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!

Beach, Braai, Bake and relax in warmth and comfort!

Smoke billows from a vigorous braai in short puffs down at the pool. The sun is beating down from the cloudless blue sky as a cool breeze softens the blazing heat.  Iconic images of the perfect seaside holiday come to mind standing on the soft green grass with a panoramic view of the ocean- children playing and laughing, seagulls squawking and the subtle sway of moving, splashing water sounding in the background.

As lunch time nears, children start surrounding the braai in anticipation. The rolls are set out and the sizzling of the boerewors leaves the children staring from the sidelines in wide eyed wonder. For R25, guests can expect to find a quick and easy, no fuss lunch served with proficiency at their beach loungers. “When the weather is nice like this we have a braai- we do boerewors rolls one day, burgers another, chicken burgers the next,” says Lloyd as he turns the slowly browning ‘wors’.

The day is filled with fun activities too. In front of the indoor swimming pool, kiddies’ tables and chairs are set out with a daily activity planned. Today, the children are cutting out, colouring and decorating mobiles, which they can take home for keepsakes, recalling fun memories of their holiday spent at the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort. Children are kept safe and busy, allowing parents and other adults to read, relax and enjoy their holiday. However, if you feel your inner child is in desperate need of a little creative therapy- you could join the table of miniature furniture and get your hands dirty, earning yourself a home-made mobile reward for your efforts.

A tug-of-war competition is soon underway as males and females line up on opposite sides of the rope to determine the winners. After a mighty heave, the females topple over in fits of laughter as they fall to the ground. Then, within seconds all the participants are diving to find R5 coins in the swimming pool after an announcement that who ever finds the treasure gets to keep it.

While the children search endlessly for the coins a pro diving group is testing their diving equipment. The animated instructor jokingly explains to the ‘eager-to-learn’ crowd, “your first time under water is called organised chaos,” he laughs at the concerned faces looking back at him and then explains what he means putting their minds at ease.

For added relaxation, two beautiful JIWU Spa and Salon staff members are promoting and providing massages for guests’ right next to the pool. With a range of sun screens, the two ladies are making sure that no one is getting burnt in the scorching heat. Everything you need can be found right at the pool area making your holiday stress free and enjoyable!

To see more pictures visit our Facebook page- Click here: Island Diner

New Year's Eve- a roaring success

 Lights, flashes and a vibrant flair filled the dining areas of the Beacon Island Lifestyle resort with exuberance as 2010 came to a close. In a fabled fashion, guests celebrated the coming of a new year wearing colourful masks and fancy shoes.

Within a stones throw of Central beach, guests were caught up in the magical stir of the evening, watching the flying fire lanterns rise and twinkle across the ocean. The night air was warm, outside Café Estoril couches were filled with guests drinking wine and enjoying the atmosphere. Inside, toasts were being made with shooters in hand after the food plates had been cleared.

Although there were three venues to choose from, it seemed as though they were joined, spreading across the resort like one massive party. People filled the spaces between the restaurants, standing sitting and some even dancing. From the calm tables inside the lounge area next to Café Estoril to the loud pumping music in the marquee outside Indigo Bay people were enjoying themselves with their families and friends.

The decorations, which were arranged with detail and effort by the Island Diner staff, transformed the usual look of the restaurants into a fantastical feast for the eye. Outside, two women wearing flashing devil horns shot deviant cheeky smiles at whoever noticed. With amazing food and great entertainment, The Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort proved to be the idyllic spot of the season for celebrating New Year’s Eve.

Stepping outside under the marquee, the temporarily fashioned dance-floor was alive, buzzing with exhilaration. Singing the lyrics of the words aloud, “Baby tonight, the DJ’s got us falling in love again…” the diverse crowd were united in the festivities. Twirling around hand in hand, old and young, men and women danced the night away happily. 2011 is sure to be a spectacular year assuming it carries on the way it began that night!

