What's on in Durbanville: 2019

Friday, June 14, 2019

JUNE SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
Schools are out! Some of us are not as relieved as others I know. But there are a number of places running creative holiday programmes, play time and fun until 7 July (It’s back to school on the 9th).

Simply click on the highlighted links below and scroll down to see what they’re all about. The Events have been shared earlier this morning (visit my page to see) and will be shared again each week of the holidays for your convenience, along with this calendar.

OPEN DAILY
Capegate Shopping Centre – Winter Ice Slide event till 7 July
Durbanville GAMES – 3 weeks of old school gaming (no computers)
Ipic Play – Indoor adventure playpark in Aurora
Wonderdal – Brand new Fantasy Edutainment Centre at Hazendal Wine Estate, Kuilsriver
Zipzoom Adventures at Altydgedacht
Y-Biking at Bon Amis and Altydgedacht
Putt putt at Momentum Golf Village, Tygervalley
Fishing at Hillcrest Quarry (excludes days where there is LIVE music)
Cool Runnings
Movies at Tygervalley
Stodels Bellville– Petting zoo and outdoor play park

PROGRAMMES AND WORKSHOPS
Anna Beulah Farm – Full 3/4 week holiday programme.
Candle Avenue – Candle Making workshop - 28 June
CK-Ramics Pottery Studio – Ceramic art and pottery painting in Bellville
Durbanville Girls Holiday Club (aftercare for girls) (last 2 weeks of the holidays)
Electrowiz kids – electronic science workshops at Willowbridge Shopping Centre - 15 – 24 June
Holiday Bible club at Durbanville Baptist church. It is free of charge. Kids from GrR-Gr7. 17 – 21 June

FREE PLAY
For outdoor venues, these include the wine farms - Durbanville Hills Wine, Klein Roosboom Boutique Winery, Nitida, Hillcrest Estate, D'Aria Winery, Bon Amis Cafe & Deli at Bloemendal, Altydgedacht Estate, Signal Gun, Diemersdal Wine Estate (lawns) Carlucci's Meerendal, Crown at Meerendal Wine Estate and Peppa Jack's Tex-Mex Grill & Bar, as well as De Oude Social Cafe.

A bottle of wine can cost as little as R55 at some of these farms, which include D’Aria and Diemersdal. That’s just a bargain! Many of them sell pita breads and bowls of chips for the little ones. You just have to ask.

For indoors over rainy days, there is BOSSA Durbanville, Ocean BasketGlen Garry, and Blasters Family Restaurant, Cape Gate.

If you’re really down and out, (I have been there!) there’s parks, picnics and walks at Sonstraal Dam, Kenridge Dam and the Majik Forest.

CHILD-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT SPECIALS
Look out for my restaurant specials on Mondays for further details, but in advance, here's a teaser for specials at some of the above venues.

DAILY:
Half price Pizza at Carluccis Meerendal (Mon - Thurs - lunch)

MONDAYS:
R59 burger special at Bossa Nova (open)
Half price burgers at De Oude Social Cafe (open)

WEDNESDAYS:
Pensioner's lunch specials for R95 (3 courses) at Bon Amis (Bloemendal) (excludes public holidays)
Kids eat Free on Wednesdays at Bossa and Dos Chido
Kids eat Free on weekends at Crown restaurant at Meerendal Wine Estate
Buy 1 Burger, get the 2nd one half price + a free beer/burger at Crown Restaurant, Meerendal
Pay R220 for two pizzas and get two FREE drinks at De Oude Social Cafe (Welgemoed)

THURSDAYS:
Pizza special at Bon Amis (Buy 1, get the cheapest one free)
Pizza Special at Kemonate, Signal Gun (Buy 2 pizzas and a bottle of wine – R250) - Evenings only

FRIDAYS:
Half Price Sushi at Bon Amis from 3 - 9pm

For a detailed list at your fingertips, of all the child-friendly wining and dining in Durbanville, with other thing to do, visit my website at https://www.whatsonindurbanville.co.za/

For those on the road, travel safe. For those still working, hope you don’t go too insane!
Happy holidays!
Janine xxx

For restaurants, reviews, places to go and things to do in Durbanville, please visit my Facebook page at https://web.facebook.com/whatsonindurbanville/ or my website at https://www.whatsonindurbanville.co.za/

I post a weekly and monthly calendar of events and Durbanville entertainment guide, for your convenience.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Durbanville Weekly Restaurant Specials

Durbanville has so many restaurant specials available, we're spoiled for choice.
Here's a weekly guide:

AVAILABLE EVERY WEEKDAY
R78 Lunch special at Lupa Osteria (Mon - Fri, 12 - 3pm)
Mon - Thurs (lunch) Half price Pizza at Carluccis Meerendal

