Top Billing, the popular lifestyle show flighted on SABC 3 paid a visit to Hermanus last week and Nico Wessels  and Mariki Chin, owners of Whale View Guesthouse, hosted presenters, crew and guests in  style at their luxurious and romantic getaway at the edge of the sea. Mariki, a well known and respected local attorney, told the Hermanus Times that they had been approached by Top Billing as there were ten guest houses in the running for the shoot - Whale View was the venue of choice.
Food editor of Top Billing magazine, Amor Engelbrecht, decided upon Hermanus as her feature for September- as our town truly represents new life with the arrival of the Southern Right whales giving birth to their young in the bay. Amor had her guests salivating with the dishes she prepared and all the recipes will be available in the September issue of Top Billing magazine.
Dishy presenter, Nico Panagio,kept the champagne and conversation flowing, and educated guests as to champagne etiquette – resulting in fits of laughter. Copious amounts of the fruit of the vine added to the jovial mood of guests and presenters. Sadly our mayor, Theo Beyleveldt, and deputy mayor, Verrel Herbert, (who were invited) could not attend the grand affair as they had prior engagements.
 Hermanus was represented by Leon Theron, Whale Festival chairperson, Zolile Baleni our esteemed whale crier, Kevin Warwick, owner of Warwick’s Chef School, who told Nosy Rosy that they did a food shoot on the Wenesday for the magazine and they also prepared delectable snacks for the guests and presenters on the Thursday. Suné Eksteen, wife of winemaker Bartho from Hermanuspietersfontein, brought along some of their garagist methode cap classique. She calls it her Kombuisbruis and the guests truly enjoyed the maiden vintage. The bubbly is not for sale and only invited guests to the Eksteen home can enjoy this particular blend of the fruit of the vine.  Louise Carver, singer and songwriter  (Mariki said she spotted a photograph of this versatile artist in a recent issue of Glamour), daughter of  Carol Carver from the Overstrand Conservation Foundation, also made an appearance as did Alida Gerstner  Flowers in the Foyer in Stellenbosch.  Phillipus May from Hermanus Whale Cruises represented the whale tourism sector. Nosy Rosy will let you know when the programme will be flighted in early September. Amor told Nico, the owner of Whale View, that two days work will result in about eight minutes of broadcasting.