Looking forward to welcoming you to South Africa March Newsletter 2010 Dear Reader I can't believe that it is already March and less than 100 days until the FIFA Soccer World Cup in South Africa. I must say the excitement is building! Our stadiums are world class and our Gautrain in Johannesburg is nearly operative. Right now, I am extremely proud to be a South African and I know I speak for all my managers and staff when I say that we look forward to welcoming you, your friends and family to South Africa. Come and experience the best we have to offer in our beautiful and diverse country!! My team at The Collection are here to assist with last minute itineraries and to create the perfect South African experience! Since our last newsletter, much has transpired. As always, I am so proud of my team for their incredible dedication to our hotels and our guests. 2009 ended on such a high note with a Relais & Châteaux Garden Award and The Greenhouse being awarded Top 10 restaurant status, which you can read more about in this newsletter. 2010 is definitely South Africa's year and we are looking forward to welcoming the top chefs and hoteliers from around the world to Cape Town in November for our annual Relais & Châteaux Congress. This exciting news was announced in Biarritz in France where I attended the Congress for 2009 with my Granddaughter Marina, who is Marketing Director for The Collection. The South African delegation was called up on the stage with Johnny Clegg's music playing and pictures of Cape Town on the big screen! The buzz and excitement was electric and this reinforced what a special country South Africa is and how many people round the world desire to visit us! Liz McGrath

In this Edition The Sand wins "Best Hotel Restaurant" Relais & Châteaux awards The Cellars-Hohenort with prestigious Garden Trophy The Greenhouse at The Cellars-Hohenort in The Top 10 with South Africa's Best Tasting Menu! Simone Moegel - Sommelier at The Cellars-Hohenort Gourmet winter wine evenings

Luxury for less   La Route Du Bonheur:    The Route of Happiness   D&D Make-over   Romantic Honeymoon   Marine Adventure   Fore Night Golf Getaway   Oceanside Indulgence   Out of the Rough   Suite Safari

The Sand wins "Best Hotel Restaurant" The Garden Route Culinary Awards ceremony was recently held at the Eden School of Culinary Art in George. The Sand restaurant was honoured as one of the top culinary destinations on the Garden Route and also scooped the prestigious "Best Hotel Restaurant" category. Congratulations goes to our Group Executive Chef, Peter Tempelhoff, Head Chef, Gideon Landman, and the entire kitchen team at The Sand. A tremendous effort has been put in to enhance the dining experience at The Plettenberg. The Bistro lunch menu has become extremely popular for light meals overlooking the beautiful Formosa Bay. The new "Coastal Bounty" Autumn dinner menu boasts a seven course tasting menu as well as a delicious A la carte menu, focusing on progressive South African cuisine with a Mediterranean influence. For bookings for Sand at The Plettenberg contact: 044 533 2030 or click here

Events   Taste of Cape Town -     The Cellars-Hohenort   Table of Peace and Unity -     The Marine Hermanus   Tea with design Guru's -     The Cellars-Hohenort   Ardmore/ Hamilton Russell     Wine evening -     The Marine Hermanus

Relais & Châteaux awards The Cellars-Hohenort with prestigious Garden Trophy The Cellars-Hohenort is proud to have received the Relais & Châteaux Garden Trophy for 2010! The award was presented to Liz McGrath at a stylish cocktail party held at the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, during the annual Relais & Châteaux Congress. "I am absolutely delighted to receive this award! Our nine acres of garden at The Cellars-Hohenort are something very special to me. Nestled against the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town's Constantia Valley, the gardens offer sweeping views across the valley to False Bay." The presentation was in the presence of hoteliers from all corners of the world, coming together to network and share ideas. This is the second award Liz McGrath has received in three years - she received the Woman of the Year Trophy for 2008. The Rose garden, when in full bloom is a sight not to be missed. A prominent rose seen throughout The Cellars-Hohenort is the Liz McGrath Rose, which was a present from her family. Chefs are regularly seen raiding the herb gardens of the hotel to use in the wonderful dishes they create for The Greenhouse and Cape Malay Restaurant. For avid botanical garden lovers, the hotel is close to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Founded in 1913 the gardens are world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of its Cape flora and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Kirstenbosch with its 36 hectares grows only indigenous South African plants and is featured every year as a gold award winner at the Chelsea Flower Show. Jean Almon, Garden Manager at The Cellars-Hohenort gives guided garden tours every Tuesday at 10h30. The cost is R40 per person and includes tea/coffee and our world famous scones! Bookings essential.

