My stay at The Westin – part 1: dreaming & dining

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Karisa

Two weekends ago I was invited by the lovely folks at The Westin to come and experience the ultimate luxury they have to offer… yes, yes, I know, life as me can be really tough some times.

The Westin is connected to the CTICC and therefore they service quite a lot of conference/business travellers. But something I didn’t know going into this visit, was that they also have some amazing dining options (not just for the guests) and an incredible spa, high up on the 19th floor (but that deserves it’s own post – hence this being a part 1 post).

We’ll kick things off with a mini tour of the hotel:

Sit outside, grab a light snack and enjoy the sunshine…

There are incredible local art pieces all over the hotel. In fact, they are so into their art, there’s a whole book dedicated to all the different pieces on show (which I’ll admit, I haven’t read through just yet)

The elegant entrance hall.

They have their own wine shop. Got a last minute birthday party to attend and have no gift? No worries, they’ll package something up for you. Want to send some wine back overseas? No stress, let them take care of all the details.

Thirty7 is their French brasserie style restaurant on the ground level.

Louis B’s & Terrace is a little jazz bar for those who enjoy some soothing sounds.

This is the Raleigh’s Cigar Bar which offers a wide selection of cognacs, whiskies and the finest cigars.

The Raleigh’s Cigar Bar lounge

They have conference rooms a plenty. And they’re quite stunning as far as usually boring business spaces go.

We stayed in one of their deluxe rooms, all the way up on the 17th floor, which meant we had a pretty insane view of the city:

The room itself was really great. Fresh colours, lots of space, fully equipped – and when I mean fully, I mean fully… for example, the room came with it’s own ironing board & iron (love that! My clothes are always super wrinkled, even if I use that stupid rolling-of-the- clothes tecnique, which so does not work) and it also came with a printer/scanner/fax machine in case you needed to get down to some serious business.

Oh and possibly most importantly, the room comes with a fully stocked mini bar:

Woohoo!

Just before we headed out to dinner, we got a little sweet surprise with our turndown service:

Mmmmmm… I think we were supposed to keep it until bed time, but that didn’t happen.

Dinner was up on the 19th floor, at the Westin Executive Club Restaurant. This restaurant boasts some amazing panoramic views of Cape Town and I have to say has quite a romantic atmosphere. (And that was before any wine…)

The food was quite a taste experience. A lot of attention to detail, complex flavours & fresh ingredients. I really couldn’t ask for anything more and can highly recommend this spot for your next date night (just make sure you ask for a window seat).

Price wise you’re looking at about R210 for 2 courses and R260 for 3 courses.

Clockwise from top left: Marinated goats cheese croquettes, Springbok nicoise, neck of lamb on sun dried tomato risotto & braised and grilled rib eye of beef.

Delice Aux Chocolate – Triple choc chip biscuit, warm chocolate pudding, petit champagne truffles and chocolate Bavarian crème, espressotini and confit Brazilian nuts…

Their executive chef, Johann Breedt, is actually currently competing on kykNET’s KOKKEDOOR cooking show. So you can see him in action there as well.

With full & happy bellies, Bjorn and I headed back to our room, where our Heavenly bed totally sucked us in (these beds are specially made for the hotel and they are true to their name). Waking up the next morning to this, I have to say, was pretty damn cool:

Breakfast was yet another bad-for-your-bum experience. But oh so good for your soul.

Just check this buffet which has pretty much everything your heart could ever desire, even oysters & sushi and just about every fresh fruit juice on the planet:

For only R160, you too can experience this treat. That price includes free rein over that buffet, plus a glass of bubbly AND your choice of hot breakfast. Hell, I didn’t even make it that far. So I advise arriving wearing stretchy pants.

Now I’m going to share with you a little hidden gem not a lot of people have seen… I got to go up to their rooftop garden where they farm all their own fresh herbs and stuff. Check it out:

How cool is that? City living at it’s best…

We had an absolutely amazing stay and I left there feeling totally relaxed and weighing in at about 5kgs heavier. But it was so worth it.

