselves at home here too, with kapokbos, nasturtium and renosterbos woven into both the à la carte and four- and sixcourse set menu options. “We often tend to shy away from finding inspiration
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in revisiting our own culinary history and rather try to emulate what’s going on elsewhere in the world,” says Carolize, who says she hopes to take diners on a culinary journey evoking flavours that have crossed our palate in the past. “I’d like to remind our guests with each new menu of something they may have forgotten about our collective culinary memory.”
purée, shiitake mushrooms and a deeply flavoursome jus. Paired with the Tokara Limited Release Walker Bay Grenache 2015, it’s superb.
Whether it’s familiar or not, you shouldn’t miss the duck – the breast lightly smoked and perfectly seared – served with a smear of parsnip
As with much of the menu it’s a plate international in inspiration, but showing no shortage of familiar flavours. Time to book a table at Tokara.
As are the tempura oysters, floating on a viskop broth with Chinese cabbage and slivers of charred peach. To finish, the Spanish almond cake with hibiscus and lemon posset is a must.
EDITORIAL TEAM:
ADVERTISING SALES:
Group Editor: Carla Redelinghuys carla@yourneighbourhood.co.za Senior Sub-Editor: Marana Brand Designers: Anja Bramley & Samantha Durand Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za
Call us for advertising opportunities on 087 828 0423 Production (Editorial & Property Advertising): Lucea Goosen capetown@yourneighbourhood.co.za Online coordinator: Chantelle Balsdon chantelle@augmentcreative.com
2 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
In your hood:
Franschhoek
Arkeste | 021 876 2393 | Facebook: @arkesterestaurant
Magic forest The refreshing simplicity of the setting and chef Richard Carstens’ dialled-down fine-dining expertise, puts Arkeste firmly on the Franschhoek map for locals and visitors WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK
IMAGES: KIT HEATHCOCK & SUPPLIED
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iews are two a penny in Franschhoek, shady forest glades not so much. So it’s a delightful surprise after climbing the mountainside to Arkeste on Chamonix Wine estate when we leave the panoramic view at the parking lot and descend into the dappled shade of tall forest trees. Surrounded by green leaves and birdsong, whitewashed building spilling out to a wide wooden deck over the kloof forest floor, Arkeste has an alpine feel –simple and unpretentious. After a long and varied
career, culminating in eight years at Tokara and opening RiffelCarstens consultancy with Reuben Riffel, chef Richard Carstens is enjoying doing his own thing since opening in October, getting away from the glitz of finedining and focussing on the food. “It’s the food I love to cook,” he says. “It’s the evolution of my cuisine and all my influences over almost 30 years. I’ve gone back to more of the French, contemporary, taking some classics and relooking them. But I love Japanese cuisine, so I bring in those elements as well.”
A la carte and chef’s tasting menus were ideal for Franschhoek summer weather – fresh, varied, each dish beautifully calibrated and nuanced. We started with a layered tuna sashimi and tartare on sushi rice, mozzarella crème, daikon, yuzu and wasabi dressing, fig oil and black grapes – complex and balanced. And a tomato variation sharing many of the same elements, with black olives replacing grapes for salty contrast. Next corn cappelletti and roast prawns surprised with the luxurious fruit acidity of fresh raspberries contrasting rich parmesan cream, and the Chamonix Feldspar Pinot Noir 2017 bringing out the berries. Then a delicate cucumber salad with so many nuances of shiso and basil mint, seeds, cashew nuts, gooseberries, goats’ cheese, grated horseradish and lovage oil that it entertained the palate throughout. Richard has packed away his molecular gastronomy tools for now, leaving behind the smoke and mirrors, but his skill and extensive experience is evident and he’s passing that on. “I’m training up the next generation of chefs with all young people in the kitchen. I’m in the kitchen cooking every day, every service, and I’m really enjoying it.” Black pepper glazed ostrich, aromatic sauce featuring cocoa, star anise and cardamom, continued the summer fruit theme topped with blueberries, richly velvet with the Chamonix Troika Reserve 2016. Then dessert, the highlights a beautiful orange buchu ice cream with chocolate mousse and hazelnut dacquoise, and Richard’s updated classic, gorgonzola ice cream with macadamia honeycomb and apple poached in Chamonix Reserve. Locals have already become regulars at Arkeste and the word is spreading.
