SA’s Largest Foodie Event, The Good Food & Wine Show, Kicks Off In Cape Town

Words: Crush

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South Africa’s largest culinary event, The Good Food & Wine Show, opens in Cape Town on Friday 2 June and runs until Sunday 4 June at the CTICC. With the likes of Marco Pierre White and Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen headlining the show, it’s set to be a record breaking one.

Trailblazing British chef Marco Pierre White has been dubbed the world’s first celebrity chef. White was 33 when he was awarded three Michelin stars and still holds the title as the first British chef and the youngest chef ever to earn this honour. He features as a star judge and guest on MasterChef Australia where he was called ‘the godfather of modern cooking’.

White has also trained famous chefs like Mario Batali, Gordon Ramsay, Curtis Stone and Shannon Bennett. After retiring from the kitchen in 1999 Marco became a restaurateur and has published several books, including the best-selling cookbook/autobiography White Heat.

“I was last in South Africa in 2014 so I am excited to be returning in 2017 to headline the Good Food & Wine Show for the first time,” says White. “As much as I will be sharing my culinary journey with the visitors attending the shows, I am also looking forward to transferring knowledge and experience to some of the top local talent in South Africa and partaking in the diverse food culture this beautiful country has to offer.”

Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen is South Africa’s first Michelin star chef and owner of JAN Restaurant, located in Nice on the French Riviera. Also a gifted photographer, food stylist, writer, entrepreneur and businessman, Van der Westhuizen’s humble Middelburg origins set the foundation for his ‘boereseun and French twist’ cooking style on traditional boerekos.

Chef Jan Hendrik at the Good Food & Wine Show in Cape Town

Chef Jan Hendrik dish at the Good Food & Wine Show

All visitors to this year’s Good Food & Wine Show in Cape Town will get a chance to watch White and Van der Westhuizen in action daily, free of charge, at the Chefs’ Open Theatre. In addition, the two chefs will be cooking up a storm at the Chefs’ Table: smaller, more intimate ticketed events where people will have the chance to meet the chefs, taste their food and sample some of South Africa’s top wines.

South African foodies will also get the chance to interact with a line-up of exciting local food personalities including Reza Mahammad, Jenny Morris, Lentswe Bhengu, Sarah Graham, Neill Anthony, Lisa Raleigh and headlining local chef, J’Something. Sherwyn Weaich and Vanessa Marx are also on this year’s Good Food and Wine line-up, in addition to headline sommeliers Lloyd Jusa (Saxon Hotel), Gregory Mutambe (12 Apostles Hotel) and Tinashe Nyamudoka (The Test Kitchen) – who will all share some of their fine wine knowledge with show attendees.

While the chefs are certainly the star attraction, this annual gastronomic gathering is about far more than just good food, and this year sees a fresh focus on the world of wine, craft beers, artisan spirits and speciality coffee. On the bustling exhibition floor two dedicated areas will cater for visitors looking to taste and learn more about wine, beer and hand-crafted spirits.

“In wine there is truth,” wrote Pliny the Elder, and amongst the celebrated local wineries making an appearance this year visitors will find Benguela Cove, Bonnnievale Wines, Grande Provence and Raka, showcasing a true cross-section of South African terroir. Also look out for the wines of Org du Rac, a certified-organic producer from the on-trend Swartland wine district.

Along with sipping and swirling while chatting to the winemakers, visitors can also tap into expert wine knowledge in the ever-popular Wine Theatre. South Africa’s leading sommeliers will delve into the fascinating world of wine, and share their experience and expertise in how to choose, cellar and enjoy South African wines.

Artisan gin is on-trend and at this year’s show, there’s no shortage of juniper-infused spirit on offer. Don’t miss Malfy Gin, who will be showcasing their citrus-infused gin from the Italian city of Torino, while the clever kit from Love-Gin will teach you how to create bespoke botanical infusions at home.

Artisan gin came hot on the heels of the global craft beer movement, which also finds a home at the 2017 Good Food and Wine Show: look out for the unique cask-aged beers from acclaimed Scottish brewery Innis & Gunn and many more.

Before you get stuck into the beer, gin and wine though, you may want to start with a coffee. This year’s show will introduce visitors to the cutting-edge of caffeine as exhibitors unpack the growing trend towards Cold Brew, caffeinated mineral water and Nitro Coffee. Visitors will also be able to experience the latest in capsule coffee machines, with NESCAFÉ showing off its multi-beverage Dolce Gusto system at its pavilion.

Need a serious pick-me-up? Stop in at Black Insomnia Coffee Company, the US-based roasters who have created the (in) famous Black Insomnia: officially the world’s strongest coffee, with 702mg of caffeine per cup. If that doesn’t wake you up, you need to check if you have a pulse!

In 2017 the Good Food & Wine Show has partnered with the Speciality Coffee Association of Southern Africa (SCASA) to host the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Regional Barista Championships. Take your seat to watch professional baristas battle it out in the cut-throat categories of latte art, cupping (‘blind’ tasting) and brewing up the best coffee in the house.

The floor will be divided into nine exhibition areas for visitors to explore: Market, Street Food, Gourmet, Baking and cake decor, Kids, Wellness, Lifestyle, Wine, Beer and Spirits.

This year, the show hosts ten theatres, of which eight are free of extra charge for entry, serving up even more value for those attending. The Good Food & Wine Show theatres include Eat Well/Live Well, Wine Theatre, Baking Theatre, Cake Deco Lab, Chefs Open Theatre, Cooking with Chefs and the Kids Deco Lab; including the Chefs Table hosted at the Table Bay Hotel.