If you know of someone who’s coming to Cape Town and looking for a luxurious treat (or if you are that someone), here are some current accommodation specials that I can share with you:

ENJOY UP TO 30% OFF WHEN YOU BOOK IN ADVANCE
Book by August 24, 2013, for stays up to August 31, 2013.
Stay 3 nights and save 20%
Stay 5 nights and save 30%
10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY – BOOK OUR RATES FROM 10 YEARS AGO
Book your room with rates from 10 years ago when we opened our doors the first time for you. For just R1350 single or double occupancy, book your Deluxe Room early and receive:
- Upgrade to Westin Executive Club Room (based upon availability)
- Bottle of Bubbly in the room upon arrival
- Breakfast included
- Offer only valid for August
DO YOU NEED A BREAK? DISCOVER CAPE TOWN
Explore the city’s attractions and landmarks at your own pace from the comforts of the Hop-on Hop-off City. Our package includes:
- Rates from R2360 per double room (Deluxe Room)
- Daily breakfast buffet per person
- One Day ticket for two to utilize on the Hop-on Hop-off bus
ROOM WITH A VIEW
You’ll witness the city of Cape Town awaken, come to life, and gracefully retire for the night from your very own room, accompanied by views of the beautiful Cape Town Stadium, Robben Island, the famous V&A Waterfront and the Cape Town Harbour.
Guarantee your view – Rates start from ZAR 1,940 per room per night.
GOURMET GETAWAY FROM R2800 PER DOUBLE ROOM
Relax, escape and indulge during a 3 course dinner at The Westin Executive Club on the 19th floor. Your package includes:
- Deluxe Room
- Daily breakfast buffet per person
- 3 course dinner with a glass of wine at The Westin Executive Club for two

Or if you’re concidering something to eat (or drink) at the Westin Executive Club to experience that view, there’s also a few restaurant specials to take note of (booking is essential):

The Sunset Sushi Special
Every Wed, Thu & Fri between 3pm and 7pm: Sushi and a complimentary glass of bubbly. Platters include Sashimi, Nigiri, California rolls, Maki, Fashion sandwiches and Salmon roses for only R125 for 16 pieces.
The Sun downer
Every Thu &Fri between 5pm and 7pm: Enjoy a variety of canapés and a glass of local wine for only R75.
Dinner and Wine
Every Wed, Sat & Sun for dinner: 3 course dinner (from their Dinner with a View set menu) and a complimentary glass of wine per course for only R260 per person.
The Business Lunch
Mon to Thu: 2 course meal with a non-alcoholic cocktail or soft drink for R195. This will be served within 45 minutes. They offer free secure underground parking and complimentary bottled mineral water for the table.

For reservations, contact The Westin Cape Town on 021 412 9999 or 01445.info@westin.com.

Their physical address: Convention Square, Lower Long Street

Thank you so much to the team at The Westin for making us feel so incredibly welcome. Any chance there’s a spot for me there permanently? I’ll be very quiet and won’t eat too much, I promise…

xxx

Cool jazzy vibes at The Crypt

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Karisa

About two weeks ago, some friends and I decided to try out The Crypt – Jazz Restaurant in town.

We all fell in love with the idea of being able to enjoy live music while sitting down for a meal because let’s face it, there’s not a lot of those kinds of places around. The only other place I can think off of the top of my head is Pigalle over in Green Point. But Pigalle hurts the wallet a bit, so it’s not really the type of place I would frequent regularly, it’s more of a special occasion spot in my book.

The Crypt sits beneath the St. George’s Cathedral and dates all the way back to 1898. Today it is an important Cape Town landmark as well as a museum… and of course now also a very cool jazz spot. Let me show you around:

You have to admit, that’s pretty damn cool hey?

The menu is quite simple – it starts off with some tapas style options and for mains you can choose between items like prawns, steak, battered fish, linguini, chicken stew and a gourmet beef burger. There’s also some pears poached in red wine, chocolate mousse or lemon mousse, if you want to finish your night off with a little bit of sugar.

To kick things off we opted for some dips & bread – Chicken liver pate, Hummus guacamole & Roasted red pepper and olive (R28 each) – served with choice of tortilla, bruschetta or pita bread. And then for mains I opted for the Grilled steak special with fries (R110). Other dishes at the table included the battered fish & beef burger.

