FRIENDS OF CAMILS

Over the next few months we will be introducing you to some
of the special people who enjoy Camils on a regular basis, and people who will be working alongside us to promote and support the restaurant.

This month we are introducing Pieter Boshoff and Shawn
Heinrich – read about them and see what they think of our
lovely restaurant below….

Today Pieter Boshoff lives in Bloubergstrand, but has lived in the
Cape Town area for the past 10 years – and says he loves the city and beach life.

Born in the North West Province in a small town, Bloemhof, he
studied his BDIAC (Theol) through Wellington College. He did his
national service (army) and was one of the last to be based in Walvis Bay, and was also part of the peace-keeping force in KZN in 1994 during the elections there.  He received a commendation from the head of the army for services rendered in communicating with the local chiefs.

His business career started with the NGO sector, where he founded Kempton Christian Action (a collaboration between all the Christian churches in Kempton), and was a founding member of the Gauteng re-construction and development project. He worked on various adult education programmes, started a street children’s home and a series of soup kitchens.  The Minister of Social Development at the time, Abe Williams, visited the programme and decided to use his four-step concept on dealing with street children for a Government White Paper that still today it is the cornerstone of the Government’s approach to this issue.

Pieter was also a founding member of the Abused Children’s Fund
and worked as a youth worker at the Salvation Army Children’s home in Randburg.  When he moved to Cape Town, he started an
IT business, gaining some valuable international contracts. 

Then a friend contacted Pieter when his 7 year old niece was
abducted – and Pieter found to his surprise that there was no NGO for missing children.  He founded Missing Children South Africa in March 2007, acting as chairman for two years before he passed the job over to Survivor presenter Nico Panagio.

Today Pieter works closely with national and provincial governments, has interests in several different businesses, still works with charities that look after the homeless and children, and is on the board of directors of an old-age home in Khayelitsha.  He is well-know for his social networking skills and is busy with a new project www.capetown.fm.

We asked Pieter the following questions to learn
a little about his food habits…..

What sort of food do you like?
I love pasta, you can probably see from my six pack!

If you are at home cooking for yourself, what’s your
favourite dish?
Pasta in a box specials – the easier the better.  Accompanied by
a nice red wine

In your kitchen, what are two things you couldn’t do without?
A microwave and a corkscrew

What is your favourite South African dish?
Having grown up on a farm, real putu pap.  It’s simple, just maize meal, water and salt, and when its finished pour a nice tomato and onion sauce over the top. Mmmmm.

How were you introduced to Camils?
A friend assisted me with a charity function that involved the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille.  I met the owners, Gail and Jochen, and they were so wonderful in the way that they helped with this function that I couldn’t wait to eat there.

That first night we had the most amazing meal.  It was some of the best food I have ever enjoyed, and wasn’t at all pretentious.  Good food, in an environment where you can enjoy the company you are with.

What is your favourite dish at Camils?
Definitely the lamb chops.  I have them medium and they are so tasty and succulent.  A real joy to eat.  Then I shouldn’t, but I end the meal with their chocolate fondant – that has to be tried to be believed… it is really gorgeous.

Is there anything you would like to see added to the extensive menu?
I would like to see more South African dishes featured – traditional dishes like babotie and game pies, and possibly even pap – you can cook pap in some very fancy ways!!

What are your plans with Camils?
I want to share Camils with as many of my friends and contacts as I can, and I’ve already started.  It’s such a stunning restaurant it deserves to be voted the best in Cape Town.  The service and quality are always amazing – something very important when you are making recommendations.

  With Prof Johan Maree & Premier
Helen Zille  

With Dr Franklin Sonn the former Ambassador
 to he USA and Chancellor of the University of
the Free State

With Model& TV Presenter Tammy Ann Fortuin, Bafana Bafana Player Benni McCarty & Feizel

With HHP

With the Mayor of Cape Town Dan Plato