6TH AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM AWARD FOR HARTFORD

Victor Strugo, Jackie Cameron and Vanessa Singh
(Photo : Hartford House)

PRIZE GIVING : TIZ THE SEASON

As matriculants prepare for their final exams and the last of their school days, our minds turn to prize-giving. In the culinary world, it's no different, as the various gourmet critics put their final pens to paper, and national competitions draw to a close.

One accolade Hartford has always treasured is the American Express Fine Dining Awards, not only for what the certificate represents on the restaurant's wall, but for the respect we have for its organisers, and especially for Victor Strugo, who holds a place among the world's most discerning food critics, let alone South Africa's.

Victor has been a deep inspiration to our team at Hartford House, and a guiding light to Jackie Cameron since her earliest days, when he first discovered her rare talent. Victor knows that at Hartford we operate in unusual circumstances, remote from most of the world, and with people who started out in life with little or no skills to speak of. Over the years, he has watched as young ladies from our community with limited educational qualifications, have grown to the point of representing this country in places like Zurich, Prague and Shangai. Victor's role with us has not been confined to the awarding of prizes; it's been an upliftment project which has changed lives.

Behind these awards is a lovely lady, Vanessa Singh. American Express are lucky to have her; her enthusiasm is infectious, her organisational capacity is evident in the way these awards are managed, and as a member of the previously disadvantaged community herself, she has scaled every ladder there has been to climb.

This past week, Jackie Cameron and one of her assistants Delli Nene, made the pilgrimage to Byzance in Lonehill, where Hartford picked up its 6^th consecutive American Express Platinum banner.

PHEW! WHAT A FEW MONTHS.

Jackie Cameron and Paula Mackenzie with the Hartford House Team
(Photo : Leigh Willson)

"Please click photo to enlarge..."

HARTFORD HOUSE RESTAURANT

Top South African restaurant at the House and Leisure/Best of South Africa awards : a Diamond class (one of only two in KZN) Diner's Club winelist in the same month, as well as recognition by American Express (under master critic, Victor Strugo's direction) among the outstanding fine dining venues, and then a top twenty finish in the "Eat Out" accolades, including top two hotel restaurants. All in a matter of two months. Phew!

But last evening, Prudential conferred a new dimension on the Hartford Restaurant's standards of excellence, when it included Paula Mackenzie among the nation's Top Ten sommeliers. Paula already enjoys credit for the Diamond class wine collection, and this is rich reward for her remarkable dedication, her great intellectual passion and her insatiable thirst for wine. What would the world be without it!

And, at the end of an exhausting schedule, master chef Jackie Cameron, has nabbed a bit of "R&R" with her greatest admirers, the Kirschkes, Rainer and Gabi in George, where she's charging her batteries for those of you who'll be descending on us over the next few hectic months.

FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH

LAND OF LEGENDS

Just a few weeks back, we told the world of our joy at Hartford being voted South Africa’s best restaurant in the House and Leisure / Visa Best Of SA competition. The results are now in the public domain following the publication of the November issue of House and Leisure, and we applaud our fellow KwaZulu Natal and Land Of Legends pals, The Homestead at Phinda Game Reserve and Fordoun Spa, for topping their categories alongside Hartford.

To quote House and Leisure editor, Naomi Larkin, “each of the winning destinations has a unique touch and global appeal, and deserves to be named the best in South Africa”.

And then back to renowned food critic, Anne Stevens, who wrote this past week in The Mercury : "But that’s not all, as they say in the ads. Hartford and the Beverley Hills in Umhlanga have earned Diamond Wine List awards as well”.

“The celebration was twice as sweet for both; the “Bev” was also awarded an American Express Platinum Award for its signature restaurant, The Sugar Club, and Hartford took its fifth consecutive American Express Fine Dining Award in Johannesburg”.

click above to visit
www.landoflegends.co.za