Neil is an ideas man with an entrepreneurial spirit and boundless energy. From founding South Africa’s wildly successful collective clothing brand, www.thespace.co.za, to managing the full spectrum of new age marketing for major retail clients with his agency www.modernmuseum.co.za, he always leans towards finding the fun in a project whether it’s designing boutique hotel experiences, game lodge menus, collaborating on trend information, designing food concepts or writing cookbooks. Having creative ideas is all well and good but an idea can only manifest if it is nurtured. Neil’s strength lies in being able to take an idea and make it a reality through a strategic process that’s one part experience, one part expertise and many parts magic. It is this alchemy that Neil finds most rewarding and his enthusiasm for his work is infectious. He holds a B.Sc (Management) degree from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, is skilled in communication strategy, creative and art direction, igniting start-ups, travelling the world and can mix an Old Fashioned (No need to look at a recipe here!) Food and hospitality ride high on Neils interests and he has written seven cookbooks: Life’s a Beach Cottage (2007) which won Best Barbeque and Outdoor Cookbook in the World at the international Gourmand Awards in 2008; Life’s a Beach Cottage: Second Helpings; On the Rocks, a coastal-themed cocktail book that won best South African Photography Cookbook; Shiny Happy People, a collection of Neil’s friends’ favourite recipes and Taste Freedom featuring food from his restaurant Freedom Café. CASTAWAY, (www.castawaycooks.com is the latest book published in December 2022. Neil currently resides in Amsterdam, Netherlands where he set up www.kleinthegrocer.com as a catalyst for more hospitality adventures and strategic alliances. This has led to consulting for the Deus ex Machina group on their new restaurant concept Deus Cantina on the Herengraght. Strange times for the restaurant world indeed.