CAPE TOWN

LocalPlaces is best known for its exceptional storytelling, whether on tour or as part of a lunch or dinner experience. In Cape Town, it is the LocalPlaces founder, Gerald Garner who handles all guiding and storytelling. He can be booked for private tours or storytelling lunches/dinners at a variety of venues, subject to availability. He is also available for public storytelling dinners on selected dates, which guests can book at a per person rate to form part of a wider group experience. For this purpose, LocalPlaces is partnering with Sibling for Summer 2024 (October till Mid-December).

SUMMER 2024:
Public storytelling dinners at Sibling in the Bo-Kaap

For Summer 2024 (October till Mid-December), LocalPlaces is staging a series of regular public storytelling dinners at Sibling in the Bo-Kaap.

We offer two themes:

Cape Town’s Astonishing Background Story
– From ancient times to the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.

Creation of Contemporary Cape Town
– The 20th & 21st centuries, from 1910 to 2024. 

Schedule:
Bookings are open for the following dates and themes till 12 December 2024. Private dinners for can be booked on any other day in the week, subject to availability.

 Thu 7 Nov: Cape Town’s Astonishing Background Story (Ancient Times – 1902)

Thu 14 Nov: The Creation of Contemporary Cape Town (1902-2024).

Thu 21 Nov: Cape Town’s Astonishing Background Story (Ancient Times – 1902).

Thu 5 December: Cape Town’s Astonishing Background Story (Ancient Times – 1902).

Thu 12 December: The Creation of Contemporary Cape town (1902-2024).

The experience
LocalPlaces is delighted to announce its summer season of public storytelling dinners in Cape Town. Hosted until mid-December 2024, mostly on Thursday evenings at Sibling – the Bo-Kaap kitchen studio of brother and sister duo, Louw and Lou.

A luxurious, intimate and cozy evening, celebrating exceptional South African cuisine, complemented by mesmerizing storytelling, unpacking the history and contemporary culture of Cape Town.

A LocalPlaces Storytelling Dinner at Sibling does not only involve delectable cuisine. Instead, it is an integrated experience, involving astonishing storytelling, an exceptional and intimate venue, and extraordinary food served right there in the kitchen studio of Louw and Lou.

This is not merely another restaurant meal, but something far more personable, meeting the chefs and hearing the story of Cape Town and South Africa. It is entertaining and inspiring and will leave you with a new perspective of South Africa’s extraordinary diversity, heritage, people, places and cuisines. It is simply a must-do experience for anyone living in or visiting Cape Town.

Gerald’s storytelling delves into the complex and contested events that have shaped Cape Town as it is today. It makes you understand the reluctant and fragmented, but splendorous city. A place that has evolved from ancient times with wide grazing plains and verdant valleys, through the era of international competition for new shipping and trading routes. To the establishment of a vegetable garden and a fence. With consequent conflict and the arrival of refugees, farmers, slaves and scholars.

As a byproduct of international conflict and competition, a city emerged that found itself at the center of the Scramble for Africa. From war and industrialization, a metropolis grew only to be ripped to pieces by apartheid. Through the struggle to the dawn of democracy, from overcoming its past to imagining a new way for Cape Town as an African city of the future.

It is the story of the Bo-Kaap, of Cape Town, South Africa and Africa, set within the context of international relations in the world. It is astonishing, perplexing, shocking and inspiring all at the same time!

About Gerald
Gerald Garner is a renowned storyteller, public speaker and city guide. With a background in landscape architecture, as well as journalism and publishing, storytelling is his forte. His in-depth knowledge of cities, architecture, history, society and the politics of South Africa, enables him to present the most captivating and entertaining storytelling.

Gerald started JoburgPlaces in 2011. Since then, this tourism and storytelling business has evolved into LocalPlaces with branches in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Together Charlie Moyo (based in Johannesburg) and Gerald (based in Cape Town) operate one of the most respected guiding and storytelling operations in South Africa.

About Sibling
Louw Kotzé and Lou Louw are a brother and sister duo from a Northern Cape farm, continuing their family’s tradition of shared meals in their Bo-Kaap kitchen studio. Louw – an ICA-trained chef – brings his extensive culinary experience from movie sets to a five-star Beverly Hills hotel. Lou’s meticulous attention to detail makes her an exceptional assistant in the kitchen. Together, they create comforting, family-style meals and slow-cooked dishes, best enjoyed as a multi-course experience with friends or family.

MENU for Cape Town’s Astonishing Background Story
Food is served in bowls in the centre of the table to make for a delectable eat-together South-African feast, inspired by the chef’s Namaqualand farm roots.

