#IAmEnoughZA

So I got this press release a few days ago & it really made me think. We all live in a world where people are more often than not 'punished' for being different & through this, more & more people slowly become social 'outcasts', as we don't fit into that 'perfect' box that society has labelled: 'Normal.'

The #IAmEnoughZA campaign is an initiative that was started by 2018 Mrs South Africa contest - Adele Koolen. (I'll get to her story just now.) It is to help empower anyone that is being teased, bullied or just being treated differently because of who they are. The emphasis of the campaign is that it really doesn't matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from & where you are going to, what car you do or don't drive or what goes on in your personal life; as NONE of this defines who you are as person.

So essentially the message behind it all is, that no matter the challenges you face in life, you are more than enough!

So to make your story heard & be part of the #IAmEnoughZA movement, join us in lending your voice to the campaign. Post a selfie on Instagram with your personalised #IAmEnoughZA message to start the conversation to empower more people to be be proud of themselves & help change other's lives. 

A guideline or 2 to help you make this as effective as possible.

1. Tag @iamenoughza in your post.

2. Use the #IAmEnoughZA hashtag as to let other people track your message & be inspired. 

3. Your message needs to be true to you & something relevant in your life.

If you want to find out more about the initiative, please visit www.iamenoughza.co.za

I told you I'd get to the lady behind this initiative. So Adele Koolen may look like she's got your idea of a perfect life. She's beautiful, runs a successful company & has been married for over 9 years to the love of her life. But as she put it, there is something missing in this picture & that is children.

After deciding to start a family in 2010, ended up being a rough 7 years of not being able to conceive & have children of her own. Feeling as if she had failed at being a woman & a wife, she slowly started the journey as to discover herself again.

"It took me 7 years to realise that I did not fail at being a woman, a wife, a daughter or a sister. The fact that I can't have children does not make me any less of a woman." This was the start of the #IAmEnoughZA campaign. 

Nitro Circus LIVE

Nitro Circus... 

...is back in town later this year in late October! The global action sports phenomenon is bringing an all-new show, filled with 'unbelievable' world firsts & spectacular tricks & mind-blowing stunts. (I promise you, this one is even for those who don't classify themselves as "motorbike people.")

Cape Town: 21 October

Durban: 25 October

Johannesburg: 28 October

"We are so pumped to come back to SA. The shows in 2014 were unreal, the fans were incredible," said Mike Porra, Nitro Circus Executive Chairman & Head of Creative. "Now to have an opportunity to come back with Travis Pastrana riding & with an all new show, this tour is going to be epic."

"I'm so excited to finally have the chance ot go to SA & ride for our fans there," said Pastrana. "I was so disappointed that my broken leg sidelined me last time. I kept hearing how awesome the shows were & that the crowd energy was off the charts. It's where some of our all-time greatest moments happened & I can't wait to be there this summer!"

An all-star international lineup with multiple X Games medalists & the best riders in action sports' biggest disciplines such as freestyle motocross, BMX, scooter & inline. Be prepared to see the daredevils ride a host of new contraptions (I have inside info, that we can be prepared to see things like tricycles & even a wheeled recliner.) off the famous Giganta Ramp. It is going to be fun for fans of all ages. 

There are super cool Nitro Club VIP packages available too, that include the best seats in the house, a sneak peak at rider rehearsal & a chance to see the Nitro Circus athletes during a pre-show Q&A session. You will also get a souvenir lanyard & a signed Nitro Circus poster. To top it all off, you also then stand a chance to win some serious cool Nitro Circus swag.

For those of you, who don't remember. In Feb 2014, the late Erik Roner, made the most jaw-dropping entrance ever imaginable in Durban. Backflipping from the top of Moses Mabhida Stadium. Now that is seriously something that I rate anyone would be keen to see. 

Tickets available at www.computicket.com & www.bigconcerts.co.za

Check them out.

www.nitrocircus.com

Twitter: @nitrocircus

Facebook: Nitro Circus

Salvatore Ferragamo

The Salvatore Ferragamo store relaunched the newly renovated, flagship store in SA, in Sandton City.

This luxury Italian brand knows how to celebrate!

Instead of a reinvention of the brand, Salvatore Ferragamo wants to reintroduce the brand to the new generation of men & women, whilst not forgetting about or alienating their current clientele. 

The store first opened back in 2000, being the brand's largest SA store, featuring a full lifestyle brand experience of men & ladies products, across the full collection of shoes, accessories, RTW, watches & perfumes.

#FerragamoSA

#TimeSquare Construction Site Chefs Table

The current state of the #TimeSquare building site does not seem like anything is really ready. But let me tell you what. On the inside. Things are happening. And things are looking (and tasting) really good. 

