Featur ingAlei t Wedding Coordinat ion

Alei t EventsSt i r Food

Seventeenth Edition // November 2012

1 THE OPENING SEVENTEENTH EDITION – NOVEMBER 2012

3 WEDDINGS WILLEMIJN & JAN-WILLEM AVASHNI & PIERRE LIESL & ANDREW

4 EVENTS REUBEN RIFFEL DINNER AFRICAN SUMMIT ATRIUM DINNER SUMMIT CONFERENCE ANAND NAIDOO DINNER

2 MARISKA VISSER INTERVIEW WITH ALEIT’S PERSONAL ASSISTANT

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6 IN CLOSING TO END IT OFF

5 FEATURES STIR FOOD New beginnings Kamersvol Geskenke Win

INDEX // 3

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Mind Your Manners.

As event and wedding planners we have the honour of meeting lots of different people. People from all walks of life. Most of them wonderful and inspiring but then you meet some of the guests that we serve and attend to at our weddings and events. Most of them absolutely divine people, there is however always the one or two that just has no manners or respect whatsoever. And we are all seeing it more and more, leading me to think that a little education session might just help.

Thus the reason for my Guest Etiquette little black book below. I hope the right people get to read this.

• TheWeddingplannerorEventplannerispaidforby the Host, you have no right to order them around as you please. You do however have the right to ask them politely to assist you with something.

• Neverclickyourfingersatawaitronor frontofhouse manager. This is extremely disrespectful. • Sincewhendiditbecomeacceptabletopassoutat an event because you drank too much?

• ArrivinglateforaweddingCeremonyisprobablythe worst thing you can do to the poor Bride. Rather justwaitinyourcaruntiltheCeremonyiscompleted.

• Swapping your names on the tables becauseyou are not happy with your seat is a big, big no, no. The Host usually spends hours trying to work out the seating plan. There is a very good reason why you where seated where the Host planned.

THE OPENING Seventeenth Edition – November 2012

• Placingyourpersonalbelongingsatyourtablesetting and on top of the table setting before the guests have entered the venue is completely disrespectful. The Host spent a lot of money to create a beautiful reception and now you come and plonk your ugly leather patch jacket down on thetable.Notcool.

• Ifthewineisnotplacedonthetablesfromthestart do not ask the waiters to place the wine on the table. • Donotaskawaitron, coordinator or barmanto keep your property safe or somewhere safe, and when something goes missing don’t be upset about it. • IfyoueatyourmeatwelldoneratherordertheVegetarian option • For some reason some SouthAfricans thinkChino’sandJeanscountasBlack tieorFormal.Jeans and Chino’s are never welcome…unlesstheinvitationsspecificallystateotherwise. • Ifyouareaneventplannerorweddingplanneryourself and you are attending a special occasion, keep your comments to yourself. It is not your day

Andthereyouhaveit.Remember it’sNicetobeNice.

HappyNovembereverybody.

THE OPENING // 5

Kind Regards,

Johnny Hamman - Creative Director

MARISKA VISSER

So you are Aleit’s right hand lady, how did you acquire this prestigious title?

When I came in for my initial interview it was sodaunting, I mean this was Aleit! However we met and got to chatting and Aleit immediately put me at ease... He has a great way of doing that with people. Being quite a shy person myself and not at all as outgoing as Aleit, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. When thecall came thatevening Iwasabsolutelyover the moon... And haven’t had a single moment of doubt since then – promise!

Working mainly with Weddings, are you a romantic at heart?

I have to admit, I have never been the most romantic of people... However, getting to know the couples as we begin working at the weddings and seeing those people so incredibly in love has had a profound and positive effect on me. Even I have shed a tear when couples have read their vows to each other - it really is special to be able to experience true love up close on a regular basis... Enough to turn even the biggest cynic into a romantic!

Tell us something we didn’t know about Aleit?

Oh dear, hmm what to say without getting into trouble!!