NEWS & LIFESTYLE
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PROPERTY NEWS
2 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
Master of your universe These must-have tech gadgets will put whole-home control in the palm of your hand WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER & EDITORIAL TEAM
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echnology and its influence in our homes continues to alter and better our daily lives.
Artificial intelligence
Tech gurus say that a ramping up of artificial intelligence (AI) will probably trump most other tech issues in 2020. For many homes, AI has become an integral part of life, as you watch your toddler speak comfortably to Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. But for many, these are not that simple to grasp or, certainly, set up, so most homeowners use them only for basic tasks. Watch out for 2020 innovation here, where these task masters will be
IMAGES: SUPPLIED & SHUTTERSTOCK
doing a great deal more than selecting your favourite tune – they’ll be taking phone calls, controlling lights, opening curtains and updating shopping lists.
AI chips (neuromorphic or brain chips), mimic the structure of the brain and process top AI algorithms. Life is going to get even more interesting.
Thankfully, as technology advances, the main players have recognised that to become mainstream, they need to talk to each other. Amazon, Apple and Google are working together to make smart home products compatible with one other.
Internet of Things (IoT)
With big names in various giants globally paying attention now, the tech industry is expecting a breakthrough, and, wait for it, emotion recognition is on the radar. High-performing
For those who’re not au fait with IoT, it’s essentially a network of interconnected things or devices embedded with various forms of technology, which enables them to collect and exchange data. So, for example, your cellphone talks to your security system or your heating, airconditioning, lighting and so on. We’re able to operate so many gadgets and systems remotely, but that list will increase. More smart technology means less people are required, of course. With the lightning speed of 5G on the horizon – the advent of the fourth industrial revolution – the number of connected devices and mainstream IoT applications is likely to rise substantially across multiple industries. Major changes are on the horizon.
Water
Finding innovative ways to capture, store, use and reuse water has to be a key feature of 2020 in South Africa, but so, too, will be the advances in technology so we’re able to do all that efficiently. New-build homes will have built-in systems, and as we rely less on municipalities and more on ourselves (and entrepreneurs), many
more homes will be retrofitted with simple and increasingly smart systems. Technology will also play a role in auto-limiting our use, so although timers aren’t new, they’re getting far smarter and easier to use – your shower will cut off after a few minutes…
Electricity
What is there to say? We’re going to be doing it for ourselves, and the various technologies and applications are becoming more affordable, more streamlined, and smarter. Who would consider a new build without these assets?
Transport
Autonomous driving being perfected, hybrid or battery vehicles with chargers at home, or – hey – no vehicle at all? With the numerous “taxi” type services available, it’s predicted that in the not too distant future, new homes won’t need garages, because polluting cars – and stressful traffic – are not part of tomorrow. Use the space for parking for the Uber driver’s car when he draws up to your home?
Online shopping
It’s not only here to stay, it’s ramping up to better response times, and, say the gurus, drone delivery. New homes will be designed with drone landing hatches up on roofs, maybe even a refrigerated section…
PRODUCTS Control the show Neeo provides an elegant interface to control your entire home. Turn individual lights on or off, activate lighting scenes, even lock the doors – right from the comfort of your couch. Access any television from any room or queue up your favourite streaming music service to begin playing throughout the house. Take charge Control4 premium automation solutions allows you to easily and intelligently control every aspect of your house – from lights, security, climate control, home theatre, music and more – even if you’re miles away. Rock out Entertain guests in any season with great audio. Klipsch outdoor speakers are designed to deliver incredible acoustic clarity any time of year. Klipsch offers surface mount or rock speakers which can blend into their surroundings so to not detract from your home’s aesthetic beauty.
