SOUTH AFRICA (August 2016) – Candles lighting the pathway… impi’s welcoming guests with a victory dance…elephant tusks and kudu horns as a back drop…the spirit of Africa was rife and guests knew they were welcome!
The 8th annual Gourmets and Gourmands championed by Hartmans on behalf of Carpe Diem School on 20 August 2016 was an undeniable success. Some 200 guests stepped into an African Dream and experienced Africa in all its splendour. No holds barred, it was a complete sensory experience true to African form!
A spirit of Ubuntu was evident from the start. Guests were challenged to be creative with a piece of African-print fabric attached to the invitation and to wear it on the night. Every single person participated and that created a unity amongst all guests. The banquet hall was eloquently transformed into an African Dream by Fancy Functions. Every one of the participating restaurants went all out to dress their tables to the T and to make their guests feel welcome. Guests of Chaîne Des Rôttiseurs Outeniqua; Die Rooi Kombuis all the way from Barrydale; Fancourt; Fat Fish George; Fat Fish Plettenberg Bay; François Ferreira Academy; Garden Route Game Lodge from Albertinia; Meade 101; Sucasa outside of Oudtshoorn; The Gannet in Mossel Bay; Pop-up Restaurant Thousand Sensations; and from the Wilderness The Views Boutique Hotel & Spa The Wilderness Hotel, Salinas and Pomodoro enjoyed the best African cuisine. Various vineyards sponsored wines to compliment the unique dishes and Ciro’s Lavazza coffee and espresso was the perfect end to the dinner.
This year’s auction must have been one of the most exciting ones up to date. It must have been the African ambiance as the excitement was almost tangible. Guests were enthralled by the energetic Frederick Becker of Van Rensburg Auctions who again masterfully led the auctioning off of all 20 lots. Each lot that was auctioned off this year was of substantial value. The bid on the exotic prize of a trip for 2 persons for 4 nights to Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa including full board and lodge, flights, meals plus a safari blue excursion and a trip to Stone Town was closed on a record amount. The two exquisite time pieces donated by Michél Nunnes of Raffaele D’Amato Jeweller, the stainless steel and 18ct yellow gold ladies Ebel Wave and gold plated Michel Herbelin Newport Trophy analogue quarts chronograph also closed on record bids!
Contemporary singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Mel Botes was accompanied by Sequence, musicians from Knysna and literally had guests on their feet dancing to the energetic music. The phenomenal sponsors of Gourmets & Gourmands ensured that this year’s event was masterfully executed. Hartman & Son Butcher was the premier sponsor of the Carpe Diem School Gourmets & Gourmands for the fifth consecutive year. Michael Pashut of Commercial Auto & Bus, Fancy Functions, Discover Agency who sponsored the Zanzibar getaway, Xerox who did all the printing and of course Raffaele D’Amato Jewellers contributed more than was requested.
The chef’s parade, usually one of the highlights of the evening, was laden with emotion as special recognition was given to the late Braam de Swardt, when a certificate in memoriam was presented to Claudio for Braam’s passionate service to Gourmet and Gourmands. This will be passed on to Braam’s wife. Pomodoro and The Gannet restaurant are the only two restaurants that have participated and have supported this event for 8 consecutive years and they also received recognition for that.
With the support of the patrons of the 2016 Gourmets and Gourmands championed by Hartmans on behalf of Carpe Diem School an amount just short of R300 000 was raised during the auction. The funds will be allocated to install a wheelchair basketball floor and to upgrade the computer room. 7 of the school’s learners were chosen for the Western Cape wheelchair basketball team and they do not have a court to practice on. Nelson Mandela said “In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.” Thank you to the Garden Route community for participating and contributing to the lives of the 316 learners of Carpe Diem School.
For more information about the 2016 Gourmets and Gourmands championed by Hartmans on behalf of Carpe Diem School please contact the Karools Hauptfleisch – Headmaster on 044 874 4074 or email carpekarools@telkomsa.net if you need more information on the event follow Carpe Diem School on Facebook at Carpe Diem School.
