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comes true

The Montecasino complex, the largest of Gauteng's five casinos, both in terms of capital investment and number of gaming positions, opened in dramatic style. This represents an immediate Rl,4 billion injection into the provi nee's economy.

ontecasino is Tsogo Sun's flagship development and replicates an ancient hilltop village in Tuscany, with cobbled streets, fountains, piazzas and a town square. Inside the village, under a M 2 'cloud-filled sky' ceiling, an 8 500m casino provides the anchor of this development. The opening was a glittering affair attended by over 6 000 of Johannesburg's social elite, who enjoyed a night filled with music, song, and wine. The highlight of this momentous occasion was the official opening by Jabu Mabuza, CEO of Tsogo Sun, and the handing over of the official gaming licence by Advocate Top: From left to right: Abena Ayivor, Phemelo Motene and Rosie Motene. Centre: Ron Stringfellow (left), executive chairman of the Southern Sun group, with Vincent Maleka. This set the slot machines in motion and Gavin Pieterse of African Renaissance and his wife, Bev Basson. created music of another kind, providing South Africa with Above: Tsogo Investments and Southern Sun executives attending the opening. a new era in gaming and entertainment. I3!J

13 _c"'- ...._ XPERIENCE 500 YEARS OF TUSCAN HISTORY

WITH NOTHING BUT A KNIFE AND FORK. While guests at the Palazzo linger over cocktails in the Lounge, the spirit of Tuscany is alive and well. For behind the swing doors, amid much chopping and waving of

arms, Lorenzo Mottalini and his team create Mediterranean dishes with a Tuscan flavour, based on recipes hundreds of years old. Sumptuous feasts which find their way to the tables of expectant guests of the Medeo

Restaurant. And while Lorenzo's recipes are a closely guarded secret, where to find the finest in authentic PALAZZO INTER:CONTINENTAL and age-old hospitality is not. JDII~" FSBlRC MD fE< .. , 0

Call 0800 11 77 11 or your travel agent. Visit www.interconti.com EQUINOX

Amodern The new Palazzo Inter-Continental Hotel exudes all the romance and rich cultural heritage of age-old Tuscany, bringing a new dimension to the hospitality experience.

eneral manager Michael and always remember that it takes a team to McBain is passionate about create success. At the Palazzo Inter-Con• creating the ultimate ex• tinental, Michael hopes to achieve a fusion of perience for each and every cultures and 'blend the best of the old ways guest; and through his sheer with all the modem necessities required to exuberanceG and management philosoph); meet the lifestyle needs of the busy executive'. aims to establish the Palazzo Inter-Continentals Behind the kitchen swing-doors, the spirit reputation as Gauteng's most refined hotel. of Tuscany is alive and well. Head 'There is no goal that can be accomplished in Lorenzo Mottalini and his team create feasts isolation and the hotels success lies in the in• of dishes with a Mediterranean flair. Adding tegrated functioning of this hand-picked and to the teams energy and enthusiastic creativity highly skilled team,' says Michael, The 15 team are Debbie Sykes, deputy general manager, members all have a special flair for what they Darren Hailstones, and beverage man• do. Michael's management philosophy flows ager, and Thea Roller, the financial manager. from his personal values and has been tried, In all, the luxury Palazzo Inter-Continental tested and proven successful across five dif• (part of the Montecasino development) pro• 5 The enthusiastic management team, from back: Diana ~ Parry, Thea Roller, Debbie Sykes, Darren Hailstones, ferent countries. This simple philosophy mises an unforgettable experience. 5 Prema Naidoo, Michael McBain, Dineo Setsetse, is based on two golden rules: always treat • Interior design is by Wilson & Associates ~ Linda Stonley and Lorenzo Mottalini. people the \vay you would like to be treated 1J' (011) 447-6343. I!!l

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Peter Frost went in search of old memories and new experiences in the garden of dreams - South Africa's spectacular Garden Route.