2 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
PROPERTY NEWS
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CTN tourism property market set for growth W
Properties bordering Sandton performing well R
andburg properties – especially those located in the areas bordering Sandton – are sought-after for many reasons, according to Duane Butler, general manager, Seeff Randburg.
still has many family homes located close to important business nodes. “Demand for properties near good schools is still recognised with especially the Linden area showing incredible investment opportunity.”
Not only does Randburg offer a wide variety of suburbs to suit every pocket, but suburbs like Greenside, Linden and Jukskei Park (all bordering Sandton) are generally also more affordably priced than the Sandton suburbs. Another benefit is that these suburbs offer easy accessibility to the Sandton CBD where many of the residents are employed.
Says Butler, “Investors that obtained property in Linden a few years ago would certainly appreciate the gem in their property portfolio today. For example, property prices of freehold homes in Linden escalated from a mere R1,45m for an average home in 2009 to an average price of R2,65m last year. Sectional title units in the suburb started at an average price of R780,000 in 2009 and are now averaging at around R1,85m.
Butler says Greenside is an excellent example of one such suburb that offers close proximity to the CBD, while also boasting excellent growth in property values at the same time. “According to Lightstone, the median price of freehold property here increased from an average of R1,8m in 2009 to an average price of R3m in 2019.” Butler continues that while lifestyle estates in Sandton and Fourways are especially attractive to many upper-end buyers, Randburg’s appeal lies in the fact that the area
“In addition to topclass schooling, Linden also offers a variety of eclectic restaurants and trendy coffee shops as well as an array of property options for potential investors to choose from.” Butler adds that the demand for homes in the northern region of Randburg close to the Fourways business node is also continuously on the rise. “To this end Jukskei Park provides an excellent investment
opportunity with lower rates and taxes than in Sandton, while also still offering easy accessibility to the Fourways business node. If you purchased a property in Jukskei Park a few years ago you will definitely be reaping the rewards today as average property prices here have increased from R1,09m in 2009 to R1,85m in 2019.
hen looking at South Africa’s international tourist arrivals over the past few years, the future looks promising, despite a slight dip in numbers last year. And Cape Town is undoubtedly leading the pack. Tourist accommodation providers, particularly those focussed on the higher-end and luxury side of the market, stand to benefit most from the ongoing growth. “The prospective growth in tourist arrivals will require us to expand the number of rooms available – not just conventional hotel rooms but particularly serviced holiday villas, self-catering apartments, and aparthotels. Aparthotels have become immensely popular in Europe and the US and are a fast-growing category of tourist accommodation,” says Francois van Zyl, partner, 12Cape, an investment fund that owns Latitude Aparthotel in Sea Point. “Aparthotels offer guests the flexibility of a self-catering apartment with the comfort of hotel-like amenities, which is perfect for holidaymakers and business travellers alike.” Says Van Zyl, “Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard
is not only prime real estate, but also a long-standing tourist hotspot among foreign and local holidaymakers. Apart from its natural beauty and myriad lifestyle amenities, it’s also ideally located for visitors to access the city centre and various attractions like the V&A Waterfront and Table Mountain. We believe the Atlantic Seaboard will experience the highest demand growth for new tourist accommodation units over the next few years,” Van Zyl says. Besides the growing demand, what makes property in the Atlantic Seaboard an attractive investment opportunity is that it’s still relatively “cheap” when compared to similar holiday destinations in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia. “One square meter of luxury real estate in Cape Town costs on average 60% less than in other coastal tourist hotspots,” he explains.
“Prime property, the world over, has always yielded steady returns because of the limited supply and the continually increasing demand for it. The Atlantic Seaboard has proven this for decades, which is why 12Cape focusses exclusively on investing in this area.”
