Last week was a demanding one for me, juggling three PR campaigns for my day job So, when an invitation arrived to attend the Century City Conference Centre’s Locally Inspired event on Wednesday 17 September 2025, I knew it was a treat I just couldn’t pass up.

Resident artist Fadiel Hermans led the Locally Inspired event guests in a masterclass of painting. Image credit: Century City Conference Centre.

Hosted in celebration of South Africa’s Tourism Month and Heritage Month, this event was a vibrant showcase of local culture, creativity, and cuisine. It brought together media, creatives, and food lovers to pay tribute to Cape Town’s diverse heritage and tourism offerings. The highlight of the day was the Centre’s dedication to championing local art, food, and partnerships, including their new collaboration with the Bootlegger Coffee Company.

Bootlegger Coffee Company, the new partner for Century City Conference Centre, kept guests caffeinated and added that must-have “sip” element to the Sip&Paint event. Image credit: Century City Conference Centre

The event was a delightful sensory experience. We were welcomed with warm smiles from the Bootlegger team and treated to traditional South African favorites like koeksisters and koe’sisters (they were almost as good as my late granny’s!). The official ribbon-cutting kicked off the main events: a paint masterclass and a heritage cuisine tasting.

We had the privilege of joining a paint masterclass led by the celebrated artist, Fadiel Hermans. Born and raised in Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap, Hermans’ work is a reflection of his vivid childhood memories. He guided us in creating a unique, locally inspired art piece featuring two iconic Cape Town landmarks: Signal Hill and the colorful Bo-Kaap houses. I’m no Picasso or Fadiel but I am pretty proud of my artwork:

Move aside Picasso… I’ve got this! Thanks to Sue Levy and the Century City Conference Centre for hosting me and Superfans SA at the Locally Inspired Event. Image credit: Facebook

The second highlight was a Heritage Cuisine Tasting curated by Executive Chef Abbas Abrahams. Chef Abbas presented a menu of locally inspired canapΓ©s, drawing on his own culinary journey in the Mother City. We savoured classic South African dishes like Masala Steak Gatsby, Bobotie Spring rolls, and Melk Tert. With a career spanning back to 1982, Chef Abbas brings a deep love for his culture into every dish, celebrating South Africa’s culinary heritage with every bite.

Chef Abbas proudly shows off his excellent Masala Steak gatsby which is already a hit with locals and tourists alike! Image credit: Century City Conference Centre

The afternoon was a true celebration of local collaboration. The other guests and I left with gifts from both Bootlegger Coffee and Chef Abbas, including his mother’s treasured blatjang recipe and hertzoggies. The event beautifully demonstrated how local businesses and communities can come together to create truly memorable experiences.

It was a magical day and truly the highlight of my week. A big thank you to Sue and the entire team at Century City Conference Centre for their incredible hospitality!