Michael Olivier

Izimvo would like to introduce wine writer and broadcaster, Michael Olivier.

Michael, a well-known Cape food and wine fundi, grew up on a wine farm in the hills of Durbanville. He trained at The London Cordon Bleu Cookery School and has worked in and managed such well-known places as Lanzerac Hotel in Stellenbosch and the top marque wine estate, Boschendal.

Having run three restaurants, Paddagang in Tulbagh, The Burgundy in Hermanus and Parks in Constantia, and being featured in the national top ten restaurants, he is now a food and wine writer, published author and broadcaster.

Website: http://www.michaelolivier.co.za
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Michael_Olivier

Michael was kind enough to answer the following questions for us:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Michael Olivier he’s the wine writer and broadcaster, you’ve probably seen his books in the shops or heard him on the radio?

I am 63 years old and work from home – wine writing for various websites and publications. I have my own website www.michaelolivier.co.za. I broadcast each day on Fine Music Radio, a Cape based station and on Friday nights on ClassicFM which broadcasts in the Gauteng region. I consult two days a week for a large supermarket group on a customer relations management programme.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favourite movie.

A: I love birds, the feathered kind. And the other too if the truth be known. I am an avid, nay voracious reader. Love music, mainly classical – as long as it is not Mahler, he’s way too pre-occupied with death – yet am as at home with Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. And Jamie Cullum and Oscar Petersen. My favourite movie which offers me a chance to cry every time is Love Actually.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Being in a special place that is very quiet, with good books, good food and good wine. Should have a view of mountains or sea or Karoo veld and there must be trees with lots of birds in them.

Food and Wine in South Africa

Q: Having trained at the London Cordon Bleu Cookery School, do you feel that international training and experience is a requirement to succeed in the business?

A: No I don’t think it is a requirement at all. There are many fabulous cooks in the country who have never held their own passport and are a huge success in what they do. But I believe it extends your horizons of food knowledge if you do travel and are able to work overseas.

Q: What do you think it is that sets South African cuisine apart and why do you think are South Africans so passionate about their food?

A:I don’t believe we have a real South African cuisine, though there are certain dishes which we assume and have adopted as our own. We live in a country that has brilliant produce, fresh fish, wonderful beef and lamb, fabulous cheese and lots of fresh fruit and vegetable. I don’t think South Africans are more or less passionate about food than anywhere else I have been in the world. Foodies are all a tad crazy.

Q: As a published author, what advice would you give any young food and wine author wanting to do they same?

A: Get out and just do it yourself. Start writing, leave the publisher out of it and do it on your own, it’s way easier than you think. I am about to publish my third book on my own.

Q: With the rate of obesity in young children growing at an alarming rate in South Africa, what advice would you offer today’s parents?

A: Teach yourselves about healthy food first and then be sure your kids eat healthy.

Q: Which of your books are you most proud of?

A: The People’s Guide, my new book co-authored with Neil Pendock the Sunday Times Wine Writer and Anibal Coutinho from Portugal. Love the other three, but this one is a stunner.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Yes we have been affected by crime. It has not changed my perception about living here and we are just very careful all the time, though no paranoid.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: Wouldn’t half mind living in Portugal, love Margaret River in Western Australia where I have done some work, but here’s home for us and our children.

Q: If you were South African president for just one day, what would you change?

A: Teach people to grow vegetables and feed themselves. And tell everyone to calm down.

Q: To which three attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Groot Constantia, Stellenbosch Winelands and a drive round the Cape Peninsula with a stop off at Kirstenbosch.

Life in Cape Town

Q: What do you think is Cape Town’s number one tourist attraction?

A: Well there are 5, and I have a problem choosing. Table Mountain, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch, Groot Constantia and Cape Point.

Q: If you had to prepare a meal for an international visitor, showing off the best of Cape Cuisine, what would it be?

A: Smoked snoek paté, my own Bobotie recipe, and Malva Pudding, all the recipes are on my website.

Q: Where do you suggest both locals and visitors source their fresh produce in Cape Town?

A: Salt River Market, The Old Biscuit Mill on Saturday mornings. Find a good butcher like Mr Bass at Super Meat Market in Kenilworth, go to a superb baker like the Faull boys at Knead, buy good value wines from a reputable source – Mike Duggan at Wine Concepts. Shaiks Exotics or Spice Mecca or Atlas Trading for fresh spices.

General

Q: Which celebrity chef do you most admire and why?

A: Oooh – difficult one, but I think Rick Stein. He’s my sort of age and his food is real.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: No question – Cry the beloved country by Alan Paton.

Q: Which 3 South African’s would you most like to invite to dinner?

A: Penny Coelen Rey Miss World 1958, a great great lady, I’ve met her before. Desmond Tutu, so that I can hug him when he goes home. Tessa Uys, so that she can play the piano between courses and I’d make sure we had six so that she plays quite a few pieces.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: My wonderful writing partner Neil Pendock. You’d find out all sorts of things about him I never knew!

We’d like to thank Michael for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to picking up a copy of his latest book, The People’s Guide 2010 – Navigate the winelands in a shopping trolley.

Lookout for it in selected wine shops, supermarkets and bookshops from the 16th November.