One thing that people only really realise about Aleit once they get to know him well is that behind all the confidence he is a genuinely soft person with anenormous heart. He always wants to help those less

fortunate than himself and is an incredibly generous person. Aleit is also very practically hands on, always jumping in and helping out at weddings or events, he doesn’t simply stand around and delegate.

Lastly...his natural eye colour is brown!

You are super organised at work – is this the case at home?

I try to be... But at home it is usually more a case of organised chaos! I tend to switch off when I get home andwiththattheorganisationalskillsflystraightoutthe window...

What does Aleit have to do to bribe you to do very last minute crisis management?

Haha! I must say we have become very good at solving last minute issues that might arise over a big glass of wine. Being part of a team as well organised and dynamic as The Aleit Group, makes it easy to take care of any crises that inevitably pop up.

What do you do in the free time that you hope to have?

I am a total and complete bookworm, I absolutely love reading. I am a happy camper as long as I am busy with a good book. I love spending time with my awesome friends, going to the beach and cooking - I really enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. Of course living in the beautiful Winelands there is nothingbetter than spending a day on a wine farm enjoying our wonderful wines.

MariskagrewupinthelittlecoastalsurfingtownJeffrey’sBay,andsoonrealisedthatshewasmeantforthecity.ShestudiedBAHumanitiesattheUniversityofStellenboschbuthasalwaysfeltthatsheneedstobe part of a creative environment.

| WILLEMIJN & JAN-WILLEMWEDDINGS

How did you experience your wedding day?

Very relaxed, lots of fun and great food. Exactly the way we wanted it to be. Altogether it was a very special day for us and for our guests.

How did you meet?

Wemetatapartyandstartedtotalk.Whenthepartyendedwewerestill talking so we decided to go into town to a pub. The pub closed and we watched the sunrise together, from that moment on we have been together.

Your best moment of the day?

The moment when we walked together to the spot where the ceremony took place was very special to us and of course when we said ‘ja’ to each other.

AndwehadawonderfulSouthAfricandinner.Everybodyaroundabigtableinthegarden,withflowersandlightbulbsaboveourheads.

Great food, great stories to tell, lots of laughter.

One of the best things was that we celebrated everything with only our closed family and friends.

Something good or great about us:

We think you are the best. Very good at turning our ideas into awonderful setting for our wedding. All looking perfect but still with a natural and relaxed atmosphere.

Tell us more about the honeymoon.

Wehadakindofprehoneymoon.SafariinBotswanaandVicfalls.

After that a relaxing week on the west coast. All beautiful places and perfect to unwind after a year of hard work. And as we are real city people the week after the wedding we spent in a very nice apartment in thecentreofCapeTown.Justspentsometimeatthepool,havingnicelunches, seeing some friends and thinking about the next honeymoon.

WILLEMIJN & JAN-WILLEMBurgundy Bourgogne

Bestadviceofourweddingofficer:goona honeymoon 3 times a year.

Advice to other Bridal couples tying the knot soon.

Do it your own way! If possible makeyour wedding part of a longer vacation, no stress!And find yourself a weddingplanner, it makes things a lot easier.

WEDDINGS // 13WEDDINGS // 13

| AVASHNI & PIERREWEDDINGS

WEDDINGS // 15

How we met

A mutual friend suggested that I bombard Pierre with my many questions about the actuarial fellowship exam which I was preparing for. Many months later we met for the first time when he too joined Liberty Life.Now,4yearslaterwearehappilymarried.

The Proposal

Pierre booked a weekend away at the truly amazing Karkloof spa and was planning to propose then. However, the ring (which he designed by himself) needed to be sent in for adjustments at the last minute and wasn’t ready in time. The weekend still turnedouttobeamazing!Wethoroughlyenjoyedthe“timelessness”, intimacy, awesome food, and stunning views that the spa has to offer.

He then planned a romantic private picnic at Lethabo estate. Only after many hours of enjoying the delicious food and soaking up the beautiful environment, with their weeping willow trees and the sound of the river and birds, he proposed while taking a walk along the banksoftheCrocodileRiver.Iwassoexcitedtogetback to my family and share the news with everyone.

