Only the Cooking Bar Restaurant is closed, the broader Cooking Bear is continuing apace. Cathy will concentrate on food and Peter will concentrate on computer systems.
Our new concept to share our foodie ideas with you - a Pop-Up restaurant >>
We opened Cooking Bear Restaurant over 8 years ago.
Table of Contents
Closing
And now, after 8 years, it’s time to move on. We had planned a surprise menu for our final week-end, but, after many months of false starts and stumbling progress in the property sale, the final furlong seems to be moving along at a gallop and we have decided, therefore, to close our doors.
Thank you very much for your support over the years, it has been great meeting so many regulars.
We hope that you have enjoyed the adventure as much as we have.
Only the Restaurant is closed, the broader Cooking Bear is continuing apace. Cathy will concentrate on food and Peter will concentrate on computer systems.
cathy hall
Notes from Cathy
Economist, corporate banker, cook and Dachshund fan.
I am looking forward to enjoying long walks on the beach with my little four legged friend Rupert, he is such a gem.
Please use the contact form below to drop me a note about foodie ideas and your favourite recipes which we can pass on to the ever growing RASKI community.
My main challenge will be writing the ‘Cooking Bear recipe book‘.
Rupert Bear
Tail wagging tales from Rupert Bear
That’s me, Rupert, aka ‘The Leaping Sausage’. I’m going to miss you scratching behind my ears which I so enjoy. I plan to have my own category on RASKI called ‘Rupert’s travels’ about our travels, adventures and light hearted stuff over the coming months. On my travels I will sample Pet Friendly accommodation. I will report on the good ones in my new column on RASKI. I need your help so that everyone who travels with their pets can benefit – if you have stayed with your pets and enjoyed the accommodation please let me know and I can spread the word, we want to recommend the good guys.
With our future travels in mind I decided to book Cathy and myself onto a training course with Candi Moon at Mole Hill. Well, it is a huge success. I have learnt so much and Cathy has been very well behaved. I reward her with small treats when she obeys. Candi is great, you can contact her through her posts on RASKI – Click here. She thinks I might be a whizz at jumping over obstacles like small fences as a trick to impress guests. Keep your eyes peeled for posters advertising the Leaping Sausage Gymkhana.
My new e-mail address is rupert@raski.co.za Drop me a note, keep it touch.
Peter Hall
Notes from Peter
Restaurant Reviews – Having been at the sharp end for 8 years we think that we have built up enough knowledge to qualify us to write plausible restaurant reviews. We understand the challenges that face restaurateurs and we understand how important it is to retain diners’ interest when there are so many competing attractions. The reviews would be short (200 to 250 words) and to the point. Highlighting the good, not labouring the bad.
Would you read our reviews ? Add your comments below.
The future ?
What will we be doing to keep out of mischief ?
experience, skills, time on our hands and plenty of opportunities
Cathy
- ‘Cooking Bear recipe book’ - what fun this will be, plenty of my favourite recipes and cooking tips. I might encourage Peter to include some ‘front of house’ anecdotes, most of them amusing, some borderline libellous. Would you buy a copy
- Home catering – if it’s worthwhile.
- Restaurant supply – supplying restaurant(s) with selected products.
- I plan to be more involved with RASKI. Some of my Cooking Bear recipes and suggestions on food preparation, storage, cooking and presentation.
Peter
- The RASKI Network absolutely
- The Midlands Foodies website absolutely
- Semper – Software solutions for the hospitality industry, including Semper Lite for smaller venues
- Website development if it’s worthwhile
- e-Marketing campaign management if it’s worthwhile
- Might have a thing or two to say about Restaurant reviewers. They vary, like the restaurants they review. Some good, some bad and some indifferent.
- Might even take up the cudgels on behalf of restaurateurs. Are good manners the exclusive province of restaurateurs or should ethical diners adopt a code of good manners like arriving on time with the correct number of diners ? What do you think ?
Together
We might consider writing Restaurant reviews with the simple benchmark question – “would we take good friends there ?“ Regional or National newspapers, Magazines, websites ? We could be writing for you for a modest fee
RASKI
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*****
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Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, e-mail, Google+, word of mouth, over dinner…
Quo Vadis ?
Our immediate plans include a visit to the Western Cape to spend time with family, then it’s decision time…
where should we pitch our tent ?
Western Cape ? – DA governance, fine restaurants & beaches, miserable winter rain.
OR
KZN Midlands ? – SA’s best kept secret, clean air, majestic scenery, fresh summer rain.
The couple who have bought our property plan to open a restaurant. More of that later
Our very best wishes for the future from Cathy, Peter, Rupert and Beccie.
