Plett winter fest offerings growing in stature
Over the past week, Plettenberg Bay hosted its fourth Plett Food & Film Festival with world-class food, wine, films and other entertainment.
The three-day event not only drew local and visiting foodies who came out in droves to the White House Theatre for a taste of Plett’s culinary and other talents, but also attracted the attention of national media, including food bloggers, writers and other celebrities.
To add to the experience these films are preceded or followed by either a gourmet culinary feast linked to the film or culinary presentations by food specialists, who this year included celebrity chef and radio personality Jenny Morris, known as South Africa’s “Giggling Gourmet”.
The festival kicked off on Monday, July 10 with the screening of an iconic South African film, Katrina. The movie looks at the lives of a coloured family in Wuppertal – a small town in the Cederberg mountains in the Western Cape – during the apartheid era.
The film was directed by Jans Rautenbach and stars Katinka Heynes, Don Leonard, Joe Stewardson, Cobus Rossouw and Plett resident Jill Kirkland in the title role.
“The movie was for me a moment where I could make my statement, a statement of shame and that shame was apartheid,” said Kirkland, who was the guest of honour at the screening of this 1969 classic.
In the movie Kirkland sings folk songs, which weave a beautiful thread through the film, and on Monday her daughter Robyn Brouckaert entertained the crowd with soothing folk songs and dedicated her performance to her mother.
Before the screening, guests were treated to delectable traditional Cape cuisine prepared by the Nguni Restaurant team, which was paired with a selection of local wines.
Following the movie, guests’ tastebuds were taken on a sweet journey to the Cape with delicious desserts including koeksisters and malva pudding.
The evening was topped off with an amazing performance by classic 60s rock legend Steve Ashley of the Staccatos who had the crowd dancing and singing with a selection of some favourites. His performance was so popular that he returned twice to the stage after completing his set as the crowd demanded an encore.
Plettenberg Bay Tourism spokesperson Patty Butterworth said that the series of events was part of the Plett Arts Festival, a winter-based event that showcased music, drama, fine art, theatre and food in the area.
Classic 60’s rock legend Steve Ashley of the Staccatos had the crowd dancing and singing with a selection of some favourites during the first night of the Plett Food & Film Festival on July 10.
“The popular winter festival elevates our world-class tourism offerings and highlights the many dimensions of Plettenberg Bay. Plett is well-known for its beautiful beaches and outdoor adventure during the summer months and now local and international travellers are able to experience what we have on offer during our sunny winter months,” Butterworth said.
She added that the winter season, traditionally slow on the tourism front, has grown in popularity. “We anticipate this growth to continue, particularly with the increase of visitors during the Plett Arts Festival and the Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival later this year.”
On Tuesday evening there was a screening of the Oscar-nominated Russian movie Tangerines, which was be paired with Mandarin Absolut Vodka, simple soup, bread, cheese and pickles, and desserts.
This was followed by performances by Mathew Reid on saxophone, Andre van Vuuren on accordion and Joe Bolton on tuba. The trio are some of the founding members of Cape Town’s Balkanology Parties.
The pinnacle of the festival was set to take place on Wednesday, July 12, after going to print, when Morris was scheduled to prepare a feast filled with the aromatic flavours of Morocco after the showing of the movie Casablanca.
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News