Morrells Boutique Venue is the ideal location for your unique business function and conference. Away from the hustle and bustle of more restless parts of the city, Morrells is centrally located and easy to access.

The setting, both in the garden as well as the exquisite interiors, spoils the delegate with a peace and quiet you would usually enjoy only in the country. The conference menus on offer are delectable and plentiful; the service is attentive and personal. This is indeed the best remedy for clearing your mind, being inspired and out of the calm, producing creative work.

Paired with the above comforts, the luxurious meeting facilities are fitted with the best technical equipment.

• 350g ricotta
• 100g icing sugar
• 30ml double-thick cream
• 100g slab white chocolate, melted
• zest of 2 oranges
• 45ml orange juice
• 125ml espresso
• 60ml coffee liqueur
• 250g packet wafers
• 200g slab dark chocolate, grated
• fresh mint

Method:

1. Grease and line a 23cm x 13cm loaf tin.
2. Use an electric mixer to beat the ricotta, sugar, cream, chocolate, orange zest and juice until smooth.
3. Spoon a third of the mixture into the prepared loaf tin.
4. Combine the coffee and liqueur and leave to cool to room temperature.
5. Dip the wafers in the coffee mixture and leave to soak for 1 minute, so they still hold their shape .
6. Place a layer of wafers on top of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle over a third of the chocolate.
7. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of wafers.
8. Reserve a little chocolate to serve.
9. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 6 hours.
10. Turn the terrine out onto a serving platter and serve sprinkled with the reserve chocolate and garnished with the mint.

Luxurious four star accommodation allows visitors a relaxing and comfortable stay at competitive rates. Units contain a fully-equipped kitchenette, 32″ LCD television, writing desk, telephone, wireless internet access, bar fridge, microwave oven, air-conditioning, and an on-suite bathroom containing a bath and or shower.

They have 3 separate venues that suit conferences of various sizes.

• 140g butter, softened
• 140g castor sugar
• 2 eggs
• 110g self-raising flour
• 55g cocoa powder
• 3-5ml crushed, dried red chilli
• 45ml milk

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.
2. Grease 6 dariole moulds with melted butter.
3. Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Place the self-raising flour in a bowl and, using a sieve, sift the cocoa powder into the flour, to remove any lumps.
6. Stir in the chilli.
7. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and fold to combine.
8. Stir in the milk and carefully mix.
9. Spoon the cake mix into the moulds; they should be three-quarters filled.
10. Bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes.
11. They should still be very soft in the middle.
12. Serve with ice cream or a dollop of mascarpone.

Then there is also the unique experience of a 130 metre underground tunnel leading to the Hide. The perfect vantage point for an intimate look into the wild, without being detected yourself.

Various conference venues cater for from 12 to 400 delegates depending on seating configurations. The conference rooms are equipped with a 35 mm slide projector, wall screen, VHS video recorder, television, overhead projector, lectern, public address system, flipcharts, whiteboards, data and video projector and a lapel microphone system.

Summer Place combines classic design, décor and ambience with sheer joi de vivre, harmoniously and elegantly. Its character is generous rather than rich, welcoming its guests without overwhelming them.  It is a place where the most distinguished of visitors can feel contented.  Truly a place for all seasons.

Centrally located in Hyde Park, Gauteng, and set in classically landscaped gardens, surrounding an elegant pool where sparkling fountains splash around a magnificent bronze sculpture, Summer Place is the perfect venue for any event – from the most romantic wedding, professional conference, corporate function, unforgettable banquet to an impressive product launch. The style of architecture and proportion of buildings is in such harmony with the rest of the property that indoor and outdoor spaces flow naturally into each other, adding a further sense of unity and togetherness. Subtlety of design has also created space for seclusion, without requiring those in search of a moment of private thought, to stray too far from the central entertainment area.

Summer Place, with its manicured lawns, expansive gardens, swimming pool and tennis court, is well suited to corporate team-building days.

Summer Place – A place that exceeds every expectation

Pastry

• 2 egg yolks
• 225g softened butter
• 15ml castor sugar
• 250g cake flour
• 30g finely chopped pecan nuts or hazelnuts

Filling

• 250g golden syrup
• 225ml thick cream
• 90g fresh white bread crumbs
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 15ml lemon juice

To serve

• Crème fraîche or cream
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon

Method:

To make pastry

1. Beat the egg yolks and butter together in a bowl.
2. Add the sugar and combine.
3. Stir in the flour and nuts and knead together until well mixed.
4. Wrap the pastry in cling film and leave in the fridge for an h our before use.
5. Roll out the pastry onto a floured surface to about 5mm thick.
6. Use the pastry to line a 20-22cm flan or tart tin, about 3-4cm deep.
7. Rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour, before baking.
8. Preheat the oven to 160°C.