“The average buyer profile in Jukskei Park is also a much younger buyer. This stimulates growth and renewal due to upgrades and renovations on property.” Butler concludes that the proposed extension to the existing Gautrain station between Sandton and Cosmo City as well as the link with Lanseria Airport should prompt demand for various surrounding areas and create a positive stimulus for the suburbs nearby. “When the proposed Gautrain station in Randburg takes effect, owning an investment property in an area like Ferndale for instance could be a very good asset. Other areas for investors to consider include Randpark Ridge, Sundowner and Northcliff.”
The South African Reserve Bank has lowered the repo rate and this is a hugely welcome move for the property industry. This coupled with inflation at a lower rate than last year at this time, theoretically means that those currently paying off bonds should make a huge effort to pay the instalments they were previously paying into a bond, and even a little bit more if possible every month, to save on interest and shorten the ultimate payback period. The lower repo rate also means that banks are likely to be more and more lenient when approving bonds, and this means that buyers will be able to commit, especially since property prices have levelled off in several areas, and we have now definitely shifted into a buyer’s market making this an ideal time to purchase property. Those looking for an investment property to rent out would do particularly well to purchase now, as incoming rental can stretch further to assist in paying off the interestbearing portion of a bond. MIKE GREEFF, CEO, GREEFF CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE
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PROPERTY NEWS
2 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
Welcome to the Republic of Hout Bay Hugged by mountains, the open valley spreading down to its wide white-sand beach and bay, Hout Bay is less a suburb of Cape Town than a seaside town with its own identity and close-knit community WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK IMAGES: NATASHA LASSEN & GOOGLE MAPS *Map not to scale
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amed for its once lush forest that provided timber for a growing Cape Town, the valley above Hout Bay still has a rural feel, with small holdings, riding stables and small farms hidden along narrow roads. Homes in the established residential streets of the town tend to be on bigger plots with mature gardens and always the views of mountain and bay. The once bustling fishing harbour is quieter now but boats still bring in their catch, resident seals attentively waiting for any dropped fish, and the marina is home to a flotilla of yachts, so the bay is often alive with activity, not to mention whales and dolphins in season.
Community After the beautiful setting the first thing residents talk about is the sense of community in Hout Bay. “Hout Bay locals are very community driven and are always willing to help out. A soccer pitch was built as well as a skate park for the local kids of Imizamo Yethu,” says Mike Bradburn of The Clay Cafe.
“When IY suffered tragic fires in the past, locals came together to donate food and water as well as physically help fight the fire and transport personal belongings for those affected.” And while Hout Bay isn’t immune to the social problems common to South Africa, the community works together. “Hout Bay has gotten exceptionally lucky with CCP (community crime prevention) who have stepped up and have given Hout Bay the most active neighbourhood watch and really taken our crime statistics down,” Mike says. Electrician Theo Nakapala who has lived and worked in Hout Bay for twenty years, says Hout Bay is a good place for a business. “Hout Bay people are friendly people, when you’re good to people they become like family.” It’s a place where a business grows by word of mouth with no need for advertising, he says.
Connection Despite being slightly apart from the rest of the city, it’s only a 10-minute
INSIDER TRADING A Cape Town institution, where kids and adults rediscover their creativity painting ceramics, The Clay Cafe started small over 20 years ago. “We chose Hout Bay because we lived in the Bay,” says co-owner Mike Bradburn, “but in hindsight it was exceptionally lucky that we’re here. It’s a tightknit community and when we needed help after our fire in 2018, the community was there for us in full force.” They had moved from their previous smaller premises in 2016 when the landlord was planning a development. With the larger new space including a play area, garden and restaurant, they attract customers from as far as Somerset West, Durbanville, Belville and the Winelands. “Our core customer base will always be the Hout Bay community and about 90% of our staff are Hout Bay locals which makes transport and time management a lot easier.”
