LOCAL LIFE

INSIDE EDITION 48

The Cape Whale Coast has turned local markets into a weekend staple. Whether you're hunting down handmade gifts, looking for vintage treasures, grabbing fresh oysters, or just soaking up the sunshine with a craft beer or coffee, our local markets are at the heart of the weekend's rhythm. It’s an easy, relaxed way to spend a few hours supporting small local businesses and picking up items you won't find in standard stores. Keep an eye out for our November 2026 edition where we will feature more markets to explore.

Lemm’s Corner Market

Corner Harbour & Main Roads | Saturdays 09:00 to 15:00 (weather dependent)

Up until the early 1980s, Lemm’s Corner was occupied by Lemm’s Stores, a historic Victorian-era building owned by the Lemonsky family. The building was demolished, paving the way for the area to be transformed into an open public space.

In 1983, the trustees of the Old Harbour Trust stepped in to acquire the property and preserve it as a heritage site. This permanently secured Lemm’s Corner as a public meeting place for local crafters, artists, and browsers. It eventually became known as the Fisherman’s Village Craft Market. 

In the years since, the site has been used for various purposes including displaying sculptures and even hosting the official switching on of the town’s Christmas lights. It later became home to the Lemm’s Corner Market (LCM) we know today.

LCM has experienced significant growth over the past few months. In mid-April 2026, the market was taken over by new management and has grown from 5 vendors to over 30. The market offers décor, clothing, handmade crafts and more. It is also a prime hunting ground for vintage items. Tables are filled with vintage glassware, antique brassware, old books, and knick-knacks, giving it a proper flea-market charm. Food is also available, but browsing remains the main event!

LCM will be open during the Whale Festival from Friday 2 October to Sunday 4 October. Visit their Facebook page for trading hours.

Hermanus Country Market

Corner Jose Burman Drive & Fairways Avenue | Saturdays 09:00 to 14:00

Hermanus Country Market (HCM) was founded in 2007 as a small gathering of local traders operating in Fernkloof before moving to its current site at the Hermanus Sports Club in 2010. HCM focuses strictly on local producers and creators, giving traders a place to share what they grow, make, and create. More than 66% of the stalls are owned and managed by women.

In 2021, HCM claimed the top spot for Best Market in the inaugural KFM Best of the Cape Awards. It returned as a finalist in 2022 and 2024, before receiving the silver in 2025 and again in 2026.

The market is pet-friendly and family-focused – everyone brings their dogs on leashes, kids gather near the jungle gym, and half the fun is bumping into friends and neighbours, and enjoying breakfast, brunch or lunch over a catch-up chat. An on-site bar serves local craft beer and wine.

The setup encourages you to take your time. Live music and plenty of seating gives the market a laid-back atmosphere that makes it great for both relaxing and shopping. For out-of-town visitors, it offers a look into the local community beyond the usual tourist spots. 

During December and January, HCM also holds their annual Night Markets so you can enjoy food, drinks, and night-time browsing. Dates for these are posted on their social media pages.

INSIDE EDITION 47

For American chef Jason McKinney, the road to opening his own restaurant has taken him far from his hometown of New York. Rather than immediately opening ‘Elizabeth’ – the restaurant he has spent years dreaming about – Jason is taking a detour, travelling around the world, cooking, learning and immersing himself in the food cultures of 14 different countries. Now, that journey has brought him to South Africa, where he is spending two weeks at Creation Wines on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge.

During his time at Creation Wines with owners Carolyn and Jean-Claude Martin, Jason will be cooking alongside their team, hosting masterclasses for their chefs and preparing two special dinners, both of which are already sold out.

For someone who has travelled so far in pursuit of knowledge, the journey that brought Jason to this point began in a very different place. Long before the international kitchens, a successful food business and plans for his own restaurant, he was a young boy from Florida who simply loved to cook.

By 16, Jason was holding down two full-time jobs to help support his family. He completed high school a year early and found an opportunity to work in one of Disney’s food and beverage programmes. Without formal culinary training, he worked his way up through increasingly demanding kitchens, eventually joining a restaurant that served around 800 people a night. It was there that he told the chef about his dream of one day working at The French Laundry, the legendary three-Michelin-starred restaurant in California. The chef told him it would never happen and that he should forget about it. Rather than discouraging him, it fuelled Jason’s ambition. 

