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Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Great Meals-Great Deals-What a View!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Easter Feast
Picture this. The day was rainy and overcast, hardly what you would expect from an Easter weekend in Plett. The house seemed pale and quiet and, although Easter eggs and wishes were exchanged, the day didn’t seem to have a very festive feel.
Luckily, we had booked our
Easter lunch at the Island Diner in the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort. The
restaurant has become known for their sumptuous seafood and grill house
platters and we thought it would be a fun, family way to celebrate Easter.
Walking into the lobby of
the hotel out of the dreary day, we were greeted with warmth and laughter,
children skipping amongst the tables of diners enjoying a brunch in the cosy
lobby. It might be cold outside, but it was warm in here!
We were welcomed and shown
to our table in the
We had booked the Easter Platter for Two and my mouth
waters just remembering it: The seafood
was superb: creamy garlic mussels and
crispy fried calamari. Tender and
flavoursome prawns ready to be dipped
and enjoyed. Flaky fresh line fish –
grilled to perfection and, my absolute favourite, juicy Frango rump Espetada all complimented by a crisp green salad and
fresh bread. In honour of the usual Easter chocolate overload, the dessert
served was banofee meringues –
absolutely delicious
The highlight of the day
was he Easter egg hunt, arranged by the restaurant and held on the main lawn of
the hotel. Children were running around helter skelter around the grounds,
scrounging for their sweet treasures. Watching this enthusiastic hunt got me
thinking about the origins of Easter eggs and Easter bunnies. So I did some
research and, while the truth seems to be quite sketchy, I did find this lovely
fable that I thought I would share:
“One winter day the goddess, Eostre
was passing through a forest and found a bird dying in snow from hunger and
cold. The goddess turned the bird into a hare (rabbit) because they have a warm
fur and can find food more easily than any bird. And so our bunny survived the
winter and when the spring came the animal started laying eggs because it was
once a bird. The rabbit then decorated every egg leaving it to Eostre as a sign
of gratitude.”
All in all, it was a wonderful, busy day filled with the Island
Diner staples of laughter, good value, wonderful food and magnificent views!
To book a family dinner or special function. Contact the Island Diner on (+2744) 533 3545 or functions@islanddiner.co.za
www.islanddiner.co.za
To book a family dinner or special function. Contact the Island Diner on (+2744) 533 3545 or functions@islanddiner.co.za
www.islanddiner.co.za
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A South African Christmas
Christmas traditions and meals have long been a part of so many of the world’s cultures and can vary greatly from continent to country. Meals vary depending on local produce and local custom. However, Christmas celebrations and good food have always gone hand in hand and for many people the thought of preparing a Christmas meal is filled with stress, kitchen disasters and hour after exhausting hour in front of the stove. Not so for those who booked their Christmas lunch at the Beacon Isle’s Island Diner this year.
Both restaurants: warm The restaurant started to fill up with families for the first sitting. They settled in with laughter and chatter amidst the sound of Christmas crackers and bottles being opened. Families snapped photos of each other and the beautiful view of the bay, while Christmas Carols floated through the restaurant along with the appetizing smell of Christmas lunch cooking.
An interesting fact to note is that in 1899, Queen
The restaurant offered what must be the quintessential South African coastal Christmas meal and the menu consisted of fresh bread basket for the table and crunchy Greek and Roast Butternut salads. A fantasy Christmas Platter to suit every taste bud was the central dish of the banquet. Faces lit up with anticipation as waiters, sporting Christmas hats, started to serve the platters. Laid out for all to share and enjoy were Christmas staples of roast turkey and glazed gammon, tender and juicy. Tender rump cubes and roasted lamb spelled out a truly South African celebration and the addition of fresh filleted line fish and crumbed calamari steaks were stars of a truly Beacon Island feast. The platters allowed families to share their food and time with each other on the special day of Christmas.
By the time dessert was served, steamy Christmas pudding on Amarula milkshake the good times were well under way. Those that would normally be rushing off to the kitchen to wash dishes and stow leftovers could lean back in the seats, watch the tables being cleared and relax. This is how Christmas should be… sharing a meal with loved ones, simply served, delicious and oh-so-easy!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Season's Greetings to all new and returning guests
As I walked through Café Estoril at 10:30 am, the smell of breakfast wafted through the air. Nearly all the tables were full and the light chatter and clinking of cutlery and crockery was carried out through the wide open doors into the hum of the ocean. The Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort was already bustling; out at the pool available seats were diminishing quickly. It was a magnificent day to start the festive season.
On Saturday, December 11th a host of new and returning guests arrived at the resort, having a chance to settle in and unpack as a light drizzle came down. Today, guests began their vacation by relaxing and soaking up the dazzling sunshine. A few families were also scattered across the shore of their very own private beach area.
On this small section of beach, abandoned castles could be found between beach towels and umbrellas. A guest, Drnst Kromhout was buried in sand surrounded by his three small children. Drnst and his family are staying at the resort for a week after arriving on Saturday. They have been coming to Plettenberg Bay since 2007. “We love it here at the Beacon Isle,” he said while his little girl sat giggling, throwing sand on her father.