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Left: The Beacon Island Resort hotel. Above: The Holiday Inn Garden Court King's Beach in Port Elizabeth.

boarding with him. untan lotion and no. talgia. Mix them with all that natural beauty, and the potion' intoxicanng. Locals and overseas travellers alike approach the Garden Route from either Port Elizabeth in the north or from ape Town in the outh. I cho e to fly to PE and travel down to ape Town by car, taymg at many llnpres ive outhern un hotels along the way. It has to be one of the best holiday breaks you can take anywhere. The di tance are short, the vanery of things to do is huge, and the feeling that you're passing through paradise is ever-present. outhern un has grven till. route a lot of thought. It has placed hotels in Port Elizabeth, Plertenberg Bay, \) 'ilderness and Oudrshoorn, smack bang in the middle of all the action.

Port Elizabeth POrt Elizabeth is really rwo town', the CBO and the resort area. The resort pan centres around King' Beach, and this is where you find the Holiday Inn Garden Court King's Beach. It I oppo. ue expansive, sandy King's Beach, and right next door to Bayworld, the Oceananum of old, now rnartened up for the new millen• mum. From the ea-facing roon . the view are pectacular - MMBO as my Dad u ed to say (miles and miles of bloody ocean). This first-class positioning is echoed by the new general manager, Margaret Ma; on. a wily cot with a mi chievous glint in her eye. veryone has their own favourite part of outh Afnca. 'There' a wonderful team here, all comrrurted to doing thmgs For me, It' the Garden Route .. tv childhood \\ "ju t the way you like it". but it would all be u des if it weren't spent in and around Plett, floating blis. fully Il1 blood• for the fanta. nc po. inon the hotel I 111. I mean, there s everything warm lagoon ( atures Valley), marvelling at raging you need right here for a holiday to remember.' eas rorrn' River mouth , and wandering dCro . The hotel' ernphasi 1 on delivering ervice that i top drawer E to ~ .eerrungly endles rretches of im po ibly white sand Robberg). It but not howy \) 'hen , hdiba came ray, a member of raff, Z I my dad, hat at Jaunty angle, clutching braai tongs, beaming 111to knowing that pap wasn't on the menu for . quietly went :i :!! the camera, my mum relaxed and nursing a gin and tonic under home, prepared the and delighted the nation's granddad an outsized floral umbrella. It's my twin brother winning the the next morning. There i a pur restaurant attached to the hotel -::: 7- wmgball game agam, and egging me into the urf to go body- for the family market, and u dizzying array of other eaterie on the

23 EQUINOX

doorstep. My favourite was the new Brazilian restaurant Rodizio. country's most memorable landmarks. Sitting perched on a rocky The idea is to evoke the carnival atmosphere of that most outcrop, disdainful of the sea's endless pounding, it is Plett's defining hedonistic of countries while serving food and drink from South structure. How many times had I looked up from building sand• America. The buzz was superb, as was the Brazileira, a castles as a kid to marvel at its whale-like presence? Watching those traditional dish of black beans and meat in olive oil and garlic. fluttering umbrellas protruding from immaculate lawns, waiters delivering exotic drinks, and me feeling The Prince and the P@per-ish. Port Elizabeth musts We were in the caravan park. This was the glamorous life. Addo Elephant Park. Seventy-two kilometres from PE. Also So the checking in was especially fun. Upstairs the rooms all offer features the black rhino. R18 for a day entrance. Take the N2 absurdly beautiful views - and the windows open fully. Watch to Grahamstown and follow the signs. the beach, hear the surf, taste the salt. It's magical. Downstairs the range of culinary choices is impressive, from poolside burgers The Oceanarium. Beach Road, King's Beach. The big news is to a fa mode, care of the wood-panelled Ellie's Cabin. In the that Dolly the dolphin has given birth to a calf Dolphin calves early evening, guests assemble in the Sun Lounge, the famous must learn everything from their mothers, and visitors can watch room from which dolphins can be seen arrowing through the the baby's first faltering swimming lessons. She's a scream. water literally a few metres away - on a rough day, the surf spits at the windows. Plettenberg Bay From PE, Plettenberg Bay, the jewel of the Garden Route, is only Plettenberg Bay musts 200km away. Drivers can take the well-known N2 coastal route Nature's Valley. This special reserve at the bottom of the Bloukrans through Storms River, or you can be adventurous and go through Pass (about 30km out of Plett) has a lagoon and protected coastline. the Tsitsikamma Mountains by way of the R62. It's a great way for overseas visitors to get to experience small-town South Africa. Knysna. Further along the coast on the N2. The centre of all The road is excellent, the scenery spectacular and the dorps of things hippie and crafts-in-the-country. Lots of little coffee shops, Joubertina and Harlem are beyond picturesque. It's a favourite oyster bars, urban refugees and Indian print. It's getting crowded, route for vintage-car clubs, being quieter than the N2, and as so staying in Plett and conducting sorties into Knysna is ideal. I sailed through the mountains, a steady stream of beautiful old Fords and Chevys passed by, gleaming in the sunlight. If you're Storms River. Where the Storms River meets the sea. The really adventurous you can take the gravel Prince Alfred's Pass coffee-coloured water, the chalets, the fynbos and the breakers. over the mountains at Avontuur, which brings you out right It's a sacred place. Down the N2 towards PE fr0111 Plett. beneath Plett. But check before leaving PE whether Prince Alfred's is open - often heavy rain makes the pass impassable. If The Wilderness that's the case, you go on to George and back down the N2 to If even Plett is too busy for you, the Wilderness area, some lOOkm Plett. The Beacon Island Resort hotel has to rate as one of the down the N2 towards Cape Town should do the trick. The

