Restaurant Review: Salt at the Ambassador Hotel

So what would you do if, hypothetically, you were given three extra days leave right at the end of your holiday in the middle of a heatwave? Head for the beach? It was 40°C! Spend time with friends? Everyone was still away! Tantrum, stamp feet and scream that you wish you'd known earlier? Well, there may've been some of that, I'm no saint. But, no, you'd do what I did, and head for a place with shady tables, overlooking the waves breaking on the rocks, and cold, delicious wine.. Yes, I'm talking about lunch at Salt.

There's been a lot of talk in recent months about the Salt Deli and Bar across the road where Carlucci's used to be, and I had breakfast there a few weeks ago (delicious Eggs Benedict, by the way), and I'd heard good things about the new chef at Salt. You see, the husb and I (when we started dating) went through a rather fancy restaurant phase. We went to Savoy Cabbage, Ginja, Shoga, The Showroom, Rueben's, and Salt all within a few months of one another. Yes, I was richer back then, what can I say, I had fewer bills and it was a boom! Anyway, fast forward a few years, many restaurants and a wedding, and over those years, I'd heard mixed things about Salt. Some said it had gone downhill, and others were raving. I remained unconvinced it could live up to its former glory, and didn't go back.

Enter Twangoo. Yes, I know it has a funny name, but go to that site and register! They arrange group deals, whereby if a set number of people join the deal, they get it at a special or reduced price. Two for one deals, extra things added, freebies, that sort of thing. So when I saw that Salt was offering a 3 course meal for 2 with a glass of wine for R250, I was hooked.

And what a lunch it was. They were polite, knowledgable of the special, had a special menu printed with the Twangoo offer in it, and we were treated with impeccable politeness. I mention that because at another restaurant that we've visited hosting a Twangoo special, we were treated a bit like lepers, as we had gone for the 'cheap' voucher, instead of paying full price. Salt, on the other hand, treated us like honoured guests, which was great.

And the food.. oh the food. A herb crusted salmon trio was the star of the starters, with a delicious cool herby greenness that was SO attractive in the heat, while both the mains (a linefish with carrot sauce and a beef sirloin and shortrib) were incredibly flavourful and delicious. The desserts, a cappuccino crème brûlée and a pineapple and granadilla compote stuffed Yorkshire pudding, with caramel ice cream, were just the cherry on the top. 

The photos above are not of the food we had (I was having waaaay too much fun enjoyed the atmosphere and, well, the food, to be taking pictures), but they are representative of how beautifully presented the dishes are. What also struck me at the time, was the portion sizing. While the menu we had was designed for the offer, and was as such never going to be had as a single or even two course meal, the main was sturdy enough to have satisfied as a stand alone meal, which is rare for a three course meal and this type of restaurant. Often, you'll opt for just a main, and leave feeling hungry, but this will not happen at Salt. However, that being the case, the three course meal was not a case of over stuffing. The starter and dessert were light enough to complement the main, and the timing (we were given space after our mains to settle before dessert), meant that we left comfortably fed, rather than uncomfortably full.

Now, this lunch was a few weeks ago (in the week before most of us went back to work), and this still stands out as one of the best lunches in memory. In fact, the husband rates it as THE best lunch ever. The combination of venue - the restaurant seems to hang over the sea, with the waves breaking on the rocks beneath; the timing - a few extra days leave was exactly what we needed; the food - delicious, well presented, well timed, and just wonderful; and the company - we do love a good lunch together, and much as we love our friends, nothing quite beats the time we spend together. The combination of effects was just superb, and we left so happy, contented and cool. A quick dip in the ocean at Bantry Bay was really all we needed to finish off the most wonderful day of our holidays.

The final analysis? Twangoo offers rock, provided the one you get is something you would go to anyway, and the saving is just a bonus. Sunny days are the most wonderful ones for quiet lunches for two. Salt and their new chef, Jacques de Jager are pushing all my buttons right, I'll be going back there for lunch special or no special. Oh, and I love my husband.

And with that, I leave you.
Take care, my friends :)

**Disclaimer: Neither Twangoo or Salt have paid me for this review. Yes, I got a voucher from Twangoo, but that option was open for many people**

Restaurant Review: Lunch Spots in Cape Town III

Hi there!

{Image source}

Today I'm going to talk a little bit about Bree Street. In recent years, Bree Street has gone from being the much lesser known sibling of the cooler Long Street, to being the infinitely more classy sibling, if you can take the metaphor that far. Bree Street has, in fact, gotten so cool, that there's even a blog dedicated to it. Bree Street is now lined with restaurants and cool places to hang out, from &Union and Caveau to Jardine (and Jardine Bakery) and Rotisserie 360. But today I focus a little more locally, and bring you two places that are not only close, but actually neighbours.

In the bottom of the old church that lies in Heritage Square parking lot, there are a lot of little, tiny shops and restaurants. &Union is probably the most well known, as their beers have spread far and wide in Cape Town, attracting a larger and larger market. Brilliant for them, and good for their neighbours. As more people head for Bree Street, little places like Cheyne's and Piroschka can flourish, providing us poor office drones with someplace nice to go for lunch.

