Great Brak River Chef Wins CXPRESS Culinary Award

Caption

Stefan Jamneck (left) of the Transkaroo Restaurant in Great Brak River is the CXPRESS Garden Route Gastro Nomix Chef of the Year for 2011. A special award was made to Mike Clarke from Clarke of the Karoo in Barrydale.. The Ordre Mondial Wine Server of the Year (this new category was announced at the 2010 awards): went to Joseph Pietersen of Serendipity and the Eden School of Culinary Art Young Chef of the Year went to Matteo Battaini of La Locanda. The function was held  on Monday at the brand new stylish Salina’s Beach Restaurant in Wilderness.(Photo: Denise Lloyd)

Stefan Jamneck from Great Brak River is the Gastro Nomix Chef of the Year for 2011.

Stefan Jamneck of the Transkaroo Restaurant in Great Brak River is the Gastro Nomix Chef of the Year for 2011. He was given this prestigious award at the annual CXPRESS Garden Route Culinary Awards evening which took place on Monday at the brand new stylish Salina’s Beach Restaurant in Wilderness.

The runner up was Alma Oosthuizen  of Chef Alma @ Groenvlei. The Gannet Restaurant in Mossel Bay is also one of the Top 20 restaurants in the vicinity.The cream of Garden Route restaurateurs, chefs and servers were there to share in the fun while the Top 20 restaurants in the area were announced. This year the function was graciously sponsored by Nell-Marie le Roux from NLR Wines.

Chef Francois Ferreira headed the Panel of Judges

Celebrity Chef Francois Ferreira,  Bailli Délegué of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs South Africa and foodie par excellence Anne Hadley spear headed the panel of judges. Anne’s late husband and long-time CXPRESS food critic, Ian Hadley, was the initial driving force behind the Gastro Nomix Top 10 Garden Route restaurant awards more than a decade ago. Recently the official nod was received from the South African Chefs Association, who declared the awards a nationally recognised event.

The other floating trophies went to the following persons

• Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Server of the Year: Shane Schoeman  of Pomodoro
• Ordre Mondial Wine Server of the Year (this new category was announced at the 2010 awards): Joseph Pietersen – Serendipity
• Eden School of Culinary Art Young Chef of the Year: Matteo Battaini – La Locanda

 Special Achievement Award went to Mike Clarke from Barrydale

This year the panel   made an exception to the geographical criteria, i.e. just off the Garden Route track, in selecting Mike Clarke from Clarke of the Karoo in Barrydale.  Mike was at the Beacon Isle Hotel for many years and then popularised Crabs Creek in Knysna. Over the years, Mike has worked hard to keep a consistent high standard of cuisine and service, and Clarke of the Karoo has become a destination restaurant on the R62.

 The Top 20 Culinary Destinations on the Garden Route in 2011 are

• The Rose on York (George)
• Transkaroo (Great Brak River )
• Lemongrass (Plettenberg Bay)
• Chef Alma @ Groenvlei –(Sedgefield)
• Cruise Café ( Knysna)
•  Kafe Serefe (George )
•  House of Flavour (George)
• Caloroso Café –(George)
•  The Gannet ( Mossel Bay),
•  Joplin’s ( Wilderness )
•  La Capannina (George)
• Pomodoro (Wilderness),
• Thyme & Again ( Plettenberg Bay )
•  Bramon (Plettenburg Bay),
• Kurland Hotel (Plettenburg Bay)
•  La Rosa Blu (Hops Valley)
•  Roadside Deli (Hops Valley),
• Waterside Grill @ Hyatt Hotel,-(Oubaai)
•  Cornuti al Mare –(Plettenburg Bay) a
•  Zucchini at Timberlake (Wilderness)

Lalakoi Publishing Salutes the  CXPRESS Culinary Legends

During the past decade of CXPRESS Culinary Awards, some of the restaurants have consistently performed so well that they have always claimed a place on the Top 10 and Top 20 lists. This year the judging panel suggested a new category called CXPRESS Culinary Legends, which are restaurants that have made the grade for three years and longer and especially those on the ‘Best’ list for three or more years.

The Garden Route Culinary Legends for 2011 are:

• Serendipity –(Contemporary South African Dining
• La Locanda (Casual Italian Dining)
•  Pembreys –(Elegant Dining)
• Sand at The Plettenberg ( Fine Dining)
•  The Girls ( Casual Dining)
•  Ile de Pain –(Bistro Style Eatery)
•  The Bell Tavern at Belvedere (Pub Style Eatery)
•  Travel Bugs  (Coffee/Tea Emporium)

Special Merit Award went to Kelvin Appelgren of Caloroso Café

This award will not necessarily be granted annually, but only when there is cause to. This year the award went to Kelvin Appelgren of Caloroso Café who, through dedication to his art, has inspired everyone on the Garden Route coffee scene to up their game.