And how do I know this, you ask? Well, I got to do a technical tour of the new #TimeSquare Casino. (Unfortunately for you, the no photo policy inside a casino, was already effective, so I can't show you what the actual casino looks like on the inside. So you will have to go see it for yourself on 1 April, when they open their doors for the public.

It was so interesting to actually get to hear & see what planning goes into getting a casino running & the technicalities around machines & tables, even what the odds are that you may hit the jackpot. So the machines & tables are in and ready for use. (We even got to have a spin, mind the pun, on some of the new, 1st in Africa, slot machines.) If you drive past the front of the new building today, you can actually see some of the machines & lights in the windows. This is a new approach that the team at the #TimeSquare casino have taken & is a 1st of it's kind, where you can see in & out of the casino.

I was lucky enough to be one of the very 1st people to eat a meal that was prepared in new #TimeSquare state of the art kitchen by a few of the most talented Chefs from the Sun International group. 

Chef Ronald Ramsamy was there to welcome us to the kitchen & introduce the team that would be cooking for us today. And that this would be their very 1st time actually cooking together. 

A tour of the new kitchen was pretty impressive with machinery that is so technologically advanced & computerised that at the push of a button, your meal can be prepared according to a pre-programmed recipe. (Something that will become a standard in all Sun International hotels in the near future, meaning that the lamb curry that you have in Bloemfontein, will be exactly the same as the lamb curry served in #TimeSquare.)

Now for the part of the preview that I am allowed to show you. The incredible feast that we indulged in with management of #TimeSquare to celebrate the 1st meal ever prepared in the #TimeSquare main kitchen.

Each course was created & prepared by one of the chefs & they definitely created real 'Timeless Memories' with The Mastery of Time Chef's Table.

1st Course - Chef Ronald Ramsamy

Foie gras, Dark Chocolate, Cucumber & Hazelnut. Paired with Louis XIII Cognac.

What looks like a dessert, is actually a savoury starter. Cucumber sorbet; refreshing & light is something I see myself having lots more of in the future. The foie gras terrine with the savoury dark chocolate biscuit provide a beautiful balance of texture in your mouth with the smoothness of the terrine & the crunchiness of the biscuit.

This course was paired with THE cognac of all cognac. The Remy Martin - Louis XIII takes 4 generations of cellar masters over 100 year to perfect 1 decanter.  (Retails between R40k & R50k a bottle.) This was something special. You could even smell it was special as the Riedel glasses were charged with a double tot & the room was filled with lovely aromas of the Louis XIII legacy. 

2nd Course - Chef Ramon Gouws

Salmon, Dulse, Avocado, Cucumber, Sesame, Soy & Chilli. Paired with 2009 Louis Roederer Cristal.

Sushi. Literally a deconstructed sushi. The plating of this dish, is definitely what grabbed me 1st. It really is done to perfection. Every element has it's place on the plate. Oyster leaves. Yes, that is right. An actual leaf that tastes like an oyster. That already blew my mind. Chilli & Soy mayo drops mixed together with some of the salmon & cucumber was a perfect mixture of flavour & texture in my mouth. And then, if you know me well, you know I love some good bubbly. And at #TimeSquare, only the best would be served. The Louis Roederer Cristal is so fine & fresh, a perfect pairing with the salmon & oyster leaves. 

3rd Course - Chef Adrian Vaughan

Black Angus Beef, Young Vegetables, Madeira & Truffle. Paired with 2015 De Grendel Shiraz.

So Black Angus, originally, is a type of beef from Scotland, which is of the highest quality meat you get due to the rigorous standards that it must pass before earning the label. The finely marbled meat is so soft, juicy & full of flavour. With a Truffle oil complimenting each bite this was a winner for me. 

Pre-Dessert - Chef Chester Graham

White Wine Maas, Cranberry, Blood Orange & Chocolate. Paired with 2016 Cedarberg Sustainable Rosé.

What an incredible pairing of wine with a dessert. The grapefruit flavours on the wine work so well with the blood orange espuma. The cranberry gel drops on the white wine maas just add so much extra flavour to the palate, whilst the chocolate soil provides a change in texture. 

Dessert - Chef Sean Mann

Six Shades Darker. Paired with 2010 Ken Forrester Noble T.

Basically, Chocolate served Six ways. What a delicious treat. There are passion fruit droplets on the plate, which break that strong chocolate taste. Mann also added some popping candy on the plate to surprise the palate with every mouthful.

If what you have seen here, does not excite you, then I suggest that you go back & look again. With only a few days left before the opening of the #TimeSquare casino, you can be sure that the quality of food that will be available will only be of the highest standards.

Have a look & follow Time Square online to keep up to date with what's happening.

#TimeSquare

Twitter: @timesquareza