SEE IT FOR YOURSELF The Clay Cafe 076 810 5120 claycafe.co.za
drive over Constantia Nek to reach the Southern Suburbs, or a scenic drive along the coast to Camps Bay, making a morning commute one of the most picturesque in Cape Town. This accessibility attracts a steady stream of visitors to Hout Bay, international visitors often basing themselves in guesthouses here to explore the Cape Peninsula, or stopping here on a day trip before or after winding along iconic Chapmans Peak Drive, which is a must for every visitor to Cape Town. “What I enjoy about working in Hout Bay is the large number of people who pass through on a regular basis from all around Cape Town which means we get to interact with a vast and diverse customer base,” says Mike.
Weekends Summer weekends are busy in Hout Bay, the sandy beach attracting families from the Southern Suburbs. Long walks on the beach, horse-riding, surfing and kayaking are just a few of the activities on offer. On Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays, Bay Harbour Market becomes a social focus also drawing people from all over Cape Town, the indoor market in a converted building at the harbour home to a wide variety of artisan food stalls, crafts and clothing with live music creating a laid-back vibe. On Sundays through summer the open-air Hout Bay Lions Craft Market takes over the common, its profits going to community upliftment. Then there are art galleries to browse, quirky little shops to discover and restaurants, from fish-and-chips to Asian fusion and family-friendly venues, to kick back in.
Must-see World of Birds is a regular favourite with kids and nature lovers, home to over 400 species of birds housed in landscaped walk-through aviaries to wander between for hours. There are also meerkats, monkeys, mongoose and other small mammals, with a hospital for treating injured birds and a breeding programme for endangered species. Driving along Chapmans Peak Drive to a scenic picnic or sundowner spot is a must for locals as well as visitors, with stupendous views over the bay and a magnificent mountain backdrop.
2 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
PROPERTY NEWS
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VALLEY FARM
Hout Bay is an exceptionally beautiful part of the world. There are numerous walking trails with spectacular views. We have the beach as well as our famous Hout Bay harbour which boasts a large amount of history. MIKE BRADBURN, RESIDENT
CONVENIENCE
For a typical property in this area You’ll pay
R38,591 per month
R3,999m
For a typical property (three-bedroom house)
R3,450m In a complex
• Cheyne’s: Asian fusion tapas • Lucky Bao: tiny bao bar also by Cheyne Morrisby • Massimo’s: neighbourhood Italian food with child-friendly vibe • Fish on the Rocks: fish-and-chips in the harbour • Greek Street at Spiros: welcoming Greek taverna feel • Suikerbossie: Sunday breakfast and lunch buffets with a view
SCHOOLS • • • • • • •
Hout Bay International School Hout Bay Montessori School Generations School Hout Bay Kronendal Primary School Llandudno Primary Ambleside School The Academy
For rent 5%
COMPLEX
Median asking price
EAT
Median asking price
R28,000
For a typical property (four-bedroom house)
17%
R20,000 R10,500 In a complex
For a garden cottage
APARTMENT
Monthly bond repayments
APARTMENT
For sale
COMPLEX
• Hout Bay Medical Centre: GPs and general health services • Mainstream Mall and Fisherman’s World: Pick n Pay, Woolworths, boutiques and services in a mix of modern mall with converted Victorian cottages conserving the history of the area • Victoria Avenue and Main Road: many more independent shops, businesses, petrol stations and services • Earthworx Garden World: garden centre with play area and cafe
3%
37%
over a period of 20 years at 9.75% prime
For an apartment
R5,5m For a house
R11,500 For an apartment
R24,498 For a house
52% 8%
HOUSE
median asking price
78%
R1,895m HOUSE
R3,999m
GARDEN COTTAGE
Based on
The data reflected herein represents data that is voluntarily obtained from subscribers of the Private Property South Africa website and is based solely on data collected by Private Property South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Further, the data reflected herein is accurate as per the Private Property South Africa database dated 31 October 2019. Reliance on such data is at the sole discretion of subscribers and Private Property South Africa hereby indemnifies itself of any consequence of such reliance.