Z :J Z'" iii'"" r f• :J G '" Above and above, right: The watery paradise that is the Beacon Island Resort hotel in Plettenberg Bay.

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Above: The cosy splendour of the Holiday Inn Garden Court Wilderness. Above, right: The Holiday Inn Garden Court Oudtshoorn.

Holiday Inn Garden Court Wilderness is perched on the edge of down a mine blowing up rocks. His keen sense of humour matches the dunes overlooking the Indian Ocean. It's wild, quiet and his grasp of what it means to run a fine hotel. Again the emphasis is awesomely beautiful. Most rooms look out onto the pool and the on quiet efficiency, and his dining room served a mean evening fynbos beyond it. There is little development around the hotel buffet, featuring a number of the local specialities, including ostrich. and the feeling of escape is tangible. Wilderness' manager Allison Fraser says that most of her guests are repeat bookings, people Oudtshoorn musts who have found a secret hideaway and come back time and time The Cango Caves. Twenty kilometres out of town, it's recently had again. The rooms are enormous, all with either king-size beds or a face-lift, complete with interpretative centre and education facilities. twin doubles. I settled in, caught the latest news on CNN before eschewing all things technical and headed for the beach, intent on Jemima's. A real Karoo food experience, next door to the Holiday walking to the tiny village of Wilderness, some five kilometres Inn and popular with guests. It is run by the Le Roux sisters - and away. As I strolled along the empty beach, I was joined by a rare if that sounds like a Reza de Wet play, just try the quirky restaurant. Red-billed beach-comber. Together but otherwise utterly alone, we watched the tide bring in its harvest of sea snails. Further up the Foster's Folly. 52 Voortrekker Road. A national monument and beach, the Touws River was in flood. Locals were fishing with black one of the more bizarre 'feather palaces' - their owners built them bags, literally picking up the fish too stupid to stick to deeper water. with money made in the ostrich trade in the 1800s. It's vast, over the top, with delightful fixtures and fittings, and boasts the ghost of Oudtshoorn a philandering headmaster who hanged himselfin the basement. Heading inland from the Wilderness and George across the Outeniqua Pass and into the Little Karoo, you come to Safari Ostrich Show Farm. On the R328 to Mossel Bay. Ride Oudtshoorn, one of South Africa's quirkiest towns. It's home to an ostrich, stand on the eggs, watch them race, marvel at the farm's the 800 million-year-old Cango Caves, as well as a number of 'ostrich palace', Welgeluk, circa 1900. iii ostrich farms, but more recently has been grabbing the headlines with its rapidly growing arts festival. Feathers and caves have Southern Sun Hotel details brought one kind of adventurer. Now the arts are bringing • Holiday Inn Garden Court Klng's Beach, La Roche Drive, Humewood another. In the middle of all this paradoxical change, the Holiday - (041) 582-3720 Inn Garden Court Oudtshoorn offers welcome familiarity. Once again, standards are high. The rooms are like those at the • Beacon Island Resort hotel. Plettenberg Bay - (044) 533·1120 5 VJ Holiday Inn Garden Court Wilderness - huge, airy, looking out • Holiday Inn Garden Court Wilderness - (044) 877·1104 Z cG onto beautiful gardens and a pool. The hotel recently won the 2000 u.J I • Holiday Inn Garden Court Oudtshoorn, Baron van Rheede Street f• Quality Excellence Award and it's easy to see why. Roger Newton, :J - (044) 2722201 o the general manager, is a public school Brit who started his career VJ

26 EQUINOX

Checking in at www.southernsun.com

Southern Sun Hotels will soon have an interactive website to help you make all your hotel arrangements, quickly and easily, from your desktop.

