Bastion Menswear launch at Salon 91

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Karisa

This past Wed eve I attended the launch of a new Cape Town based fashion label called Bastion Menswear.

This little soiree took place in Kloof St at an awesome boutique-style art gallery called Salon 91.

I had actually noticed this space a few weeks before thanks to the intriguing “Back in Five Minutes” window display and wondered what exactly went on inside. This was therefore a really great excuse to take a peek and see what an amazing space it actually is.

The Back in Five Minutes thing relates to their current exhibition which is running until the end of March. They say it’s a celebration of design & typography and it features many quirky & interesting pieces by local designers/typographers/illustrators including Ben Johnston, Clinton Campbell of Studio Muti, Clement de Bruin, Justin Southey, & Dani Loureiro.

Dig it? I did… But now let me tell you more about Bastion. The word actually means: “An institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities”

Weird coincidence is that my very first job out of varsity was at an IT company here in Cape Town called Bastion ZA. It was eventually bought over by a SA financial institution, so it no longer exists, but I never really questioned what the name stood for… Now I finally get it.

This menswear label is the product of creative duo Lauren Kotze and Nikki St. Quintin. They’ve designed the range for the “rugged outdoor gentleman”. The colours are inspired by nature and Bastion supports the use of natural fabrics like Hemp, cotton & linen blends. For those who didn’t know, Hemp is a softer, warmer, more breathable, water resistant & durable fabric than cotton. And because of this it will help keep you warm in winter & cool in summer. That sounds pretty great to me…

Just to give you some ideas on pricing – shorts R390/ vests R250/ T-shirts R280

Shirts from R550

I thought the range was clean & uncomplicated, the prices were standard for boutique designs, and I could definitely picture the type of guy who would love it. My friend Lucy’s husband for example: Mountain climber & huge lover of the outdoors, he doesn’t like too much fuss when it comes to his clothes and he wants to be comfortable at all times, but still look put together. That in my mind is the Bastion man for sure…

Now I know this is a weird thing to be drawn to, but I really freakin’ loved their hangers. How awesome are these moustache babies?

I want all my clothes to hang on these too… hipsters would be so proud.

If you’ve seen anything you like, or you think the rugged outdoor man in your life might dig it, do get in contact with them on either 083 285 3769 or bastionmenswear@gmail.com. (They have a workshop over in Woodstock, but because they’re still starting out, they’re just doing online orders at the mo)

But before you do, sing it with me folks… America…

Only people who’ve watched Team America: World Police will get that one. And good luck getting it out of your head again. It’s pretty much been playing on loop in my brain since Wednesday. It’s just so damn catchy…

xxx

PS. Jasna from FashionJazz and I tried to get a nice elegant shot together, but the wind wasn’t playing along… we managed it in the end, because we’re professionals of course, but got a great candid shot in the process as well. Love it.

Tasty food and great vibes at Kloof Street House

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Karisa

I recently went to go check out the new Kloof Street House (over in Kloof St obviously) thanks to a recommendation from some friends of mine. So it’s a special thanks today to Adam & Louise for the great tip off.

I had actually also spotted it on Eat Out‘s new restaurant list, but was a bit nervous about it because the exact location of the restaurant didn’t have that much success before as Manolo and Opal Lounge. With Manolo I only heard bad things, very very bad things. And then with Opal Lounge the general complaint I heard was that it was overpriced. But with some great feedback from some people I know, I figured right, let’s do this.

The building is absolutely beautiful. It’s an old Victorian house, tucked slightly in so you can’t see too much of it from the street, with an awesome little garden dining area out front.

Inside it’s got a colonial feel with lots of really interesting & classic furniture pieces and accents. It kinda felt like I had stepped into someone’s millionaire mansion in a way. And I loved it.

There’s the dining areas, a travelling case bar and a little library room where you can chill with some drinks. Every room is like discovering an awesome new world…

Incredible space for sure…

But let’s get down to the food. My favourite topic of all. Starters range from around R40 – R75. And they also have some sharing platters ranging from R80 to R150.

From left to right: Shepard’s Pie Beignets (R60) with pea puree & lamb jus; Chicken Liver Parfait (R55) with pear & apricot chutney

For mains you’re looking at some gnocchi starting at R75 up to a beef fillet or lamb shank at R145.

From left to right: Blade of Beef (R125) – slow braised, parsley risotto & spring onions; Every main comes with a choice of side – the bravas potatoes apparently is their top seller.

