Go to Knead Bakery...it's a must!

Today I unfortunately don't have a recipe to share with you, but to make up for my lack of cooking I have decided to give you all a recommendation. My recommendation to all of you is to take a visit to Knead Bakery in Cape Town, South Africa. There are a couple scattered around namely in:

• Muizenberg
• Wembley Square
• Kloof Street
• Dean Street Arcade
• Palmyra Junction

This Bakery is fantastic! If you looking for a delicous breakfast or lunch or even just a quick cup of coffee or hot chocolate, that is made with the freshest ingredients, then I really suggest you take a drive to one of their bakeries. All of the bakeries are warm and inviting as well as exciting as the guests are able to see what is going on in the kitchen. The Bakery is also child freindly and the waitrons are particularly attentive and helpful.

Knead Bakery bakes their goods on each of their premises. They make outstanding breads and croissants that regularly get bought in my household and are great to quickly go and buy if you are on your way to breakfast/lunch/dinner at a friend and want to give them something "home-made".

I personally have a regular craving for their Sweetcorn fritters with smoked Salmon, Cream cheese and lemon. This breakfast/lunch dish is absalutely fantastic! The fritters are stacked in the middle of your plate, topped with smoked salmon and the cream cheese, surrounded with a line of pesto and a few cherry tomatoes and then to top it all off, rocket is thrown on top of it as well as a slice of fresh lemon.

Each component of the dish compliments one another. The tastes transform in your mouth and literally make you wanting more!

Sweetcorn Fritters

Sweetcorn fritters with smoked salmon and cream cheese

I strongly suggest that you pay this Bakery a visit, let me know what you thought about it!

My Myoga experience at the Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town

Myoga is by far my favourite restaurant in my area. I am a huge fan of fine dining and when ever the occasion arises this is my "go to" restaurant.

The restaurant is situated at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands, and seats about 100 people. The kitchen is open plan, so at all times the guests are able to see and hear the excitment and hustle and bustle of the chefs at work,. The restaurant is decorated beautifully with demasque chairs, black carpets, white table clothes, crystal chandeliers and sprinkeled with attentive waitrons who are able to assist you with any requests you may have.

Myoga has a special where they offer a 7 course meal for R225 + and additional R180 for wine pairing, and if I may say so myself, this is totally worth it. Each course is the right size and bursting with flavours! The restaurant incorporates a fusion twist which makes the food that much more delectable and flavoursome. There is also a seperate menu, if you are not interested in having 7 courses, but I highly recommend the 7 courses, it is well worth it.

Here's what I had:

For starters I had a Pea and bacon risotto cake with parsley cream. It was 2 mouthfulls in size, crunchy on the outside, and creamy in the inside and smothered with the parsley cream which was a wonderful compliment to the dish.

Starters

 2nd course I had a butternut salad with chorizo, feta, sunflower seeds and a special dressing. The butternut was soft and melted in your mouth and the other accompaniments really added flavour to the dish and complimented it as a whole.

2nd course

3rd course - Soup I had the Miso butternut soup with crispy bacon and croutons. At first my soup arrived and was far too salty, almost inedible, so I sent it back to the chef, who tasted it and adjusted the soup accordingly with no fuss. 2nd time around it was delectable! The bacon was crunchy and the croutons added depth to the dish. The soup was slightly spicy and made my tummy warm inside, perfect for the wintery weather we are experiencing, it was wonderful!




3rd course

 4th course - Pasta I had the seafood linguine which was also delicious, quite salty, but still lovely. I was maybe expecting some prawns in the dish, which didn't arrive, but the linguine was enjoyable all in all.

4th course

5th course - palette cleanser I had a ginger and lime sorbet. ABSOLUTELY delicious! so flavoursome and the ginger really came through and cleansed my palette nicely!

5th course

6th course - main course I had the pork tenderloin which was done beautifully, medium - rare and very flavousome. I would have enjoyed the potatoes to be mashed and maybe another vegetable accompaniment. But it was enjoyable to say the least.