Southern Sun hotels go online and you can pay tor your sray at ,lilY of our hotels according to your and unleash new services current arrangement with us, As a valued guest, the new website offers you a site that is speedy, You can therefore use the Quick Hotel Reservations feature simple and secure, without securirv worries. You'll find that www.southernsun.com will gin> you a fister and Whcu you tirst visit www.sourhcrnsun.com. you will be asked simpler interactive booking experience, nuking Southern Sun the if you wish to register on the sire. easiest hotel group to book with through our Quick Hotel The intormarion you provide will assist us in customising the Reservations featurc, vite to meet your needs and will entitle you to receive regular We know that you dour have time for complicated rcservarion• news about spcci.rl otters via e-mail. procedures or lengthy downloads. So our website designers A, a visitor to rhe web-ire. you can apply tor tj'cc membership adhered strictly to the 'keep it simple rule, This ensure, that you of our Frequent Gucsr programme. can conduct all your business on the site within four l\ISY sreps, This entitles vou special LItes, weekend geta\\'ays at unbeatable Whcn booking a hotel room, for CX,lI11ple, all you have to do prices, our quarterly magazine, I iJd.uc, and the opportunity to is specify your rrave I requirements. select ,I hotel ti'OI11 those earn Sun Rands - redeemable tllr ti'l'l' holidays - cn>r)' rime you which meer your needs. book it, and confirm the booking, srav with us, The Quick Hotel Reservations teaturc is cavilv accessible on Plus Frequent GUL'sts aurom.iric.rllv qmli~' tl)!' special rates and the horne page of www.southcmcuu.corn. ensuring that you exclusive ottlTS at p,lrricipating Southern Sun hotels, Those ott;:rs don't han' to waste valuable rime. ThL' website is laid out to can now be booked online Jlht bv registering on the website. facilitate ea,y n.rvigarion and quick re'pOll\es to nicer your needs. Queries or comments .ihour our hotels ell] now be addressed Plus, it's secure. reliable and convenient. When you make a hotel through the \"ebsitL"s Give Us FCl'dback ti.:,lrurc, as well ,IS by rcscrv.uion, we \\ ill .isk tor your credit card number to gU,ILlIltee telephone. !J:\ and post, your booking, but \\'l' will not deduct lllonl'y trom your account. Vi-ir \,,\\'\\',southernsun,colll to sel' ho\\' we're changing the \\'ay Your credit card number is stored in a secure, confidential fKiliry we conduct our business to better meet vour needs.

40 ~ ~ Edit Discuu ReaI.com

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1 Select a city Late4tNewa Or FOUR NEW HOTELS Select a hotel 1 With four new Southern Sun hotels, Arrival date 12'331 Jan iJ 12001 iJ travellers have four new reasons to take Cullinan Hotels time out for a holiday Number of nights break. Read more Your budget range?(optional) 1 All TOURISM UPTURN EXPECTED IN 2001 Prospects for a gradual tourism Please login to access the best available rates for Frequent Guests and recovery seem corporate accounts. In order to make booking you need to be a a positive with the Formyle111NN registered user on this site. slump In South Africa's hospitality Login Here: industry finally Username bottoming out Password Read more

Register on this site Forgotten your username or password? Enjoy the benefits of both with the new Express by Holiday link to Ratanga Junction. All this right next to South

Inn hotel at Century City. Every room has a computer Africa' large t and most comprehen ive bu ine , modem point and work area, /coffee making facility shopping and entertainment centre - Century City. So, and a direct dial telephone with voicemail. whether it' busine or pleasure you can now F:~ Plu , we offer an outdoor wimming pool, Express enjoy real convenience at a price you can afford. nearby dining options, free parking and a direct _tiffiW- Express by Holiday Inn. It's the sensible choice. Cape Town Century City