So for a friends recent birthday, we popped into Piroschka's and for a farewell lunch, we went to Cheyne's. Both delicious. Both on Bree Street. Both tiny. Here you go. Thank me later.

Cheyne's

So Cheyne, the chef and owner, used to be a private chef. He's good, really good. He opened up this tiny spot a little while ago (I think just over a year ago, but I stand to be corrected on that). The restaurant is tiny, with space for probably less than 30 people inside, and a long table outside on the mini terrace. They're open for breakfast and lunch, and private dinners by appointment. I know prominent Cape Town blogger JamieWho threw his wife's birthday party there, and was blown away. So give that a try.

But first, have lunch here. Everyday is different. There is no menu, so don't expect the same old same old. The day we went, there was swordfish and salad, and two burgers, beef and Asian chicken. My friend and I had the beef, and my other friend had chicken. For R48 and R45 respectively, we were served beautifully plated, absolutely delicious burgers. The patties were juicy and full of flavour (and as someone who has made burgers, I know that can be hard to achieve!). They were served with a delectable salad of noodled cucumber, and roasted butternut served on an Asian rice spoon. The bun was soft, and there was a wonderful burger to bun ratio (not too much bread, or too much beef) and there was crispy bacon, to finish it all off.

We all left full, and happy, at just shy of R50 a plate. How often do you find such incredible quality at such a low price? I'm assured that every day is different, with the single theme of tasty food made with quality ingredients. To be honest, I have not heard one bad thing about Cheyne's. And I have nothing bad to say either.

Oh. And they have a bacon and egg roll for R10 between 9-11am. That's good enough reason to go for a start.

Address: 108 Bree Street (below St. Stephen’s Church), Cape Town
Book: 021 422 3358

Opening times: Breakfast 08h00 to 12h00   Mon – Sat
Lunch 12h00 to 15h00   Mon – Sat
Dinner by appointment only.

Email: info@cheynes.co.za

Piroschka's Kitchen

In a slightly different vein, and just one step to the right, Piroschka's Kitchen is a Hungarian-German gem. They also serve a limited menu, but one that tends to stay the same. They offer goulash, flammkuchen (savoury and sweet), soup and one other thing that slips my mind. I can't comment on the other items, but the flammkuchen is delicious! A crispy thin pizza-style base is spread with a combination of bacon, creme fraiche and finely sliced red onion. The whole thing is cut up into tiny diamonds, so it's really easy to eat with your hands and share it with friends. My friends and I had one each, and we were SO stuffed afterwards, and could easily have shared 1 or perhaps 2 between the 3 of us.

They also sell gluhwein by the glass, which I am going back for. But as I had to go back to work, that wasn't going to work out. Sadness. The service is friendly, and while the food is not fast, it is incredibly tasty, and well worth the wait.


Address:

106 Bree Street, Cape Town, 8001

Book: 021 425 76 35

Email: info@piroschka.co.za

So keep these Bree Street gems in mind, next time you're looking for a good lunchtime meeting or social spot. The food is good, and well worth every penny you spend.

**Restaurant images from their respective websites. Visit them for more**

Restaurant Review: Pepenero

Hi lovelies!

So you know I eat out a lot, right? Well, one place I've been kinda keeping under my hat is this jewel, but since my favourite season to go is ending, I figure it's safe now, right? And who knows, maybe it'll become your favourite summer hangout..

What's a bit funny is that, although the boy and I have been going to Pepenero for months, I was asked by them recently to write a review. And I though, yeah. I like that place, why haven't I done a review? And then I realised. Because I didn't want to share (shame on me). So here we are, and now I'm sharing. We can still be friends, right?

You'll thank me for this: I'm talking panoramic sea views, a comfy, covered and shaded outside areas, incredible cocktails and quality food. Right? I wasn't talking rubbish, was I? You can see why I kept this one? OK. To sweeten the deal, they offered pretty good winter specials: R129 seafood platter (big enough for 2), half price on selected sushi (incl. the salmon roses, YEAH!), and R21 cocktails. Ok, there are more specials, but the boy and I are creatures of habit. We had that the first time, and we've had variations on the same theme every time we go there. See, we don't eat fish much (there's not much fish on this ere blog, is there? My bad), so when we crave it, here we go.

And this special is coming to an end. At the end of this month (September, in case you're confused). Click here for their specials, and choose specials.

Anyway, the restaurant is plush, it's comfy, it's fancy and fab, and you really want to spend a good Sunday afternoon, holed up there, loving the view, the cocktails and the food. Because this gem is the reason we love Cape Town. Good food, beautiful people, incredible sunsets. And you know why I love to go there in winter? Because on a cold, blustery day, you can sit inside the panoramic window, warm and fuzzy with your cocktails and your boy, and watch the stormy seas go wild. Yeah. I'm weird like that.

