My twice-a-month column on winenews this morning takes a Freakonomics look at the numbers in last month’s Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. For even stranger digits, the recent UK wine sales report from OEMV (Observatorio Espanol del Mercado del Vino) is an eye-opener. Just when you thought SA exports to the UK were booming with the Cape jostling France for third position – as some hysterical marketing hype would have you believe (or is that wishful thinking) – the numbers from OEMV tell a sobering tale and explain the glum faces sported by SA exporters. (Pendock Uncorked)

Cape Colony Winter special:

I recently posted the reasons why I thought winter restaurant specials are often a waste of time. The kind of restaurant special I do enjoy taking advantage of is when expensive restaurants make it just a little bit affordable for the average Joe in the street, like me. With these specials you get to taste the most amazing food in the greatest restaurants and while it isn’t cheap, it’s certainly cheaper than it would be otherwise. (Relax with Dax)

Wine of the Week.Swartland Chenin Blancs:

This is the first blind tasting I’ve ever done with the labels on, and the identity of the producers known to me. I prefer to taste blind, as I feel you concentrate on the liquid and force your palate to do the hard work uninfluenced by fancy labels, catchy names and price. So how did it all happen? (Spill)

V&A Waterfront Launches Free WI-FI:

Yes, ladies and gents, we’re talking about free Wi-Fi. We recently ran a story on Skyrove’s offering of free Wi-Fi in Green Market Square, Cape Town. Things have developed ever so slightly. A rival company, HipZone (of Vida e Wi-Fi fame) has gone and thrown down the broadband gauntlet by hooking up visitors to the V&A Waterfront with 25MB free Wi-Fi internet access per day. (2Oceansvibe)

Succulent ribeye steak burgers: simply awesome:

A friend of mine is a brilliant cook and knowledgeable foodie, who has an advanced palate and understanding of flavour.  He frequently challenges my work, eats my food and helps me be better at what I do.  He has been talking about how he makes his burgers and I was a little sceptical about some of the ingredients.  Fortunately I was afforded the opportunity to  check this out, play in the kitchen with him, and experiment with the mincing of the meat. (Drizzel and Dip)

Two women employed as cleaners at the Hyde Park Southern Sun Hotel will appear in court tomorrow after they were arrested in connection with theft from luggage in rooms used by the Columbian national football team who were in South Africa to play Bafana Bafana. The women have been identified by the Ministry of Police as Jeneath Mashimbyi (29) and Ayanda Maseko (21). Charges against a third person who was also arrested have been dropped. The thefts are alleged to have occurred on May 25. Members of the team reported that money was missing from luggage in five of their rooms. (Hotel and Restaurant)

Shaken by stirrers:

In a world that’s crying out for a decent cup of coffee how’s this for a really dumb idea – coffee on a stick! The Yanko Design site recently published the work of one Heo Jeong Im. Im has created a coffee stick that partly dissolves in hot water to leave a stirrer. The coffee sticks would come in various options including Cappuccino and Americano. When you place the stick in a cup and stir with hot water, a coffee drink will get created. (Kitsch’n'Zinc)

Cape Town drowning in hotel beds:

Cape Town has a surplus of hotel beds, mainly at the 5-star level, and it is expected that there will be a major shake-out in this sector after the completion of the World Cup, and “only the fittest will survive”, reports Travel News Now. Ten new hotels have opened their doors in Cape Town since last year, and include the newest, the Strand Towers, The Pepper Club, Taj Hotel Cape Town (the international monies have been well-spent on this building) , 15 on Orange (which has had money thrown at it by Protea Hotel’s African Pride Hotels), Crystal Towers Hotel, Coral International Cape Town (the first ‘dry’ hotel in the city), One&Only Cape Town (Sol Kerzner is the owner), Cape Royale Luxury Hotel, Harbour Bridge Hotel and Suites, and the Upper East Side Hotel.  Four further hotels are in the pipeline for the city. (WhaleCottage)

“It’s like working with a piece of art”:

Are you a knife person? If you are you’ll be excited to hear we are officially South Africa’s exclusive supplier of I.O.Shen knives. Yes sirree. We couldn’t be more pleased. We’ve just added them to our knives section, so go and have a look. They are on their way from Europe, and will be available soon. If you hadn’t heard of them don’t feel bad. You can still call yourself a knife person. (YuppieChef)

Our doors are open to welcome the world:

On Saturday morning the Jozi sky was penetrated by a majestic blare that passed my window. The moment filled me with excitement. The unique rumble of the vuvuzela instantly infected me with the Soccer fever. At that exact moment I realized the 2010 Fifa are waiting on our doorstep. When the football topic arises in conversations my interest is easily captured. Whether discussed in pubs, offices or in the media it is obvious that there are mixed feelings involved. (travelwires)

World’s oldest champagne opened:

The world’s oldest champagne, bottled before Victoria became Queen, is still drinkable, with notes of “truffles and caramel”, according to the experts. An “addictive” bottle of 1825 Perrier-Jouet was opened at a ceremony attended by 12 of the world’s top wine tasters. Their verdict: the 184-year-old champagne tasted better than some of its younger counterparts. (BBC)

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