Flags flying free in the bright, bustling breeze.
Pinched pointed pens practicing print on the page.
Hot, healthy breakfast with a mild mango mush.
Sunday 10 May 2020
Saturday 9 May 2020
The Writer's Desk
Beige, wooden, and stable, it is a space for work to be done. The desk is crowded with objects of different shapes and sizes; a pile of books, mostly journals of different forms; an enamel cup filled with pens and Sharpie’s; a kettle with warm water, ready to fill another mug of tea; the mug, with the string of a twice used peppermint tea bag fluttering at its side; the tall, turquoise water bottle, capped but waiting for its next use; the yellow cased iPhone, face down and charging, idling and prompting little distraction, at this point in time… the empty lemon essential oil bottle, stripped of its label but still useful for sentimental reasons; and finally, the MacBook, clad in a black beehive skin with night mode activated throughout, reliably responding to all the commands it is given, recording each word as it is typed and diligently correcting any spelling errors that occur along the way. How thoughtful!
Thursday 6 August 2015
The Black Sheep
The Black Sheep is situated near the top of Kloof Street. It is in the perfect place to take in the twinkling night views of Cape Town, the Mother City. It was Wednesday evening, and we were not sure what to expect after passing the glass-windowed restaurant that looked intriguing. Smiling hello, the manager quickly arranged an elegantly laid table near the windows. The restaurant exhibits a flawless fusion of smooth modern lines and rustic finishings in the form of a melange wood feature wall and red-bricked edgings.
Hardly a moment after I settled into my chair, the waiter appeared at the table with a warm greeting and offers for something to drink. Opting to look at the wine menu, I was impressed by an extensive and well thought out list. I chose the Anura Chardonnay and was treated to a sweet honey taste that kept on whispering "more". Only a few sips into the wine, a complimentary amuse-bouche arrived at the table. The light and refreshing bite comprised of a thin slice of toasted ciabatta topped with a generous dollop of avocado, pea and mint purée.
Sweetbread starters were deep-fried pieces of marrow in a crispy batter, served with an olive oil pesto and parsley dipping sauce. Off the beaten track compared to my regular selection of starter. The crispy, salty experience was "quite lekker", as my dining partner put it.
For the main course, I chose the tarragon and mustard marinated chicken breast with sweet corn fritters and sherry sauce. Words don't begin to describe to you how good the flavour was, but I will try. The chicken breast was served upon some crispy broccoli stalks and crunchy green beans. I encountered some beautifully unusual brassica vegetables scattered on the side of the plate. A little research revealed that they are called Veronica hybrid cauliflower. The mustard from the marinade added a tang to the sweet sherry sauce, and the freshness of the tarragon drew it all together.
What a gratifying meal, and what's more is that the menu changes every night! The restaurant is a neighbourhood gathering spot so flavours are constantly being adapted to keep the patrons coming back for more. After almost two years of business, The Black Sheep is busy every night of the week, and after such a rewarding experience, I fully understand why.
Hardly a moment after I settled into my chair, the waiter appeared at the table with a warm greeting and offers for something to drink. Opting to look at the wine menu, I was impressed by an extensive and well thought out list. I chose the Anura Chardonnay and was treated to a sweet honey taste that kept on whispering "more". Only a few sips into the wine, a complimentary amuse-bouche arrived at the table. The light and refreshing bite comprised of a thin slice of toasted ciabatta topped with a generous dollop of avocado, pea and mint purée.
Sweetbread starters were deep-fried pieces of marrow in a crispy batter, served with an olive oil pesto and parsley dipping sauce. Off the beaten track compared to my regular selection of starter. The crispy, salty experience was "quite lekker", as my dining partner put it.
For the main course, I chose the tarragon and mustard marinated chicken breast with sweet corn fritters and sherry sauce. Words don't begin to describe to you how good the flavour was, but I will try. The chicken breast was served upon some crispy broccoli stalks and crunchy green beans. I encountered some beautifully unusual brassica vegetables scattered on the side of the plate. A little research revealed that they are called Veronica hybrid cauliflower. The mustard from the marinade added a tang to the sweet sherry sauce, and the freshness of the tarragon drew it all together.
What a gratifying meal, and what's more is that the menu changes every night! The restaurant is a neighbourhood gathering spot so flavours are constantly being adapted to keep the patrons coming back for more. After almost two years of business, The Black Sheep is busy every night of the week, and after such a rewarding experience, I fully understand why.
Friday 3 July 2015
Tea time on top of the world
Today was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining and the weather was good. It all worked in favour of the hike I had planned with some of my girlfriends, Amy and Michelle. After an adventure through nature in Cecilia Forrest in Newlands, we had worked up an appetite for something sweet.