6th course

7th course - dessert I had the apple tart tartin with creme fraiche and crushed pistachio nuts which was splendid! Rich, creamy and delicious with the crunchiness of the pastry and nuts and the smoothness of the apples complimenting eachother wonderfully! I highly recommend it!

I love this restaurant and really recommend that everyone pays it a visit.

River Cafe, Constantia Uitsig Winter Lunch

This past weekend I went to the River Cafe at Constantia Uitsig for their Winter special menu. There are a couple of different choices that can be had amoungst their menu's. One can either choose from their classic menu (where the items vary in price) or there is their Winter special menu where one can either have a 3 course meal with tea/coffee for R119 or a 2 course meal for R99.

I had the 2 course menu which had fairly large portions and food that was scrumptious! I chose a starter and a main course (no dessert) and both my courses were very satisfying and delish!

Starter:

To start I had Bruschetta (ciabatta toasted in the oven with a splash of olive oil, salt and pepper until crisp) topped with caramelised onions, roasted cherry tomatoes, rocket, crispy bacon and mozzarella drizzled with a balsamic glaze. It was absaloutely delicious and big enough to share with another person, which is exactly what I did and it worked out really well.

Starter: Bruschetta

Main Course:

I am a pasta fanatic, I honestly could eat it for breakfast, lunch and supper, 7 days of the week and would not get tired of it. So naturally I found the pasta option on the menu, and went for it... and to say the least " I was not disappointed"

It was a spinach tagliatelle mixed in a mushroom, spinach, sundried tomato and cream sauce topped with grated parmesan and a sprig of Italian flat leaf parsley. I must admit that I was very full after my last fork full, but it was delightful to the palette and if only I'd had leftovers, I would have eaten it for dinner that night too.

The other aspect to the dish that made me ever so happy was the parmesan cheese. Often restaurants decide to put a rubbery, tasteless version of "parmesan cheese" on the table which really does not appeal to me, but this was REAL parmesan cheese, which added to the flavour of the dish and made it that much more delicious!

Main Course: Spinach tagliatelle in a mushroom, sundried tomato,
spinach and cream sauce topped with grated parmesan

I had an absalutely splendid time there and would recommend it to anyone who would like to go for a relaxing, laid back lunch where delightful food is served. Thank you River Cafe.

Masterchef South Africa

WOW! The last 2 standing Deena and Sue-anne have really come a long way since the 1st Masterchef aired. I remember thinking to myself, is this going to be another embarrassing South African rendition of a Television show that I have really enjoyed in the past? or are they going to pull this one off?

At first I was a bit sceptical of the show but I didn't lose hope and grew to love it. Every Tuesday night I was glued to my TV and made sure that my family knew I was watching Masterchef and was not prepared to be answering phone calls or any questions for that matter...it was my time.

To be the winner of Masterchef would undoubtedly be a dream of mine. If food is your passion then this is a calling for you, the prize alone would change your life, but even the experience would leave a mark that no person could ever erase.

For those of you who dont know what the prize is, I'll enlighten you:
The winner of Masterchef South Africa won the following things:

1. R250 000 from Robertsons
2. A brand new Hyundai Elantra 1,6 GLS
3. A 7 day culinary experience in Italy and an Italien cookery course, courtesy of Woolworths
4. Nederburg Winemaster's Reserve wines and a customised sommelier course

AND last but not least

    5. The Southern Sun restaurant at Sun Square Montecasino

Now if that didnt excite you then I dont know what would!

I am absaloutely delighted with the winner of Masterchef South Africa (I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't yet watched) But this person deserved the prize from the moment they started the competition, they showed a passion for cooking, were continuously humble and never once gave up on themself no matter what, they were truely inspiring and made watching the show a heart warming experience.

This was a brilliant season, and I am looking forward to the Masterchef South Africa's in the future.