Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.3 Winter 2018 | Page 10

DEPARTURE LOUNGE // WINTER 2018
INSTAMUNCH
© FAZON/ADOBESTOCK
@heinstirred
Hein van Tonder has had “references and
recollections of food” for as long as he
can remember.
The Cape Town food photographer, stylist
and writer is a self-proclaimed “Gourmet
Hunter” who builds entire travel itineraries
in pursuit of a single dish or a seat at a
renowned restaurant. These days most of his
time is spent whipping up and photographing
delicious concoctions for his award-winning
blog (heinstirred.com) – and he’s got a
mouth-watering Instagram feed of food and
travel inspiration.
What does “Gourmet Hunter” mean?
A friend gave me a t-shirt that said “Gourmet
Hunter” and it was such a good description
of who I am that I immediately adopted it
as a tag line. I’m always on the lookout for
something delicious. Gourmet, to me, does
not mean fancy or expensive, but something
really tasty.
Favourite travel destination to date?
Copenhagen, with Beirut a very close second.
When is the last time you travelled
specifically for food?
I travelled to Copenhagen for the second
time in May 2017 and had an itinerary built
around what I wanted to eat. It lived up to
all my expectations. I am off to Milan next,
and then Bologna for a few days, with lunch
booked at Massimo Bottura’s Franceschetta
58 – I can’t wait!
Favourite winter comfort food?
Ramen and an ice-cold local beer. Followed
by ice cream, of course.
Below: “Bomb Ass” Tacos being prepared
in Copenhagen’s meatpacking district.
Follow Hein on @heinstirred to see where
his insatiable palate will take him next.
10 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE
EMIRATES TACKLES
the hassle of checking in
WHERE IN THE WORLD?
VENICE!
The founders of Venice must have
believed in the impossible – and
the insane. Their plan to build a
city of marble palaces on a lagoon
has become the stuff of legends,
Shakespearean plays, Hollywood
movies and many a traveller’s dream.
A gondola ride (with or without
your gondolier singing When the
moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie)
along the Grand Canal showcases
its architectural wonders, like the
Palazzo Ducale and Basilica di San
Marco. Step ashore and you’ll be
even more dazzled. The narrow
backstreets, pigeon-filled piazzas and
neighbourhood churches are home
to treasures aplenty.
This is a trendsetting city, known for
defying the odds: it’s home to racy
operas at La Fenice and radical new
art at the Biennale, intricate Burano
lace and handmade Murano glass.
It’s also a city that knows how to
party – most notably the annual
Martedì Grasso (or Mardi Gras). The
carnival’s most famous historical
reveller was Casanova, who
ended up in the Doge’s jail for his
seductive antics.
And don’t forget to don one of
Venice’s traditional masks to attend
a classic Venetian ball and feel a little
Love travelling but hate the hassle of
checking in? Now you don’t have to
when flying Emirates from Dubai.
Dubai’s national carrier introduced
a pilot service in October that
allows passengers to check-in from
anywhere in the country. The service
has proved so popular that it will soon
be offered to all passengers departing
from Dubai.
Emirates Home Check-in allows
passengers to complete their security
check and check-in from their home,
hotel or office and have their luggage
brought to the airport for them. An
Emirates staffer will travel to where
the passenger is, tag their bags, check
t