The food is great quality, the seafood and the sushi are fresh, and (after having visited with family), I'm assured that the steak is tasty. The menu is predominantly Italian, with a lot of pastas and Italian main meals, along with seafood and sushi. The wine list is extensive, though (for me) on the pricey side. The half price cocktails, however, are a steal. Have the Sexy Pepper, I always do.

But don't take my word for it. Get thee to Pepenero, especially before the winter special runs out!

PS. Book on the weekends.
PPS. I received nothing for doing this review. They asked, and I realised it was coming anyways. I was not paid or comped for anything, this is a genuine reflection of my experiences.

Contact:
Phone: 021 439 9027
Address:  No 1 Two Oceans Beach, Bay Road, Mouille Point, Cape Town, 8001

**All images stolen without permission from the Pepenero site. I don't have a camera. Sorry guys!**

Guest Post: JulyAte with a Review of Nook Eatery

Hi! 

As I have mentioned, while I'm away on holiday, some of my lovely blog and twitter friends have offered to guest post for me! Blown away by this amazing offer, I've given them pretty much free reign to write what they like, and just LOOK at what they've come up with! 

Here's Jessica from Tiny Oven Adventures with something amazing, just for you. Take it away!

A review of Nook Eatery

Nook Website

About Nook 

Their website says, "Nook is a cosy eatery in Stellenbosch offering light meals, pastries, cakes and daily specials.” Nook is situated on one of the oak-lined street of Stellenbosch with some tables on the sidewalk where you can enjoy the view and other tables inside the tiny colourful shop. 

Why Nook? I have been following them on twitter for a while (drooling over their lunch specials) and fantasising about what I would have from the menu if I went there (it all looks so tasty!). The prices looked reasonable enough so it just had to be Nook. 

For lunch, Nook has a daily lunch buffet that is priced according to weight; you pay R13 per 100g of food that you dish up. When I went to Nook for lunch, it was a sunny winters day and we got a tiny table outside overlooking the street. The buffet consisted of beef ragout with gremolata, roast garlic & herb potatoes, cauliflower cheese bake, organic bean & pea salad and organic lentil salad. I had the beef with the bean & pea salad as well as the lentil salad. The beef was very tender and flavourful and it was swimming in a thick dark sauce. The vegetables in the salads were still crunchy and fresh and not overcooked and, my word, was it tasty! I prefer my veggies on the crunchy side and it was refreshing to find them in a nice crispy state on my plate. The buffet worked out marvellously for me as I always find that restaurant portions are too large to finish in one sitting (I always end up with a doggy bag!). I wanted a cinnabon for dessert but to my great disappointment they were already sold out at 13h00, which leads me to…

The Beginning

The Cinnabon. I still had a craving for a cinnabon so I went and bought one the next day. Mere words cannot describe this tasty morsel sent from the heavens, so a photo will have to do.

This creation was like the result of an extreme gourmet makeover of the plain old cinnabon. The dough was light and buttery and pulled apart in light strands of doughy goodness (I believe it is called brioche). The centre of the cinnabon was saturated with a light caramel sauce that I mopped up with the other broken off pieces. Pure heaven I tell you. 

The Service 

At this moment this review sounds positively glowing, but I’m afraid that my experience was not quite that good. The location is beautiful, the food was amazing but the service did not quite measure up. In this case I was especially surprised by my experience at Nook, as I had read so many glowing reviews telling of the warm, homey experiences people have had there. I found the waiters cold and a bit unfriendly, and the staff behind the counter didn’t look like they knew what exactly to do with me. My lunch companion wasn’t too full of praise for the service either, she was pretty miffed about having to request a toothpick several times before someone brought it to us.

The End

The Redeemer 

At this point in my review I felt that perhaps I didn’t have enough material on Nook to do a proper review, so I returned there again today for lunch. On the buffet menu was free range chicken pie, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, broccolini with sweet sesame dressing, organic chickpea & roast butternut salad and organic green apple waldorf salad with toasted pecan nuts & lemon crème fraiche dressing. I had a bit of everything.

The salads were great again, fresh and crunchy and yummy, but they were not the highlight of the meal… The gnocchi with wild mushrooms was a taste revelation; the delicate flavours of the mushrooms went perfectly with some lemon thyme. The gnocchi was firm and not too gummy and everything came together nicely with a thin creamy sauce. The chicken pie was very good, so good that I might even claim that it is the best chicken pie that I have had. I have no idea what went into that pie but the insides were moist, flavourful and had a hint of white wine that went very well with the chicken. Do yourself a favour and go have the chicken pie at Nook, you won’t regret it. 

The service today was definitely better than last time, we all have off days and I guess that my first lunch just coincided with “one of those days”. 

Overall, Nook is a great place to go eat in Stellenbosch and I would recommend it to anyone. What they might possibly lack in the service department they more than make up for with the fantastic fresh food that they have on offer. 