Mon to Fri- R39 classic breakfast with coffee at Carlucci's MeerendalWinter Lunch special daily at Saltwater Grill from R110ppWinter specials Wed - Fri at Tables at NitidaLunch time specials at Hussar Grill, at R130 for 2 coursesHalf-price sushi at Simply Asia Durbanville from 12 – 6pm (Mon – Sun)Happy hour (R40 cocktails) every day at Bossa from 4 - 7pmHappy Hour from Tues - Friday 4 - 5pm at Peppa JacksHappy hour at Tipples Durbanville at 5pm, Mon - Fri

MONDAY

Pensioner's breakfast special for R50 at Crown Restaurant, Meerendal
Half price burger special at Tiger's Milk (open)
R59 burger special at Bossa Nova (open)
Half price burgers at De Oude Social Cafe (open)
Half-price Pizzas at Tipples Durbanville (open)

TUESDAY
Combo deal at Durbanville Fisheries 6am - 8pm
Taco Tuesday's at Tiger's Milk (2 for the price of one)
Tuesday steak specials at Bossa Nova and Cattle Baron
Ribs special at Tipples Durbanville

WEDNESDAY
400g Ribs & Chips special at the Fat Cape Spanish
300g Sirloin or Rump specials at Tipples Durbanville
Pensioner's lunch specials for R95 (3 courses) at Bon Amis (Bloemendal) (excludes public holidays)
Buy 1 Burger, get the 2nd one half price + a free beer/burger at Crown Restaurant, Meerendal
Pay R220 for two pizzas and get two FREE drinks at De Oude Social Cafe (Welgemoed)
KIDS EAT FREE at Dos Chido (T&Cs apply)
KIDS EAT FREE Wednesdays at Bossa Nova (T&Cs apply)
Steak night at Urban Wines

THURSDAY
Pizza special at Bon Amis (Buy 1, get the cheapest one free)
Half-price burger specials at Tipples Durbanville
Tapas special at Dos Chido (Choose any 3 and get the cheapest one free)
R98 Steak night special at Kolping Guest House
Pizza Special at Kemonate, Signal Gun (Buy 2 pizzas and a bottle of wine – R250)

FRIDAY
Half Price Sushi at Bon Amis from 3 - 9pm
Buy 1 pizza get 1 free at Bounvino Protea Hotel Durbanville from 6pm (they have a pool too)
Buy 1 cocktail, get 1 free with a cheese platter after 4pm at Crown Restaurant (Meerendal)
R90 all can eat Soup & Bread buffet at The Rusty Oak Bistro, from 6pm

For reviews and details on more of Durbanville’s many child-friendly restaurants, wine farms and things to do in Durbanville, VISIT MY WEBSITE at www.whatsonindurbanville.co.za or scroll further down on the “What’s on in Durbanville” Facebook Page, and feast your eyes!!

Visit https://www.facebook.com/whatsonindurbanville/

I post a weekly and monthly calendar of events and Durbanville entertainment guide, for your convenience.
Janine xxx

jainine@whatsonwc.co.za

I'm a real sucker for Lupa Osteria

My friends and I eat out so often, that our palates have become spoiled. We're picky. But I can guarantee you, although the burger is one of my favourites in Durbanville, the hake and the pasta at Lupa OSteria (The Village Square) always melts in your mouth.

On Saturday night, my friends had the burger and the hake, whilst I had the Truffled Carbonara with Fettuccine. The hake is always tender, buttery and flaky, and the pasta....well, it's cheesy, al dente, delicious and very comforting in winter. It's morish, but the portion was so big, I battled to finish my meal. I took a take-away.

Our bill, between the 4 of us, came to R505, so we tipped David rather generously. There is no corkage, so we took our own wine.

They serve the Hake and the Burger on their week day lunch specials menu, for R78 (Mondays to Fridays, 12 - 3pm).

Why do I LOVE the burger? It is topped with just the right amount of caremalized onion and REAL Fontina cheese. The texture of the patty is slightly dense and firm, very tasty and spiced with just the right amount of flavouring. And you can choose your side (salad or chips). The hake is served on a bed of wilted butter spinach, topped with capers, and comes with a choice of veg, salad or chips. What a feast!

I have eaten the burger twice already. and the hake... too many times to count.

For other restaurants, reviews, places to go and things to do in Durbanville, please visit my Facebook page at https://web.facebook.com/whatsonindurbanville/ or my website at https://www.whatsonindurbanville.co.za/

I post a weekly and monthly calendar of events and Durbanville entertainment guide, for your convenience.
Janine xxx

jainine@whatsonwc.co.za

A private tasting at Maaastricht Wines

We had the absolute pleasure of being treated by Maastricht Wines for a private tasting yesterday and oh, what a treat! We were welcomed by Thys and Melanie Louw, who alongside Thys’ parents, own this beautiful boutique winery. Their wines are simply outstanding, but as I am more of a red wine drinker, their Pinotage and Merlot was the best. In fact, it’s one of the better Pinotages I have tasted in a long time.

