Neighbourhood 28 JULY 2019
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Still a jewel Although ever-expanding and brimming with culture, natural beauty and wine tourism, Paarl has stayed a farming community at heart, page 4
2
FAT FUN
yourneighbourhood.co.za
3
ANCIENT, BUT NEW
4
SUBURB FOCUS: PAARL
Connecting homeowners with great communities
2
NEWS & LIFESTYLE
28 JULY 2019
Editor’s exclusive CARLA REDELINGHUYS
Neighbourhood
In your hood:
Durbanville
Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants | 081 316 9251 | ffmm.co.za
Chewing the fat
Taste the difference in ethically raised meat bursting with grass-fed flavour at the new Frankie Fenner store and eatery in Durbanville WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK IMAGES: PATRICK HEATHCOCK
G
Sunshine and happiness L
ast week I mentioned how inspired I am by how everyday people are affecting big change in the world. This past Mandela Day, I was once again blown away by the selfless actions of people who work tirelessly and selflessly for the betterment of their communities. Thursday, 18 July, my colleague Marana, her nine-year-old daughter and I set off to iKhaya Le Langa to help the President Hotel’s staff serve lunch to local pensioners. It’s raining so hard that when we arrive, hotel marketing manager Joanne Clayton worriedly says she thinks the weather will keep the crowds away. She needn’t have feared, though – of the almost 150 pensioners who received invitations to attend the lunch, approximately 100 braved the cold to partake in the starter of soup (prepared by the new executive chef at The President, Jacques Swart) and bread rolls, and mains of chicken and mash. As everyone starts taking their seats, there’s a brief moment to chat to
rass-fed, dry-aged, ethically raised and exceptionally tasty, one bite of their juicy signature burger reveals that Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants do things differently. Buying the whole animal directly from carefully chosen farmers is one step towards sustainability, another is their philosophy of where the tastiest meat is to be found. “By market standards we buy old, fat cows!” says co-founder Andy Fenner. “A lot of the flavour is in the fat.” The animals will have spent the last four or five years grazing and
walking mountains and river-beds in the Eastern Cape. “They develop more muscle, which means much tastier meat.” Education is a big part of the Frankie Fenner mission, wooing consumers away from valuing tenderness over flavour. The new eatery and store at Durbanville’s Village Square is a chance to expand the conversation – manager Siya Pikoli is knowledgeable and happy to chat – showcasing their meat and cuts that people may not be familiar with. “I really think you have to know how to cook them to sell them,” continues Andy.
founder and director of iKhaya Le Langa, Tony Elvin, a Londoner from Jamaican ancestry who moved to South Africa 10 years ago and has lived in Langa for half of that time. His passion is this settlement, the oldest in the Mother City. What used to be a rundown community hall has been turned into a must-visit destination by Tony and his ambassadors, youths from the community who have traded what could easily have been a life of crime for one of entrepreneurship – Tony’s passion.
“The chef has a big responsibility in taking the intimidation factor out of it.” A lesser-known cut – thick flank – is tenderised and marinated for the prego roll. The burgers use an optimum mix of chuck, brisket and a bit of shortrib. “Those three cuts naturally come out at an 80/20 meat to fat ratio, which is the holy grail for making a burger.” Chef Lisa Williams heads up the kitchen. Recently returned from cheffing overseas, she spent a month working with the FFMM team at their Woodstock headquarters. The resulting menu is family-friendly, accessible and delicious. We enjoyed a fabulous steak and chips, simply demonstrating the glory of grass fed, dry-aged rump steak, cowboy beans deep and smoky with bacon, molasses and spices, and a beautiful traditional Caesar salad with perfectly cooked egg, pecorino cheese, crunchy croutons and anchovy dressing. The fries deserve a mention too – thin cut, fried in beef fat, they’re full of flavour, light and crisp, sprinkled with a special FFMM spice mix. Brioche buns, kitke, sourdough and gluten-free options are specially baked by Knead. We finished with a mind-blowing chocolate brownie sourced from the General Store. A quick blast of heat, and served with ice cream and sprinkles, the dark melting chocolatiness is pure bliss.
