Bella Ev is a beautiful villa with a soul of her own.
The Owners
Kerime Sinclair
Your host Kerime Sinclair, Bella Ev’s proprietor, is of Ottoman origin, has travelled extensively and is au fait with the tradition of Mediterranean and Ottoman cuisine. Kerime is a multi-faceted, multi-talented woman with a heart of gold. She is an activist, couturier, guesthouse patron and mother of two accomplished young women and grandmother of two. Kerime has lived more in her lifetime than most aspiring individuals would in thrice as many years.
As Kerime journeyed from one aspect of her life to another the need for skilled staff was never ending. Through the painstaking training of unskilled and often illiterate individuals and the investment of huge amounts of time, tenacity and endless energy, Kerime was able to accomplish not only her work, but also impart a life skill and trade to her staff, reinforcing a healthy self esteem and uplifting their lives. This noble task is ever ongoing as she joins those who strive towards creating a better South Africa for all.
Kerime identifies with Dante’s parallel between the seasons in nature and life stages of man. When she decided to become a couturier in her own right, she reached the summer season, about which Dante says: “The aim is achievement and its season summer. Instead of retirement to the forest, however, the next stage is to be of usefulness, bestowal. After our proper perfection which is acquired in manhood should also come that which enlightens, not only ourselves, but others.”
Ursula Rohlwink
Having grown up with a strong sense of her German identity in Swakopmund, Namibia, after completing her schooling Ursula was drawn to the more Ottoman side of her heritage, and decided to pursue her undergraduate education at the international Bosphorous University in Istanbul, Turkey. During her 4 delectable years living on the Bosphorous, Ursula took every opportunity of savouring the indulgences of Turkish culture and cuisine. On the coast of the Aegean she was afforded the great opportunity of acquiring some of the age old cooking traditions of the Turkish kitchen from the most skilled and beloved Fetiye Anneanne. Ursula returned to South Africa with some precious Ottoman specialities and traditions, and has, among other things, imparted to Kerime and the staff the technique of making kol boregi- one of the Ottoman Coffee House’s signature dishes.
Ursula completed her PhD neuroscience at the University of Cape Town, working at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in conducting research on brain injury in children, both traumatic and infectious. She continues however to be a part of her most beloved Bella Ev and all its manifestations, whether it be the Guest House or Ottoman Coffee House. She works with and supports her mother Kerime, and interacts with guests with whom she is able to communicate in English, Afrikaans, German, and some Turkish.