The Preparations

Well,wehaveverybusycareersandsofor5monthswe tried and failed to start the preparations! It was then that we made the best and most important decision of the whole process; we decided to ask Aleit and his team to take our high level ideas for our wedding day and make them a reality. They honestly took every stress away and created a wedding experience beyond what we could ever have dreamt of.

Weknewwewantedaweddingaway fromhome toavoid everyone running around like headless chickens. Wewantedtocreatearelaxedholidaymoodamongst

AVASHNI & PIERREHIDDEN VALLEY WINES

WEDDINGS // 17

our guests and ourselves. Stellenbosch wasperfect for this. The wine farms, good food, mountain and sea views, what more could we ask for.

Our priority for the wedding was the food and thephotographer.Wecouldn’thavebeenmorefortunatewithbothBertus (ChefatOverture),who was willing to accommodate the different tastebuds of our different cultures, and Joe(photographer), who so artfully captured so many special moments like a ninja (for the most part no one was aware of his presence).

My grandmother, the creative genius that she was, always sewed clothes for us when wewere growing up. She inspired us to loveand appreciate quality material and the art of designing and creating clothes with different textured fabrics. It was with this in our hearts, that my mother took it upon herself to design the flower girls’ silk dresses and ask Biji to create a raw silk wedding gown for myself. It was an experience that I will always treasure.

Knowing that I had the emotional support and blessings of my family to do what made us happy, relieved a lot of pressure and gave me the freedom to dream outside the box and create a wedding that reflected the spirit of our relationship. I could trust my aunt and sister, two very wise souls, to ensure that I didn’t abuse that freedom.

The Big Day

The day before, my father organized a relaxing day on the lawns of the Devon Valley Hotelsipping tea and enjoying sweet treats.

The flower girls and page boys played around practicing their walks. It was a very calming and fun filled day. My sister spent the night and morning of the wedding with me watching movies, indulging in a big breakfast, and ensuring that nothing and no-one came in the way of my happy wedding experience.

The hair and make-up artists joined us early on the morning of our wedding day. Alicia, was so accommodating and even came after the ceremony to do touch ups because it was a sunny day – how thoughtful and kind!

Our wedding ceremony and reception were splendid! It was the happiest day of our lives. A day spent with friends and family, laughing, eating, more eating and dancing. We treasure every single moment of theday.Noone(usorourfamily)hadanythingto worry about. We were confident thatSimonèand theAleit teamhadeverythingunder control.

The whole experience was unforgettable and to think that I thought I just wanted to sign a register! It was all absolutely worth it!

The Honeymoon

After midnight, it was time to say our goodbyes and depart for our honeymoon, which began in the fairytale Bell Tower suite ofAsaraWineEstateinStellenbosch.Asifthat wasn’t surprise enough, the Aleit team so thoughtfully decorated the suite with little reminders of our wedding. The honeymoon destination was also a surprise and only

when we took the connecting flight from Zurich, did I realize that we were headed for thehistoriccityofVenice.WhatcanIsay?It is as they say the most romantic city and so for 7 days we leisurely strolled through the alleys and enjoyed experiencing the city ashusbandandwife.Wethen travelled tothepicturesquecityofFlorence,wherewealso enjoyed shopping before coming back home.

Our Advice

The best advice I was given was that our happiness should be a priority. Everyone will sense the love and care between the two of you and the entire mood of the event will be lifted. It is important to bear this in mind during the preparations, when sifting through the many opinions you will no doubt receive.

A wedding planner is essential if you don’t have the time to run around playing project manager, negotiator, creative thinker, and carry on with your usual fully packed life. Aleitandteamwerephenomenal.Fromtheplanning stages to the day itself, everything fell seamlessly into place (at least from our perspective☺).

Hire service providers who are experts at what they do so you can relax on the day and trust that they will do the job better than you ever could.