Through social enterprise activities, tourism, hospitality, and art, iKhaya Le Langa aims to empower changemakers and establish Langa Quarter as the leading tourist destination in the Cape Town area and to create a cleaner, greener, and safer space. Helping Tony with his mission is The President Hotel. “For the past 21 years, giving back has been at the heart of The President’s commitment to the Mandela legacy, in remembrance and celebration of this great man. “Ikhaya Le Langa, an initiative that our team feels deeply connected to and inspired by, serves as a beacon for tourism in the community of Langa and an organisation we are proud to have an ongoing relationship with, with the aim of opening up opportunities for enterprising locals,” says shareholder and owner, Jeremy Clayton. To learn more and get involved in Ikhaya Le Langa, check out their website at ikhayalelanga.co.za.
PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING 1st Floor, Block H, Sable Square cnr Bosmansdam and Ratanga roads Milnerton, Cape Town
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
28 JULY 2019
Neighbourhood
In your hood:
Paarl
In your hood:
Avondale | 021 863 1976 | avondale.co.za
NEWS & LIFESTYLE
3
CBD & Constantia
95 Keerom | 021 422 0765 | 95keerom.com 95 at Parks | 021 761 0247 | 95atparks.co.za
Master chef
After more than 16 years in the Cape Town restaurant scene, this Milanese maestro remains as passionate as ever WORDS: CARLA REDELINGHUYS IMAGES: SUPPLIED
Y
ou’d be excused if after first glance you decided to lump Giorgio Nava in the “muddled, almost comically stereotypical Italian chef” category. Because he is that. And unapologetically so.
Ancient tastes
A pioneering Paarl estate has released two new wines made with ancient technology WORDS: RICHARD HOLMES IMAGES: SUPPLIED
A
lthough they’ve been used in the production of wine for around 8,000 years, don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of a qvevri (pronounced kwe-vree). These egg-shaped vessels made of clay hail from the European country of Georgia, widely thought of as the cradle of modern viticulture, and have been used for fermenting and ageing wine for millennia. While local winemakers have long dabbled in smaller amphorae, Paarl estate Avondale has become the first winery in the country to release a wine made entirely in qvevri. Avondale’s winemaker Corne Marais travelled to Georgia in 2017, meeting with local producers and winemakers to source qvevri for the Avondale cellar. He finally chose a master craftsman in the Imeretian Mountains, and Avondale’s 24 clay qvevri made it to local shores in time for the 2018 vintage. As with amphorae, winemakers turn to clay vessels as they allow the same interaction with oxygen as oak barrels, but without the tannin and flavour input from oak. “We’ve been working with clay amphorae for many years, and we’ve tasted a wide range of Georgian
wines, so we had a clear idea of what to expect from working with qvevri,” explains Avondale’s proprietor Johnathan Grieve. “But what’s been exciting for us is that because these are handmade by master craftsmen, each qvevri has its own character. Over time we’ll learn the traits that make each of our qvevri unique.”
Distinct tastes
And the first two wines from the qvevri – a chenin blanc and a rhône-style red blend – are certainly unique. As with all of Avondale’s grapes, the chenin blanc is picked from organic grapes grown to biodynamic principles. These were all fermented and matured in the qvevri for 12 months, resulting in a wine with a firm grape-driven tannin structure, a palate of stone fruits, minerality and bright natural acidity. The Qvevri Red Blend is also immensely drinkable, with grenache, syrah and mourvèdre coming together to make a wine “Beaujolais in style, with lightness and freshness, but with more weight to it from a fruit perspective”, explains Corne Marais, winemaker at Avondale since 2008. “Like the Qvevri Chenin Blanc it’s drinking beautifully now, but make no mistake, these wines are going to be able to age if you choose to cellar them.”
As he glides through the restaurant in his white flour-dusted apron you half expect him to do “the Italian chef kiss” and wax lyrical about the deliciousness of a spicy meatball. He then jokes about the authentic Italian mama in the kitchen rolling out sheet after sheet of pasta for the ravioli, tortellini, agnolotti and other delicious morsels of food sin created in his 95 at Parks restaurant in Constantia. But don’t let this act fool you. Chef Nava is a very talented man, and if you ever have the pleasure of chatting to him over a drink, you’ll soon realise that not only is he exceedingly charming, he also has a wealth of knowledge of the local restaurant scene and what works and what doesn’t. “Everyone is struggling these days. Every day new eateries are opening up in Cape Town with the most bizarre concepts. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re not going to make it.” And Giorgio should know.
