The coffee mocha wave has left an impression on the South African palate. Consumers have shown that they appreciate new takes on familiar styles.
Now the toffee flavour has arrived.
Simonsvlei winemaker, Christine Jones, describes Toffee Chunk Syrah as innovative and new generation, a new entry into a new niche.
I can’t say I disagree, I’m certainly ready to try something [...]
I haven’t had as much fun at a wine festival for a long time.
There was a party atmosphere and such a feeling of fun amongst the crowd that even the scudding grey clouds and spattering rain was not going to dampen the 4,000 or so visitors enthusiasm.
The organisers (the same people behind the Soweto Wine [...]
Posted in Niblets. 
Tags: Gugulethu wine festival, ray edwards, soweto wine festival, tops at spar 
4 Comments read more »
My favourite new product of recent times is Prepared Horseradish from a company called Finos.
I met the owner, Martin Wickman, recently, at The Taste of Cape Town and was really impressed with the quality and pureness of his products.
Martin hails from Sweden, and lived in Zimbabwe for 25 years before relocating here five years ago. [...]
Intrepid foodie Sam Linsell, of Drizzle and Dip fame, went on an adventure to Wellington. Here is what happened.
Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to join Showcook on a trip to the beautiful Bovlei valley and the unspoilt town of Wellington.
The region is especially significant to me because my great grandfather, Andrew Geddes Bain, the famous road builder [...]
What I like about Woolworths wines is that they do all the hard work in picking the wine for you. The selection may be smaller than you’d be used to, but it is, as they say, perfectly formed.
In short, it would be hard to leave Woolworths with an ill chosen or bad bottle.
The brain and palate [...]
Posted in Wines of The Week Tags: allan mullins, darling cellars 2008 shiraz, shiraz, woolworths 4 Comments read more »
Starting this Thursday and running until Sunday May 29th, The Good Food and Wine Show promises to the “must attend” show for foodies and gourmands.
Heston Blumenthal will be the main attraction, along with Atul Kochhar, a Michelin starred Indian chef from London. Celia Brookes Brown will be there to tell everyone all about the delights [...]
Winter seems finally to have arrived. There’s only one way to keep the damp chills out and, apart from wearing loads of fleeces, that’s got to be a hearty bowl of warming soup.
One of my favourite, and so delicious and easy to make, is lentil and chickpea.
You’ll need;
140g of split red lentils
850 ml of vegetable stock
A [...]
The only genuine Japanese sushi master chef that I know who actually has the word sushi in his name is Hatsushiro Muraoka.
He is better known as Papa San, and is as famous for his appearance in TV commercials over the years as he is for his prowess in the kitchen. Douglas Green is a brand [...]
Posted in Restaurants Tags: kloof st, minato, noodles, papa san, park st, sushi, Takumi, tempura 12 Comments read more »
La Mouette in Seapoint is one year old this weekend. It’s been wonderful to see them start from scratch and in the relatively short space of 12 months secure their well deserved place in the fabric of top of Cape Town restaurants.
The warm welcomes from Mari Vigar and her staff have helped this, as have the crackling log [...]
Lover’s revenge.
Amarula recently held a cocktail competition. Here is an entry I sent in. What I liked about it was the fact that it was a refreshing ‘long’ way to drink Amarula. Normally you find it in short cocktails or served in a small measure.
You can drink a few of these…….
Original Cocktail on which this [...]
I am a big fan of Southern Cross in Tokai.
I think it’s the best fish shop in Cape Town.
It’s a bit of a schlep for me to get out there and buy fish, but well worth it. So imagine my joy at hearing that Southern Cross opened in Palmyra Junction in Claremont.
And it’s an improved [...]
Posted in Recipes Tags: cliff greyvenstein, fresh fish, palmyra junction, southern cross, tokai 8 Comments read more »
Rudi Liebenberg, of the Mount Nelson Hotel, is the winner of the inaugural Great Grapes Cape Cuisine Cook-Off.
Rudi and his sommeiller, Carl Habel, paired impala loin with two wines – a Cabernet Franc from Hermanuspietersfontein, and an Agentinian Malbec Merlot blend. The Cabernet Franc won the pairing race hands down.
Eric Bulpitt of The Roundhouse came second and [...]
These are the wines you should be drinking this autumn. 6 great value wines to accompany hearty autumnal food and keep out the chills over the next few weeks.
All available at Vino Pronto, Orange Street, Gardens.
Jean Daneel – JD 2010. A mix of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Colombard. From Napier, near Cape Agulhas. [...]
I came across soups made by Robyn Campos recently, and thought – mmmm ….. delicious and must have a chat with her. So we hooked up and I asked her more about what she does and her products. Here, in her own lovely words, is what she had to say.
“Nourish with love… was born out of [...]
Hot off the presses is an unusual cookery book which uses apples and pears in recipes.
The big fruit people, Tru-Cape, are behind the book.
Megan Hughes came up with the recipes, and there are some great ones.
It’s a book is called, ‘Too Good to be True’. So here’s a rundown on what to expect.
Apple and Cheshire Soufflés, [...]
Posted in Recipes Tags: apple tartlet, megan hughes, too good to be true, tru-cape 3 Comments read more »
I love sushi.
But where is the best sushi in Cape Town?
Some say Willoughbys, others Nobu, and even a few will tell you that Kyoto Gardens does a very good job. Plenty mention Minato when it was run by “Mr.Minato”, who sold it on and who will reopen again soon in a new place that I [...]
Posted in Cooking Classes. Tags: cape town, kyoto gardens, nobu, O&O, sushi, willoughby's, winter menu 9 Comments read more »
Lets kill the rumour right now.
The cyberflush is beginning to scratch itself into gossip paranoia over the news that Laurent Deslandes is leaving Bizerca.
No he is not.
Got that? he is not leaving Bizerca.
What he is doing is consulting on a new restaurant that is opening in Johannesburg (thank God!, there’ll finally be a decent place [...]
Opened just this February, Organic at Heart is a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and all the nice bits in between.
Owner Michelle Carlse is on a mission to serve up the best free range and organic ingredients she can get her hands on. This means growing much of her vegetables, herbs and salad stuff in a [...]
Posted in Restaurants Tags: free range, lactose intolerant, michelle carlse, organic, organic at heart, restaurant, vegan, vegetarian, wynberg 6 Comments read more »
Fruit, delicate oak and vanilla. Imagine dried apricots with a hint of vanilla and honey.
Delicious with seafood, shellfish and mild curries.
R70 at the Cellar Door, R75 Retail.
Available in the coming weeks in Picardi Rebel, Makro, Ultra Liquors, and Tops at Spar.
This is one of the nicest Chenins I have tasted in many months.
Posted in Wines of The Week Tags: chenin blanc, ken forrester, makro, neil pendock, picardi rebel, tops at spar, ultra liquors No Comments » read more »
Wine and food pairing applications for iPads and smartphones are becoming very established.
In the US you can download applications that will pair wines with hundreds of dishes, and vice versa.
Restaurants have also embraced the technology, with some moving their entire menus and ordering systems onto iPads.
Generally speaking, the trend has been greeted positively by restaurant goers, [...]
Posted in Niblets. Tags: food and wine pairing applications, johan's, longridge winery, sawi 2 Comments read more » |  |  |  |