And the dessert menu is small, but quite different:

Black Pepper and Vanilla Semifreddo (R50) with strawberries & balsamic
Chocolate Fondant (R55) with custard panacotta & sesame wafer
Vanilla Creme Brule (R50) with berry compote & orange ice-cream

From left to right: the chocolate fondant; the semifreddo

Thoughts on the food? My main was a bit bland. Not bad at all, the meat was really soft and the bravas potatoes were good. Overall it just lacked some flavour. Most other people at the table had gone for the same option, but there was one person who went for the shank and was extremely happy and then another who went for the kingklip and was also smiling.

But the starters & dessert… oh my goodness! That’s where they fully had my attention. I could have easily gone for 2 starters and then straight to dessert. In fact, that’s what I think I’ll definitely do next time, cause I will be going back (hopefully soon).

I will give Kloof Street House the following Miss K Kiss-o-Meter ratings:

Price: (it’s pretty standard Cape Town prices)
Food:
Service, decor & vibe:

NB info:

Address: 30 Kloof Street, Gardens
Contact them on: 021 423 4413 or info@kloofstreethouse.co.za
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 18:00 – 00:00

xxx

Great fashion finds (for guys & girls) at Metropolis

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Karisa

I recently discovered new fashion boutique Metropolis in Kloof St (thanks to the boyfriend – I promised I’d give him credit for this one ).

It’s the kind of place where your budget is not safe in any way… Shopaholics beware!

They stock a great selection of imported things, which means you’ll find that special something that nobody else will have (love that). And if you’re looking for something different, something with some serious edge or something that will be a definite talking piece, this is the place to go.

I love that they’ve got both guys and girls covered under one roof. Yes yes, the girls section is bigger (I mean come on, shopping is like our crack), but at least your man has something to look at as well while you shop away…

Some things I spotted in the men’s section…

The ladies section like I said is more extensive. Whether you’re in a bit of a rocker mood:

Or feelin’ the feminine vibes:

Or just really want to make a statement:

There’s something here for everybody. I for one just couldn’t leave this amazing leather jacket behind:

How gorgeous is that jacket? (was R1125) I actually can’t wait for the colder weather to kick in now… gonna rock this baby like it’s nobody’s business.

Oh my goodness, and don’t even get me started on their accessories. I really had to hold myself back from buying up the entire store.

Seen something you like? Then you should definitely pay them a visit. Like now. I heard a rumour about a sale. So maybe you can still catch some extra special deals.

NB info:

Address: Located next to City Varsity, Shop 5 Mooikloof Centre, 34 Kloof St
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sat: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm & Sun: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Contact them on: Phone 021 827 1580 or Metropolis@live.co.za

Happy shopping folks. You can totally blame me if your bank manager asks what the hell happened to all your savings…

xxx

Chilled vibes at Cocoa Oola

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Karisa

One Sun eve my friend Joe suggested we check out Cocoa Oola at the top of Kloof St for an easy dinner catch up. You’ll find Cocoa Oola on the cnr of Kloof & De Lorentz St, just opposite the Wakaberry.

It’s a very cute little corner spot with some outside seating and a fresh citrus colour scheme on the inside with lots of quirky little details. Definitely the kind of place I would normally warm to instantly.

A bit of Googling brought to light that Cocoa Oola is actually part of the Cocoa group which has 4 Cape Town spots in total. The other 3 are Cocoa Cha Chi in Lower Main Rd Observatory, Cocoa Wah Wah in Main Rd Rondebosch and Cocoa Expresso in the Vodacom Building in the Foreshore. So I guess that’s 3 more places to add to my “to check out” list.

But back to Cocoa Oola. Their dinner menu has a good mix of what I’d call easy, casual options. On the burger side they do a wide variety of chicken burgers with a choice of a single or double fillet patties and some of the most creative names I’ve heard in a while, like the Snoopy, the Mr Mayagi and the Zef. The beef burgers sounded equally good and there you had a choice between a 180g or 250g patty. Burger prices range from R45 to R95 depending on how big & bold you choose to go. Then they also do thin crust pizzas starting at R55 for a classic margarita to R123 for ”The big show” which has chicken, bacon, feta and cherry tomatoes. Other options include some salads and a slice of homemade chicken pie or quiche.

Ooh and I also spotted a pasta special from 5pm on a Tue for R39 (normal pasta prices are between R60 and R70). And how good does this dessert option sound: Chocolate flapjacks (R35) – warm cocoa flapjacks, with chocolate praline and a dollop of ice cream. Too good!

