Bucket Scene: Tigers Milk - Suncoast

Life and Brand Portfolio are thrilled to be welcoming the first Tiger's Milk to Durban (and KZN) this September right on the beachfront at the newly revamped Suncoast Casino, Hotel and Entertainment World. 

The new, sunny Durban location has some exciting events and plans in the pipeline. Patrons can expect live DJ's from Friday to Sunday to carry them into the weekend with the best tunes. Perfectly paired with the 2 for 1 happy hour special on house beers, wine and selected cocktails between 4pm and 7pm. For those looking to get out earlier in the week, on Mondays you can't beat the 2 for 1 burger deal - so pop in for lunch, dinner or sometime in between to take advantage. Every Tuesday get Mexican as you dig into 2 for 1 tacos - a choice between fish, pulled pork, pulled beef or chicken.

"We're so excited to be introducing Tiger's Milk, a brand entrenched in Cape Town and Johannesburg's restaurant bar scene to Durban. Something completely unique for the area, we are positive that the community will love what the young, nostalgic and energetic brand has to offer Durban" says Group Marketing Manager, Tahlia Bester. 

To celebrate the opening of the store, in true Tiger's Milk fashion, they plan to dance on the tables with MiCasa live on the 12th of October so save the date and be prepared to show your best moves. Don't worry, entry is free, so there is no excuse not to catch the wave straight to the front door. For more killer specials and to check out more of the big events, head to Tiger's Milk Facebook page (@TMSuncoast) where they will share all the juicy deets. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Tiger's Milk to Suncoast and extremely proud of the fact that it is the first in KZN," says Louise Howell, Suncoast Marketing Manager. "Since the recent development, Suncoast has attracted top-class restaurants to the city, further cementing Durban as a destination and giving more reason for Durbanites to consider Suncoast as their first choice for Entertainment." added Howell. 

Suncoast Re-imagined

Located in the heart of Durban's Golden Mile beachfront, Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World has been the focal point of the cities entertainment buzz for over a decade now and it's just completed a R1.6 billion upgrade. Last week saw the launch of the new additions as well as a full revamp of the existing complex, and as per the norm with Suncoast they do not do things on a small scale as it was a grand affair!

In an invitation only event, with the guest list extending from the who's who of Durban, to well known local celebrities and not forgetting the loyal Suncoast patrons, being held in the all new multipurpose indoor venue, the Globe. It was transformed into a wonderland with decor than mesmerized you at every corner and gymnasts along with trapeze artists performing keeping guests entertained as they mingled, sipped on fine champagne and enjoyed the array off food on offer. Performances by Lira, Veranda Panda and a breathtaking violan performance from the artist elevated into to the air while playing. 

Kicking off the evenings proceedings was the MC for the evening, the ever beautiful Jeannie D, which followed with addresses from Tsogo Sun's Chief Operating Officer Glenn Jospeh and  Suncoasts Operations Manager, Mike Dowsley who then glamorously announced the opening of the new additions with a sabrage of  a champagne bottle. Durban's mayor was present and also gave her words of thanks to Tsogo Sun for their continued investment in the city. 

It was then time to party and one can imagine after 24 months of this momentous redevelopment which has expanded Suncoast to over 48,000 square meters, it was well deserved. Just to run through what they have done, apart from the new additions the existing complex has undergone a massive refurbishment with the food court being expanded and new additions for guests to choose from. The casino has undergone a full revamp as well, with more tables, more machines for visitors. The Prive casino has moved up a level and offers the high rollers an impeccable gambling experience with its own entrance and private gambling rooms. 

The new additions see's a new restaurant complex which is adjacent to the current complex, and houses many of the favourites. Spur and John Dory's have relocated from the inside to the new portion is joined by the likes of Mythos, La Rosa, Calisto's, Lupa and Havan Grill. Next to the restaurant portion is the Barnyard Theatre which is set to open this week and seats 400 people with an array of shows planned for the upcoming year. 

The main talking point is the globe though, with 2000 square meters of space, undercover and fully air-conditioned, it's a unique structure for Durban and can play hosts to many things. With events already planned and have taken place already, like Big Top Rock and Shut Up & Dance. Some events you can still look forward to in the Globe are, Just Jinjer & Tailer, Loyiso Gola Unlearning, Riaad Moosa and Friends. Overall, the entire place looks fantastic, I love what they've done with the colour scheme, while it isn't as bright and multi-coloured as before, it accentuates the Art Deco vibe that Suncoast is so synonymous for. It's a welcome change to the Durban beach front and just in time for the summer holidays. 

Bucket Scene: Billy G - Suncoast Casnio

Last night saw the official opening of Billy G at Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in Durban. With the ongoing expansions to popular Durban hotspot situated on the famed Golden Mile, everyone is keen to see what Tsogo Sun has in-store with their new additions to their establishment. This restaurant forms part of the first of the expansion to open, it is also the 5th of its kind in South Africa and is proudly part of the Tsogo Sun brand. It offers guests a full upmarket buffet, with an extensive selection of dishes to suit any palette. 