The gift of Christmas lunch

If you thought a white Christmas was the ideal, think again! As temperatures in many countries across the globe continued to drop, Christmas lunch in sunny South Africa was truly blissful. Hats off to the chefs and staff at the Island Diner, making the day a complete success for many families.

Christmas lunch can be very stressful, especially when you have a big family. There’s plenty to cook, to prepare and to clean. This year, the Island Diner simplified matters for many families, offering a Christmas lunch buffet inside Indigo Bay.

There were two sittings, the first from 12h00 to 14h00. One hundred and thirty people were wined and dined to the point of pleasurable satiety in the first seating. After their meal, some families happily moved outside to allow the restaurant to be prepared for the second sitting. “That was really nice,” said a man with a British accent, while he and another couple enjoyed a Patron Tequila in the afternoon sun. “When ever you order online you never know, but today was lovely” he continued.

Inside, the waitrons speedily rearranged the restaurant, reset tables and set the food out. With the garnishes and finishing touches in place the next group of over a hundred people arrived. Within minutes- crackers shot off across the restaurant and champagne bottles were opened to celebrate Christmas with loving family members. In the corner of the room, the music began to play as customers made their way to the buffet.

From the eldest to the youngest, there was a dish that pleased everyone. The Christmas buffet menu offered a variety of assorted salads, meats, bakes, vegetables and desserts. One boy was happy piling his plate with heaped spoons of rice. He then returned for another helping twice the size of the first. By the time he made his way to the dessert table, he glanced at the table with cautionary eyes. After eyeballing the ice cream- one eye open, the other closed- he dished heaps into a bowl and walked back to his family smiling as he sat down.

Overall people were very happy and were able to celebrate Christmas sticking to the tradition that Christmas time is a time to share with family, to enjoy each other’s company and count their blessings. Fussing about the cooking and cleaning was not an option for these folk.

A couple sharing Christmas together said they were happy spending Christmas alone together and that they would have Christmas lunch at Indigo Bay again in the future. “It was very nice, especially with the view. It’s very relaxing” said another woman sitting at a table next to the window.

Here’s to Christmas, celebrating the gift of life and gift of good food!

Christmas Eve 2010

It’s the night before Christmas but Santa’s footsteps on the roof wouldn’t be heard at the Beacon Island lifestyle Resort. With the chatter and laughter coming from inside Indigo Bay- a restaurant inside the resort- Santa himself could walk right in and I’m sure no one would notice.

The tables are all full, at some tables, 18 or 19 people are seated, engrossed in conversation. On the smaller tables, near the ceiling to floor windows, wine bottles are glistening in wine buckets and the tinkle of the ice in the glasses sounds almost like Christmas bells in the distance.

For some guests at the hotel, they will be checking out in the morning, getting an early start to return to the rest of their families. For them, Christmas Eve is yet another memorable moment, the culmination of a fantastic holiday in Plettenberg Bay.

Food is flying off the grill, satisfying the demands of the hungry crowd. The food for nineteen people arrives at the same time surprising customers, “ah, the food’s here!”

With great company and conversation, superb food and amazing surroundings it’s difficult to think of a reason not to come back.

Indigo Bay is not the only place in the resort experiencing the Christmas festivities. Downstairs, Coral Reef is also full. The exquisite white and green décor provides a calming and relaxing atmosphere as soft music plays but when full, the cabin-like room erupts into a jubilant, cheery hub. With the waves crashing against the rocks, it feels as though you’re sailing in a boat, without the sea-sickness! Graced with elegance and finery, guests enjoy their Christmas Eve together ordering off the delectable, unique menu.

As the white foam froths between the rocks, the evening simmers to an end. Guests sleepily make their way back to their room with full bellies. As one guest pays the bill he comments on how much he enjoyed his stay at the resort. “You were here almost every night,” the woman behind the counter says. The customer from Hermanus replies, “Normally we search and search for a restaurant to go to but we enjoyed it here and the food was so good.” Reason enough to keep returning in the future I reckon. Wishing all those who are travelling back home a safe trip!

To see the photos from this memorable evening see the Island Diner Facebook page

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.