Had breakfast with Barney Mthombothi the FM’s editor this morning. OK, it wasn’t just me, about 30 others were also there to hail the newly revamped title which he describes as a "heady cocktail".
I was sitting with Ruth Golembo and Shelly Young of Lange Strategic Communications and opposite Tina and Jacqui of Meir & McKewen PR. The fabulous Claire Bisseker who is having twins (non identical and conceived, she says, a week apart) was next to me.
The mag looks much fresher and easier to get into with a focus on people and pictures. A big shift. I still prefer Fortune – I love Stanley Bing’s column and their layout. Financial Mail cover lines already suggest the shift to insight over length: 9 questions for Brian Joffe; Why top ad man came home; Ken Owen says cut and run if Zuma wins; Nedbank growth fund outstrips peers, with the main story: Burnout – Why CEs are quitting younger. And where are the black successors? The venue was Sinn’s in Wembley Square, Thomas Sinn’s new spot after closing The Blue Danube. The interior looks fabulous. Thankfully he had his fill of 80’s glam and has gone for a contemporary look (which will probably date as badly as Danube’s interior did) and while breakfast isn’t the meal on which judge a restaurant I especially liked the breads and veal sausage.
Spent much of the weekend at The Western Cape Hotel & Spa’s new Rain Forest experience – think having a hot date with X-man Storm after she’s had too much coke – a zillion weather systems in 90 minutes. The end result: Feeling washed inside and out. This is one place where I don’t mind rain on my parade.
I can recommend suite 540 for its gas fireplace and bath that has a picture window to rival most other bath locations. Although not designed for two like Pezula’s it does mean that one of you can watch TV (the rugby was on) while the other can gaze out over the 9th green. Spectacular.
Headed to Fruit & Veg City at Willowbridge before we left town. I’m impressed. Not only did we have a perfectly acceptable grande cappuccino for R7.50 but they’re serving farmer’s breakfasts for R30 – bacon, wors, potatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes, a stack of toast and eggs.
I like the set up. Some of the fruit may look like it’s come from the market after no one else wanted it, but they have fab sections (butchery, chocolatier, bakery, fish shop with sushi, cheesery and other spots that I will definitely revisit. It is interesting to note that 15 minutes before Pick ‘n Pay seemed empty while Fruit & Veg was packed. Maybe that’s why Sean Summers bought them before he retired.