His 95 Keerom in the CBD has been a bastion of authentic Italian dining in Cape Town for the past 16 years. But you also can’t rest on your laurels. In a competitive restaurant scene, you have to give your patrons more. That’s why, he explains, he finally added pizzas to the menus of 95 Keerom and 95 at Parks. To keep his regulars happy. And, of course, draw a new crowd. The new pizza menu comprises six Italian classics and uses only the finest ingredients, like Italian tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella. But what makes it truly special is the deliciously light-textured bases, made from dough that’s left to rest for 48 hours. “Our pizzas have been leavened with a mother yeast. Then, resting the dough for two days, makes the pizzas much easier to digest and will never leave you feeling bloated,” explains chef Nava. For the ultimate pizza experience, the Montanara is a must. Made in the authentic Neapolitan style, the base is deep fried until crisp and puffy before it’s topped with Italian tomato sauce and mozzarella, baked in the pizza oven and finished off with fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil and shavings of grana padano. Yes, it is as yummy as it sounds.
4
PROPERTY NEWS
28 JULY 2019
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
Paarl
Historic Cape Dutch houses along the famous 12km tree-lined Main Road, mountain views on all sides and vineyards within the town, Paarl has a unique charm that attracts more new residents each year WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK IMAGES: NATASHA LASSEN & GOOGLE MAPS *Map not to scale
T
he ever-growing town of Paarl has become a magnet for families relocating from elsewhere in South Africa, who enjoy all the ingredients of small-town living, close enough to Cape Town and the airport for convenience. “A reason I love living in Paarl is that I feel safe,” says Nikki Küstner, who moved here five years ago. “There’s still a feeling of freedom in the town. My daughter and her friends watch movies at our tiny theatre or go to coffee shops. Paarl is quiet, everything is in close proximity, and traffic is not an issue.”
Everything about Paarl has a good feel. I am a farm girl, I love the smalltown atmosphere, with vineyards in the centre of town, surrounded by beautiful colourful mountains, where every season leads to something new. Birds are still living in our gardens and frogs sing their songs before and after the rain. WIWE PRETORIUS, RESIDENT
EAT PLAY • Noop: creative contemporary cuisine on the historic Main Road • Kikka: quirky colourful coffee shop baking cakes and breads in-house • Giovanni’s at Laborie: pizzas, pastas and Italian food with mountain views • Terra Mare: welcoming bistro with the best of Italian, Swiss and South African cuisines • Backs: breakfasts, lunch and deli take-home treats • Knus: Karoo farmstyle breakfasts, lunches and coffee shop fare • Spice Route: Jewells, La Grapperia, Barley and Biltong, DV Cafe • The Goatshed at Fairview: delicious lunches and cheeses • Faber at Avondale: fi ne-dining on a biodynamic wine farm • Viande at Grande Roche: new restaurant at Paarl’s iconic hotel
• Parkrun at the arboretum each Saturday • Old Mill Theatre is a community theatre in Afrikaans and English and hosts open mic nights • Horse-riding picnics, boeresport on horseback and riding through mountain dams in summer • Mountain biking and hiking on the trails in Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve • The Taal Monument for summer concerts, picnics and amazing views • Canoeing – Paarl is the start of the Berg River canoe marathon each July • Wine-tasting along the Paarl Wine Route • Alpaca Loom studio to see alpacas, llamas and other animals
SHOP • Laborie Centre: quick shopping at Woolworths Food and Clicks • Paarl Mall: Woolworths, Pick n Pay, high street fashion • Rembrandt Mall: OK Food, Buco Hardware, speciality food stores and services • Frater Square: chic lifestyle and food outlets • Explore Main Road for delis, galleries, lifestyle stores, antiques and more • Visit the surrounding farms and wine estates to buy cheese, olive oil, wine and much more at cellar door prices
Despite its growth – in the business arena as well as residential – Paarl remains a small farming town at heart, its flourishing wine and fruit-growing valley still the pulse of the community. “I absolutely love the mountains, vineyards, great restaurants, beautiful historic buildings and the fact the airport is only 40 minutes away. However, it’s the people that live here and the incredible sense of community that makes my heart beat with warmth,” says Marie-Louise Laubscher. Wiwe Pretorius experienced that same warmth when they bought a wine farm here 30 years ago. “You’re only a ‘Paarliet’ after having lived here for at least 20 years, they told me. We were warmly welcomed by the farming community, and I’m proud to say I belong in Paarl now. We chose this superb town because of its rural beauty and incredibly rich heritage, but really, we just fell in love!”