The Cellars-Hohenort SPECIAL Gardens Galore Stay 4 nights in a Luxurious Double room and receive one of these nights complimentary! Read More

The Marine-Hermanus SPECIAL Oceanside Indulgence Stay 3 nights in an individually appointed and stylish Suite. Read More

The Plettenberg SPECIAL Suite Safari Stay 3 nights in an individually appointed and stylish Suite. Read More

The Greenhouse in The Top 10 with South Africa's Best Tasting Menu! The Greenhouse restaurant at The Cellars-Hohenort has been awarded Top 10 status in the 2009 Prudential Eat Out Restaurant Awards. The Greenhouse was chosen as one of the Top 10 restaurants in South Africa from a line-up of 20 nominated restaurants from around the country. The Greenhouse came seventh, with their unique tasting menu getting the number one spot overall! "I am absolutely thrilled that The Greenhouse has been awarded Top 10 status! We have been working towards this goal since Executive Chef, Peter Tempelhoff joined The Collection two years ago. We are producing world class food and I am delighted that Peter and his team are finally receiving the recognition they so rightly deserve" says Liz McGrath The Greenhouse Restaurant and Conservatory Bistro offer tranquil garden views from its sun-drenched terrace bringing the beautiful gardens of The Cellars-Hohenort into the restaurant. The menus offer something for all tastes while the chefs use local and organic products wherever possible! For bookings for The Conservatory Bistro at The Cellars and The Greenhouse contact: 021 794 2137 or click here

Simone Moegel - Sommelier at The Cellars-Hohenort Simone was born in Dresden, Saxony, Germany in October 1976. When she was 16 she left her parents to study hospitality 600 km away in the Black Forrest Region from 1993-1996. In 2003 she began working as restaurant manager in a small boutique hotel. There she found her passion for wines. "The hotel had a big beautiful wine cellar with wines from all over the world. I started to do wine tastings, created food and wine pairings and went to wine farms all over Germany. I found my calling!" says Simone. In 2006 she went to work on a wine farm called Weingut Kuenstler in the Rhineland where she stayed for 3 months over harvesting and learned how to make wines. In September 2007 she passed her sommelier examinations. She then decided to travel and landed up at The Cellars-Hohenort. In November she became Head Sommelier and Beverage Manager. Simone has grown to love South African wines and enjoys the challenge of pairing wines with the exciting food being produced by Peter Tempehoff and his team.

Focus on Facilities   The Gardens -     The Cellars-Hohenort   Golf Green -     The Cellars-Hohenort   The Collection Boutique -     The Marine Hermanus   Carchele Beauty Spa -     The Plettenberg

Gourmet winter wine evenings Our winter wine evenings at The Plettenberg and The Marine have an enormous following. Guests flock to these evenings to taste the best South African wines, meet the fascinating wine-makers and experience the art of food and wine pairing by the team of talented chefs who prepare a 5 course dinner using only the best local ingredients. Booking for these evenings is essential: The Plettenberg Friday 30th April - Meinert Wine Estate Friday 28th May - Haute Cabriere Wine Estate Friday 25th June - Bon Courage Wine Estate Friday 30th July - Newton Johnson Wines Friday 27th August - Waterford Wine Estate The Marine Friday 30th April - Beaumont Wines Friday 04th June - Hamilton Russell Vineyards & Southern Right Wines in association with Ardmore Ceramics Friday 06th August - Benguela Cove Wine Estate R320 per person for a five course dinner, inclusive of wines Please contact us for accommodation packages inclusive of luxurious double rooms, a full English breakfast and wine evening dinner

The Collection Cookbook Order your copy of The Collection Cookbook. Or buy one as the perfect gift today! Purchase Online

Latest Menus For all our latest menu's within The Collection by Liz McGrath see below The Greenhouse The Conservatory Bistro The Martini Seafood at The Marine The Sun Lounge The Pavilion Sand at the Plettenberg The Sand Bar

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