By Robyn Cohen
Does the dog in your life fancy a slice of Mutt Loaf, a scoop of Chow Chow Stew or a nibble of Cheesy Doggie biscuit? These tasty treats are featured on Fido's In-Room Menu from the Twelve Apostles Hotel at Oudekraal in the Western Cape.
Fido's menu has been conceptualised by the hotel's award winning executive chef Roberto de Carvalho who has become known for his innovative "Cooking with Fynbos" menu. Fynbos (the edible variety) is combined with other ingredients to make some very unusual and fragrant food and served in the hotel's signature restaurant, Azure.
At this stage, fynbos has not been used for Fido's In-Room Menu, smiles the chef. Other appetisers on Fido's menu, include Bow-Wow Burritos (R35), Doggy Quiche (R30) and Poodle Pasta (R60) for mains. For the sweet toothed, there is Apple Crunch Pup Cake (R30) and Chewy Chihuahua Cookies (R25).
The food is only one aspect of the Privileged Pet Package (PPP) offered at the hotel which is, according to their media release, "the only five-star hotel in South Africa to allow pets to stay in a hotel bedroom".
When checking in, your VIP (Very Important Pet) is given a bowl of water and doggie biscuits. The bowl is encrusted with faux jewels. In room, gift baskets with surprises will make pet feel welcome.
If pets are bored, they may wish to watch a DVD from the hotel's extensive selection of films. Pet friendly titles include Beethoven or 101 Dalmatians. The hotel suggests that owners and pets watch these films "in bed together".
Or if they feel cooped up, they may want to decamp to the comfort of the 20-seater private cinema in the hotel. With red leather movie-style chairs and beanbags, this is a great place to unwind. (Note: when you have put the pets to sleep, check out the awesome collection of over 200 DVDs.)
Just about all of the hotel facilities are pet-friendly except the Azure Restaurant and 24 hour Café which, for health reasons, are out of bounds as well as the Sanctuary Spa which is part of the hotel complex.
Stressed pets can however have a session of head reiki performed by a vet - not one of the therapists at the Sanctuary Spa.
Animals can also enjoy poolside activities, eat on deck outside Azure Restaurant (with stunningly beautiful views of the Atlantic) and generally have a good time. PPP diversions include afternoon rambles amongst the fynbos or a stroll on permitted beaches.
At bedtime, there is "special storybook to read aloud to your pet" who can fall asleep on a "bow wow pillow". All linen is branded with a paw print and laundered separately to bedding used by human guests. Upon departure, a Polaroid photo and album will be presented as a memory of happy days spent at the hotel.
It is then no wonder that the hotel was recently voted by Time magazine as the Third best luxury hotel in the world - for canines (which translates into dogs and cats in this context), says a rightfully proud assistant general manager, Clayton Howard. He admits he and his team had heaps of fun formulating the PPP programme.
Mirth aside, this is a specialised niche market. Luxury is the operative word, ensuring that the hotel is in little danger of becoming "a dog of a hotel".
And this also means that guests who shudder at little creatures licking and slurping all over them while they are lounging at the pool can relax. An influx of small furry things is unlikely when one considers the financials involved.
Since the inception of PPP, last year, they have hosted seven owners and animals - all "internationals". Rates will set you back over R2 000 p/person a night in a superior sea-facing room. Animals sharing with their parents, stay free.
Then there are hefty air and land arrangements which owners have to bear to get to the hotel. Clayton recalls that last December the price of the air ticket for "a small brown dog from the UK" was about R18 000.