Southern Spoor portfolio upgrades and new arrivals
02. Jul, 2009
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Ocean View House – Western Cape
Ocean View has been busy with some exciting developments recently and last week saw the launch of its German website. The requests are rolling in for translations into English and Dutch. The site was designed to be more Google friendly. The site includes room comparisons, information about Cape Town and surrounding activities and boasts a fresh new look.
The Garden Suite now has its own private garden, perfect for relaxing in a tranquil setting and reading a book or catching forty winks in the warm sun.
Hermanus,an hour from Ocean View House, is a perfect spot for whale watching and Ocean View has erected an information board on the grounds which details the whales visiting the area and how to identify the different species more easily. Whales are seen along our coastline during the months of May to December, and are a big tourist attraction.
The gardens around Ocean View have had a facelift and a succulent garden has been created. A variety of succulents were planted which look beautiful against the backdrop of the blue ocean. The succulents are water-retaining plant adapted to arid climates and won’t have to be watered as often as regular plants.
There is a lot more activity currently going on at Ocean View, so watch this space for more news on upgrades and a change of colour…
Falaza Game Park and Spa – KwaZulu-Natal
Falaza is proud of its newborn baby rhino. The calf is estimated to be two weeks old and is female. The mother has been hiding her since she was born, but rangers managed to catch a glimpse of her one Saturday afternoon during a game drive. The mother felt comfortable enough to allow a peak at her baby before moving off into the bush.
On Monday afternoon the mother surprised everyone when she brought her calf right to the front lawn in front of the lodge to show her off. The baby is very active, inquisitive, healthy and of course, very cute.
Mimosa Lodge – Western Cape
A delicious pressing affair from Mimosa Lodge! Mimosa recently acquired a duck press for its restaurant and it is currently the only one of its kind in South Africa. Mimosa’s award winning chef Bernhard Hess will be preparing, canard au sang, a complex and delicate dish in honour of the recipe’s heritage which hails from Tour d’ Argent, a prestigious restaurant in Paris, France. The first pressed duck dishes will be served on 22 August 2009 during dinner and seats are limited.
The process for making pressed duck is quite complex. It starts with partially roasting a duck which has been strangled to retain maximum blood volume. Next, the breasts, liver, and thighs of the bird are removed. The liver is chopped and seasoned while the breasts and thighs are roasted separately. Meanwhile, the body of the duck is pressed in a special device called a duck press, which resembles a wine press.
The pressing process extracts the blood of the bird, along with cooking juices. This mixture is seasoned with salt, pepper, red wine, cognac, and butter, to make a dense sauce which blackens as it reduces. The rich sauce is served with the breasts and liver of the duck, and the thighs are served separately. French pressed duck is a luxury restaurant item which is served in a limited number of venues and, for culinary adventurers it is certainly an experience worth trying.
Winchester Mansions – Western Cape
Winchester Mansions has unveiled its new and revamped brand identity. With a new logo, colours and slogan, the revamped identity will reflect Winchester Mansions’ brand essence of classical elegance and value propositions of joie de vivre, open spaces and the personal touch that the hotel is renowned for. Over the years the hotel has undergone notable developments which have shifted Winchester Mansions from its traditional “old world charm” reputation to an establishment offering world class hospitality and service in an ambience of classical elegance.
The new Winchester Mansions logo with its stylish look and feel announces the hotel’s upgraded status. The wavy design resembles Winchester Mansions’ unique sea front location and in its arrangement, it reflects the joyful and welcoming ambience of the hotel. The new colours are noble yet calm; relaxing green is derived from the iconic status of the hotel while violet, the colour of royalty, signifies Winchester Mansions’ elegance.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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