Every decision that needed to be made, we made together and it made all the difference to our relationship and wedding day.

| LIESL & ANDREWWEDDINGS

LIESL & ANDREWMOLENVLIET WINE AND GUEST ESTATE

WEDDINGS // 23

How we met

The story of how we met is quite embarrassing.

As young graduates embarking on our new careers London, we met in a bar/club that does not have the best reputation. We lost touch for 2 years,albeit with the odd, sporadic Facebook messagefrom Andrew, which remained unanswered. He was quite persistent!

After 2 years asmere Facebook friends,Andrewnoticed from my online status that I was headed toNewYork for a holiday. He promptly sentmea message to my inbox which recommended a champagne and chocolate tasting, which I thoroughly enjoyed! I messaged him back to thank him for his recommendation, a response he skilfully turned into a date to discuss our respective NewYorkexperienceswhenIgotbacktoLondon.And the rest, they say is history. His persistence certainly paid off, and I couldn’t be happier for it. How he proposed

In July 2010Andrew and Iwere lucky enough tosecure tickets to joinmy family at theWorldCupFinalatSoccerCityinJohannesburg.

AfterarrivingatJohannesburgInternationalAirportand heading home to unpack and catch up with lovedones,Andrewsnuck intomyDad’sstudy toask for his permission to marry me. I am told my dad’sresponsewasasfollows: <<Long pause>> “Weloveourdaughters<<Pause>> Andonlywantthebestforthem….<<Long pause. Again>>Wealsotrustthemtomaketheirowndecisions…<<Even Longer pause >>

BUT…IencourageyoutoaskLiesl” After the final, we checked-in at our gorgeous lodge on our safari trip I had planned as a surprise for Andrew.

One evening, as we returned from our room to go to dinner, our tour guide offered us a view of the stars, which they usually did on their guests’ last night. Of course Andrew accepted and as we arrived at the lodge’s helipad (only used for emergencies/VIPs!!!!!!), with the expanse view of theMadikweGameReserve,allIsawwas:

• Onetablefortwointhecentreofthehelipad surrounded by a circle of paper lanterns on the floor, each weighted down with sand and filled with burning candles;• Oillanternshungfromthebushesaroundus;• Themanageronhandtocookusaspecial dinner.• Ourownbar(Think:make-shifttablewith spiritsandwinesetc…)• Twobarrelswithholescutintoit,filledwitha burning wood fire, throwing out heat to keep us warm;• Thevastestexpanseofblackskyaroundus LITTEREDwithstarsasthoughsomeonehad thrown glitter into the sky; • Awaitressatourbeckandcall;• Hyenasbarkinginthedistance;and• (Ikidyounot….)Ashootingstar! AmazinglyIstillhadNOidea.Ourrangershortlyleft us to enjoy our evening. Then, as Andrew stood up next to me, about to open the champagne, he turned to me and said: “Before we open this, Ineed to ask you something”. He then got down on one knee (yes….he did!!!!) and askedme tomarry him. Without any hesitation in my mind Iexclaimed “Of course I’ll marry you!”

As we returned to Johannesburg after ouradventure-filled safari, I went with Andrew to pick upmyGORGEOUSringthatAndrewhadspeciallydesigned. I am a very spoilt and lucky girl. My man did good, and I couldn’t wait to marry him!

Our wedding day: the experience

HavinglivedintheUKforsomanyyears,onethingwascertainwhenwestarted toplanourbigday:we were going to get married in the most beautiful regiononearth!WiththehelpofTheAleitGroupwewere introduced to MolenVliet, which epitomised everything we were looking for

Wehadabeautifulandromanticgardenceremonyon the lawn in front of the MolenVliet Manor House boasting pure white décor. When the heavensdecided to open momentarily with a light sprinkling of rain,Andrew and I heard our guests’ pop open their white parasols in unison, and we all burst out laughing. The sea of parasols looked just gorgeous, and actually added an extra dimension to our outdoors ceremony!