“If we don’t see you through the week, we’ll see you through Windows…”
*****
Over the eight years of your trading we had numerous delicious meals and hours of wonderful entertainment . Thankyou both and we look forward to our next meeting.
Hiya Mark and Patty. It’s been a lot of fun and a pleasure, thank you for becoming regulars. The adventure is not over yet
Sign up for the RASKI newsletter and keep in touch with our mischief. We’ll meet again for sure.
Enjoy the next chapter and thank you so much for such wonderful memories we have of the handful of times we came up from Durban for a weekend in the Midlands and to come to the Cooking Bear. One rainy night, we arrived to find you guys without power and Cathy cooked for us by candlelight. It was a memorable evening.
You’ll be missed and Cathy, PLEASE do the recipe book. Happy to pre-pay for a copy.
Sincere thanks,
Michael and Linda
Hi there Kinda and Michael.
Yup, we remember the dodgy nights when Eskom failed to live up to its billing. So glad you had fun and that you remember the evening. Hope to see you again…
Dear Cathy and Peter
We are going to miss not only the continuation of the many Sunday lunches that we have enjoyed over the years at The Cooking Bear but also the pleasure of your company and friendship.
Thank you for creating such a wonderful gem in the Midlands and we wish you both much happiness and good health in your retirement.
Denis and Aily Hopewell
PS I have passed on ther sad news to Dan and Colleen.
Hi Dennis and Aily. So glad we had the opportunity to see you the other day. The adventure is not over, who knows where it might lead. Sign up for the RASKI newsletter to keep in touch please. Give our love to Dan and Colleen please.
I can’t believe you’re closing and we never got another chance to have your amazing food, I am devastated!! We sent my husband’s sister to you this past weekend as they were in the Midlands for the Midmar mile, I hope they did come. We so seldom come to the Midlands but continuously dream of the amazing food you prepare! I’m not sure if you remember us but we first came to your restaurant when we stayed in the little A-Frame, we had a wedding nearby.
Anyway best wishes with your future and I’m so sad we wont get to enjoy your food again
x Pippa and Jono Leenstra.
Hi Pippa and Jono. Thank you so much for your very kind comments. It’s off to the big adventure, keep in touch through RASKI.
Very sad news for us – I am conscious of the fact that we have not been your strongest supporters but can only try to assure you that this was only due to our not going out so much these days but I must tell you that I always enjoyed our meals with you guys and Cathy’s food very much indeed – my tummy is grieving.
Only complaint is that you have not given us any warning and a proper chance to say goodbye but maybe we should organise something here.
We wish you all the very best for the future and hope you will keep in touch.
Very best wishes,
Nick and Susan
Hi there Nick and Susan. We’ll miss you both. With your extraordinary knowledge of music Nick you might consider writing for RASKI as our resident 1960s/1970s music buff
Keep well and I’m sure our paths will cross in the future.
Hi Cathy and Pete
Many thanks for all those lovely KZN times and meals of yor, great memories that still live with us and may the new ventures prove to be fun and rewarding.
See however that you guys have some august company in the retiring from this venture league, like the POPE??
If you guys have any spare time and feel like a little nostalgia Caribbean wise, the doors and invitations here in SVG are Always Open.
CHEERS
Harry and Shaaryn
Hiya both. Yup, we’re off to the Wild West (Coast). The Caribbean sounds very enticing. I bet you are both having fun. Rum punch in hand, feet in the warm sea…One day…
We wish you two all the best in your next endeavors. We will miss your whimsical newsletters.
Hi Kesh.
Many thanks. We plan to take a break and then we will gird up our loins and sashay forth.
Hi Peter and Cathy
Have just arrived home from a cruise to receive your news. We are sad to learn that Cooking Bear has closed its doors. We have enjoyed a number of wonderful meals with you, amidst a homely, relaxed atmosphere with great hospitality. Just before we left on holiday, I passed on your details and directions to find you, to a friend, but sadly probably too late.
We wish you well in your future endeavours and look forward to following you on the RASKI Newsletter.
With our very best wishes
Liz and Richard
Hi Liz and Richard.
Yup it’s off to the next phase of the adventure. We will send an occasional Cooking Bear newsleter, but no menus – sob !!
Hope you enjoyed your cruise. Where to ? The only cruise we have done was in the Caribbean, floating gin palace with restaurants running 24 hours a day etc. Amazingly relaxing since you can’t get off the boat on a whim. So it’s feet up, good book and a chilled Gin and Tonic.
It looks like we might keep a connection with food in the Midlands, but more of that later.
Keep well and all the best – Peter & Cathy