The World Cup is approaching! Johannesburg’s Mayor Amos Masondo summed it up when he said: “Africa’s time has come! South Africa is ready!”, and as a key host city, Johannesburg certainly could not be more ready.
The Westcliff too is all set to receive its fair share of visitors during the games, and announces the appointment of a new Chef to delight its guests' discerning palates.
Johannesburg - ‘the City of Gold’ - is home to two World Cup stadiums – Soccer City in Soweto, and Ellis Park in the city centre. Ellis Park holds a special place in most South Africans’ hearts as it where the country won the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, which Clint Eastwood pays homage to in his recent Hollywood blockbuster INVICTUS. With a seating capacity of 91 141, Soccer City is the largest stadium in Africa. Soweto is a city of its own located to the South-West of Johannesburg. Made up of 21 ‘townships’ clustered together, the area is an exciting cultural melting-pot to explore.
Johannesburg will host 15 matches in total and locals are now counting down to and gearing up for the first official kick-off at Soccer City on Friday 11 June.
Football aside, Johannesburg offers a multitude of stimulating and intriguing people and places to discover, and it doesn’t get better than staying at The Westcliff in terms of setting, location and…taste.
To delight the discerning palates of its guests The Westcliff appointed a new Chef: Nicky Gibbs, who is a Chef with a vision. She is guided by the macrobiotic way of eating, which says that eating naturally, locally and seasonally will ensure optimum health and nutrition. At the hotel flavour and taste and titillating dishes are a must, but the management is aware that the guests are also conscious of their health and want to feel good about what we they are eating.
To eat locally, Nicky has developed strong relationships with suppliers of niche and specialised products from boutique farmers. To eat seasonally, she only sources foods that have ripened naturally in the Southern Hemisphere, and her menus will change with every season. And naturally: all her meat and chicken is free range, grass fed and naturally reared - free from all forms of antibiotics and steroids. Guests will taste the difference.
Nicky Gibbs wants the Polo Bar and La Belle Terrasse to be known, quite simply, for good food, good service and a fantastic elevated look-over-the-city vibe (which is not difficult when one is perfectly positioned to soak in the most spectacular view over the largest city forest in the world).
Nicky spent much of her childhood growing up on a farm in the Eastern Free State where her dad worked as a vet. Her down-to-earth upbringing gave her a solid foundation before joining the rollercoaster world of hospitality, working in esteemed establishments such as Fancourt, Melrose Arch Hotel, Quaglino’s in London, cruise liners QE 2 and Symphony & Harmony; and then tour catering for rock ‘n’ rollers (the likes of Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, Moby and Joe Jackson).
For more information contact Gabrielle Palmer, PR Manager, email gpalmer@westcliff.co.za
