April 2004

NEWS RELEASE: Eating youthfully!

Vivat Bacchus will be celebrating South Africa's Youth Day between 14 - 18 June by offering a special South African menu and inviting its customers to donate an optional £1 each to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.

Youth Day, previously known as Soweto Day, commemorates the many young South Africans killed during the Soweto student protest march of 1976. In 1995 President Nelson Mandela made Youth Day an official public holiday in South Africa.

Founded in 1994, The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (www.mandela-children.org.uk) was Mr Mandela's personal response to the misery that poverty had inflicted on South Africa's children. He committed one-third of his annual presidential salary to found and perpetuate the Fund. The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund strives to change the way society treats children and youth. It supports projects that empower children and youth from impoverished backgrounds to improve the quality of their lives.

South African Chefs Robert Staegeman (ex-Launceston Place) and Terence Clark (ex-Foliage) have created a special menu that incorporates a number of South African ingredients including Ostrich, Droëwers and Amarula. Owner Neleen Strauss has chosen three South African wines from Vivat Bacchus' extensive wine cellars, to complement the menu, including a Merlot that Nelson Mandela enjoyed on his last birthday.

Youth Day Menu
(£28 per head)

Ostrich Carpaccio with Gooseberry Compote
Jordan Chardonnay 2002/3

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Chicken Breast stuffed with Droëwors,
Roast Baby Sweetcorn and Amarula Cream
Meinert Merlot 2001 (wine Mandela had at his last birthday party)

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Citrus Koeksisters with Crème Fraiche
Paul Cluver Noble Late Harvest 2001

Press Enquiries: Pink Fish Communications 020 7385 7070 vivatbacchus@pinkfish.net