Express by Holiday Inn hotels also at JHB Eastgate, Nelspruit and Pretoria. \.- "-

_Mainly

The Holiday Inn Maputo perfects local , thanks to executive chef Silvio Mindrea.

he opening of Southern Sun's new Holiday Inn in and food - an entire experience,' Maputo on 18 December was the talk of the town, says Norman. Mindrea, like all with anticipation about the authentic Mozambican the staff at the Holiday Inn cuisine promised by executive chef, Silvio Mindrea, Maputo, is single-minded in his T running high. d esi re to fulfil this visi0 n. It is not only the hotel's idyllic beachfront location mixed with 'The dining experience at city hotel appeal that will keep guests returning. According to the hotel will be uniquely Mindrea, the outstanding local cuisine is going to be yet another Mozambican in the Portuguese major attraction of the hotel and he's anxious to create even style. Our will be the more of a buzz with some of the unique new culinary concepts very best in Maputo - we have 5 that were introduced on opening. taken the world-famous Holiday ~ According to general manager Paul Norman, the hotel's vision Inn breakfast that our guests ~ jj is to become Maputo's hospitality experience of choice. look forward to waking up to, j 'People must come to the Holiday Inn because that is where and added special Mozambican ~ they chose to stay - because of a combination oflocation, comfort elements, such as freshly baked Executive chef Silvio Mindrea.

103 EQUINOX Reviving an almost forgotten Mozambican custom, each draft beer is served with a selection of Tapas or Peticos - a selection of small dishes such as prawns, clams, with spicy and nuts

Above: Silvio Mindrea chooses only the choicest ingredients for his creations, allowing him to perfect the authentic Mozambican cuisine he specialises in.

Maputo and pastries,' comments Mindrea. forgotten Mozambican custom, each and dinner - which is served buffet style, as well as a la draft beer is served with a selection of carte - includes local items such as prawns, crab and other seafood. tapas or petiscos - a selection of little dishes In addition, the menu comprises many delicious Mozambican and such as prawns, clams, Mozambique other African dishes such as Frango a Zambeziana - a popular and bread with spicy sauces and authentic chicken dish originating from the province ofZambezia, cashew nuts. The hotel, situated in the centre of Mozambique where the Zambezi River which prides itself on its enters the warm Indian Ocean. This delicious grilled baby chicken excellent selection of Portuguese dish is marinated for 12 hours in coconut milk with green chillies South African wines, ports, brandies and and garlic. Another of Mindrea's fine creations, also on offer at the aguardente, also keeps five or six top• hotel, is Matapa - a dish that originated in the province of quality bottles of wine on ice at the bar for guests who wish to Inhambane, in the south. This exotic prawn dish uses leaves of order by the glass. cassavacombined with garlic, coconut milk and peanuts and, like Thirty-five-year-old Mindrea studied and gained experience in the Frango a Zarnbeziana, is traditionally eaten with the hands. Romania before leaving his motherland due to political instability. The menus have been designed to have a distinctly cosmopolitan, After a brief period in West Germany, he moved to South Africa as well as African feel, with speciality dishes including clams and joined Southern Sun in 1991, where he's enjoyed a long and naturelle and marinated, grilled garoupa. successful career. The only concession that the kitchen has made to its neighbour• His career with Southern Sun began at the Sabi River Sun as a ing country is to incorporate a typically South African offering Chef de Partie and he swiftly moved up through the ranks to - superb grilled fillet and sirloin steak, with baked potato, sour Junior Sous Chef at Holiday Inn Garden Court Wilderness. He cream and alI the trimmings later became Sous Chef, then Executive Sous Chef at the Jan • - into its menu. While this may Smuts Holiday Inn (now Holiday Inn Johannesburg International 5 be the only non-Mozambican dish, Airport). '" its greatest appeal will undoubtedly He was Executive Chef at the de luxe Selborne Sun resort when ~ be to the local market, as the hotel he successfullyapplied for the Maputo position. f': will be one of the only places in the During his time with Southern Sun, Mindrea has accumulated a 6 country that offers it. wealth of experience and a thorough understanding of the local i The restaurant bar also and international travel market, adapting his skills to the ~ has something special requirements of business hotels and resorts alike. z-< o to offer. Reviving an almost 'Together with an excellent team of Mozambican sous chefs, 2

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