I’ll end off the review with question to the readers; if a restaurant advertises on their website that they have a twitter feed, do you expect them to update the feed regularly and respond to tweets promptly?

To book at Nook Eatery
Phone: (021) 8877703
42 Van Ryneveld Street
Stellenbosch
www.nookeatery.co.za 

Like what Jessica has to say? Visit her blog or catch her on twitter!

Guest Post: The Squashed Tomato Chef reviews Jakes

Hi! As I have mentioned, while I'm away on holiday, some of my lovely blog and twitter friends have offered to guest post for me! Blown away by this amazing offer, I've given them pretty much free reign to write what they like, and just LOOK at what they've come up with! 

Here's The Chef from A Squashed Tomato, with something amazing, just for you. Take it away!

Hi everyone!

Wow, it's a great privilege to be guest-writing for polkadotcupcake whilst she is off enjoying a glorious new adventure at her wedding. Fearing stage-fright upon arrival, I talked myself out of creating some intricate recipe that might fail hopelessly and decided to rather review one of my favourite (if not all-time favourite) Cape Town restaurants. 

Jakes is a true Cape Town gem, with restaurants situated in Kenilworth (Jakes On Summerley) and Tokai (Jakes In The Village). The website describes the atmosphere as "vibrant and social" - I think this is a gross understatement! The interior, especially in the evening, is simply luxurious - with dark wooden tables, large glass windows, gorgeous artwork and perfect lighting, the dining experience of your life (yes, a bold statement but I dare you to prove me wrong!) is just waiting to be had! 

A visit to Jakes is not complete without arriving early in order to enjoy a glass of spicy red wine or a cool, tangy cocktail in the trendy bar area, seated on one of the leather armchairs. Once your table is ready, you are whisked away into the vibey dining area, where there is a delightful theatre of talking, laughing, champagne corks popping, waiters moving skillfully between tables, knives and forks clinking on plates and the gorgeous aroma of food...glorious food. Just a warning - upon opening the menu, whatever you were feeling like eating before doing so is instantly assaulted by a variety of delicious alternatives. 

Whilst I highly recommend going more than once (in order to try everything, of course!), I have come to salivate on simply hearing the following main course options: Jakes Double-Roasted Duck and Jakes Beef Wellington. The duck is wickedly crispy on the outside, whilst moist and tender underneath and is served with fine French beans and a few other side items (trust me, the duck and those beans just steal the show). The wellington is nothing short of art: Medium-rare steak, topped with a sherry-based sauce and pate, is wrapped in pastry and baked to perfection. It is also served with those crunchy, fine French beans. Just to provide some context, I first had the wellington over 2 years ago and it has remained, to this day, the best meal I have ever eaten in any restaurant. FACT. Unfortunately, both the duck and wellington are "specials" and are not available throughout the year. My sources tell me the wellington is currently available - I will race you there! 

Reading this, you might think that I am really singing Jakes' praises - well, I am! I live to eat - it's a great part of life - and I am always on the lookout for a restaurant that offers incredible food within an entirely addictive setting. Jakes has it right - and after writing this, I need my next fix! Word is that they're running a winter special at the moment - R145.00 for 3 courses! No guesses where I will be dining this weekend! Thanks to polkadotcupcake for this great opportunity! I wish you the very best with your wedding and new start in life - and I cannot wait to hear about all the food from the reception!

All the best, 

The Chef 

x

{Images sourced from: Dining-Out.co.za}

Restaurant Review: La Mouette

Hi!

How're you, dears? Sorry I've been so MIA lately - if you could see my house, you'd know that blogging isn't the only thing I haven't had time for lately! I hate to admit this (especially on the interwebs) but we haven't done dishes in so long, I literally have nothing to cook IN. And there's so little time, I haven't had the chance to even worry about it yet!

Between the football racking up the tension on one side, planning a wedding on another, finally moving out of my old flat, and my Dad arriving from England this evening, time has not been on my side. So cooking? Yeah, that hasn't happened much. In fact, we've pretty much been scraping by on sandwiches. Horrific, I know.

But last night was the boy's birthday, I decided that (rather than do dishes and cook him up something special), we'd go out to La Mouette, a new restaurant in Sea Point that's been receiving rave reviews all over the internet.

We had heard rave reviews about the Winter Tasting Menu (6 courses for R150), so we went for that. And, oh my dear! am I glad we did! There were two options for each course, except the palate cleanser before dessert, so we just ordered the whole menu! 

And what a menu! Melty truffle and cheese croquettes, crispy calamari and a garlic aioli, starts off the delights, and they are followed by a slightly spicy coconut broth with veg dim sum and an almost frothy butternut soup, with walnuts and blue cheese. This incredible start was followed up by a crispy, crackly salt and pepper pork belly and tuna tartare (that's raw, like sashimi, but chopped and thrown together with spices and a vinaigrette). Then we moved onto a delicate piece of fragrant kingklip, with a most delicious sauce vierge and a perfectly cooked piece of sirloin, with bordelaise sauce. My dears, I must heartily recommend that you go with a loved one who likes to share, because ordering on of each enabled us to share the whole thing! Then, after a light, foamy green apple sorbet (with real pieces of apple in it), dessert followed. A giant chocolate macaron with honeycomb (I know!!) ice cream, and a cheese plate, with a peppered Kimberly cheddar, quince jelly and lavoche crackers.