Guests select and dish their menu items of choice. The menu caters for a wide variety of dietary requirements, while the meat is sourced for Halaal-certified suppliers. Note to specify your order for vegan alternatives if required, when booking.

Welcome Drink
Hibiscus-infused iced-tea

Welcome Local Snack sourced from the Bo-Kaap
Dultjies (vegetarian) & Vegetable Samoosas (vegan)

Starter
Roasted Tomato & Red Pepper Soup with Coconut Cream, served at room temperature (vegan)

Mains

Namaqualand Lamb “Vaalvleis” Stew
(Slow cooked with Onions, Red wine vinegar, Coriander seeds, Salt & Pepper, until falling off the bone.)
+
Cape Malay-inspired Butter Bean & Chicken Curry

Vegan alternative:
Cape-Malay inspired Chickpea, White Bean & Cauliflower Curry
(specify vegan order when making the booking please)

Sides
Paptert with Tomato Smoor & Baby Spinach (vegan)
Honey Glazed Roasted Pumpkin (vegetarian)
Thyme & Balsamic Roasted Beetroot & Rocket Salad (vegan)

Dessert
Malva Pudding with Homemade Custard

Vegan alternative:
 Dark Chocolate Cake
(specify vegan order when making the booking please)

Note the venue does NOT have a liquor license. Guests are welcome to bring their own wine, beer or alcohol & mixers. Iced tea, waters and selection of juices and soft drinks available for purchase on site.

MENU for Creation of Contemporary Cape Town
Food is served in bowls in the centre of the table to make for a delectable eat-together South-African feast, inspired by the chef’s Namaqualand farm roots.

Guests select and dish their menu items of choice. The menu caters for a wide variety of dietary requirements, while the meat is sourced for Halaal-certified suppliers. Note to specify your order for vegan alternatives if required, when booking.

Welcome drink
Hibiscus-infused iced-tea

Welcome Local Snack sourced from the Bo-Kaap
Cape Malay Dultjies (vegetarian) & Vegetable Samoosas (vegan)

Starter
Snoek Paté served with Mosbolletjies

Vegan alternative:
Roasted Red-Pepper Paté with Mosbolletjies
(specify vegan order when making the booking please)

Mains
Choice of Traditional Cape Beef Mince Bobotie
and
Kingklip (fish) baked in creamy Malay-inspired sauce

Vegan alternative:
Lentil & Aubergine Bobotie
(specify vegan order when making the booking please)

Sides
Traditional Yellow Rice (vegan)
Cucumber Sambal Salad with a touch of Chilli (vegan)
Tomato, Red Onion & Chive Salad (vegan)
Purple & White Cabbage Slaw with Coriander & Rice Wine Vinaigrette (vegan)

Dessert
Malva Pudding with homemade Custard

Vegan alternative:
Dark Chocolate Cake
(specify vegan order when making the booking please)

Note the venue does NOT have a liquor license. Guests are welcome to bring their own wine, beers or alcohol and mixers. Iced tea, waters and selection of juices and soft drinks available for purchase on site.

 

Typical Running order

6:30pm:
Arrival and welcome drinks.

6:50pm:
Official welcome.

7:00pm:
Starters

7:30pm:
First storytelling session

8:10pm:
Mains

8:50pm:
Second storytelling session

9:30pm:
Dessert

9:50pm:
Final storytelling session

10:10pm:
Formalities end, guests linger and socialize.

11:00pm:
Venue closes.

Ticket price for public Storytelling Dinner evenings:
The cost is R975 per person (R700 for the food menu/venue and R275 for storytelling). To make a booking send a WhatsApp to +27 82 894 5216 or email to gerald@localplaces.co.za. We will respond with confirmation and payment details.

The price covers a welcome iced tea, the exceptional Sibling meal and the storytelling by LocalPlaces. The venue does not have a liquor license. Guests bring their own wine. Soft drinks and waters can be ordered and paid on site. 

Note a booking is only secured upon full payment. Bookings cannot be cancelled or refunded after payment is received. Bookings can be postponed to another date until 21 days ahead of a booking date, but not any closer to the booking date.

2. Private Storytelling Dinners at Sibling
A private storytelling dinner at Sibling comes at minim spend of R20 000 for the venue, food, service and storytelling. We can put together a customized menu and event for you, or present one of the existing storytelling themes for you as is. Contact us with your requirements and we will respond with a tailored quote and event proposal for your

To make an enquiry for a private event, send a WhatsApp to +27 82 894 5216 or email to gerald@localplaces.co.za. We will respond with confirmation and payment details.