To make filling

1. In a mixing bowl combine the syrup, cream,bread crumbs and beaten eggs together.
2. Stir in the lemon juice.
3. Fill the tart case with the mixture and bake for 40-50min.
4. Serve warm with whipped cream or crème fraîche mixed with the zest and juice of one lemon.

People buy from people that they like and can relate to.  When business owners overlook the importance of that personal connection, they run the risk of losing the prospect to someone else – usually someone who took the time to create a relationship and help the prospect buy something rather than trying to simply sell to them.

Here are seven tips on salesmanship that can help you develop that special rapport with potential customers:

1. Model your business on the corner store. If you long for the days of shopping at a local business where the owner knew your name and your family, try to emulate that experience. For instance, remember one or two details about your customer and bring them up in conversation. Everyone likes to feel they’re important enough that someone remembers the little things in their life. It’s one important way we go past viewing customers as a “dollar sign” to a human who is appreciated.

2. Ask questions first. Before you launch into a hard sell, take time to probe your prospect. Ask questions that will help your customer explain what he’s looking for. Once you know that information, it’s much simpler to show how your product or service can satisfy his wants or needs. Probing is fundamental to relationship building, and the more skilled you are at utilizing open and closed ended questions, the stronger the relationship you will be able to create.

 3. Court your clients. Selling is a lot like dating in that you have to woo customers and hope they return the attention. To get a potential customer to call you back, you have to hook them somehow. Consider emailing them an article you found interesting that’s related to their business and then give them time to respond. Whatever you do, be respectful of their busy schedule.

4. Talk about yourself. Another way to make it personal: Reveal something about yourself. Just be sure it’s something your customer can relate to and isn’t too personal.  It’s pivotal to connect in a real way. In fact, according to a recent study, if a salesperson shares a birthday or a birthplace with you, you’re more likely to make a purchase from that salesperson and feel good about it.

5. Really listen to the prospect. There’s nothing more insulting than feeling that you’re being ignored in a conversation.  Asking someone a question and truly listening to the response, rather than beginning to formulate a response while the other person is speaking, is so important.  In fact, small business owners may have a distinct advantage in connecting with customers because they are in touch with them so often. The smaller the size of your business, the more encounters you’ll have and the more opportunities you’ll have to listen to your customers

6. Step away from your computer and smartphone. While it’s often much quicker and less stressful to email a potential customer, face-to-face meetings and networking are far more effective in creating meaningful connections. These meetings are still among the best ways businesses can establish relationships with decision makers.

7. Be patient. Like many important things in life, it takes patience to develop lasting customer relationships. Fight the urge to rush the process. Take the time to explain how your product or service will benefit the prospect. Be patient as you go about cultivating this new contact. You never want to make a prospect feel rushed or hustled.

• 6 jumbo eggs, separated
• 225g condensed milk
• 250ml castor sugar
• 5ml vanilla essence
• 500ml fresh cream
• 500ml full-cream natural yoghurt

Topping:

• 250ml honey
• 150g chopped unsalted cashew nuts

Method

To make the ice cream:

1. Combine the egg yolks, condensed milk and castor sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and fluffy.
2. Add the vanilla essence.
3. Whip the cream in a separate bowl until it begins to hold its shape.
4. Fold the cream into the egg mixture and beat until combined.
5. Stir in the yoghurt and beat until mixed through.
6. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold in using a metal spoon.
7. Pour the mixture into a non-stick loaf pan or a mould coated with cooking spray.

To make the topping:

1. Heat the honey in a heavy-based frying pan until it begins to caramelize and soften.
2. Pour the honey onto a sheet of greaseproof paper and sprinkle the cashew nuts on top and cool.
3. Once set, break the caramalized honey into shards and use to decorate the top of the ice cream.

Just minutes from Cape Town city centre, in Bantry Bay, one of the most select suburbs of the Mother City, stands The Ambassador Hotel. As a benchmark in service standards and comfort, it is also a destination for those who love the sea… within easy walking distance to the world-renowned Clifton beach and close proximity to shops, restaurants, entertainment, Cape Town’s City centre, the ever popular V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Cape Point. The Ambassador Hotel is ideally situated to explore all the Cape has to offer.

With a choice of 68 elegantly appointed air-conditioned en-suite hotel rooms, coupled with the calming sounds of the ocean, you are always assured of a unique, superior and relaxed stay. All rooms all have king-size or twin beds, tea & coffee making facilities, fully equipped personal bars, electronic safes, satellite television, and complimentary wireless connection. Spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean are experienced from the sea facing rooms whilst the standard rooms offer partial ocean views. Side-single rooms are ideal for the business or single traveler.

Conference rooms at The Ambassador Hotel offer views of the ocean and can be divided into four facilities catering from 10 to 80 guests. Tailor-made to suit your needs, the facilities are amongst the most popular in town.