What a delight! We washed down the whole thing with a bottle of Zandvliet shiraz, that we've been hoarding. It was actually supposed to be our anniversary wine, but we didn't drink it. A 2005 vintage, it had aged to mellow perfection, and we've decided to buy a new one every year, and save it for 5 years. This gave our tendency to hoard wine a reason to continue - this wine was decadently perfect with everything!

Please, please do yourself a favour and go and eat at La Mouette. In a time where fine dining restaurants are closing, the souls at La Mouette have been very brave to open their doors, and we'd like to see them continue! The food, ambiance, service and overall feel were just wonderful, and we'd like to see them remain in business for a good long time.

To book:
Email: reservations@lamouette.co.za 
Tel :   021 433 0856
Or catch them on Twitter: @teamlamouette

Restaurant Review: Casa Nostra

So I was boasting on twitter again, but this time not about my own cooking, but about a lovely little Italian eatery I found over the weekend.

{Image source: Posticino's website}

A couple of months ago (checks), alright, in March, another food blogger, Dax over at Relax with Dax, recommended Casa Nostra as a good choice for quality Italian fare at reasonable prices; you can read his review here. And although I moved to Sea Point a few months ago, it's been hard making my way past the delightful Ristorante Posticino, which is literally steps from my house. However, much as I love Posticino's pizza (LOVE), we decided to venture further afield (still in Sea Point) to the tiny, but delightful, Casa Nostra, on Regent Road, further down Sea Point Main Road.

{Image source: Jezlyn26, flickr}
(This isn't a photo of what I ate, but it's close enough, though mine had mushrooms in.)

And I am so glad that we did!! OK, I was starving, and old shoe leather probably would've been lovely, however, the Carbonara linguine with extra mushrooms was a heavenly experience. The restaurant has a small, but really authentic-feeling menu. There were a few pasta options, offered in either linguine or homemade tagliatelle, and pizza. The salads looked delicious and fresh, and we saw a dozen people having a fragrant tomato soup, which looked divine. We had the Carbonara linguine(R50, or R70 for the tagliatelle) with bacon, mushrooms, and a light creamy sauce, and the gnocchi (R60) with napoletana sauce. We agreed that my carbonara was the clear winner, while the two in concert was nice, because the napoletana sauce was a light foil to the creaminess of the carbonara. We rounded out dinner with some Italian red wine (R30 per glass), and dessert was a Lindt chocolate brownie and white chocolate mousse.

Dinner was delicious, served quickly, and dessert was divine. The place was mostly empty when we got there (it was 6pm - we didn't have lunch, ok!), but filled up around 7pm, with lots of locals. I'd book if you want to go around 7-8pm, but just rock up if you're going earlier. For the sports mad, there are 2 big screen TVs (considering the place is tiny, that's really all you need), so you can catch the games.

So if you're in Sea Point, try this unassuming eatery out, it may just make your day!

Casa Nostra Italian Restaurant
66 Regent Road, Sea Point
Phone: 021 433 0187

Restaurant Review: The Fat Cow

I guess not everyone knows this about me, but for me there are few things nice than a good quality steak. And if that steak is paired with the most delicious blue cheese sauce? This is heaven, methinks!

So, I've been trying to keep this place to myself, but, because I love you, I've decided to share. Also, my fellow #cheesesluts on twitter will kill me if I don't share this, because this sauce was revelatory. Now, you may be a cheese fan, you may not, but if you are, and if stinky blue cheese is your weapon of choice then, my dears, I've found the ninja sword of cheese sauces.

Roquefort is a French blue cheese, with a strong odour and taste and a creamy texture. It melts well, and spreads quite easily, and I think it improves with age. Stilton is an English blue cheese, and Gorgonzola an Italian. So everyone has a blue cheese, and they all have their merits. The revelatory sauce, however, was made with Roquefort, so for the moment, I'm going to say that Roquefort's my favourite. (Course, next week when I make blue cheese burgers, then maybe it'll be the Gorgonzola, but you understand that I'm fickle, right?)

So, while I've been waffling on about cheese (and who doesn't wax lyrical about cheese, right?) you've been wondering at what point I'll start talking about the Fat Cow. Well, here you are.

The Fat Cow Restaurant is a little gem set in Harfield Village in Cape Town's Southern suburbs. Since the boy and I nearly moved to Harfield (it was a near thing, but luckily we ended up in Sea Point), we made it a mission to find out what there was to do in that neck of the woods. Also, the boy works in Kenilworth, so it's convenient. And originally, back when we found it, we were starving and drunk after the J&B Met, and needed food, pronto, and so stumbled on this gem.