Property Whether you’re looking for a heritage Victorian home with a large garden in the historic centre, a newly-built luxury home in a secure estate, an affordable apartment or small house in a quiet residential area, a small farm or a retirement property, Paarl really does have something for everyone. Upmarket lifestyle estate living has become the focus for many new developments. Luxury estates such as Val de Vie, Boschenmeer and Pearl Valley are considered an integral part of Paarl now, with their golf facilities and scenic setting along the Berg River.
Schools Paarl Girls High, La Rochelle, Paarl Boys High, and Paarl Gimnasium all have a rich history of tradition, along with their associated primary schools, and are a big part of Paarl’s attraction for families. “All the schools in Paarl are good. They individually serve different niche markets, and as such, must count among the best in the country,” says Wiwe. The whole community is actively involved in the schools and they play a big part in the dynamic of town life. Alternative private school options include Bridge House in the Franschhoek valley, Simond Private School, a dual-medium community school, and a Green School – part of the international pre and primary school movement that started in Bali – opens next year.
Explore Paarl is perfectly placed for an active outdoor lifestyle: renowned for its school sports, canoeing on the Berg River – the annual Berg River canoe marathon starts here – fishing, hiking, kloofing, climbing and mountain biking in the mountain nature reserves around the town, or horse-riding at one of the equestrian farms in the area. With all the wine estates, markets and local festivals there’s always something happening in Paarl and the neighbouring towns of Wellington, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. “When I moved to Paarl in 2015, I was amazed to find an average of 18 large events every weekend,” says Arno Hattingh, who started PaarlApp, which has grown to 23,000 users in less than three years. “Our area has developed so rapidly that we have new offerings all the time.” Then there’s the relaxed coffee shop culture in town, galleries and artisan shops to explore, and the fabulous array of restaurants, eateries and family activities on the surrounding wine estates. Or take a picnic up to the Taal Monument and enjoy sunset and stargazing with one of the best views in the Cape.
28 JULY 2019
Neighbourhood
FOCUS ON: KHULA DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Promoting attendance K Through love and education, we can make a difference
hula Development Group was launched in 2003 and registered as a nonprofit organisation with the South-African Department of Social Development in 2004 as a communitybased organisation supporting out-ofschool children in the Paarl East area. In 2007, management adjusted the mission of the organisation to the integration of children at risk of dropping out, back into the school system. Khula operates solely on a donation basis. Staff members include fieldworkers – women from the local community who conduct home visits – as well as also social workers, social auxiliary workers, programme facilitators and administration staff.
Why do learners drop out?
• Parents have little education • Social circumstances are desperate • Absent fathers • Embarrassment about the lack of basic school necessities • Substance and physical abuse • Lagging behind academically and subsequent embarrassment about a difference in age • Peer pressure and bullying from classmates
The reintegration process A referral network is established at each school to enable the school to
5
notify the fieldworkers assigned to the school of learner absenteeism. After the referral is received, a fieldworker visits the child at home and engage with the primary caregiver. Together they start the process of integrating the child back into the school. This is a delicate process of earning the respect and trust of the primary caregiver and motivating the child through love and care. Once a child has been referred to Khula, the team, in consultation with the principal and the relevant teacher, will address the specific needs of the child within the ambit of the programmes managed by Khula. The case can also be referred to partner organisations in the community, if other needs must be addressed. The in-school support programmes address academic needs up to foundational level and renders emotional support. Khula renders basic foundation level academic and psychological support to learners in grader R to 7.
BANKING DETAILS Khula Development Group Nedbank current account: 1019306149 Branch code: 198765
PROGRAMMES
KHULA’S MISSION IS… to reintegrate primary school children in disadvantaged communities, at risk of dropping out, back into the school system.
FAST FACTS • 18,735 learners dropped out of primary school during 2011 to 2017 (Source: WCED). • Khula is active in 22 schools in five areas in and around Paarl and Stellenbosch.
Reintegration of school children Promote regular school attendance by supporting absent at-risk learners and their families. In-school support Provide academic and psychosocial support to reintegrated learners. Primary caregivers Motivate primary caregivers to ensure their children attend school. SAgo2school To promote a culture of attendance and impart the value of education through child participation and community collaboration.