For our reception dinner, MolenVliet was deckedout for a wedding feast with a regal royal blue lit hall laced with regal crystal chandeliers above long white tables with blue trim, adorned with tall white floral arrangements.

Our guests (and Andrew, because he’d forgotten!) were all surprised with the confetti bomb which exploded half way through our opening dance song, littering the dance floor with white and blue confetti butterflies.

Our best moment of our wedding day

It’s difficult to single out the best moment of our wedding day! But the things that immediately come tomindinclude:• ClassicalarrangementofU2’s“Beautiful

Day”aswewalkeddowntheaisleasthenewlywed Mr & Mrs• Theconfettibombbeingdeployedwithblue and white butterfly streamers during our first dance, which caught everyone by surprise • Thesermondeliveredbyourminister,which summed us both up so perfectly

The Aleit Group review

They certainly don’t call you the “A-Team” for nothing – that’s for sure!

Andrew and I struggle to find the words to express the extent of our gratitude to The Aleit Group for creating the most breathtakingly memorable andbeautifulweddingdayatMolenVlietWine&Guest Estate.

From the very first moment we met Aleit andhis team, Andrew and I were filled with nothing but confidence that our day would be nothing short of “wow”! It was a sheer delight working withthem.WecommendeachandeveryoneofThe Aleit Group for their endless enthusiasm, professionalism, organisation, support and hard graft.

Johnny – a very special and sparkly thank youfrom us for his infectious love of his profession, his dedication to making our ideas a reality, and his creative flair and passion. Johnny neverceased to make us feel like VIPs, and tirelessly went the extra mile throughout. The meticulous attention to the tiniest and last detail did not go unnoticed, and is still talked about amongst us and our guests.

The indelible memories of that truly magnificent and romantic day will remain with us forever. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re a true asset to any bride(and groom?)-to-be!

More about our honeymoon

Before returning to the UK, we enjoyed a very indulgent andluxurious2nightstayatLaResidence inFranschhoekafterourwedding. It was the perfect wedding night and opportunity for us to relax, enjoy each other’s company and reflect on our magical wedding day.

Forourhoneymoon,wetookaverylonghaulflighttothefabulousislands of Fiji for a week for sun, sand and R&R, followed bythree weeks of road tripping and adventurous activities across theNorthandSouthIslandsofNewZealand.Asitwassuchafarwaytofly,weknewwewantedtospendalongtimethere.Wearevery fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend a month on honeymoon.

Advice for future brides

WithourDelftthemeinmind,ourbiggesthelpwastheuseoftheexceedingly professional, creative and talented Aleit Group. Their assistance in planning a wedding from the other side of the world made the experience an absolute pleasure. By communicating with them over countless emails, our vision (and more!) was achieved, and unforgettable memories were created. Using awedding coordinator when planning a destination wedding would bemynumber1recommendationtoanybrideabroad.

Also invest in a very talented photographer (and videographer if you can!) as they will capture those special moments and elements, which you will treasure forever as a reminder of your wedding day.

Very importantly, remember to enjoy the planning phase ahead of your wedding! There are times when certain elements can prove difficult and challenging, but you need to remind yourself about the purposeofyourweddingday:youaremarryingthatonepersonyou love and want to spend the rest of your life with. The rest may be utterly gorgeous extras but it all comes secondary to what you are there to do.

Liesl and Andrew’s wedding was truly spectacular, here is their highlight viedo.

| REUBEN RIFFEL DINNEREVENTS

REUBEN RIFFEL DINNER

EVENTS // 31

An intimate dinner is always daunting to coordinate as the focus is less on the overall look and more on the smaller details. Making use of an absolutely spectacular venue that is much too large for the planed dinner, also posed an inter-estingchallenge.NotonlywasLourensfordWineEstateaperfect location, but having our favorite celebrity chef Reu-ben Riffel on board was an added bonus.