They usually host their tastings on the balcony, overlooking these gorgeous vineyards, but as it was raining, we sat inside, enjoying the warmth of their beautiful home, as well as their hospitality.

Their tasting room, which was an old barn and subsequent heritage site, overlooks their breathtaking estate and will be opening sometime in July or early August. They will serve their exquisite wines here, along with some cheese and charcuterie platters. The inside area is still incomplete, so I could not take any photos. We’re leaving the unveiling for their opening, so watch this space.

I post a weekly and monthly calendar of events and Durbanville entertainment guide, for your convenience.

Janine xxx

jainine@whatsonwc.co.za

Thursday, June 6, 2019

The Dros Okovango - Great burger joint!

My sister and I were driving around yesterday looking for a cozy place to have a late lunch. It was raining hard so a warm interior with soft lighting was high on our agenda.

So, on our way to the shopping mall, we stopped of at the Dros - Okovango Crossing. It's been quite a few years since I've had a meal there, but upon entering, we were delighted, because that is exactly what we were presented with. Warmth, soft lighting, dark wood and a ceiling filled with over 43000 empty wine bottles, reflecting the light.

We immediately took a seat in a booth and ordered two massive burgers as we were very hungry.

I had the chicken and cheese, with fries and onion rings, and my sister had the Stellenbosch burger - with chicken and steak plus the trimmings. I can't actually believe I finished mine because the portions were huge. I was stuffed to say the least. In my honest opinion, the burger was good. The chicken fillet was slightly bland, but the sauces made up for it. This is not gourmet at all, it's just a big hearty burger from a very nice steak house.

I enjoyed the ambiance and interior though. I could probably have spent more time there, enjoying more wine if we weren't in a hurry. The service was excellent, and the price of our meal was super affordable. Mine was under R90 and my glass of wine was R40. The Stellenbosch burger was R95, which is an excellent price considering the abundance of our meal.

We will be back!

Monday, June 3, 2019

The Fat Cape Spanish - The best barbecue venue in town

I have ordered take-away ribs from the Fat Cape Spanish before (they were delicious by the way), but last week I was invited by Renick (the owner) to sample his menu. My sister and I ventured out, took a seat outside in their enclosed deck area, and were presented with what you see below. This “bietjie van alles” platter, as Renick calls it, is just a mini version of the Cape Spanish Platter for 2 (which we could not finish). There was so much food, and honestly, everything was delicious.

The Platter, which sells for R350, comes with 300g Pulled Brisket, 300g Pulled Pork, 6 x Berties Chicken Wings, 400g Ribs, Coleslaw, Chorizo, Spicy Beans and 2 x Braaibroodtjies. This would be enough for 3 people in all honesty, but Renick assured me, that the ‘manne’ who eat there, finish it all.

We had his Mac & Cheese to sample, which was really creamy and cheesy. I enjoyed everything, as there was so much flavor, and the ribs were really tender, but his Chorizo (in my opinion) was the best. It was smoky and paired really well with his blue cheese dressing. We had an assortment of his home-made chilli sauces on the side, but I’m a greenie when it comes to very hot foods, preferring mine on the mild and only slightly spicy side.

They are still awaiting their liquor license, so we took along our own (there is no corkage). He will be stocking wine and beer with cold drinks only. No hard tack.

My take on the Fat Cape Spanish (being a no-frills barbecue venue), is that it’s a Dude Food man cave, serving comfort food for those who love a good barbie and who love to eat and who love chilli. Renick is very chatty, warmly welcoming his patrons in to experience his love for food. And that is seriously what you taste.

Find them opp. Durbanville Gas on Wellington Road. They’re open for lunch and dinner, but you need to book for larger groups. The tables inside are tight, seating up to about 20 people comfortably, and 16 – 20 people outside.

For further info, call or what’s app Renick on 078 458 0577. And PS, try his ribs. He runs a special on Wednesdays and Saturdays, giving you the best deal on ribs in town. Take my word for it!

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Burger Night at The Copper Club

We were invited to join some friends for dinner last night at The Copper Club, Tyger Waterfront, for their Tuesday half-price burger special. It was our first visit, and I have to say, I was really impressed with the vibe, the service and the size of the meals.

They have a wide variety of Burgers to choose from, but I wanted something different, so opted for the Biltong Burger, and substituted my fries with sweet potato fries. My bill eventually only cost me R55, excluding the corkage on our wine at R40 per bottle. Not too shabby. The meals are really abundant, served on a wooden board, and although the burger patty was bland, the texture was good, and the burger toppings were great, which included some jalapenos, biltong, and cheddar cheese, with the usual garnishing. I couldn't finish my meal! It was too much!

