There comes a time when it is simply too late to do anything more. I'm feeling both relieved and sad that the frenetic task of generating publicity for the Gourmet Festival and the Good Food and Wine Show has now come to an end. Although I've had the feeling before, it still doesn't make the naff, irritability of not having anywhere to rush to any easier. I think the show is the best one I've been to and I especially liked the KWV Lifestyle Emporium's stand where for R75 for one course and a glass of wine you could experience fine dining. Yesterday I had Martin Blunos' rolled shoulder of lamb served with a piece of fillet. It was extremely delicious and he commented that the slow roasting leeches out most of the fat.
Facilitating the interviews with these famous chefs has been exciting. Together with Kim Barty who managed the publicity for the Good Food and Wine Show, I've heard first hand about the efforts behind their successes. I am intrigued that Sam Clark of Moro restaurant in London has been the one most sought after by media. While James Martin is, understandably, the most desired.
Much of the activity has been at the Arabella Sheraton Hotel. I was critical of them when they opened and while I haven't eaten at the 37 restaurant there since my disappointing breakfast, I find myself impressed by the hotel. The 19th Floor Towers Club is especially appealing even more so now that Joop Schoer, with the acetylene blue eyes and chiseled features from Monolo, seems to be running the place.
The restaurant is due to open to the public in September.
It's been two weeks since I stayed at the Melrose Arch Hotel in Johannesburg and I find that I'm missing it. I received an email from Bridget Gardiner at the Cape Grace yesterday saying the hotel had been voted #1 in Africa by Travel + Leisure Magazine. I can't put my finger on why it isn't my top hotel choice. I've only had impeccable dealings the Cape Grace so I think it must just be personal preference that makes me rather want to stay at The Saxon or Melrose Arch. When I rated my Top 5 Hotels in my newsletter earlier this month, I had a query from Michelle Mashiah why the Grace Rosebank wasn't included. I've been thinking about the answer to that question for sometime and I realise how difficult it is to rate properties against each other using my personal preferences as the benchmark.
I've lost 18 kilos since January. I'm amazed at how good and strong I feel. I'd lost 24 kilos years before and picked them up again so I'm not out of the woods yet. I hope this journey is different as I'm not being too rigid about eating and still have delicious things twice a week, instead of twice a day...
I feel Yoga has made a powerful contribution to a new sense of my physical self. Kundalini Yoga is the unifying of the body and mind which combined with psychotherapy which I define as the unifying of the mind and its internal objects have left me feeling centered. Perhaps being 37 also plays a role.
The week after next I'll be returning to Ten Bompas Hotel. I think it was the first proper boutique hotel I visited and I look forward to experiencing it again. I'll also let you know about the Protea Midrand to which I am not especially looking forward.