On a whim, we decided to visit Chart Farm, well known for its beautiful roses that you are allowed to pick for yourself at a small cost per rose. It is hidden above Wynberg Park, and the road to the farm is just off Klaasens Road, which continues on into Bishops Court. We arrived to a view of sunny rose fields and vineyards in the background. The last few roses of the year clung to their branches, pink and white against the dark green leaves. Rose season is from October through to May, so I will certainly be returning in a few months time.
We made our way down to the tea room and garden, which are open daily until 4:30pm, perfect for those daytime outings when you're looking for a pretty place to go. We sat down in the sunny tea room, basking in the sun's generous warmth. A softly spoken waitress took our tea and cake orders, and within minutes, our orders arrived. My pot of Earl Grey tea was served with a green and white checkered cover to keep the brew at tip-top temperature. I was amazed to discover that my small little teapot held 3 whole cups of tea! What a treat when you get more than expected.
My slice of carrot cake appeared big and bold on a clean white plate, adorned with an appetizing cream cheese frosting and crumbled walnuts to top it all off. I sliced my cake fork into it, excited to find out what tastes were waiting for me. The cake was moist and nutty, not too sweet but in a good way. I think I picked up on some spices, possibly cinnamon or nutmeg, maybe both. The icing - oh, the yummy delicious icing - it had a creamy sweetness with an unexpected hit of lemon. The texture was a bit wetter than I would have normally expected but that isn't a bad thing. It was so enjoyable, sitting in the afternoon sun, sipping tea and eating cake with my girls, chatting about love, life and the contrast of American culture with our own.
Did you know that what South Africans know as scones are closest to what Americans call biscuits? To them, biscuits are cookies. Well, I didn't know that but my dear friend Michelle brought me up to speed as she snacked on her scones with fresh cream and jam. Moreover, our thin concept of pancakes, which Amy was enjoying with vanilla ice cream, is quite different from the thick American pancakes, which we would liken to flapjacks. The well-loved drink, ice tea, is diversely perceived among Americans from different states. In the South, they refer to it as "sweet tea", and concoctions of lemonade and sugary Ceylon tea are blended together into a refreshing cold drink.
Despite a rather challenging week, I drove home this Friday afternoon with a huge smile on my face. It's incredible how some quality time with friends and good food can turn things back on track!
On a whim, we decided to visit Chart Farm, well known for its beautiful roses that you are allowed to pick for yourself at a small cost per rose. It is hidden above Wynberg Park, and the road to the farm is just off Klaasens Road, which continues on into Bishops Court. We arrived to a view of sunny rose fields and vineyards in the background. The last few roses of the year clung to their branches, pink and white against the dark green leaves. Rose season is from October through to May, so I will certainly be returning in a few months time.
We made our way down to the tea room and garden, which are open daily until 4:30pm, perfect for those daytime outings when you're looking for a pretty place to go. We sat down in the sunny tea room, basking in the sun's generous warmth. A softly spoken waitress took our tea and cake orders, and within minutes, our orders arrived. My pot of Earl Grey tea was served with a green and white checkered cover to keep the brew at tip-top temperature. I was amazed to discover that my small little teapot held 3 whole cups of tea! What a treat when you get more than expected.
My slice of carrot cake appeared big and bold on a clean white plate, adorned with an appetizing cream cheese frosting and crumbled walnuts to top it all off. I sliced my cake fork into it, excited to find out what tastes were waiting for me. The cake was moist and nutty, not too sweet but in a good way. I think I picked up on some spices, possibly cinnamon or nutmeg, maybe both. The icing - oh, the yummy delicious icing - it had a creamy sweetness with an unexpected hit of lemon. The texture was a bit wetter than I would have normally expected but that isn't a bad thing. It was so enjoyable, sitting in the afternoon sun, sipping tea and eating cake with my girls, chatting about love, life and the contrast of American culture with our own.
Did you know that what South Africans know as scones are closest to what Americans call biscuits? To them, biscuits are cookies. Well, I didn't know that but my dear friend Michelle brought me up to speed as she snacked on her scones with fresh cream and jam. Moreover, our thin concept of pancakes, which Amy was enjoying with vanilla ice cream, is quite different from the thick American pancakes, which we would liken to flapjacks. The well-loved drink, ice tea, is diversely perceived among Americans from different states. In the South, they refer to it as "sweet tea", and concoctions of lemonade and sugary Ceylon tea are blended together into a refreshing cold drink.
Despite a rather challenging week, I drove home this Friday afternoon with a huge smile on my face. It's incredible how some quality time with friends and good food can turn things back on track!
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