I am sure everyone in the food and wine world knows about the poor state of Topsi Venter’s health and has also heard about – and is contributing to – the rock ‘n roll party that the Lions Ladies and all her friends are throwing for her, in order to help fund medical expenses.

As the Lions Ladies have also helped to advertise the event that we are holding to help Topsi on May 18, you may have read about this fund-raiser as well. But this is the official appeal, as I am helping John Jackson (GM and Executive Chef of Royal Malewane) to attract offers of help for the amazing evening that he and others are organizing, where they hope to raise an astonishing R100 000,00.

Here follows the draft of the invitation that will be finalized, we hope next week, to give you a better idea of the programme on May 18.

INVITATION

African Banquets
Cape Chefs Association
Cape and Lowveld Bailliages Chaine des Rotisseurs

Invite you to participate in a

TRIBUTE TO TOPSI

To honour a doyenne and living legend of South African food

For, after decades on her feet in restaurants, she needs a new knee and perhaps bejeweled knee-pads as well…

Join us for a memorable evening of

GOURMET FOOD SUPERB WINES EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT

Featuring Daniel Pascal and Pieter du Plessis Elsabe Zietsman

Voices – the Four-tenor Il Divo Nataniel (to be confirmed) etc etc

At the BARNYARD THEATRE , Willowbridge Shopper Centre, Tygervalley on

Monday May 18 at 6,30pm

Ticket prices R250 – R300 inclusive of all wine, food and show

Table configurations from 2 to 12 guests. Private boxes from 6 to 20 guests.

DETAILS OF EVENING: We need up to 40 chefs, restaurants, hotels, cookery schools to prepare a cold gourmet picnic supper for up to 12, - snacks, starter, main, dessert/sweet treats for interval.

We need your best wines for 12 guests, with a welcoming glass of bubbly on arrival.

There are several ways to take part:

Buy tickets.
If you are in food, can you prepare and sponsor food for up to 12 – we will provide the Boschendal picnic baskets – but need the food delivered to the Barnyard theatre between 5 and 5,30 on Monday May 18. We will be ready for you, with drinks and snacks if you are staying.

Or: you could also buy the table you have prepared the food for, or sell it for us.

If you are in wine, sponsor between 18 – 24 of your best reds and similar of whites and deliver them ahead to 35 on Washington guest house, Cnr Washington rd and 9th Ave Boston, Bellville, where Keith Blake will receive them (083 3182 630,or 021 949 2248) Or you could also buy the table for which you are donating wine, or sell it for us.

We have more info and details, but this is enough for now… we already have some wonderful commitments from chefs like Peter Veldsman, Marlene van der Westhuizen, Niel Els of the Chaine, who has booked six tables on the Chaines behalf, Alicia and Corrie Wilkinson of Sillwood Cookery School who are sending 40 students to help on the day, are doing food for more than one table, helping to sell tickets etc. Chefs Paul Hartmann and Garth Stroebel of the SA Chefs Academy are providing food and wine for a private box, and all these contributors have come on board before any appeals have gone out.

I know several of you indicated that you were prepared to help our event as well as the Franschhoek event, which is very kind and much appreciated.

This appeal is specifically to wine estates in the valley, and to the restaurants on those wine estates. We will, of course, be appealing to cellars in every region of the W Cape, but starting with you, as you all know Topsi (and her legendary contributions to charitable functions) best of all

Please contact Myrna Robins with your questions and commitments by email if possible

myrnar@breede.co.za, but here are her phone no's:

H: Tel/Fax: 023 625 1044

Cell: 083 702 43 81