Jason went on to do a four-year apprenticeship at Sea Island Resort in Georgia, where he learned discipline, hospitality and the foundations of cheffing. While there, he met a chef who had worked at The French Laundry, who encouraged him to pursue his dream.

By then, Jason had a plan. First, he would get into The French Laundry and learn from the best. Then he would build his experience, raise enough money to open his own restaurant and eventually make that dream a reality. While on leave from the resort, Jason tried to reach out to The French Laundry to make an appointment with renowned chef and owner Thomas Keller, but he couldn’t get anyone’s attention. So Jason printed out his résumé and made his way to California. “My father helped me buy a suit, I bought a bottle of wine, and then I drove to The French Laundry in Napa Valley,” he says.

When he arrived, Jason was nervous enough to panic. But, steeling himself, he walked through the doors during a busy service and found himself face-to-face with Chef Thomas Keller. He asked if Thomas had a moment to chat and, once seated, handed over his résumé and the bottle of wine. After asking Jason a few questions, Thomas asked if he could start on Sunday at noon. Jason said yes. That Sunday, he also met Chef Tyler Vorce, who would become his best friend.

But getting through the door was only the beginning. The French Laundry was notoriously demanding, and Jason describes it as an “equaliser”, where even Michelin-starred chefs could find themselves struggling. Within two months, he had been promoted twice and found himself working as a fish butcher – a notoriously stressful position that involved handling thousands of dollars’ worth of seafood. He would arrive as early as 2am to stay on top of the workload. He studied books on fish and visited the aquarium to better understand how they moved, helping him learn how to butcher them properly.

After two years in the position, he moved up again and was eventually awarded The French Laundry’s Core Award for all his hard work. Jason remained at The French Laundry for five years before leaving to start off on his own. He worked briefly as a private chef for a client named Mitch, who became one of his biggest supporters.

In 2018, Jason launched a business with Tyler called Truffle Shuffle. Two years later, they appeared on the reality TV show Shark Tank, where they secured a deal with Mark Cuban. They sold Truffle Shuffle in 2025, bringing him one step closer to opening his own restaurant. Named ‘Elizabeth’ after his mother, the restaurant is planned to open in New York in 2027. It will be an intimate, 30-seat chef’s-counter experience, where guests will watch Jason cook.

After the sale of Truffle Shuffle, Jason made his way to Bangkok, where he spent two months learning creativity, precision and modern technique at Gaggan. The experience fuelled his desire to keep learning, and in January 2026, Jason set off on his official international culinary tour (www.whereischefjason.com), seeking out incredible restaurants and chefs around the world while filming and sharing his experiences.

Since then, the journey has taken Jason, his wife Polina, and cameraman Geraldy ‘Gigi’ Grandiosa through kitchens in Thailand, Indonesia, China, Japan, Mexico, Peru, and now South Africa. While at Creation Wines, they will also be taking time away from the kitchen to experience more of the Cape Whale Coast and Cape Town. They have already visited children at the Pebbles Project on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, with Carolyn arranging further visits to Grootbos and Marine Dynamics. They will also be exploring Hermanus with experienced local guide Susan Mann.

It is this sense of connection that seems to sit at the heart of Jason’s journey. The food is important, of course, but so are the people, stories, landscapes and communities behind it.

By the time ‘Elizabeth’ welcomes its first guests in New York in 2027, Jason will have cooked in 14 countries and collected countless ideas, techniques, ingredients and memories along the way. For now, though, the restaurant can wait – there is still plenty to learn, discover and enjoy before his ultimate dream becomes a reality. For anyone chasing a dream, Jason’s advice is simple: “Be relentless. Have a vision”.

INSIDE EDITION 46

When Danelle du Plessis and her fiancé relocated from Stellenbosch to Onrus in 2024, she couldn't wait to dive into the Hermanus scene. However, she quickly realised that tracking down information on local activities was a real struggle.

Danelle frequently found out about events only after they had already taken place as details were scattered across various social media platforms. To solve this problem and save everyone the hassle of hunting in multiple places, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

In August 2025, Danelle launched a WhatsApp group dedicated to sharing local events and activities that she discovered. What started as a small circle of 20 people quickly grew to roughly 500 members in just a single month.

