he Restaurant Rescue Project (RR), launched in July by renowned wine producer Alex Dale and Chef extraordinaire Matt Manning, has already saved five (5) Cape restaurants from permanent or at least temporary closure and hence securing the livelihoods of many employees.

The RRP campaign began when Dale donated 200 cases of his Radford Dale premium wines to Manning of Grub & Vine Restaurant in Cape Town in a bid to keep the restaurant’s doors open. The wines are included in a restaurant package by offering a case of six (6) premium wines per voucher purchase. The Radford Dale X Grub & Vine promotion sold out in three (3) days of going live, which equated to R280,000 in revenue for the restaurant.

Four weeks into the campaign, the Restaurant Rescue Project is now assisting 14 independently owned eateries, with more joining almost daily. Five of these campaigns are already sold out. Both South Africa’s globally recognised Wolfgat in Paternoster as well as celebrity tv chef Neill Anthony’s La Mouette in Cape Town have gone live on the RRP website and multi-awarded restaurants FYN, La Tête and The Test Kitchen join later this week.

Wine estates joining the cause within the week are; Keermont Vineyards, Jordan Wine Estate, Ken Forrester Vineyards, Luddite, Elgin Ridge Estate and Oldenburg Vineyards.