To the left of the beach area, a fun game of volleyball was underway. A crowd gathered on the skirts of the volleyball court watching the game with a view of central beach overhead. Talia Lewis and Paulo De Abreu, two youngsters made up part of the on-looking crowd.
Talia has been coming to the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort since she was 3 months old. That was fourteen years ago and she says she likes it here because she doesn’t get bored, “and I get bored easily!” she adds with a teenage flair. “Here, there’s actually sun and you’re right on the beach. There’s also a lot to do.” Paulo agrees with Talia. “We body board a lot too” he says. The two have been friends since meeting at the resort three years ago.
The entertainment team has gone to great lengths to ensure that there is never a dull moment during a stay at the resort. To add to the great facilities, there is a jumping castle and daily activities for all to take part in. T-shirt painting, golf chipping, musical mats, egg throwing and water-balloon competitions were the side order of the day.
Watching proudly as his little girl makes hand prints on a T-shirt, returning guest, Paul Garfield says there has been a definite improvement at the resort since the Island Diner was established three years ago. “The first time we came which was about seven years ago, it was chaos. It’s much better now” he said. Paul is here from London with the other five members of his immediate family. He is also joined by his parents and his brother-in-law for a fantastic vacation.
As I made my way back towards the restaurant, the staff at Café Estoril were singing happy birthday to a little girl in a pretty blue dress. They sang in three different languages and as they finished singing she ran out of the lounge-room laughing excitedly, carrying a bunch of brightly coloured balloons. This season’s greeting turned out to be a spectacular occasion and with it brings much to look forward to!
To see the rest of the photos visit the Facebook Island Diner page. Simply type Island Diner into the search bar.
On Saturday, December 11th a host of new and returning guests arrived at the resort, having a chance to settle in and unpack as a light drizzle came down. Today, guests began their vacation by relaxing and soaking up the dazzling sunshine. A few families were also scattered across the shore of their very own private beach area.
On this small section of beach, abandoned castles could be found between beach towels and umbrellas. A guest, Drnst Kromhout was buried in sand surrounded by his three small children. Drnst and his family are staying at the resort for a week after arriving on Saturday. They have been coming to Plettenberg Bay since 2007. “We love it here at the Beacon Isle,” he said while his little girl sat giggling, throwing sand on her father. To the left of the beach area, a fun game of volleyball was underway. A crowd gathered on the skirts of the volleyball court watching the game with a view of central beach overhead. Talia Lewis and Paulo De Abreu, two youngsters made up part of the on-looking crowd.
Talia has been coming to the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort since she was 3 months old. That was fourteen years ago and she says she likes it here because she doesn’t get bored, “and I get bored easily!” she adds with a teenage flair. “Here, there’s actually sun and you’re right on the beach. There’s also a lot to do.” Paulo agrees with Talia. “We body board a lot too” he says. The two have been friends since meeting at the resort three years ago. The entertainment team has gone to great lengths to ensure that there is never a dull moment during a stay at the resort. To add to the great facilities, there is a jumping castle and daily activities for all to take part in. T-shirt painting, golf chipping, musical mats, egg throwing and water-balloon competitions were the side order of the day.
Watching proudly as his little girl makes hand prints on a T-shirt, returning guest, Paul Garfield says there has been a definite improvement at the resort since the Island Diner was established three years ago. “The first time we came which was about seven years ago, it was chaos. It’s much better now” he said. Paul is here from London with the other five members of his immediate family. He is also joined by his parents and his brother-in-law for a fantastic vacation.
As I made my way back towards the restaurant, the staff at Café Estoril were singing happy birthday to a little girl in a pretty blue dress. They sang in three different languages and as they finished singing she ran out of the lounge-room laughing excitedly, carrying a bunch of brightly coloured balloons. This season’s greeting turned out to be a spectacular occasion and with it brings much to look forward to!
To see the rest of the photos visit the Facebook Island Diner page. Simply type Island Diner into the search bar.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunny Sunday afternoon
As I walked off the beach, leaving the rowdy beach vibe behind I sat down at a table at Café Estoril and looked out to the glistening ocean, feeling relaxed and at ease as the waves crashed on the shore. The restaurant is perfectly positioned for watching dolphins and provides a perfect complimentary backdrop for a fabulous meal. Café Estoril offers a diverse menu at affordable rates making it the place to frequent this holiday season.
Behind me a table of four are enjoying a fresh plate of oysters with a bottle of wine, laughing and chatting happily in the afternoon glow. In front of me, two mothers, still wet from a dip in the pool are drinking Cokes after playing with the kids. “It was the first time we’ve swam with the baby in the tube,” says the one mother to Dave, the manager. “It was so cute” she adds. Not only are the staff members friendly; they are efficient and the service is good making Café Estoril a perfect place to bring the family.
It’s also ideal for couples as the temperature and mood are set for romance. The lush grass provides the perfect spot to cuddle up to someone you love and enjoy the scenery together. A young couple is doing exactly that on this particular afternoon, lying comfortably with a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket, talking softly and laughing lightly while they watch a father and son play bat and ball. The Island Diner clearly makes Sunday afternoons all the more enjoyable.
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