The opening saw many of the who's who in the Durban entertainment and sporting industry in attendance, including Sketchy Bongo, Mo Magic, Odwa Ndungane and not forgetting, everyone's favourite politician tuned socialite, Logie Naidoo. With the seating for 320 people, the restaurant offers a unique dining experience, whether you want to be seated inside, close to the buffet or outside near the Sundeck to marvel at the Indian Ocean in all it's splendor. 

With the formalities concluded by the Suncoast marketing management, and introduction of the managers and Su Chef's, it was time to sample what the buffet had to offer! The various stations have plenty for you to chose from, hot meals, cold meals, salads and deserts, it had them all! Always with a buffet I get confused as to wear to start, a nice thing about Billy G is that all the food is sort of placed in order whereby you have the salad bar and appetizer station next to each other, with a selection of fresh vegetables, cheeses, cold meats and dressings to customise your own salad. 

Moving onto the hot meals, the pizza station caught my eye with 3 options on offer, veg, chicken and beef. There were also curry's and rice, a carvery and stir-fry options. The next station offered sides for you mains, from roast potatoes, to gravy and sauces for your meats or even pasta and sauce. There is also a sushi bar from where you can get all of your favourites! 

After making a few trips to the buffet and trying to sample most that was on offer, it was time to end the night off on a sweet note, onto the deserts! If you thought selection for the mains was good, the desert if even better! To start off, they have a soft serve ice cream machine! Along with that, fresh hot waffles, a selection of toppings and sauces for that, puddings, which included a firm South African favourite, malva pudding with hot custard. Moving on to the cake selection, there was chocolate brownies and banana bread and a fridge full of tarts and trifles. 

With a great selection like this, you would be expecting to pay an arm and a leg to dine here, but it's not the case at Billy G. R199 per person gets you entrance to a world of variety and it gets better if you are a Suncoast loyalty card holder, with various discounts offered to those on select status. There is also special rates for children between the ages of 4 to 7 who pay R50, 8 to 12 pay R100 and pensioners pay R120. Operating times are Tuesday to Sunday lunch, from 12h00 to 15h00 and dinner is from Monday to Sunday, 18h00 to 22h00. 

Cafe Vigor - Suncoast

Cafe's have become popular spots over the last decade, people come there to hangout with friends, catch up over a cup of coffee, some come to make use of the WiFi and get some work done, I've even seen some play as a venue for business meetings. With Cafe's its always a relaxed atmosphere offering a small select variety of food and drink. Suncoast Casino in Durban has Cafe Vigor, you cannot miss it as it is situated right outside the main entrance to the Casino and on the main walk way through the complex, I've always enjoyed the food offered there but yesterday I was invited to sample some of the new items they've added to their menu. It definitely was a taste sensation and one that is authentic to Durban.

Butternut & Feta Salad

To start things off yesterday, we were greeted by Sous Chef Lyndon who was going to take us through each new item on the menu. First up was a butternut and feta salad. For me salad's have always been a side dish, never a starter or a main and many a time I would give a skip. I was pleasantry surprised by this one though. I expected the butternut to be soft and mushy but it was blanched and still maintained that crisp, along with crumbled feta, some leafy green and all brought together in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

Creamy chicken and mushroom fettucinne

Next up was a favourite of mine, creamy mushroom and chicken fettuccine. This warm pasta is perfect for a cold day with all wholesome flavours that make it the ultimate comfort food. The sauce was creamy but not rich, also another aspect I liked about it, the mushrooms were left rather big and chunky, many places dice the mushrooms to a smaller sauce and they shrink in the sauce. The chicken, tender and moist, encapsulating all the flavours, I could honestly eat that the entire day. 

Lamb kebab Korma

They spoke about the new items wanting to display the authentic tastes of Durban and for the next item, this did exactly that. Many are used to the Lamb Korma dish that is served at many of the traditional Indian restaurants, Cafe Vigor has taken this dish and given it their own twist. Lamb Kebab chutney is a popular Durban dish and this is an interesting take on it but the chutney is substituted for a creamy cashew nut gravy synonymous to the Korma but with a Cape Malay flavour. This dish was out standing and I'll definitely be back for more!

Hake & Calamari

I'm a massive fan of seafood and I was glad to see that the next course involved that, after all we are at the sea so how can their not be some seafood? Cafe Vigor has take your standard fish and chips and zhuzhed it up by adding some spice to the batter and accompanying the hake with some calamari rings, served with a tasty, tangy tartar sauce. It was fresh, light and crispy, everything you would want from a dish like this. 