Left: the 3 dips & bread; Top right: Traditional beer battered fish, chips & aioli (R85); Bottom right: my steak

The food, I have to admit, was very average. It made me think of the Spur, but just not at Spur prices. I can however really recommend this great Chardonnay from Glenwood Vineyards:

But listen, I kinda feel like the vibe of the place makes up for the food. So what I will say is, don’t go expecting the best meal of your life, but if you appreciate jazz and want to experience something a little out of the ordinary, then do give this place a try.

I’m going to give The Crypt the following Miss K Kiss-o-Meter ratings:

Atmosphere/vibe/concept:
Food:

Things you need to know:

They are open: Tue to Sat 12h00 – 24h00 serving lunch, light snacks & dinner
They can seat up to 80 people & sometimes people might need to share tables (but just double check this when you make your reservation – we had our own table)
They add an extra R45 Live Jazz cover charge to your bill for each person. And you can expect to enjoy live music on Tue to Thur from 19:00 to 22:00 as well as Fri & Sat from 20:00 to 23:00.
Address: 1 Wale Street, Cape Town CBD
Contact them on: 079 683 4658 or thecryptjazz@gmail.com

xxx

A great night with Cape Royale’s Bistro 1800˚ Menu Launch

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Karisa

Photo credit: Justin Davis

Last week Thursday I attended the new menu launch of Bistro 1800˚ which is situated at the beautifully elegant Cape Royale Hotel & Spa over in Green Point.

Now as far as launches and events go, this one was certainly a goodie. Think flowing drinks all night long thanks to the folks at Nitida Wines, mini massages thanks to the Equinox Spa team (click on the link for my review of their spa), oysters and canapes at the VIP Sky Bar, followed by a 3 course sit down dinner, and out the door with a goodie bag filled with lots of little treats like some TRIBE Coffee and more (TRIBE has recently partnered with Bistro 1800˚, just so you know). Oh AND they also threw in a grand tour of the hotel, including their luxurious suites…

It was a jam packed evening, filled with great folks and great conversation and I woke up the next morning with a glorious hangover. Let’s just say Friday at the office was loooooooong & painful, but all worth it of course.

Now let me share my evening with you in pictures (and some words).

First we have one of their 2 bedroom suites. The place is bigger than my apartment, the kitchen is kitted out with anything you might need (including a dish washer) and on your first night, you’re treated to the most special turn down service I think I’ve ever seen:

That’s right folks. A monkey… a freakin’ monkey made out of a bath towel! (If I got one of those, I’d be the happiest chappy ever)

Then we moved up to the VIP sky bar where we watched the sunset while enjoying some bubbly, those mini massages I mentioned earlier and even some live music.

Photo credit: Justin Davis

Photo credit: Justin Davis

Then we headed back down to Bistro 1800˚ where we got to sample a selection of dishes from the new menu:

Cape Royale MD, Johann du Plessis, with (top) Chef Jonathan Gargan and (bottom) Food & Beverage manager, George Sakulias – Photo credit: Justin Davis

My favourite things were the chicken salad, both meat dishes and that orange infused chocolate mousse.

Jonathan & George say they set out to create a menu that is hearty with lots of comfort food options and dishes which are authentic, homely & uncomplicated. They’ve always been known for their steaks and the new menu still has lots of succulent options to choose from. Actually on that note, just an interesting little titbit – the bistro gets its name from their signature New York style grill, which cooks your steak perfectly at exactly 1800 degrees fahrenheit. So now you know. The new dishes include things like grilled loin of lamb (R135); phyllo baked Atlantic salmon (R139); Kingklip en papilote (R125) and slow roasted breast of duck (R125).

Find them at 47 Main Road, Green Point. And to make reservations, you can make use of the following contact details:

Bistro 1800˚: 021 430 0506 or info@18hundreddegrees.co.za

I’m also just going to leave you with some specials currently running which are definitely worth a mention:

VIP Sky Bar cocktail special: R30 a cocktail every day from 3pm – 6pm (just in case you weren’t sure – this bar is open to the public, it’s not only for hotel guests)
Equinox Spa Mother’s Day Special: For the whole month of May – book any facial, body treatment or spa package and receive a free 30min back neck & shoulder massage or 30min petite manicure.
Corporate lunch special at Bistro 1800˚: Two-course lunch starting at R99.00

