Plenty of fish in the sea

It’s a new year bringing new possibilities and encouraging fresh beginnings. It seems that at the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort, it’s time to cling to the old clichéd catch phrase- ‘there are plenty of fish in the sea’.

As the waves crash against the boulders, a number of young boys and their dads are scattered across the smooth rocks in tight huddles. Looking intently at each other, this bonding experience appears to be more then just a holiday activity. It is a memory in the making; a learning experience that will be carried into the future.

Another group made up only of children are squatting around pool of water between the rocks looking for easy prey. “There are lotsth of fith in thiths one,” says a little boy with a lisp to the rest of the crowd. Using a white fishing net, the younger boys keep themselves amused as the older men fiddle with their fishing rods, dangling bait from rather sinister looking hooks.

“Mom, I need R20” says a young boy to his mother who is soaking up the sun. “For what?” she replies with a slightly drowsy tone or as mothers do to the incessant demands of their young ones. “For fiishh” he says rolling his eyes as though it is obvious, “Bait!” he cries. Knowing that he’ll be kept busy for the rest of the day, she hands over the money with ease and the two seem satisfied with the transaction. Peace and quiet for hours of unlimited exhilaration gave the impression that a fair trade had taken place.

Another mother goes to check that everything is alright, then tiptoes over the rocks back to her chair overlooking the small beach in front of the hotel. “Did they pose for you?” she asks, “They’re not very good at posing” she says. The Steele family from Johannesburg have been coming to the resort for five years with their children. “I’ve been coming since I was a kid though” she adds, “it’s lovely here.”

Most of the fish caught wouldn’t end up on anyone’s plate, but that’s not to say that a lot of fish don’t get eaten at the restaurants. “Most people order fish,” says one of the waitrons serving guests, “It’s fresh and it’s nice for people who don’t usually eat fish at home” he adds. The menus offer a range of delectable fish dishes- simple yet tasty and suitable for a ravenous appetite.

A definite must try for fish lovers, particularly raw fish lovers is the sushi. Mandla, the sushi chef, has been flown out from Johannesburg to cater for the season demand of the much-loved Japanese style cuisine. “Lots of people enjoy my sushi” he says with pride. Ordered from a local business, Robberg Seafood Safaris, the fish is delivered daily ensuring quality and freshness. The vegetables are also sourced from local green grocer: Uitsig Fruit and Vegetables providing the added benefits of local trade tariffs, value and wholesomeness.

After enjoying some sushi ourselves, we found another satisfied young customer eating a plate of sushi outside Café Estoril. “The sushi is amazing” he said. His friend also joined the conversation saying, “we came here for the sushi, we have a house near Robberg 5 but my friend is from England so we decided to come here because we heard the sushi’s really good.”

But if fish isn’t what you’re looking for (other than through a pair of diving goggles in appreciation of their beauty and grace) the vegetarian sushi options could be for you. The avocado maki makes for the perfect healthy starter/ late afternoon or between meals snack. That leaves you without the hassle of organising a quick bite to eat and allows for more time to check out the other of fish in the sea!

Eating out the Kosher way

Tonight, the tables look different at Café Estoril. Places are set with plastic plates and utensils, reserved for special guests. It’s 19h00, the sky is still light and the tables are slowly becoming occupied. Guests greet each other across tables with smiles, winks and ‘hi, how are you’s. Hot on the menu this evening: kosher cuisine made easy in true South African style. Guests are able to select their choice of kosher meat, braaied to the crisp and accompanied with a fresh salad and/or baked potato.

Plettenberg Bay is an incredibly popular holiday destination, with a particularly high percentage of Jewish vacationers visiting the quaint sea-side town from December to January. Going to restaurants however, can often be a task for many Jews abiding by Jewish Halakhic dietary laws to which Kosher food pertains. The Island Diner has gone to great lengths to accommodate those who abide by Kosher rules by providing guests with a Kosher braai, which they can enjoy as a family.

The restaurant is vibrant and an energetic hum of conversation creates an electric atmosphere. The low lighting from the ceiling and the candles on the table provide a comfortable setting for an evening meal as a family. Across the floor, a father is trying to take food orders from his children who seem to look in every direction other than their father’s earnest gaze. Although kosher cuisine has been made easy, what may not be easy is getting your children to make up their minds. “So just normal steak then,” he calls out, “Ok, next, do you want a baked potato?...”