Spicy Chicken Livers

Durban, much like it's weather, likes things hot and one of the popular starter on many menu's in the city would be Peri-Peri chicken livers, if you're a fan, you would be pleased to know that Cafe Vigor has it and made some adjustments to the flavours, as it's not Peri-Peri but rather Durban curry. With a mixed blend of curry powder and Garam Masala, it lifts this dish to a new level. It's warm, hearty and hits the spot. 

Butter Chicken Wrap

There's no such thing as too much curry, especially if you're from Durban, so in saying that the next item was definitely very welcomed. It was created by our host, Sous Chef Lyndon, it is a Butter Chicken Wrap.  Tender morsels of chicken, cooked in a creamy butter gravy, using local sourced spices from a popular Durban spiceworks, gives the curry a different dimension, it's quite a thick consistency so you don't have to worry about gravy dripping all over the place.. All this goodness is wrapped in a soft, butter naan. 

Vegetable Fettuccine

Now if you're a vegetarian, you must have been reading this post and wondering, "well what about us?" , not to worry, Cafe Vigor has some items that are perfect for you. We were brought a vegetable fettuccine. Now I've eaten many bland veg pastas before, I can honestly say this was nothing close to bland! The creamy napolitano sauce had a great kick to it, and I amongst the crunchy veg, I spotted a green chili, adding that fresh bite to this great pasta dish.

Chakalaka Soup

To end off, we were served a starter, I know it may seem odd but I felt this was a nice wrap of this culinary journey we had taken earlier. Traditionally, tomato soup is served with a toast on the side to add that crunch and cut the acidity from it all, Cafe Vigor took this traditional starter item and added a nice spin to it, the soup is now a thick rich Chakalaka, full of local flavours and it is served with a toasted cheese sandwich to dip in. It really ties the whole dish together beautifully. 

Chocco-chino

We had the option to end off our experience with waffles and ice cream but after being so stuffed from all the previous courses, I could only manage a chocco-chino. These are some wonderful additions to the Cafe Vigor menu and I enjoyed all of them thoroughly, you'll find me there back soon for most of them, starting off with that Lamb Korma!

Mo Magic Live at Sibaya!

From a young age I was always fond of magic and illusions but like many it left me in disbelief and wondering how they did it but it never went further than that. Mo Magic of Durban took it a step further and went on to study magic, as it was a passion of his and even though he has a qualification in Electrical Engineering he's following his dreams of being a magician. 

The first time I bumped into Mo was outside a local restaurant where he was there having meals with some of his friends but a few people present recognised him and of course asked if he could show them a trick. Being the kind of guy he is, Mo went on to show them what till this day is my favourite trick of his. He pulled out a bunch of R50 notes, proceeded to fold the notes in half, then flipped them and when he unfolded them, they turned into R100 notes! Thereafter folding them again and changing them to R200 notes! No camera tricks, no special lighting, no props, just him, in the moment in a regular place. 

Since then Mo has gone on to tour the country showcasing his talent and of recent had his very own TV show on SABC3 titled "Magic with Mo" on weekly prime TV. In the show he left many of his guests of whom most were celebrities, personalities and members of the public, just as astonished, amazed and entertained. The TVSA blog reported "Magic with Mo has pulled out an ace for SABC3 with a whopping increase in viewership since its premiere" adding "Not an easy feat on a Saturday night. This growth is a good example of a show slowly building by being engaging or entertaining. Well done, Mo". Having watch a few episodes myself, I have to add that besides what was said before, it's great to see local talent and ideas on the TV, we often find ourselves falling for these reality TV shows where idea's were brought on from abroad and implemented on our screens, so besides being entertaining, it is rather refreshing at the same time. 

Having already toured Durban in February, which saw a multiple of sellout performances, Mo Magic is back by popular demand to entertain and astonish crowds once again which forms part of his South African Theatre Tour. Mo will be performing at the iZulu theatre located at Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom from 29-31 July 2016. It's hard to believe that his is his 14th yer with the art of magic, audiences can expect to see some of the magic, mentalism (mind reading magic) and stunts as seen on the TV show, and other routines saved especially for the 90 minute theatre show. Hwill also have you in stitches with his clean comedy and witty ad-libs. Mo added, "I'm ecstatic that Durban audiences enjoyed the theatre show in February and am humbled by the support and call for the show to return to Durban."

Apart from entertaining crowds, Mo Magic is also the brand ambassador for "Child Welfare Durban & District", he will be using the tour to spread awareness into the contribution made by the organisation towards "giving childhood back to children" and has combined a message with an illusion in the show to spread the news.

Tickets for the show are available through Computicket and bookings are now open. 

Those important details again:

Venue: iZulu Theatre, Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom, 1 Sibaya Drive, Umhlanga Rocks

Dates & Times: Friday 29th July 2016, 8pm, 

                          Saturday 30th July 2016, 8pm

                          Sunday 31st July 2016, 8pm.

Running Time: 1h 30 min

Ticket prices: R100, R120, R140*

*No under 6s & No Admittance After Start of Performance