Thanks to everyone at Cape Royale and Bistro 1800˚ as well as Jade, Aneeqa & Leozette from Red Carpet Concepts for an amazing night out. High 5s all round guys & girls…

Me with Leozette from Red Carpet Concepts – Photo credit: Justin Davis

xxx

** All pics my own unless specified otherwise.

Societi Bistro plans to take you on a Tour Through Italy

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Karisa

If you ever saw out my first blog, My Love Affair with Italy, you’ll know that my number one activity while touring through that incredibly beautiful country was definitely: eating. Italians love their food and it’s therefore a big part of their culture. (along with family, fast cars & fashionable dressing of course)

So no surprise then that I was super excited to hear about Societi Bistro‘s 2013 Tour Through Italy! (some of you might remember their 2012 Tour Through France).

They’re planning 10 weeks of Italian cuising, each week dedicated to a different Italian region with a different menu & carefully selected wine. I sadly missed out on their latest menu tasting session which took place this past Saturday (as I already had another commitment), but I’m definitely going to be paying them a visit for the full Italiano esperienza…

Things kick off this Wed, 15 May and will run until the week of 17 Jul. This is what’s waiting there for you each week:

Region 1 Sicilia- Wed 15 May to Tue 21 May
Pasta alla Norma R55
aubergine, tomato and ricotta
Cape fish of the day served with Caponata R115
traditional agro-dolce aubergine dish
Cannoli alla Siciliana R40
Sicilian ricotta pastries served with vanilla ice cream, citrus syrup
Suggested Wine: Flat Roof Manor Pinot Grigio
Region 2 Calabria & Basilicata - Wed 22 May to Tue 28 May
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca R42
Spaghetti with tomato, anchovy, olives, capers & basil
Melanzane Parmigiana R70
aubergine, pomodoro, Grana Padano bake
Chilli Infused Gelato R10 per scoop
Honey
Suggested Wine: OBiKWA Moscato
Region 3 Puglia - Wed 29 May to Tue 4 June
Orecchiette con Broccoli R50
“little ears” pasta with broccoli, garlic & chilli
Braciole al Sugo con Polpette R90
fresh mussels steamed with tomato, white wine, garlic, chilli and finished with olive oil
Bitter Chocolate & Cherry Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: Thelema Muscat de Frontignan
Region 4 Campania - Wed 5 June to Tue 11 June
Mozzarella in Carrozza R25
deep fried mozzarella sandwich, dressed rocket
Braciola di Maiale Pizzaiola R89
pork chop with Pizzaiola sauce
Chocolate & Almond Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: Idiom Bianco di Stellenbosch Pinot Grigio
Region 5 Molise, Abruzzo & Marche - Wed 12 June to Tue 18 June
Spaghetti all’ Aglio Olio e Peperoncino R42
spaghetti with garlic, olive oil & chilli
Cape Fish served with Inzimino & Salsa Verde R115
traditional chickpea, swiss chard & tomato stew with green sauce
Salame di Fichi Gelato R22
fig, almond & walnut ‘salami’ crumbled into Gelato served with an espresso
Suggested Wine: Idiom Sangiovese
Region 6 Lazio & Umbria - Wed 19 June to Tue 25 June
Lenticchie Con Salsicce R45
lentil stew with sausages
Saltimbocca R118
veal escalope, Prosciutto, sage
Gelato al Espresso R15
espresso flavoured ice cream
Suggested Wine: Idiom Rosso di Stellenbosch
Region 7 Tuscany & Liguiria - Wed 26 June to Tue 2 July
La Ribollita R38
hearty Tuscan bean soup
Bistecca alla Fiorentina R145
grilled 500g T-bone steak, fresh lemon
Candied Fruit Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: Terra del Capo Sangiovese
Region 8 Emilia – Romagna - Wed 3 July to Tue 9 July
Chicken Broth with Tortellini Bolognese R52
pasta filled with pork loin, Prosciutto & Mortadella stuffing, floating in a rich chicken broth
Lasagnia al Forno R80
oven-baked lasagnia with Ragù alla Bolognese
Grappa Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: La Vierge Satyricon
Region 9 North Western Italy - Wed 10 July to Tue 16 July
Canederli R45
broth, bread dumplings
Osso Bucco alla Milanese R130
veal shin, bone marrow & saffron risotto, Gremolata
Chocolate & Hazelnut Gelato R10 per scoop
Suggested Wine: Steenberg Nebbiolo
Region 10 Veneto & Fruili, Venezia Guilia - Wed 17 July to Tue 23 July
La Jota Triestina R42
rich bean soup from Trieste with bacon
Fegato alla Veneziana R89
sautéed calf ’s liver, caramalised onion, soft polenta
Tiramisu R40
Suggested Wine: De Grendel Pinot Gris