What impressed me the most however, was the service. Given that it was half price burger night, the restaurant was extremely busy. Our waitress, Briana was fantastic, friendly, on the ball, and warned us that our food MAY take a little longer, but, it arrived timeously nevertheless. She deserves a medal.

It attracts more of a younger crowd. It's a casual diner, with an upper indoor area and lower wooden deck at the water's edge, so I can imagine how busy the place gets in summer.

They have specials every evening, including half price pizza Mondays.

For other restaurants, reviews, places to go and things to do in Durbanville, please visit my Facebook page at https://web.facebook.com/whatsonindurbanville/ or my website at https://www.whatsonindurbanville.co.za/

I post a weekly and monthly calendar of events and Durbanville entertainment guide, for your convenience.

Janine xxx
jainine@whatsonwc.co.za

Friday, May 24, 2019

Wine Tasting at Meerendal Wine Estate

Meerendal Wine Estate has recently made some changes to their tasting room, creating this beautiful space for people to come for a wine tasting. Look at that gorgeous backdrop! We visited yesterday, and for R40, had a choice of 4 wines from their menu.

We were informed that guests can order a cheese platter from Carlucci's Deli next door, which can be enjoyed along with your tasting whilst sitting outside at their cocktail tasting tables.For R240, this platter is massive, and can feed 4 people as a light meal quite comfortably.

The alternative however, is to finish your tasting, before moving to the deck behind Carlucci's, ordering a bottle of wine with a platter or pizza to enjoy their. They're very child-friendly, with a massive play area for the kiddies.

Meerendal Wine Estate is located on Vissershok Road, Durbanville.

For an updated weekly entertainment guide and list of things to do in Durbanville, follow my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/whatsonindurbanville/

Visit my website at https://www.whatsonindurbanville.co.za/ to find a list of places to go in Durbanville and places to find.

Janine
Janine@whatsonwc.co.za

Wine Tasting at Diemersdal Wine Estate

On a beautiful sunny day in Durbanville, the Durbanville wine valley has my name written all over it, and one wine farm in particular always comes to mind. That's Diemersdal Wine Estate.

The fact that I live so close to it makes it even more attractive, but it's the beauty of their estate that draws me to it. My sister and I decided to spontaneously stop by yesterday for a quick wine tasting. It ended up with us purchasing a bottle of wine and a cheese platter and lingering for nearly 2 hours.

Their Pinotage is off the charts. At only R95 a bottle from the tasting room, you can enjoy it right there under the orchards, overlooking the valley and the nearby dam. It's really beautiful.

We ordered the tasting room Dalewood Cheese Platter for R90, along with some Biltong for R30, and had ourselves a very affordable and complete sensory experience.

Who needs to go sit in a bar or a restaurant just to have some wine when you can enjoy the same on a beautiful wine estate at a fraction of the price?

Diemersdal Wine Estate is located on Koeberg Road, as you head out of Durbanville. It's mere 2km from the centre of town, and they have a 5 star restaurant there too for more sophisticated dining.

For more on what to do and where to go in Durbanville, please follow my Facebook page at https://web.facebook.com/whatsonindurbanville/ I have a weekly events diary of events and entertainment guide, with regular reviews at your fingertips.

You can also visit my website at https://www.whatsonindurbanville.co.za/

Happy wining!
Janine

Janine@whatsonwc.co.za

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Wine Tasting Team Building Adventure

The Durbanville Wild Goose Chase is a Wine Tasting/Treasure Hunt Team building adventure with an amazing race twist.

Teams of 4 - 5 people get together at a registration point, and with clues and maps, figure out their entire route, then use their vehicles to find each destination in Durbanville, visit heritage sites, pick up clues and taste wine along the way.

The event can host up to 56 people comfortably, and is suitable for corporate team buildings, end of year functions, bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and just a fun day out with your friends. A mim of 8 people are required to enter.

The cost is R150 per person, which includes the clues and maps, a grab-and-go snack voucher, a sweet treat and lucky draw prizes.

Wine Tastings and meals for your own account.

The event can take place on weekdays for corporates and Saturdays for private gatherings. It can start at 10am or 12pm, and ends at 5pm at the final destination with lucky draws.

For further info and images on this exciting day out, visit my Facebook page at https://web.facebook.com/durbanvillewildgoosechase/ or email Janine Tassi at janine@whatsonwv.co.za

There are many types of team buildings in Durbanville, but this is something different, giving visitors an opportunity to get to know Durbanville a little better, to taste our gorgeous wines, and see what Durbanville has to offer.

For a regular weekly and monthly entertainment guide and calendar of events in Durbanville, visit my Facebook entertainment blog at https://web.facebook.com/whatsonindurbanville/ or my website at https://www.whatsonindurbanville.co.za/

Janine xxx