1. Take an abundance of passion
2. Add limitless determination
3. Blend invaluable experience and a smorgasbord of enthusiasm
4. Set to love and laughter

Welcome to Caveau - the cellar

Having gained numerous years of experience between them, Jean and Brendon have both been exposed to the best in wine and food.

Jean's love for the hospitality industry was ignited at Illkirsch College, France, where once qualified as a Waitron and Bartender, he honed his skills over the following seven years in establishments such as the Tsar Bar, the Putney Bridge Bar and The Stafford Hotel.

South African born Brendon has also had his fair share of exposure to the international hospitality industry. After completing his national diploma in Hospitality Management at the renowned Granger Bay Hotel School, Brendon went on to manage the likes of Ellerman House (Bantry Bay), Halcyon's Aix en Provence and Marco-Pierre White's Quo Vardis.

Common to Jean and Brendon is their complete love of wine; and their desire to create an environment where both wine enthusiasts and novices alike can explore the vast world of wine styles available to them.

Together they are collecting a cellar-full of the finest examples the Cape has to offer and in doing so have enlisted the expertise of Jean-Pierre Roussouw, noted wine columnist and editor of Roussouw's Restaurants.

Caveau boasts an astounding selection of both recent and vintage wines that you would be hard-pressed to uncover anywhere else. The collection inspired Roussouw, who saw this as a perfect opportunity to explore a new concept in how wines can be presented to the public.

The wines have been selected for their character as much as for their quality. The list presents these wines in categories of mood and context, and not simply according to their variety. With light-hearted categories such as "Time out wines" or "Rich and Robust", wines can be chosen for winding down, revving up or simply to accompany different styles of food.

"Wine is wonderful … and good wine is one of life's great joys - but wines shouldn't be taken too seriously either. They are made to be drunk!" says Roussouw, and this wine list will fit the right wine to the mood, the people and the food.

Whilst the emphasis is most definitely on the wines, Caveau's food is by no means second-rate! A menu has been carefully crafted to compliment the wines in true French style. No visit will be complete without a hedonistic free-fall into Caveau's seductive selection of local and imported cheeses and cured meats. You will undoubtedly encounter some firsts in the deli, and the purveyors of these fine foods will be only too happy to challenge your palates. But beware! Certain of these delicacies are not for the cholesterolly well endowed!

In addition to these delights. An ever-changing menu of "tapas" style dishes is on offer. "The emphasis here is all about making new discoveries and sharing them with others" stresses Jean, "we want to enlighten our customers, as well as set alight their passions!"

Caveau boasts a unique atmosphere, which is naturally conducive to these noble pursuits, and this has been further accented through the efforts of architect and interior decorator, Ricardo Panzeri.

After moving to South Africa in 1999, Ricardo has continued to find inspiration in the renovation and adaptation of old structures for new purposes, as he had done in his native Verona. " I believe that a wine bar should be a place of enjoyment, contemplation and interaction; a place that will awaken your senses or has just the right atmosphere for you to sit back, relax and enjoy a glass of your favourite!"

"For Caveau, the idea was to create a space that relaxes and slows you down, making you then capable of listening to the long and interesting story the building has to tell you. Doing this sort of work on an historical site such as Heritage Square was exciting, as I discovered layers of an architectural history that was new to me". Says Panzeri

Open Monday to Saturday for both continental and full breakfasts, lunch and dinner, Caveau, situated on the Bree Street side of Heritage Square, offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Cape Town. So whether you have half an hour to spare or a full day to while away, Jean and Brendon invite you to share in their passion.

For further information, please contact:

ilifesystems@iafrica.com

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