Sanlam Food, Wine and Design Fair Review

We hyped this event up, last week, having that feeling in your belly, that this would be one of those events not to miss out on. The belly served me well, even though it let's me down at the beach. I was meant to get there way early but due to some work issues only picked up my press pass at around five on friday afternoon. I found it hard to believe we were on the rooftop parking lot, such was the transformation, the lot underwent. Inside the Marquee tents were the stalls, the lay out pretty much following the food wine design name and grouping stalls by their categories.

What made this different from all the other wine fests you ask? Literally I wanted to buy everything in there, a lifestyle which i think most of us would find agreeable was out for all to see. A surprising amount of the exhibitors were from Cape Town, some distributing their wares through local shops/retailers, others testing the waters, to see if they could make the jump and expand their footprint up here. The Joburgers, were never going to surrender to the coastal dwellers that easily though, and the usal suspects as well as some fresh faces on the scene, made sure they stood out.

There was something to see for everyone, and at every stall, all exhibitors were super friendly, and really went the extra mile to indulge all, that popped there heads in. I know i would get frustrated at answering, all day. On the design front, everything from interior decor, utensils, clothes was availabel to look at and purchase. On the food front, I can't complian, there were plenty of bits to nibble, and a food stall that catered for a wide raange of pallettes. The on to the Wine bit of the evening, surprisingly less wine than i expected, but what was available was good though. Almost as if the Joburg, weather wanted everybody to shine on this cool evening the microbreweries, were able to serve up some of their coldest, and finest wares.

All in all a great event, had i had the time i would have been there all everyday, although i did pop in for a quick looksy, on Sunday. A few of the exhibitors said the y expected a better turn out, and alot of people outstide did not know the event was happening, If i had to criticise that's where i'd knock the event. Great event Sanlam, just market it harder next time, the people have a right to know of all this goodness.

All in all it was a good place to be, even if the tipple, the food, nor the design on offer did not particularly suite your tastes, there was feel good vibe abou the whole event, I'd wager a lot thatit came from those exhibitors, it always does one good to hang around people who have a passion for what they're doing. It reminds us cubicle dwellers that it'll be alright one day. Congrats again to Sanlam on pulling off a good event.



L.G