Mmmmm… they had me at Gelato… (OK and many many other things) To make your reservation, give them a shout on: 021 42 42 100.

And then their address for those who are new to Societi Bistro: 50 Orange St, Gardens

Ciao ciao for now signore e signori! (that’s my last Italian reference, I promise - at least you can’t see my hand gestures from where you’re sitting. I mean we all know the Italians can’t speak without their hands )

xxx

PS. Check out the Tour Through Italy page for more info on the regions & the different wines.

Viva Cafe… viva!

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Karisa

My friend Darryn totally gets the credit for this discovery.

He stumbled upon Viva Cafe (situated behind the Tafelberg Furnishers in Green Point) a few weeks back and had been raving about it non-stop since.

So last weekend I was like, right, show me this place. I’m hungry & ready to be blown away… #nopressure

It’s a little bit hidden. Basically there’s a whole business complex behind Tafelberg which I had no idea was even there. You have to walk in a little and then take the stairs up to the level above the parking to see it. But to help you out, you’ll be looking for this:

A ha!

I instantly loved the look & feel of the place. It’s fun and quirky with a bit of a warehouse feel. Lots of interesting things to catch your eye and a biiiig communal table for everyone to come together for the love of good food. There’s also a little outdoor area to soak up some rays during those freak winter days we Capetonians all look forward to…

The menu is broken down into: all day breakfast options (hell yeah!), some haute couture sandwiches and then some really creative sounding deconstructed salads & tapas.

They also have the option for you to build your own sandwich or your own salad, if you happen to be in more of a DYI mood.

On the drinks side, they serve: Deluxe Coffee, freshly squeezed juices, some craft beers and other regulars (that bar seemed pretty well stocked in fact).

To give you a more detailed idea of the menu, this is what we opted for:

To share, the Risotto Truffles (R35) - crisp, white truffle infused risotto balls with Parmesan shavings.
Then the boyfriend went for the Duck Stack breakfast (R40) which is a fried duck egg with bacon strips, haloumi & a tangy sweet chilli and ginger dressing.
I went for the Dirty Mozart designer sandwich (R55) which is pulled pork, sauerkraut and caramelised granny smith apples with wholegrain mustard on rye bread.
And Darryn went for the Karoo Lamb designer sandwich (R55) which is made up of lamb shoulder confit, crumbed feta, sun dried tomatoes, basil & chive pesto on ciabatta.

Clockwise from top left: Risotto Truffles, Duck Stack, Karoo Lamb, Dirty Mozart.

Then I just also had to share this photo Darryn took of his Tuna sashimi dish (R55) – marinated tuna sashimi with prawn toasties, sesame vinaigrette, pickled cucumber & radish shavings – which he had on his previous visit:

Photo credit: Darryn van der Walt http://www.darrynvanderwalt.co.za

As you can see, they put A LOT of effort & attention to detail into their dishes. I wanted to be blown away, and I certainly was. The food is great. The service is friendly. The place is welcoming & laid back. And the prices are damn good. For all those reasons, I’m going to give Viva Cafe an all round Miss K Kiss-o-Meter rating of:

Do yourselves a favour and go pay them a visit. Their physical address is:

Studio 30, Somerset Square, Highfield Road

They are usually open from 8am to 8pm Mon – Sat. Unless there’s some live music happening for example, in which case they stay open until the party’s over. And for more info, you can contact them on 021 418 2619 or info@vivacafe.co.za.

High 5 to Darryn for this awesome find.

xxx

Twitterati party vibes with the fine folks at La Mouette

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Karisa

Last Fri eve I visited one of my Cape Town favourites, La Mouette (over in Sea Point) for their bi-annual Twitterati party.