Inspired by Aleit’s recent high school reunion held at Lau-rent, we decided to make use of a fairy-light cage for the guests, so creating a cozy atmosphere in the large space. Lounge pockets filled the area outside the cage allowing guests to relax and mingle before enjoying the culinary treats thatReubenwasbusypreparing for them.Wewereable to create an open air cooking space for Reuben inside the venue seeing as we had so much space to work with! The elaborate food station was alive with all the flavors es-caping from the pots and pans... The first of the six course menuthatluredgueststothetablewasabeautifulCannel-liniBeanSoupwithTrufflesandParmesan.EvenLourens-ford’sownexecutivecheffromStirFood,GustaafBoshoff,couldn’t keep himself out of the action and joined Reuben in the kitchen to plate the second course consisting of Bur-rata with Tomato Raisins, poached and fresh Tomatoes with PineNutRiceCrispiesandBasiloil.Thethirdstarterdish,Porcinis with Butternut, deep fried Gnocchi and Brown But-ter,hadguestswonderinghowChefReubencouldtopwhatthey had just tasted!

The first main course, Crayfish Risotto with Tarragon andMascarpone, definitely did not disappoint. But without a doubt, the highlight of the evening was the Oxtail and pick-ledTongueSausage roll, glazed lardedFillet, Parsnip pu-ree and Bordelaise. The Lourensford wines perfectly com-plimented each dish as waitrons kept the glasses filled to the gleaming brim throughout each course.

Ending on a sweet note, not only with dessert which was PannaCottawithFruitJellies,PureesandCrisps,butalsowith Reuben signing custom made chefs jackets for each of the guests who attended. “I cook with Reuben Riffel” were the bragging rights that guests had the honor of leaving with at the end of a wonderful evening...

| AFRICAN SUMMIT ATRIUM DINNEREVENTS

AFRICAN SUMMIT ATRIUM DINNER

OnthelastnightofAfricaSummitConference,delegatesweretreatedtoalavishGalaDinnerhostedinaprivateofficebuildingintheSandtonCBD.Guestswereamazedtoseehowwhatisusually a methodical and corporate workspace had been trans-formed into something they could not quite imagine themselves. Two long banquet tables exquisitely styled beneath the colossal DNAoriginal art piece that had been floodlit in striking blues.The windows and glass elements of the interior of the building didwondersforlighting,asthebluehuesreflectedanddancedall the way to the ceiling. The tables were elegantly dressed with blue traditional shwe-shwe tablecloths, while Perspex ghost chairswerefoundneatlyalignedbesidethem.Floraldisplaysinthe centre of the tables comprised of striking Karoo roses, mag-nificentproteasandchinks.Votiveswithglimmeringtealightsaswell as robust pillar candles completed the elegant look.

As guests arrived in the Atrium, they were welcomed by the en-ergetic soundsofAfricandrummers.For those fromcountriesabroad, this was quite a spectacle and a well-received token that reminded guests that the hard day’s work at the earlier day’s conferencing was over, it was time to relax and unwind. Guests were thenofferedflutesofSpierMethodeCapClassiqueandmade their way to the deck outside where they socialized and watchedthesunsetintheclearJohannesburgsky.

EVENTS // 37

After chasing the sunset, guests were ushered back into the Atrium where they were treated to a delectable four course meal was created by Reuben Riffel. The dinner started with a delicious pre-starter of light creamy mushroom pot au feu, butternut ravioli, spring vegetables and pine nuts. Dinnerwas accompanied by the soft sounds of a live pianist play-ing sweet melodies on the grand piano as guests chatted and networked to their heart’s content. Guests were in com-plete awe of the delicious fare and loved that Reuben him-self left his hot and bustling kitchen to take the time out to explain each dish in detail at the table. The night ended with a culinary high note, as waitrons served Reuben’s delicious olive oil and pistachio cake, served with raspberries, white chocolate icecreamandraspberrysorbetfinishedoffwitha light rose jelly. Each course was perfectly paired with the deliciousandawardwinningSpierCreativeBlockrange–areal treat!