The steak, my dears, and the burgers. Well, I won't go into too much detail, but this hidden gem has well priced, well cooked (and by that I mean, cooked to order, not well done) tasty steaks, and delicious burgers. We had the 200 g (or 250g, I can't remember) rump, with the Roquefort sauce. All steaks come with chips, rice or a baked potato, and the chips are thick cut and delicious. In addition, all steaks come with a plate of veggies, which had butternut, peas and beans I think. Anyway, they were lovely. However, the Roquefort stole the show by being rich, creamy and delicious. I totally smothered my steak in it, and then dipped my chips in it. I'd have ordered it for dessert if I'd been allowed!

We also had a burger, and although I don't remember its name, it had bacon and brie on top, which was divine. Paired with the rich blue cheese steak, and we were in heaven.

The wine list is reasonable, the 200ish gram steaks feel much bigger than their equivalent in other restaurants. And if you go for no other reason, go for that sauce.

And that, my dears, is it. Go and eat there. Nuff said.

The Fat Cow: 43 2nd Avenue Claremont (actually Harfield Village)
Phone: 021 671 6592

Eating sushi in Cape Town - My places

Unfortunately, I can't tell you that I went home last night and whipped up some tasty, beautiful sushi. I don't cook rice, on a matter of principle, unless it's the microwave kind (I have issues, of this I am well aware, and will be getting treatment - probably sometime around my mid-life crisis), but I CAN tell you that I had some tasty sushi, and I'll even tell you where I had it. Now how's that for a trade-off?!

{Image source: Alexandre Chang}

Now, there are those people that say nothing beats certain sushi restaurants, and blah blah blah, there's nothing quite like that sushi plate that's R90 for 4 pieces. And I say that my enjoyment of a dish is quite directly related to the value I perceive that I'm getting, and to pay R90 for 4 pieces of sushi, while seated in a crowded thoroughfare of a busy mall - well, that isn't my idea of value. Sorry to say, I found the whole experience underwhelming and pricey. Not my idea of fun.

And then there are those that can ONLY have it cheap, and to those people I say that you are cutting yourselves off from experiencing amazing food by insisting on only eating at cheap restaurants. And so I'd like to introduce you to three sushi restaurants. One that is cheap, nice and convenient, and two others that are reasonably priced, very tasty, good quality, and a little off the beaten track.

Let's start with Saul's Sushi @ Vegas, shall we?
Based in Sea Point, Saul Beder has more less taken over the Main Road with his many restaurants, and while I can't claim to be a fan of burgers the size of my head at 4am, I can say that the sushi served at Saul's Sushi is fresh, well priced and imaginative, with specials to tempt those whose appetites lean toward the, well, burger the size of your head size. I went down to Saul's last night, in search of dinner (did anyone else notice that we've had summer for a few days? It wasn't a night I wanted to be sitting in my cold house!!), and ended up at Saul's, just a few steps from my house.

{Image source: VirtualErn, flickr}

We also stumbled into the R99 eat-like-a-horse special, which seems to attract the entire population of Sea Point, because within half an hour the place was packed! Now, I can say that the eat-as-much-as-you-can menu did lean towards the ricey, with a large variety of California rolls and maki rolls, there were also fashion sandwiches, hand rolls, and a variety of sashimi, which is unusual for these "go wild" specials. We had some delicious Rainbow and Rock n Roll rolls, Norweigan salmon and seared tuna sashimi, some gunkan and inari rolls (I've never had those before, so I can't compare them to anything else, but they were ricey), and a couple of handrolls. The sushi was fresh, the fish was tender and tasty and it was good. What was also good was the Fun Card that I won at the SA Food Blogger's Conference earlier this year, which meant that our meals were FREE! And who doesn't love free?

And last week, we had a little something to celebrate - my little sister passed her first board exam (yay! Just one more exam and another 2.5 years, and then you're a CA!!) So we went down to Subarshi, on the Foreshore in Cape Town. Subarshi has actually been around for a long time, well, long in the life of Cape Town restaurants, and it's longevity is owed to it's consistently good prices, inventive, authentic sushi, and the chocolate and banana spring rolls. Don't be fooled, people. The sushi is good, great even, but the chocolate and banana spring rolls? I'd kill for those things, easily.

{Image source: Bento Business, flickr}

Now, back in the day when they opened, Subarshi had a card that gave you 25% off the sushi. Whenever you ate, no strings attached. And that was on top of their already reasonable prices. I think they call this a 'win-win' situation. But after a few years of awesomeness and great prices, we visited a few times to discover a slight decline in quality and a hike in prices. This didn't make for happy people, and we went elsewhere for a while. Until a few months ago, it had fallen off our radar, and then we decided, "What the hell, let's give it another go!" And boy am I glad we did! The quality was back up to par and the prices are SO reasonable. I'm talking 5 big pieces of sear tuna sashimi for R42! A bargain, I think you'll agree. They also make these chocolate and banana spring rolls which, for some unfathomable reason, aren't on the menu, but if you ask, and you MUST, they will make them. Eat. And enjoy. You're welcome.