Having followed the action of previous Twitterati parties on Twitter and suffering from serious FOMO, I had decided that this time round I would beg, borrow and steal (if I had to), to secure one of the sought after spots for their latest bash… Did I have to? Well my lips are sealed… All I’m sayin’ is, I made it there, OK.

Basically the idea behind these events is to get some of their Twitter fans together for a night of mingling, eating, drinking and general awesomeness. A usual highlight is trying to consume your own body weight of their legendary truffle and cheese croquettes – something which I can tell you, once you’ve tasted, will haunt your soul continuously until you get your next fix. It’s that #amazing.

Armed with my name tag reflecting my Twitter handle – @CTmylove – I was ready to roll. I must say, it was really cool to put real faces to those Twitter handles I’ve seen many a times, maybe interacted with, befriended even, but had never actually met. Our social interactions are getting crazier and crazier, that’s for sure…

Very important to note is that this Twitterati party also coincided with La Mouette’s 3rd birthday party. That meant we had an extra special reason to celebrate. It also meant we had the perfect opportunity to indulge in extra special birthday red velvet cupcakes (another favourite of mine) amongst the other tasty canapes on the lineup for the evening. Here’s just a little sample of what we had:

Top left: those famous crocquettes; Top right: some yummy butternut soup; Bottom left: salt & pepper prawns; Bottom right: Happy birthday!

To wash down all that goodness, we had flowing Graham Beck wines to enjoy, making it a little tougher as the evening progressed to ensure that those tweets of yours still made sense…

There was also a lucky draw with some great prizes up for grabs. Things like a pro Tax Return, a dinner for two at La Mouette, a Graham Beck Brut NV Magnum, Ernst Gouws & Co wines, and more.

Now I was sitting next to my friend Darryn, who we refer to as a “Professional Winner”. Seriously, this guy wins e-ve-ry-thing. So I had made peace with the fact that I’d have to put on a fake happy face as he went up to snatch up whatever incredible prize the universe had in store for him. BUT THEN… just like that… I won that Magnum! (oh and Darryn won a standard size bottle of bubbly, but it was hard to notice that next to my MAGNUM)

That is the face of victory folks…

Now just to really emphasise how big my magnum is, here it is compare to a regular bottle:

The perfect single serving, don’t you think? Shame, I kinda feel bad for that other bottle…

And things didn’t stop there folks. Oh no. We all left with goodie bags… not the type filled with pamphlets, lanyards & other stuff I’m never ever gonna care about, but the kind that is true to the term “goodie”, filled with things I’d actually use & love.

Each bag contained an infinity scarf from August1983.com (which is launching online sometime in May just so you know) as well a mini bottle of Graham Beck bubbly:

I’m embarrased to admit that I’ve pretty much worn that scarf every day since. It’s just so soft dammit… and my mini bottle of bubbly is going to make for an awesome updated version of the traditional hip flask. Hell yeah.

Want to be part of the next Twitterati party? Of course you do. Just make sure you follow La Mouette on Twitter @teamlamouette and keep those eyes peeled. The next one should be happening closer to summer, which means chillin’ in their beautiful courtyard as well, so you won’t want to miss out. Expect to pay around R200 pp, but as you can see, it’s totally worth every cent. Oh and spots are limited, so you’ll have to act fast.

A HUGE thanks to Chef Henry, Mari and Gerrit for yet another memorable evening at their beautiful restaurant. They have a life long fan in this lady…

You can check out the La Mouette Facebook page over here for all the official pics from the party.

xxx

Southern Suburbs coffee culture part 2: Starlings Cafe

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Karisa

So after Twigs and Beans, Darryn mentioned that we were close to this place called Starlings Cafe which people without fail raved about on Twitter every single Saturday, a place that CBD folk actually specially drove out to for their weekly fix.