Drinks wise they’ve got an impressive selection of local craft beer for the boys and some tempting sounding cocktails for the ladies. So it would also make for a nice after work drinks spot for sure.

Joe was hoping for some of their chicken pie, but sadly they had just run out (it must be a favourite then), so we stuck to the burgers & the pizza:

On the left, the mushroom & cheese chicken burger and on the right, the caprese pizza.

The service was a bit slow, but the food was tasty and I really loved the general vibe of the place. So for that reason I’m going to give them an overall Miss K Kiss-o-Meter rating of:

Things you should know:

Address: 110 Kloof St, Tamboerskloof
Contact them on: 021 422 3638 or enquiries@cocoa.co.za
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 7am to 11pm (Fri & Sat till late), Sun 8am to 10pm

About 30min after we arrived, the place was packed, so it’s clearly popular with the locals. If you’re looking to try something new, I’d say this one is a good bet.

xxx

Gourmet Boerie’s official launch bash

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Karisa

I’ve been patiently (OK I lie, I’m not patient in any way hehe)… anxiously waiting then… for Gourmet Boerie to open since hearing the first rumour of it’s future existence like months and months back.

The thought of my favourite food getting a fabulous high fashion makeover was just too much excitement for me to bear!

When I then finally got my invite to their official launch, I was the happiest girl on the planet. Like possibly, just possibly, even happier than when Zara finally opened in Cape Town. Yup, I love boerie rolls that much.

I joined the party after the COSMO Summer event and was totally blown away at how busy it was. I mean this place was absolutely buzzing. Clearly there are lots of people, who like me, just can’t resist a juicy piece of sausage on a roll. Mmmmmm.

Decor wise, Gourmet Boerie is fresh & inviting with long wooden tables & benches, green & orange pops of colour and interesting lamp shades hanging from above. Oh and get this, for the sports fanatics, they have two 53” high definition plasma screens and for the interweb addicts, they have free Wifi. Nice, very nice.

Throughout the evening we got to sample awesome mini boerie rolls covering a good selection from their menu. They were the perfect size to inhale in just one go (and trust me, I did):

Oh yeah…. sooooo damn good…

I really loved the Gorgonzola (Creamy gorgonzola sauce with poached pear, caramelised pecan nuts and rocket), the Shroom Sauce (Creamy mushroom sauce with fresh herbs and cos lettuce), the Mexicano (Tomato salsa, sour cream, guacamole, jalapeño chilli, coriander and cos lettuce) and the Pure Sophistication (Caramelised onion, goats’ cheese, roast cherry tomatoes, basil pesto and rocket). Seriously doesn’t that all sound crazy good? For the full menu, you can hop on over here.

The wine & local craft beer was also flowing all night and we even got to sample some mini desserts. Gourmet Boerie’s dessert menu has all the classic South African desserts: milk tart, malva pudding, apple crumble and even koeksisters. Aaaah, koeksister syrup runs through my veins I tell you.

The crowd was entertained by DJ talent Lady M, Nick Turner from Sons of Trout and Adrian Brand from Springbok Nude Girls – which all added to the great vibe of the evening.

Comedian & MC, Paul Snodgrass, was also there to add a bit of a chuckle and then Gourmet boerie co-owner (and also the Festival Director of the Rocking the Daisies fest – just so you know), Craig Bright welcomed the crowd and shared the journey that he and Justin Stead embarked on to bring this dream of theirs to fruition.

Paul Snodgrass on the left & Craig on the right.

I have to say, I have sooooo much love for this proudly South African initiative. And I really can’t wait to go back and have a proper sit down meal. I mean who would be able to resist all this temptation:

Photo credit: Charlie Sperring

Things you need to know:

Boerie prices range from R35 – R60 and each comes with a portion of shoestring chips. And you can also choose between a white, wholegrain or rye bread roll.
Address: 5 Buitenkloof Studios, 8 Kloof St – right at the bottom of Kloof, across the way from the McDonalds.
Contact details: enquiries@gourmetboerie.co.za / 021-424-4208
Opening hours: Tue – Sat from 11am to 10:30pm

Viva la boerie!

xxx

Wakaberry opens in Cape Town

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Karisa

This past weekend saw the opening of the first Wakaberry branch in Cape Town. Wakaberry is a frozen yoghurt (or as they refer to it “froyo”) company which started in Durban back in 2011 and already has 5 stores across KZN, 3 in Gauteng and 1 in Stellenbosch. Their first venture into the Mother City is situated at 98 Kloof St, Gardens – right next to Melissa’s – but they’re also opening another one this Sat, the 24th of Nov at 47 Dean St in Newlands.