There is something informal about dining at Café Estoril that makes the restaurant feel something like eating at home or at a family member or friend’s house. The scenery is familiar, children running around, young adults gathering for a brief chat in the centre of the room and adults discussing the weather.

Slips with options of salad, baked potato, boerewors, chicken kebabs, lamb chops and rib eye circle around the tables as guests select a preference. The food is ordered from Maxi Discount Kosher Butchery in Johannesburg. As the food arrives on plastic serving tray’s and plates, guests unwrap their plastic utensils and enjoy their meals. “The kosher braai is incredible!” says a man sitting at the head of the table, “We had it here last year too.” The added effort provided by the Island Diner pays off as guests enjoy their meal together. Not feeling too far from home, the traditional South African braai is made more authentic with the use of plastic cutlery and crockery but, it retains the radiance of the stylish interior and friendly and proficient service.

Love is in the air

Plettenberg Bay, voted South Africa’s favourite friendliest holiday destination has also proven itself to be an ideal wedding destination. Wedding bells were ringing all day on Saturday, December 18th. In the parking lot outside the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort, car horns were tooting excitedly as an entourage of vehicles decorated with ribbons of assorted colours drove by.

Sitting at the Café Estoril, all appears to be running smoothly and systematically; food and drinks appear on the tables promptly as new guests sit down for lunch after checking in. The staff members also have a moment to spare for a friendly chat between skirting tables on the run from the restaurants to the kitchen. A bride and groom walk through the lobby holding hands after celebrating a discrete matrimony in Coral Reef. As they leave, behind the kitchen doors, staff prepare for the next wedding where one hundred guests will be wined and dined proficiently.

“Beach weddings are becoming more and more popular” says Michelle, one of the staff members at the Island Diner. One can see why after seeing the magnificent white wedding of Zjardene Bester (daughter of South African triathlete and former Comrades Marathon winner, Nick Bester) and Stefan Kirsten, taking place right on the beach. Beach goers marvel at the decorations as the stroll by, taking pictures with their cell phones and digital cameras. “It’s so romantic” a girl of school-going age says to her friend amidst a crowd of on-lookers.

The podium upon which the loving couple share their vows over looks the Robberg Peninsula Nature Reserve in the distance as white horses on the sea crash on the shore before them. Mist rolls over the tops of Robberg contributing to the mystical atmosphere and behind the resort lightning adds to the natural beauty and wonder of the surroundings. The sky is a mixture of soft pale grey and blue hues, making the vivid whiteness more pronounced.

A string band plays as suave and sophisticated looking guests arrive. As they walk onto the beach, a beautiful flower girl hands them an umbrella as a few rain drops spout from the skies. Luckily the weather remains temperate as the wedding proceeds.

Back in the kitchen, starters and salads are prepared to feed the guests. The food is on the go for the restaurants and for the wedding which proves the Island Diner’s efficiency. In the interim, the crowd is offered cocktails and snacks while they wait to be seated, humbly chatting their way through congratulations and introductions. Finally, all the guests are seated and the bride and groom get a moment alone while they wait to be pronounced to the crowd as Mr and Mrs Kirsten They can’t take their hands off each other as they laugh and talk, drinking cocktails together with the ocean behind them.

Their first dance together raises hairs in admiration. The groom earnestly sings the lyrics to the Nickleback song they have chosen and the happy couple smile and dance superbly. A wedding notebook floats between the beautifully decorated tables and the sweet smell of lilies and roses fills the air. An unforgettable wedding for certain!

On the beach, another newly married couple are having their photographs taken. “There were 8 brides today,” says the woman packing up the furniture from the previous wedding. Plettenberg Bay is unquestionably a stunning place to get married and with the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort and the Island Diner, perfection is guaranteed for your catering and location requirements.

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.

Sunny Sunday afternoon

It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon in Plettenberg Bay; to not be outdoors on such a beautiful day would be sacrilege. Central Beach is jam packed with youngsters who have just finished school, making it difficult not to feel the holiday spirit in motion, even though the year hasn’t quite drawn to a close. It seems that summer has finally arrived and what better to do than spend some time soaking up some vitamin D, sipping on cocktails while marvelling at the spectacular views. The Island Diner has it all.

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.