This I couldn’t believe… No offence to the Southern Suburbs, but there’s some really amazing coffee spots in town, so for me personally, to embark on a bit of a drive, a place has to be quite special. With this in mind we thought, right, let’s see what all the fuss is about…

Google told us that Starlings Cafe was situated at 94 Belvedere Rd, Claremont. We drove up and down Belvedere Rd twice without spotting anything. I started to think Google got it wrong, but Darryn wasn’t ready to give up just yet. He suggested we park the car and do the road by foot. Good idea too, cause turns out, this unassuming front entrance is what I guess keeps Starlings Cafe a bit of a hidden gem:

No signage outside either… just two bushes and a little gate…

We nervously entered, hoping that we weren’t intruding on some poor old couples home or something. I actually had thoughts of a little old lady hitting me over the head with her handbag all the way out again. But what did we find inside? I was blown away… Just check this out:

And not just that, but there’s a big garden area in the back as well:

I was like, OK OK, I get it now… this place is quite awesome. Problem was we had just had breakfast and therefore didn’t really have space to try some food. We decided we’d at least sit down for a cuppa and share a piece of cake. All in the name of research of course.

Yum!

On the breakfast menu however, you have options like the following: muesli, yoghurt & fruit (R48), “breakfast in a cup” with poached egg, chorizo, caramelised apple & soldiers (R50), herbed egg pancake with salmon (R68), avo on toast (R40), french toast (R55), a breakfast wrap (R63), cheese soufflé (R69) and then various types of egg, whether it florentine, poached or scrambled, on toast, off toast, with some pesto or ham, add some bacon or pork sausages, whatever your brekkie of choice really. It all sounded really good.

I also took a peek at their lunch menu. On there you have things like soup of the day, various tart options, risotto, thai chicken curry, intricate salad options, a grass fed beef hamburger and some deluxe sandwiches. Prices range from R49 to R75, which is pretty damn good in my book.

They say on the menu that they support local suppliers and use only the best quality ingredients. Origin coffee and yummy eggs from Spier are some examples and I really can’t wait to return there for the full dining experience.

Just a tip though: Call ahead and book a table. The place was packed when we got there and we were very very lucky to still get a small table inside.

Starlings is open Mon – Fri from 7am to 5pm, Sat from 7am to 4pm and Sun from 8am to 12:30. Give them a call on 021 671 6875 or drop them a mail at starlingscafe@gmail.com.

A follow up report to come (hopefully) very soon.

xxx

La Mouette’s Autumn tasting menu – get it while you still can

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Karisa

Regular readers will know that I’m a huge La Mouette fan (78 Regent Road,
Sea Point) – especially when it comes to their amazing 6 course tasting menus.

On Sunday eve I popped in again to try their Autumn menu before it gets replaced by a new Winter menu early in May… Let’s have a look at what’s on this baby:

# 1: Sweet potato soup tomato harissa, yoghurt, truffle and cheese croquettes
# 2: Butternut and fontina raviolis butternut purée, pickled apple, sage noisette
# 3: Pan fried line fish fricassee of gnocchi, carrot emulsion, capers, aubergine puree, braised beef
Or
Beetroot tartare smoked goats cheese, hazelnuts, toast
# 4: Roasted chicken caramelised onions, wilted spinach, mash potato, thyme jus
Or
Mushroom risotto parmesan foam, mushroom ‘caviar’ and crispy mushrooms
# 5: Waldorf salad gorgonzola, celeriac puree, green apple jelly, candied walnuts, grapes
# 6: Chocolate orange chocolate ganache, orange sorbet, almond finaciers, orange puree

Sounds good right? Damn straight it does. And this is what it looks like:

Top: butternut soup; Bottom left: ravioli; Bottom right: I had opted for the line fish

Top left: I went for the mushroom risotto; Top right: waldorf salad; Bottom: chocolate orange dessert

My absolute favourite dishes were the butternut and fontina raviolis, those truffle and cheese croquettes that comes paired with the soup (these are a La Mouette signature & they are soooooo good) and then that dessert. But in true La Mouette style, everything’s really carefully prepared, beautifully displayed and packed with interesting flavours.

This menu comes at only R185 per person (R295 if you opt for wine pairing) and if you still want to catch it, get your butts over there before we hit May.

La Mouette is open 7 days a week:

Lunch: Sun 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Dinner: Mon – Sun 6:00 – 10:00 pm

And to make a reservation, call them on 021 433 0856 or drop them an email at reservations@lamouette.co.za

xxx

Good idea, bad idea: Stellies

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Karisa

I’ve got a feeling this might develop into a series of “Good idea, bad idea” posts… who knows, but for now I have a specific one related to the picturesque winelands town of Stellenbosch.