Witha lastnight-cap,delegateshadaone last chance totakeinthemagnificentsceneryamongstthem–theentirebuilding lit up in the night sky. As guests departed with the astonishing building in the background, the Aleit Events team couldn’t help but think – success!

| SUMMIT CONFERENCEEVENTS

SUMMIT CONFERENCE

EVENTS // 43

Thisyearbanking inSouthAfricawasdedicatedtoshowingtherest of Africa and the world that we can not only handle their in-vestmentsbutalsoalltheirbusinessbanking!WhatbetterwaytoshowcasethisthanwiththeAfricaSummitConference?Afulldayconference with Video calls to six countries and numerous guest speakers.

SummerHouseatSummerPlaceinJohannesburgwasthecho-sen venue for this event. Known for its opulent décor with elegant touches of gold and rich cream, the Aleit Events Team was excited to create a serious yet exciting event in this beautiful space.

With theworst JHBweather forecast,we decided to bring in awarm chino colored Bedouin tent to allow us to still have a beau-tiful lunchon theSummerTerrace.Weenclosed theareamag-nificentlyandcreatedawarmintimatespaceforthe50delegatestopped off with the very necessary addition of a dedicated coffee barsetwithtwotopBarista’smakingsomeofJoburg’sbestcups! The conference room upstairs was set with state of the art screens and video conferencing equipment. The serious and corporate feel was broken by the soft décor added in the form of fragrant flowersandwheatcoloredlinenclothsontheschoolroomstyleconferencesetting.Lilac,pinkandcreamflowerswerestyled inglass vases with bright violet and white striped fabric ribbon. Gi-ant cerise and power pink peonies the size of your hand were left on their very graceful own for all to enjoy – only in bloom for a full month a year they deserve the attention!

Delegates were treated to sumptuous snacks throughout themorning paired with the coffee of their choice. The barista’s were kept busy with the demand for a good cuppa! Lunch eventually drew near and delegates were treated to a seated lunch under the enveloping Bedouin on the SummerTerrace. Theweather wassmiling on us though and we had little rays of warm sunshine upon usgivingthetentanetherealgoldenglowthroughouttheday…

Grabbing a little bowl of heaven in the form of Banoffee Pie, del-egates made their way into the afternoon session content and en-ticedwiththelineuptofollow…

UntilnextyearIguess!

| ANAND NAIDOO DINNEREVENTS

| ANAND NAIDOO DINNEREVENTS

ANAND NAIDOO DINNER Whenwewere asked to host a small and cozy dinner inJo’burg –wewere delighted! The dinner was for a smallgroupofguestswithasurpriseelement…ReubenRiffel!!Weweresoexcited toget toworkwith thewell-regardedchef on yet another event!

Seeing as October is a month of changing seasons, wewanted tomake themost of the dramaticSandtonViewsandskyline.Number03DesmondStreetisaroof-topven-ue with the most remarkable views overlooking the skyline. As the sun set, the night lights started to shine brighter and bolder, twinkling in the dusk. As the weather doesn’t always play along, a Bedouin tent was erected on the veranda area to block off any rain, but not hide the breathtaking view.

Reuben arrived early to start prepping the four course meal whichfilledtheairwiththemostincrediblearomas.GuestswerewelcomedwithacoldglassofMCC,whilebeingen-tertainedbyaSaxophonistwhoset theopulent theme forthe evening. The aroma of the pre-starter course of Pump-kinGingerChaiSoupinvitedgueststothekitchentohavea closer look at what Reuben was up to. After licking their lipsfromthesoup,theNorwegianSalmonandfreshTatakiwithCondensedMilk,MisoMayonnaise,JalapenoandYuzustarterblewtheirminds.Thecombinationsofflavorswereso unexpected and kept guests guessing what was coming next!

Noonecouldkeeptheirinterestatbayandthekitchenstart-edfillingupasReubenwasbusypreparingtheBeefFillet,OxtailandFoieGraswithParsnipWhiteChocolatePureeand Bordelaise Jus. Again, another exceptionally madecourse had guests smiling from ear to ear.