SEE FOR YOURSELF Paarl (head office) 6 Loop Street Esterville Paarl 7646 021 871 1511 Stellenbosch 5 Ou Helshoogte Road Ida’s Valley Stellenbosch 7600 083 228 6032 Postal address Suite 139 Private Bag X3041 Paarl 7620 admin@khuladg.co.za khuladg.co.za Facebook: @KhulaDevelopmentGroup Instagram: @khuladevelopmentgroup
6
Neighbourhood
stneighbourhood.co.za | 28 JULY 2019
WESTERN SEABOARD Blouberg: 021 557 1115 • Big Bay: 021 554 0033 • Milnerton: 021 551 8640 • Melkbosstrand: 021 553 1912 • Sunningdale: 021 556 2362 • Atlantic Beach Estate: 021 201 8706 • pamgolding.co.za/western-seaboard
Ref# 1TV1429875
Ref# 1TV1443161
Ref# 1TV1447257
Big Bay / R18.9 million
Big Bay / R10.95 million
Bloubergrise / R3.125 million
Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 4 / Garages 4 Stunning beachfront villa in a secure estate. Follow PGP boards from Otto Du Plessis Drive. Melody Poynton 084 551 9844
Bedrooms 3 / Bathrooms 3 / Garages 2 Luxurious villa in elite beachfront security estate. Follow PGP boards from Otto du Plessis Drive, Big Bay. Hjalmar Larsen 082 940 8034
Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 3 / Garages 2 Gracious living in a desirable neighbourhood. Follow PGP boards from Watsonia or Viola Roads into Wessels Road No 16. Rosemary Louw 082 743 5915
Parklands / R2.295 million
Ref# 1TV1437738
Parklands / R2.275 million
Ref# 1TV1444597
Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 2 / Garages 2 Situated in an ideal location this modern and neat home offers so many extras. Follow PGP boards from Ravenswood Road. Paolo Girardi 083 259 8245
Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 2.5 / Garages 2 If space is what you require, you’ll want to live here. Modern granite kitchen with separate scullery. Follow PGP boards from Dorchester Drive into Clifton Crescent. Leon 083 455 9530, Marinda 079 876 3562
Parklands North / R2.125 million
Bloubergrant / R1.95 million
Ref# 1TV1441111
Bedrooms 3 / Bathrooms 2.5 / Garages 2 Churchill Square is a security estate with only 20 spacious and up-market double-storey units. Follow PGP boards from Sandown Road. Tumi Lephuthing 082 781 9243
Ref# 1TV1434570
Bedrooms 2 / Bathrooms 2 / Parking 1 Unique, spacious, inviting, and bright are just some words to describe this home. Follow PGP boards from Marine Circle. Karen 083 455 9530, Jarret 079 876 3562
Neighbourhood
7
stneighbourhood.co.za | 28 JULY 2019
AT L A N T I C B E A C H E S TAT E Atlantic Beach Estate: 021 201 8706 • pamgolding.co.za/atlantic-beach-estate
Atlantic Beach Estate / R6.2 million
Ref# 1TV1445451
Atlantic Beach Estate / R5 million
Ref# 1TV1433612
Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 4.5 / Garages 2 / Seller will look at offers. Escape to the lifestyle you've always wanted. This single-storey home is set at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, nestled between the fairway and a park.
Bedrooms 3 / Bathrooms 2.5 / Garages 2 / A simply stunning immaculate home. Completely private, situated overlooking fynbos and nature at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. This doublestorey home is set in a beautiful indigenous garden.
Mandy Oschman 082 567 0398
Mandy Oschman 082 567 0398
Atlantic Beach Estate / R28 000 Per month
Ref# 1TV1439910
Atlantic Beach Estate / R16 000 Per month
Ref# 1TV1441487
Bedrooms 5 / Bathrooms 3 / Garages 2 / This home is situated in a quiet close on the estate, close to a large park for children to play. An open-plan kitchen leads to a dining room and lounge area which has a wood burning fireplace.
Bedrooms 3 / Bathrooms 1.5 / Garages 2 / This home is situated in a quiet close at the entrance to the estate. Access to all the amenities of the estate and the lifestyle it offers. Your perfect small home or lock-up-and-go.
Lynnette Lee 082 453 3266
Lynnette Lee 082 453 3266
A C C R E D I T E D A G E N T S F O R AT L A N T I C B E A C H E S TAT E OFFICE HOURS Mon - Fri: 09:00 - 16:00, Sat: 09:00 - 12:00, Sun: 14:00 - 17:00 (Sales office situated at the Golf Club entrance, Birkenhead Drive)
atlanticbeachestateofficial
DISCOVER UNSPOILED NATURAL BEAUTY
CONSTRUCTION NOW COMPLETE
90% sold! Hurry, don’t miss out