I popped into the Kloof St branch this past Sun to give their froyo a test drive. It was a nice sunny day, so perfect weather to indulge in something ice cold & creamy…

Firstly I love the store’s acid bright colours and cute little deck area where you can sit & relax. Then I also love their really great self-service setup:

Easy peasy!

Wakaberry’s froyo is made from 100% real frozen yoghurt and is 98% fat free. But as we all know boys and girls, it all boils down to your choice of toppings hey. You have been warned. They’re also known for their very impressive selection of froyo flavours. They apparently change from store to store and currently at the Kloof St branch you can choose between the following: peanut butter, strawberry, red velvet cake, passion fruit, blueberry, mixed berry, vanilla & cheese cake.

I opted for a little taste of their red velvet cake, cheese cake & blueberry. Then I topped it off with some glazed cherries, mini eggs & some sprinkles for fun. Yeah baby! After having my little bowl of awesome weighed, my cost came to R27.30. Not bad I thought.

My favourite flavour out of the 3 was the blueberry. My friend Darryn loved the strawberry. And the BF preferred the vanilla. Even though Wakaberry is super tasty, to me personally, I still prefer Yogiberri in Cape Quarter, purely based on the creaminess & flavour of their frozen yoghurt. But Wakaberry certainly adds oomph with all their options and cool setup. So a close 2nd in my book and certainly a spot I will be be popping into again if I’m in the area.

Anybody else tried it yet? What’s your favourite frozen yoghurt spot in Cape Town?

xxx

Gourmet Boerie teaser…

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Karisa

I’ve been keeping a keen eye on a new development on the corner of Kloof & Buitensingel streets in town… It’s a dining spot called Gourmet Boerie and they’re due to open later this month.

The term “boerie” being Afrikaans slang for “boerewors”, the name clearly points to the fact that they are going to be serving some designer boerewors rolls. Mmmmm, doesn’t that sound good? As you guys should know by now, I’m a BIIIG boerie roll enthusiast. Meat sausage on a roll equals perfection in my world. Simple, yet so incredibly satisfying, I never thought it could get better than it already is. But then, this Gourmet boerie concept popped up and I started thinking… maybe it can… maybe it’s time we started thinking outside the boerie box so to speak and shake things up a little, take a risk, try something new… a boerie revolution might be upon us!

My sources tell me the guys behind Gourmet Boerie will be putting a big proudly South African stamp on this new venture. Everything in-store will be locally sourced & produced, from the ingredients and menu items to the staff uniforms & furniture. And to top it all off they’ll be pairing their boeries with some ice cold Jack Black, Darling Brew & Devils Peak craft beers. Boerie and beer, a match made in heaven. As for the actual boerie creations, expect babies like these:

And then I’ve also heard that you’ll not only be able to choose your wors (traditional, lamb, chicken or vegetarian) but also your type of roll. How’s that for a customised boerie experience?

Of course I’m planning a visit as soon as they officially open their doors. So watch this space. In the meantime you can drool over their menu on their website and also enter a competition where you can win a gourmet boerie and craft beer each week for a year by simply leaving a comment on their home page.

You can also stay up to date with their developments via Facebook or Twitter. Oooooh, I just can’t wait dammit!

xxx

Topshop/Topman pop up store – 30% off everything

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Karisa

You guys should already know about the Topshop/Topman pop up store at Unknown Union. Why? Cause I bloody told you about it ages back already.

So this pop up store was always a temporary gift to the Mother City as a way for the Topshop/Topman people to suss out the local scene. Good news though is that an article on Business Day Live back at the end of Jul announced that SA would be getting their first stand alone Topshop & Topman store in Nov of this year. Sadly the guys & girls over in JHB will be getting their hands on these fashion gems before us, with the first store opening in Sandton. But let’s hope Cape Town will follow shortly after. I mean, how could it not?

But until then you have until 29 Sep (yup, next Sat) to pop into Unknown Union in Kloof St to snap up some of the great pieces which are still left and get this, at 30% off! Oooh, I love a good deal…

Photo credit: Unknown Union

Unknown Union is situated at 24 Kloof St (right next to Scar Hair). Call them on 021 422 2843 if you have any further questions. And happy shopping.

xxx

Where the Hunks are…

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Karisa

When a good friend of mine invited me to a place called Van Hunks in Kloof St for his farewell drinks last Fri, I must admit, the first thing that came to mind was that I’d walk in there and be faced with wall to wall Johnny Bravo types saying stuff like “Hey mamma, wanna watch me comb my hair real fast?” or “You smell kinda pretty, wanna smell me?”

