Where in the world is Jozi Foodie Fix? LA? NY?

Well you would think that the name says it all but from next week JoziFoodie Fix will be foodspotting in LA and after that in NY.

Foodspotting is about finding dishes and not just restaurants! I came across foodspotting through Soraya Darabi who I follow on twitter.

So I will be introducing you to some of my NY favourites and some new spots including LA, because I have never been before.

My NY favourites:

• The waffletruck, best best belgium wafels especially if you add dinges like strawberries and cream *my mouth waters just thinking about it*
• Dunkin' Donuts, don't judge me, but I have a weakness for the boston creme, custard centred chocolate topped doughnut
• The Chelsea Market
• Abraco in the East Village for a coffee and olive shortbread, it's a sweet salty combination that pops in your mouth and blows your mind. I kid you not!
• Pinkberry, best frozen yoghurt spot in the world especially since South Africa's own Marcel's is no more in Jozi.

If you have must try places in NY or LA, especially LA please let me know. Either comment or mail me on jozifoodiefix.gmail.com

Foodie Fix this Week 16/08/2010

So what is there to look forward to this week, the week before I go on vacation, well a friend's Birthday dinner at Central Grill Cedar Square on Wednesday and then a work Dinner at DW eleven-13 on Thursday. A great send off before I go away.

If you have menu recommendations, let me know either by commenting or send me an email on jozifoodiefix.gmail.com I think I may put central grill through the steak test, that I did at Wombles.

http://dw11-13.co.za/cms_site/menu.html

http://www.centralgrill.co.za/main.html

 Happy Eating!

Ladies who Lunch, Lunch at The Patisserie

Today I ended up at the Patisserie, in Illovo, around lunch time. It was a function of having time on my hands being midway between Rosebank and Melrose and craving a great fishcake. This is definitely a ladies lunching spot with the pink and white interior and checkered black and white floor, it makes me feel like I'm Alice in my cake laden Wonderland sitting down for tea.

Like its name the Patisserie is very French, well Leanne says so at least, I have not had the opportunity to go to France yet. But it's on my bucket list, being the Pastry Lover I am. Anyway back to the Patisserie.

We both ordered the Salmon fishcake which comes with a green salad. The fishcake was moreish, and looks enormous, to me at least, but I cleaned my plate. They have a wonderful, dare I say it, fish taste with a flavour that I couldn't at first put my finger on. It turned out to be tomato sauce, which is what makes the fishcakes orange as well.

You'll find  a mix of salmon, mostly salmon, and I think hake with little bits of potato in your fish cake which makes for great texture. Not to worry even with the potato bits the fishcake is still light and after polishing it off I don't feel full at all, just satisfied! The fishcake comes with a great sauce, an aioli with lots of parsley.

The salad is a mixture of leaves and herbs, mostly rocket, which compliments the rich salmon very well.

Overall I thought it was a great dish until the bill/cheque came and at R95, I'm not sure. If I'm paying R95, I would appreciate if the fishcake didn't have such a prominent Tomato Sauce flavour. But if you're looking for a good fishcake The Patisserie is a good place to start. But get to lunch early because they are a hit, and if you get in too late you'll find yourself wanting.

One thing I won't fault the Patisserie for no matter what the price tag are their cakes especially their carrot cake and the red velvet cupcakes both have a cream cheese frosting, which are the best I've had!

The Patisserie is in the Post Office Centre Illovo, behind Thrupps, (011) 268 0044.
Happy Lunching!

Tackling Fish

So after the prawns last night, my dad decided to make a stop at the Portuguese Fisheries this morning and came back with a HUGE fish. He says it's a rock cod and the smallest one he could find, i think he chose the one with the meanest mug. I don't think you'll disagree.

So for lunch we had stuffed rock cod, with a fresh green salad.

The fish was butterflied so I stuffed it with slices of onions, green peppers, tomato, chillies, garlic, ginger and portobello mushrooms and lemons. I seasoned it with salt pepper, Woolies fish rub and Mr Fish's fish spice.

I gave the fish all I've got; so East meets Western Cape meets Mediterranean flavours. And it all worked out! I drizzled some olive oil over and wrapped it in foil popped it into the oven at 220 degreesC for 35minutes.

The salad is a green salad with baby leaves, rosa tomatoes, avocado, black olives, sliced peppadews and sundried tomatoes.

The fish was cooked perfectly! It is quite a meaty fish but not oily. It was soft but meaty and packed with flavour, Superb if I must say so myself but my dad and brother gave it a thumbs up too.

This is the final product in it's juicy/ saucy glory!

Try this out and let me know if it works for you, Happy Eating In!

At Home Eating

Since I didn't Foodie Fix anywhere this week, I thought I should share my at home eating with you.
So here's my Eating In:

Chicken Pies and Savoury Tomato, Camembert and Basil Pesto tart from The Tart.

I picked these savoury snacks up from The Tart's Market Day, which is every friday from 10am. The chicken pies have a wonderfully, light, flaky pastry with a thick chicken, spring onion filling with a touch of cheddar cheese, I think?! The pie doesn't have much sauce but I find the flavours very satisfying. I reheated my pie in the oven but my brother heated his in the microwave and said it was fantastic.
Tomato, Camembert and Basil Pesto savoury tart was fantastic as always. This is by far the best tart in Jo'burg and I'm comparing it to Made  Marian, Moemas and The Patissserie's savoury tarts/ quiches. You must love cambembert, but the tomatoes are wonderfully sweet coated with splashes of balsamic vinegar and lovely basil pesto. Sublime! A Foodie Fix Must Try

Homemade Quickie Supper of Mozambiquan Prawns and Chips
The mozambiquan queen prawns are, from the Portuguese Fisheries in Troyeville, marinated in Woolies mozambiquan peri peri marinade with a touch of crushed garlic and a few squeezes of lemon. We've been buying fish from them for years and you're guaranteed the freshest seafood, it probably helps that my mother has developed a bit of a "friendship" with Hannibal head fisherman manager I guess.

The chips are woolies frozen chips straight cut and french fries, no i will not be peeling slicing and drying potatoes.





You'll find the details for The Tart and Portuguese Fisheries in the Eat-In magazine or website
www.eat-in.co.za/
Yes I know I need to get a food photographer but for now you'll have to deal with starfish savoury tarts and prawns eyeballing you lol.

Happy Eating In!