After the success of the first Convivium, a spectacular showcase of food, chefs and producers that was held last year in Malmesbury, the organisers are looking to up their game for the next event taking place on 22 and 23 October in the Swartland.

The Convivium, the brainchild of Wesley Randles and Andy Fenner, is what Andy describes as “an event that aims to showcase food, chefs and producers in the most primal way possible – by closing the gap between the end product (a meal) and the starting point (the earth and the animal). With Kalmoesfontein as a venue, it allows us to do this by providing an unpretentious connection to the sand and soil that we have forgotten. Away from the city, away from the kitchens and away from the restrictions of our day jobs.”

The two-day feast will include an invitation-only event on day one with talks from the likes of Margot Janse (Le Quartier Français), Roushanna Gray (Veld and Sea), Rob Cowles and Jono le Feuvre (Rosetta), Pavs Pillay (SASSI), Ross Symons (White on Rice), Pieter and Koot Prinsloo (Daybreaker Beef), Adi Badenhorst (Badenhorst Wines), Eben Sadie (Sadie Family Wines) and Kurt Ackermann (Oranjezicht City Farm). The lucky invited guests will also be treated to breakfast prepared by The General Store’s chef, Colette Robert, a lunch served by Wes Randles from Shortmarket Club and Jess Grant from The Table, and dinner by Hoghouse’s PJ Vadas and ASH’s Ash Heeger. Chefs and industry professionals can request invitation by emailing info@convivium.co.za. Tickets to day one cost R400.

On day two, foodies are invited to purchase tickets to attend a large table feast for 100 people. The lunch will see the country’s top chefs and winemakers cooking side by side. Participating chefs include PJ Vadas, Ash Heeger, Wesley Randles, Jason Lilley, Wynand Van Rooyen, Kirby Auret, Franck Dangeruex, Karen Dudley and Angelo Scirocco. Winemakers include Thinus Kruger from FRAM, Callie Louw from Porseleinberg, Ryan Mostert from Silvervis, Adi Badenhorst, Adam Mason from Marvelous and Sebastian Beaumont. The end result will be a massive table loaded with various dishes, presented by the chefs.

The entire Convivium event is based on the idea of paying it forward and using knowledge and inspiration in a collaborative way. The non-profit event will be generating money through ticket sales and all proceeds will be going towards improvement of the local food industry. Explains Wesley, “Convivium wants to bring passionate people together in an effort to make real, measurable changes to the food and wine community in South Africa.”

The cost for day two’s lunch will be R950 per person and there will be a shuttle service available between Cape Town City Centre and Kalmoesfontein at an additional cost. Tickets for the lunch are available via Quicket. The shuttle can be booked by emailing jana@oceanecho.co.za with the subject line Convivium 2016.

Follow the official hashtag #convivium2016 on Twitter and Instagram for regular updates on the programme and chefs. You can also visit their website at www.conviviumtable.co.za.