Afteraratherscaryhailstorm(especially forusCapetoni-ans), we continued to treat guests with everyone’s favorite course…Dessert!ChefReubenthensignedoneofhiscookbooks for each couple to take home and try his delectable dishesthemselves–luckyfish!

| STIR FOODFEATURES

NEW BEGINNINGS

Our brand spanking new kitchen at Laurent on Lourensfordhasgivenusadefinitenewleaseon life. Designed and built to our specific re-quirements, it has a simple and effective layout that just works. The metaphorical new leaf has turned for theStirTeamandwe’re taking thisseason head on with new gusto as we appreci-ate our great ovens, extractors and walk in. You know what they say; the little things!

Gustaaf’s treasured cookbooks have now found ahomeontheshelvesinthenewofficespaceand Gustaaf himself has found a place where he can “get away from the heat” and plan his menus and play the executive role.

Wewanttothankeveryonewhoplayedarolein making it all work and invite anyone who would like to come have a sneak peek at what it all looks like.

KAMERSVOL GESKENKE

Being involved in this years Kamers was such a great experience and learning curve for us. The vibe and hum of the market place was tan-gible as people flocked through the gates atLourensford Estate to feast their senses and use every ounce of willpower not to empty their pockets.Welandedwithourrumpsinthebut-ter with this one, as we were able to run all our prep from the new kitchen, literally meters from our customized food stall. Market food being relatively new to us, we planned the menu for day1andhopeditwaswhatpeoplewanted.Asthe days went by we changed the menu to keep things new and fresh and responded to what

wasthemostpopular.Fishandchips,Thaigreencurry,flatbreads,oysters,sushiand“Plankievleis”with chips and aioli were amongst the top sellers. We used funky, recycled packaging and woodencutlery,whichconveyedtheStirimagetothehun-gry shoppers. Interacting with the market goers and traders over the course of the 6 days was a real buzz and we felt privileged to be part of this great event and hope to be again.

ON TRENDS

Keeping in theme with the recent success of Kam-ers, we really love the new street market and mobile foodtrend.HittingCapeTowninabigwayarefoodtrucks offering meals on wheels with a difference. Fragrantcurries,flatbreads, freshly tossedsaladsand gourmet burgers and hot dogs are the order oftheday.We’reimagininganoldairstreamtrailerconverted into a food truck serving all of the above, be it at a wedding, market or somewhere off the highways and byways, drawing hoards of hungry Capetoniansenmasse.

WIN

There isn’t long left before this competition comes to an end so LIKE our facebook page and in 30words or less describe your ultimate dinner party.

STIR FOOD

ZARAZOO PHOTOGRAPHY

FREDERIK LOTTERBERNARD VOGES

ZANE MATTISSON

TO END IT OFF

IN CLOSING

“Corporateorphanage”isonephenomenonthathasoflatebeenatermthrownaroundbymany.Moderndaycorporate lifestyle results in many innocent, care-free and young ones being subjected to this undesirable circumstance.Thiscannotbemorerelevantaswefindourselvesinthemidstofthebusiestmonthofthelastquarterintheentertainmentindustry.Yeswearejustamonthawayfromabrandnewyear-2013.Aswewinddownwhathasbeenaphenomenalyearofnote,itiswithabrightsmilethatIproudlyreflectbackon the many impeccably executed events. The ever-evolving approach in conceptualizing and execution by TheAleitGroupiswhatsetsusunmatchedandsecondtonone.“Changeisinevitable”andtheonlychangethat we constantly strive for is a progressive one. In closing one event that I eagerly look forward to dates 12/12/12–keepyourearsonthegroundforthisone.

Kind Regards,

Thabo Matlhako - Director - The Aleit Group

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Kind Regards,

The Aleit Group - Team

As this busy year draws to a close and the holiday season sets about us, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made this prosperous year possible.

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