South Africa's very varied and exciting cuisine has long needed a proper showcase for discerning travellers with a particular interest in fine dining and gourmet food.
Over the years, many travel operators both local and international, have bemoaned the fact that a gourmet route does not yet exist. Although there is a long and spectacular wine route to showcase the splendours of South Africa's wines, no-one has yet designed routes showcasing the great food of our many different regions.
From the west coast to the east lie a host of different regions all with their own flavours and particular local ingredients. The idea is to choose the best places to showcase these in any area and to put together a route that encompasses the activities of the area while offering the most excellent food available.
With a long and successful career in the food and hosting business, Lemien de Ridder discusssed this idea at length with these tour operators and has been inspired, together with the very well known Glenda Paterson of In Touch With Tourism and Cape Hotels, and Ligia de Coito of Winedesk@the Waterfront notable epicurean, to begin crafting gourmet routes that take travellers in any particular region to those special establishments that offer gourmet dining or artisinal gourmet delights.
Lemien has been in the tourism industry for the past 13 years, her portfolio ranging through Owner, Marketing, and Finances to being a Sommelier. Together with her mother, Elzona Deetlefs, internationally known chef and inspiration behind the gourmet food, she runs the highly acclaimed four star Cosmos Cuisine Guesthouse and Restaurant in Addo, Eastern Cape.
Glenda has had 30 years experience in the all aspects of the ourism Industry at all levels and is a well known to inbound and local tour operators as a marketer of excellent accommodation in South Africa.
Ligia has spent her adulthood deeply seeped in the wine (and food) industries. She will be available to help plan your personal gourmet experience with you, offering valuable insight and advice on the best venues and route for your singular experience.
Together these three ladies are in the process of discovering and visiting those establishments which they recognise to offer the best gourmet dining, products and services available.
The first two Gourmet Routes offered are the Gourmet Garden Route and the Gourmet Route 62 both of which include Lemiens very successful Guesthouse and restaurant serving guests only.
Welcome to South Africa's Gourmet Route!!