As the group's popularity grew, local companies began reaching out to see if they could advertise on the platform. In response, Danelle set up extra WhatsApp groups specifically for business promotions and local job listings.

She also created a dedicated space to document her own firsthand experiences at local establishments. This was born out of her time as a newcomer trying to find recommendations for a good beautician, nail salon, hairstylist and go-to coffee shop, which had previously forced her to rely heavily on Facebook community groups.

Realising how much the community valued a centralised hub for discovering and supporting local events and businesses, a friend encouraged her to take the idea to broader social media. In November of that same year, Danelle started the WhatsUp Overberg Instagram and Facebook pages.

Danelle emphasises that these pages aren't intended for advertising: they are dedicated exclusively to her authentic, personal experiences. She carries the overhead costs and only promotes businesses she genuinely recommends. She also does her due diligence to ensure the places she highlights are legitimate and compliant with local health and operational standards.

Shortly after getting WhatsUp Overberg off the ground, Danelle crossed paths with Deidré Stofberg in Hermanus. The pair struck up a friendship, and Deidré quickly became an essential part of the behind-the-scenes team. Deidré brings her talent for beautiful photography to the table, handling the reels and pictures, while Danelle is the face in front of the camera.

Ultimately, Danelle's mission with WhatsUp Overberg is to highlight the businesses, experiences and people that make the region so unique. She hopes to shine a spotlight on what the area has to offer and inspire everyone to support local.

Be sure to follow WhatsUp Overberg on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. To join the WhatsApp Community groups, message Danelle on 079 188 9555.

INSIDE EDITION 45

What started as a small art programme in 2013 has evolved into a community-driven initiative changing young lives in Hawston. Founded by Vivienne Mitchley, The Creative Space now supports 283 registered learners through visual art, crafts, design and art therapy.

As the programme has grown, Vivienne has recognised a deeper need within the local community. Many children arrive at classes hungry or without warm clothing and other basic necessities, making it difficult for them to fully engage in creative learning. It quickly became clear that before creativity can flourish, many families first need support in meeting their everyday needs.

Instead of adopting a traditional charity model, Vivienne and her team launched the Creative Space Recycle Swop Shop last week which uses a voucher-based system that turns community participation into practical support. Families earn points by collecting recyclable materials in their neighbourhoods and at home, which can then be exchanged for essential items. The Swop Shop shelves are stocked with toys, school supplies, food, clothing, bedding, towels, kitchenware and other household necessities, allowing people to choose what they need while preserving dignity and independence.

Female empowerment remains at the heart of the initiative. Women who wish to participate are given donated wool and knitting needles to create scarves, beanies and other winter garments for school learners. As completed items are returned, participants earn points that can be redeemed at the Swop Shop – creating both income support and valuable skills development.

Although the idea for the Creative Space Swap Shop only came to Vivienne three months ago, the response from businesses, organisations and individuals has been overwhelming. The project has already been made possible through a network of local support, including:

• Dr Lorenza Douwenga who provided funding for initial stock

• Yorke Cash & Carry, offering ongoing discounts on stock

• PNA Hermanus, donating a selection of products

• Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk, contributing funding for stock

• Nuraan MoyaTech, responsible for transporting recycling from the Swap Shop to processing facilities

• Overstrand Municipality, providing a monthly stipend linked to recycled materials collected

• A co-founder of Arabella, who wishes to remain anonymous, donating a large quantity of recycling, with the resulting points directed back into the Swap Shop for community benefit

• A close friend of Vivienne’s, who wishes to remain anonymous, assisting with marketing and strategy based on experience in the charity sector

• Kalfiefees, partnering with the initiative by placing collection bins at events in August and directing ticket sales towards fundraising efforts

Donations are always welcome. “Whatever you are thinking of getting rid of or donating, we can use – as long as it is in good condition,” says Vivienne. “If you are moving house, we can even collect your unwanted items, which will find a new purpose in helping local families. Volunteers are available to assist with collections when needed. To the Hawston community – if you are hungry or cold we urge you to make use of this opportunity.”

The Creative Space Swap Shop operates every Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm to 4pm at Hawston Secondary School. Anyone wishing to donate or learn more can contact Vivienne on 084 513 2804. As Vivienne is not always available to answer calls, please WhatsApp only.