{Image source: LexnGer, flickr}

And lastly, my Southern Suburbs option (Obs is in the suburbs, isn't it?). 1890 House Sushi Bar & Grill. 1890 House is my secret. Well, ok, I'm sure other peoples know about it, it's always full, but it's my secret place to have amazing, interesting sushi and sushi-like food at rock bottom prices!! And damned, if I'm not sharing it with you lot! This shows how much I love you, doesn't it?! They have crispy tuna, in a sweet sauce, drizzled with sesame seeds (yes, you can drizzle seeds, aren't you glad you know that?), deep fried chicken wontons, that are HEAVEN dipped in sweet chilli sauce, and the sashimi! Seared tuna sashimi (can you tell that's a favourite of mine?!) at, I think, about R30-40 for 5 pieces. It's my little bit of heaven. And if it weren't in Obs, I would eat there more often.

Those are all I can think of for now. Sure, there are more and probably better sushi places, but insofar as making sushi available at good prices while still maintaining great quality, these places come out tops for me, and keep me coming back, again and again.

So, where do you like to go for sushi? Or, if you're not a big sushi eater (why?!), do you like Asian food? Where do you eat great Asian food?

Restaurant Review: Lunch Spots in Cape Town Centre

So last week, my soon-to-be-parents-in-law were in town, and staying at our house. This means that every night when I got home, dinner had already been thought out, and sometimes even cooked, and the kitchen already cleaned. Now, while I'm not complaining at this efficiency, it does leave me rather strapped for blog fodder - and I like to cook!!

Because, you see, necessity is the mother of invention, or so I hear, I tend to think up some of these things I make on the spot, when dinner is needed NOW. And so, without the NEED to cook, not only don't I cook, at all, I can't even think up fun recipes to blog about. I've always needed pressure, you see.

So, at a fellow bloggers suggestion on twitter, I'm going to tell you about what happens on the day after I don't cook. Yup. This lady, while lovely, doesn't really appreciate me taking the leftovers for lunch at work, since those leftovers often have a predetermined end in some other meal. That's what happens when you're not in control of your own kitchen. And so, I buy lunch. In town. And that is what I shall tell you about now.

Lunch Places In Cape Town

Please bear in mind that these are all, by necessity, within walking distance of my office, and do not constitute a comprehensive list of everywhere in town. And they're only the places I actually go to.

{image source}
 
Zucchini's (they don't have a website, but are based on Loop Street, just opposite the back entrance to the Christiaan Barnard Hospital, and a few shops back from the Cadiz Taverna. With a little tiny shop, but a bright orange sign, you really have to look out for them!)

Zucchini's is literally just across the road from my office, and I overlooked it for about a year when I started working in the area. Recently, though, I've been visiting over and over for their wholesome, vegetarian, and delicious lunches. Yesterday I had a delicious sugar bean and mushroom soup, which was full of yummy earthiness from the mushrooms, and sweetness from the sugar beans and the red pepper I could see, today I had a tagliatelle with a roasted tomato sauce, with a wedge of feta and slices of avo. Last week, I had the most delicious macaroni & cheese, with what tasted like a homemade tomato relish on top, just divine! From these meals, you can see that the offerings at Zucchini's are wholesome, homemade and tasty! They're also extremely well-priced, as each of these meals, in quite large portion sizes only came to R35! Now, you can easily pay that for a lacklustre sandwich in these parts, so its priceless for a wholesome meal.

{image source}

Rosa's Bakery (if you drive down Long Street, and turn right at the Purple Turtle, into Shortmarket Street, you'll find Rosa's just 3-4 shops up, on the right. It's a small bakery, with (again) and orange sign)

Rosa's is a small German bakery in the heart of Cape Town. They sell loads of traditional German baked goods, such as brezel rolls, rye breads and, well, lots of stuff! (I can't think of any more German baked goods, ok?!) They also sell delicious soups, such as the spicy Mexican soup - mix of mince, beans, vegetables in a spicy, rich broth; a more gentle butternut soup and a vegetable soup. These you can get by the cup or bowl, and come with a roll, or bread, or something.

Crave

(The Crave that I go to is in Greenmarket Square, but they have branches in Thibault Square, further down in town, and in the @homelivingspace at the Canal Walk pods, and probably other places, but those are the ones I know of)

Crave are good. They serve a variety of prepackaged sandwiches that are freshly made every day, using quality ingredients, and you can taste the quality. When they say they're using mature cheddar, you can taste it. My particular favourites are the croque monsieur (the classic ham and cheese toasted sandwich, on a panini, with mature cheddar and wholegrain dijon mustard, this is best toasted until the cheese melts); the bacon, cheese and avo (because who doesn't like bacon on their sandwich?!) and the chicken Caesar salad, with crunchy croutons and stinky cheese.

I like that they put it out there that they donate leftover food to a variety of charities at the days end - it makes me feel better about not eating the sandwiches left at days end, and ensures that I'll have a fresh sandwich every day!