 

3. Private Storytelling Dinners at Seven Colours Eatery
This fantastic restaurant, owned and operated by Chef Nolukhanyo Dube-Cele, is located at Battery Park in the V&A Waterfront’s Canal District. Here you can enjoy a scrumptious local ‘seven colours’ meal of South African cuisine and listen to the astonishing history of Cape Town, narrated by Gerald Garner. A mesmerizing experience that puts Cape Town’s history in the context of International, African, and South African affairs that shaped the city. It will give you remarkable insight into Cape Town and help you understand the city of today and what it could become in future.

Bookings need to be made at least a week in advance. The restaurant does not have a private room but can be booked for private dinners as it only trades daytime to the public. A minimum booking fee applies as the restaurant has to stay open especially for the dinner, with special staff hours to accommodate the dinner.

Chef Nolu describes “seven colours” cuisine as popular in her culture. “It came about as a nickname for the meals dished to guests and family members each time we gather for family events,” she explains. “For us it is common to have red beetroot, yellow rice, multi-coloured vegetable dishes and brown meat dishes all overflowing from the same plate. This makes for a delicious rainbow food experience synonymous with wholesome, soul food, home, community and togetherness. This is South African food, inspired by my upbringing and many South African cooks.”

First course:
Amarostile (Roosterkoek) and Dombolo (Steamed Bread) with Chakalaka.

Second course:
Isityu (Meat ‘Portjie’: fall of the bone meat stews)
Cape-Malay Pulled Chicken
Isaladi Yamazimba (Red Sorghum Salad)
Umfino (Maize Pap with Green Leafy Vegetables, drizzled with Olive Oil)
Retro-crunch Coleslaw
Pickled Beets
Ushantini (Salsa)

Third course:
Cinnamon-dusted Amagwinya (Vetkoek)
Milk Tart Cups

Costs: 
The minimum fee is R15 000 for a private storytelling dinner, covering the meal and storytelling (drinks extra). Contact us with your event requirements and we will put a tailormade quote and event proposal together for you.

To make an enquiry, send a WhatsApp to +27 82 894 5216 or email to gerald@localplaces.co.za. We will respond with confirmation and payment details.

 

4. South African braai at your own home
If you are staying in a private villa or holiday home or a beautiful self-catering apartment, we can come to you and host you for a fantastic, typical South African, informal but gourmet meal. This could be only for the meal, or it could be combined with storytelling.

We will arrive with the ingredients and cook in your kitchen. Part of the meal includes ‘braai’ (barbecue) snoek (local fish) and ostrich fillet. If you do not have braai facilities, this could also be prepared in the oven.

The menu would typically include the following:
Braai snoek (local fish)
Braai ostrich fillet
Potato salad
Green salad with cucumber, lettuce and bulger wheat
Pumkin fritters
Olive-infused country vegetables

Costs:
For the food component a minimum fee of R4000 applies for up to 5 guests, or R800 per person if you are more than 5.

The storytelling fee is a minimum of R1650 for up to 5 guests or R290 per person if you are more than 5.

Guests can provide their own drinks since the event is hosted in their own accommodation.

To make a booking, send a WhatsApp to +27 894 5216 or email to gerald@localplaces.co.za

Please do not phone as we are mostly busy hosting guests. Send a message and we will contact you as soon as is possible. We will respond to your booking request and provide an online payment link for you to pay by bank card to secure the booking.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Guests participate in all LocalPlaces events at their own risk. Neither LocalPlaces, nor its hosts or guides, accept any responsibility whatsoever for any injury, accident or death that may occur while participating in a tour or event such as a lunch or dinner, whether in a public or a private space.
A booking is only secured upon payment.
Provisional bookings will automatically be cancelled if not paid within 48 hours from making a booking.
Bookings cannot be cancelled once paid for any reason whatsoever and no refunds will be offered for cancelled bookings.
Bookings can be postponed to another date if postponed more than 21 days in advance of the booked date.
However, bookings cannot be postponed for any reason whatsoever within 21 days of the booking date, as we would lose the opportunity to take another booking for that slot.
JOIN OUR GROUP:
If you urgently want to know about already scheduled open tours in a current week, which you could join, please WhatsApp us directly on +27 82 894 5216. We also run a WhatsApp Group where we post news on upcoming quick encounters, tours and events. send a message to us requesting to join this group.WhatsApp us on +27 82 894 5216 or email us on gerald@localplaces.co.za to check availability.