If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Andringa Street, in the heart of town… and starving:

Good idea: Pop into Manouche (14 Andringa St). It’s a gorgeous little Lebanese spot serving up tasty mezze platters, hot breads and other delicious sounding Lebanese dishes.
It’s got a really nice vibe, the prices are good and it’s a great spot for people watching or just enjoying a drink or two with friends.
I only popped in for a quick snack, but it definitely left me wanting more (a proper dinner or lunch is now on my to do list). Manouche is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner – Mon to Sat – and to make a booking, you can contact them on 021 886 7545.
Bad idea: Just across the street you’ll find Wijnhuis. We made the mistake of having dinner here and we were really really disappointed. The food is overpriced and underwhelming and I left there feeling cheated. The service is also totally lacklustre and we very soon realised why we were pretty much the only locals (as in South Africans) in the place…
It’s the kind of spot that looks great on paper and it seems to be quite the popular choice with tourists, but in my book, it’s a very bad example to those poor folks of great South African dining.

Thanks to everyone on Twitter who actually recommended that I try Manouche after my bad experience at Wijnhuis. This was a great little find & therefore I decided that I’d also share the love.

xxx

Try Wang Thai at the V&A for some aromatic goodness

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Karisa

Normally when people ask me where to eat at the V&A Waterfront, I would say just make sure you avoid that row of restaurants at the back of the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, facing the outside & overlooking the Quay 3 area… they are usually very expensive, aimed mainly at tourists and from my experience, disappointing.

So when friends wanted to have lunch at Wang Thai (which you’ll find upstairs on that side), I was a bit sceptical.

Decor wise I would say it’s pretty typical for a Thai spot. You’ll find lots of pretty Thai statues & detailing along with dark wood floors and furniture. Then of course, the restaurant boasts a great view out over the V&A:

That view made me nervous… I though to myself… OK OK, we’re probably going to be paying heavily for that damn view in the food prices here. But actually, no. I was very pleasantly surprised when I popped open that menu and started browsing. So many great Thai dishes and all at pretty average Cape Town prices, which meant that narrowing it down to only one dish turned out to be a bit of a tough task…

Just look at that intense concentration…

In the end I opted for the spring roll combo starter (R39) which is a selection of chicken, veg, duck & prawn spring rolls. Followed by a chicken green curry for mains (R78).

Once we had placed our food order though, we were in for a verrrrrry loooooong wait. I’m used to at least getting a bowl of prawn crackers & dipping sauces to snack on while you wait, but they were nowhere to be seen. Sad, cause I freakin’ love those bloody things.

At least once our food arrived, things were looking up again. The food was really tasty. Great Thai flavours, beautifully presented & perfectly spiced, which meant I was back to being a happy chappy again.

Clockwise from top left: the spring roll combo; the chicken green curry; I also snapped a piccie of my friend’s steamed fish dish cause it was just so bright & pretty; our fancy pants rice container – just remember, you still have to order rice separately (R11 for jasmin rice)

So ja, the service I wasn’t impressed with. But the food is a thumbs up and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. So based on that, I’m going to give Wang Thai the following Miss K Kiss-o-Meter ratings:

Food:
Service:
General vibe & price:

I see they also have branches in Constantia, Lagoon Beach & Somerset West. Anybody been to those? Thoughts? Please leave a comment below if you can share any info.

For reservations, give Wang Thai V&A a call on 021 421-8702.

xxx

My Love Affair with Cape Town…

Just random fun in my mother city

Category Archives: Places to dine

My stay at The Westin – part 1: dreaming & dining

Cool jazzy vibes at The Crypt

A great night with Cape Royale’s Bistro 1800˚ Menu Launch

Societi Bistro plans to take you on a Tour Through Italy

Viva Cafe… viva!

Twitterati party vibes with the fine folks at La Mouette

Southern Suburbs coffee culture part 2: Starlings Cafe

La Mouette’s Autumn tasting menu – get it while you still can

Good idea, bad idea: Stellies

Try Wang Thai at the V&A for some aromatic goodness

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