Kapperkruid Gesondheidswinkel

Kapperkruid Gesondheidswinkel / Health shop in Ladismith in the Little Karoo
The little health shop in the Little Karoo. Situated on the R62 between Barrydale and Calitzdorp.
Ilze McCarthy is the owner of Kapperkruid, her aim is to offer products free of chemical preservatives, artificial colourants, sugar and dairy at affordable prices.

Herbal Remedies available from Kapperkruid Health Shop in Ladismith

Kapperkruid Health Shop stocks a wide range of Herbal Remedies (tinctures, capsules, dried herbs) as well as other natural health care products.  Amongst the products available you will find the following product ranges on the shelves: Flora Force, Solgar, Nature Fresh, Foodstate, Nature’s Choice and Mannaflor (glyconutrients), Wheat Grass, Barley Grass.

Organic and Health foods available at Kapperkruid Health Shop in the Western Cape

Also available at Kapperkruid Health Shop in Ladismith in the Western Cape is a range of diabetic friendly and where possible organic health foods and snacks. These healthy options and alternatives include rice & corn flour for baking, stone ground flour, nuts, seeds, legumes, dried fruit, soy / rice / oat / potato milk, Crede oils, honey, soy mince & chunks and more.  Kapperkruid offers a variety of books including Vegan & Vegetarian Recipe Books, Veld Medicine, Natural Remedies Encyclopedia as well as health & Christian DVD’s .

Visit Kapperkruid Health Shop in Ladismith

Visit Kapperkruid Health Shop where Ilze will gladly assist you! Free blood pressure tests done as well. The shop is open from Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 4pm. If you are not in the area to visit the shop then orders can be posted to you!

Stompdrift Dam Water Resort

stompdriftdam water resort

Resort at De Rust

The Stompdrift Dam Water Resort provides the only public access to the Stompdrift Dam with its “coastline” of more than 25 km that cuts into the foothills of the Great Swartberg Mountain Range near Oudtshoorn. 6km from the hamlet of De Rust and adjacent to Meiringspoort

De Rust Accommodation at Stormdrift Dam Water Resort

The Stompdrift Dam Water Resort offers guests to the resort a number of self catering accommodation options to choose from. Choose between The Bush Camp, Safari Camp, the Loeloeraai House Boat, Self Catering Safari Chalets or a camping site.

De Rust Restaurant

The Aqua Bush Restaurant & Sports Bar at Stormdrift Dam Water Resort is the ideal venue for wedding receptions, year-end functions, family get-togethers, and those special events that requires a really memorable venue. The restaurant seats up to 150 (without the dance floor) and is equipped with a unique wooden bar area. The Aqua Bush Camp Restaurant is also available to guests for breakfast or dinner.
Activities at Stompdrift Dam.

The Stompdrift Dam offers a range of fun and exciting outdoor activities, such as fishing, swimming, hiking trails, bird watching and a boat cruise on the dam.

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Warmwaterberg Spa

warmwaterberg spa

Warmwaterberg Spa Barrydale

Warmwaterberg Spa is a hot mineral spring situated between Barrydale and Ladismith on the Route 62 from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn. Here at the Warmwaterberg Spa we offer you country hospitality at a slow pace, tranquility, wide open spaces and steaming hot water to restore body, mind and soul.

Self Catering Accommodation Barrydale

Self Catering accommodation at Warmwaterberg Spa near Barrydale is available in the Main House consisting of 5 units, each with its own kitchenette and Roman Bath. Each unit has a private Roman bath. All the guests share the toilets. Units can accommodate from 2 to 4 persons. In total 20 guests can be accommodated here. There are other options available such as Timber Chalets, a Plettenberg home and in the Bath House. All self catering accommodation units are equipped with: crockery, cutlery, kettles, fridges, toasters.
Guests must please bring own linen and towels!

Camping at Barrydale

The caravan park near Barrydale is on level grassed sites with power points and braai facilities. Permanently set up caravans can also be rented. The ablution block has two sunken Roman baths, showers, wash basins and toilets. There is also dish washing and laundry washing basins.

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tradouw quads barrydale

Quad Bikes at Barrydale

Come and join us on an Eco Friendly Quad Bike Tour in the Barrydale district on Route 62. Our tours are for sightseers and nature lovers. Come and experience nature in a unique, healthy and thrilling way. Trips are for beginners and the experienced. An orientation session will take place before we start any tour. Nine, 160CC Suzuki Semi Automatic Quad bikes are available but you are also welcome to bring you own bike.

Quad Bike Tours at Barrydale

Set tours that Tradouw Quads offer include the following: Mountain Drives, Karoo Veld Drives, Tradouw Valley Tours, Farm Tours, Historical Tours, Sunset Tours, Fun Drives – but we can also design a tour to suite your specific interests. During harvest time a trip through the orchards can also be arranged where you will be allowed to pick your own fruit fresh from the trees.

Things to do on Route 62

We also offer an extremely adventurous new mountain trail. This is only for the experienced and is truly a trip that you will remember!!! Tours can be booked from Mondays to Saturdays. If you are looking for things to do on Route 62 just give us a call.  Reservations are advisable to avoid disappointment. No trips on Christmas day or Sundays!