Love this guy…

But turns out the name in fact has absolutely nothing to do with hunky boys… damn it. The name actually comes from the story of how Table Mountain got it’s “tablecloth”. The legend states that there once was an old Dutch pirate who went by the name of Van Hunks. He had a little cottage between Table Mountain and what’s now called Devil’s Peak and he loved smoking his pipe. Then one day he found himself in a pipe smoking dual with the devil himself. They smoked until the mountain was surrounded by a white cloud, but being a champion pipe smoker, Van Hunks beat the devil hands down in the end. Now when you see the white cloud on Table Mountain, you’re basically witnessing a mega rematch between old Van Hunks and the dark one going down. Or so the story goes…

Anyhoo, now that I’ve given you a nice solid history lesson. Ahem. Let’s get back to the actual place.

Nice cosy spot…

There’s a dining area where you can have a bite to eat. They have a pretty manly menu with things like burgers, ribs, steak, ravioli & chicken livers. But we actually settled in the bar area. So can’t comment on the food.

I liked the feel of the place. It’s casual with a fun pub vibe and decor wise they have some really cool old school elements on the walls:

We had a great time there. The energy was good and it was quite busy. So clearly it’s a popular spot for Friday after work drinks. The only thing I didn’t like was the fact that it was very smoky in there. I get that the bar was a smoking area. But there wasn’t any ventilation from what I could see. That meant by the time I got home I smelled like an ashtray… hair, clothes, skin, everything… and I don’t smoke. Blegh.

BUT… other than that… it’s a pretty stand up watering hole. I’m sure one which will be favoured by die manne.

xxx

Trying out the Saints burger

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Karisa

As I’ve been continuing on in my journey to find the best burgers in Cape Town, I recently got some tip offs about a relatively new spot called Saints Burger Joint. So this past Sat my friend Joe and I decided to head over there to give it a bash.

Saints is located at 84 Kloof St, just above Camp St on your right in a Victorian beauty that’s been given a funky new look. We got there around 1:45pm and it was quite empty, but I’m guessing it’s more of an evening spot.

I loved the edgy rocker slash biker decor. It’s something different to your usual Kloof St vibe. Dark walls, red accents, pics of famous rockers on the walls…

Rockabilly style table tops…

And even a skull with snakes on the ceiling…

All reinforcing the message that this burger joint certainly aint for “sissies”.

Now their menu actually has lots of options – hearty breakfasts, a good selection of salads, flatbreads, snacks and then also some sweet treats. But we were there for one thing and one thing only: the burgers.

A really cool feature on the menu is that you can choose to either build your own burger from scratch (choosing the meat, bun, type of cheese, sauce & other extras) or you can select one of their very well thought out burger options. I went for the custom burger option, selecting a beef patty, white sesame Kaiser bun, white cheddar, caramelized red onions & a soy ginger garlic and mayo sauce with sweet potato chips as my side.

Boom! Mine worked out to R82 in total.

Joe opted for the “Heartbreaker” (R85) – Chargrilled ground beef burger, served open on ciabatta roll, topped with white cheddar, grilled brown mushrooms and a creamy pepper sauce. And get this, he got to choose TWO sides.

So he went for fat chips & a simple tomato salad.

These pictures really don’t do the size of the burgers that much justice. Apologies. But trust me they are big, like big enough for a man sized appetite. Oh yeah.

Joe and I considered various factors before settling on our official Miss K Kiss-o-Meter rating for the Saints burger… quality of ingredients, flavour, size, creativity, side options and such… and in the end we decided to give it:

That’s a pretty solid burger score, not quite the top marks I awarded the Dog’s Bollocks burger, but definitely a burger to add to your “must try” list. The only thing I would have preferred was if the patty wasn’t so dense. I enjoy a kind of rustic beef patty with a more homemade feel, but that’s really just personal preference.

Also important to note: their milkshakes are pretty good as well and they have “spiked” varieties… I didn’t go for a spiked one cause I still had to function after lunch, but they did sound temptingly evil, just the way I like it.

xxx

My Love Affair with Cape Town…

Just random fun in my mother city

Tag Archives: Kloof St