Ok, that's all I have time for right now, but as I think of them, I'll add them here. If you have any favourite lunch spots, leave a note in the comments, and I'll check them out!

Restaurant Review: La Boheme Wine Bar and Bistro

So. I haven't done very many restaurant reviews, and that isn't because I don't eat out. I do eat out, probably more than I should, it's just that I don't really want to do over what better bloggers have done before me. And sometimes, you just wax poetic over yet another creme brulee.

{Images stolen without permission from the La Boheme gallery}

And yet, there sometimes comes a time when I am forced to wax poetic, just because I enjoy it so so much. And La Boheme Wine Bar and Bistro on Sea Point Main Road is just one of those places.

Now, it could be because I live around the corner (it certainly doesn't hurt to be able to consume several jugs of delicious sangria, and then not have to drive home!), and it could also be because I've heard many good things about it, but I think it's mostly the sure combination of relaxed atmosphere, incredibly good, homestyle food and very reasonable pricing.

{Images stolen without permission from the La Boheme gallery} 

Take Saturday for instance. The boy and I were ravenous, and contemplating lunch with fervour. We decided to pop around the corner, and take advantage of the R110 3 course special (though I ended up having the 2 course, R90 special, that's another story).

And what a special it is!

For starters, the boy had the most delicious chicken and leek ravioli, beautifully presented with a pile of rocket, which perfectly complemented the creamy sauce, and I had a divine chicken liver parfait, which was smooth and creamy, and served with sweet onion marmalade. These starters set the tone for our mains, a veritable feast of deliciousness. The boy had roast pork belly (with crispy crackling!) with poached pear and a wholegrain mustard sauce and baby potatoes, while I was spoiled with beef bourgignon on roasted garlicky mashed potatoes, both accompanied by spicy lentils, carrots, beetroot and roasted peppers.

The subtlety that was the mustard sauce paired with the sweetness of the pork and pear ws just divine. And the garlic mash amid all that beefy, winey goodness? Well, let's just say that we had an incredible lunch. And we really needed the dog walking afterwards, to help loosen the pants a bit.

Ah, and dessert. Chewy, light, chocolatey goodness that was the toasted almond and chocolate meringues was just the, well, I supposed icing on the cake that was lunch at La Boheme. But this isn't just a lunch joint. You can do a delicious dinner, or even breakfast - this place has delicious breads and croissants that you can buy at the deli and take home, or eat in with your eggs. The menus seem to be updated regularly, and are written up on large chalkboards that are standing around the restuarant, to be brought to the table by your friendly waitress. For some odd reason, we've had the same waitress every time we've been, and her service, at least, is efficient, friendly, knowledgable and not overly obtrusive. All in all, we have a winner.

You can book with them on
La Boheme: 021 434 8797

Restaurant Review: The Eastern Food Bazaar

Tantalising smells, milling people, the sizzle of frying ghee – these characterise the atmosphere of The Eastern Food Bazaar. Recently opened in what used to be the Wellington Fruit Growers, a long, narrow building from 1934 spanning the block between Darling Street and Longmarket Street in the centre of Cape Town, The Eastern Food Bazaar cooks up a storm.

{Image Courtesy: Eastern Food Bazaar website}

In the buzzing heart of the Cape Town business district, The Eastern Food Bazaar cuts a democratic swathe across the people of Cape Town. All types of people can be found here, from suited businessmen, to German tourists and hungry locals. All enjoy the flavours, smells and sounds of this bustling restaurant.

Taking a different approach to the restaurant business, the owners of the Jewel of India work on the idea that different people like different things, and service costs money. A variety of food is served at 6 or 7 kitchens, while there is a central pay point for all kitchens. Service is kept to a minimum, with a few servers to clear tables, and maintain hygiene. Food, drinks and dessert can all be collected from self-service kitchens, and water is available on a central counter.

The dishes range from chicken bunny chow (R25) to potato paratha (R15) and lamb rogan josh (R30). There’s also homemade ice cream and lassi to cool your chops when you’ve enjoyed a chicken tikka masala.

The décor leaves nothing to be desired, and puts many a Michelin starred restaurant to shame. Lining the walls are carved wooden screens and doors, authentic Mughal paintings and silks. The floor was paved with stones to suggest a cobbled lane, and the whole effect is supposed to simulate an Indian lane. Granite tables and wooden chairs complete the feeling of quality, and enhance the already fantastic food.

This haven of spicy delight fills a hole in the Cape Town restaurant scene, by offering good food, in a beautiful setting at very reasonable prices. This isn’t fine dining, but it doesn’t pretend to be. I predict that this unpretentious, incredible place will fill many tummies for many years to come.

The Eastern Food Bazaar
http://www.easterfoodbazaar.co.za/
info@easternfoodbazaar.co.za
Tel 021 461 2458
Fax 086 682 6519
96 Longmarket Street
Cape Town CBD
8001