Bradley's Summer Carrot Salad

This is my favourite salad to eat all the time not just in Summer and it is super quick to make, especially when the boyfie is doing the making. He says that this is a "whatever he has in his pantry" salad,  I have to say it's a well stocked pantry.

Ingredients:

For the salad

• 3 Carrots finely grated
• Chargrilled Artichokes chopped (The Woolworths ones)
• Small handful Parsley chopped
• Half a palm full of Raisins
• Half a palm full of Sultanas
• Small handful Sesame seeds
• Bed of greens (your preferred combination)

For the dressing

• Juice of half an orange or a full lime
• few drops of sesame oil
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper to season

Method:

• In a bowl combine the finely grated carrots (that's French style according to boyfie), chopped chargrilled artichokes parsley, raisins and sultanas. 
• Now squeeze the orange or lime over the salad, add the sesame oil and olive oil 
• Toss and season. 
• In the meantime heat a pan on medium heat and toast the sesame seeds
• Place the salad on top of the bed of greens and sprinkle the sesame seeds over.

This is also a great substitute for the traditional coleslaw served at a braai. Just keeping it healthy.

Happy Eating In!

Drinkies: Honest Love Affair at The Leopard

Just in time for the holidays, I have a few tipple tips for you!

If you're looking for a quiet, unassuming spot for a tipple try The Leopard on a Saturday afternoon. It's in Melville off the busy 7th Street, a quaint hideaway perfect to have a tipple that has Gin, lemon, Basil and Rosemary with a touch of Absinthe. Although it is served small, what it lacks in size it makes up in content.

The Leopard
See details on Zomato here

Baked Spicy Tuna Fish Cakes

Inspired by The Counter's amazing salmon fishcakes I decided to try my hand at turning Lucky Star Tuna into a few tasty and SPICY fishcake morsels. These are perfect for a healthy dinner served on a bed of salad or as starters at a dinner party.

I turned these ingredients

 

In to these Tuna Cakes.

Ingredients:

2 Can Lucky Star Tuna in Brine drained and lightly rinsed

1 medium onion finely chopped

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

1 tsp grated ginger

2 hot chili deseeded and chopped

1 lime zest and juice

2 eggs (a third may be needed)

Handful of coriander chopped

3/4 can of whole kernels

150g breadcrumbs

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper for seasoning

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Serves: 6 medium fishcakes or 12 small.

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees
• Heat a medium sized pan on medium heat, add the olive oil and sauté onions till translucent
• Then add the fragrants to the pan; garlic and ginger and sauté for a further 2 minutes and remove from heat.
• In a bowl combine the chopped coriander, whole kernels, chopped chili, onions and garlic, tuna along with lime juice and zest.
• Add a quarter of the breadcrumbs and two eggs, then mix with a spoon. At this point the tuna mixture should start coming together well.

Tip: Add a third egg if the tuna mixture does not come together well.

• On a separate plate spread half of the remaining breadcrumbs.
• Roll small handfuls of the tuna mixture into a balls and lightly press down onto the breadcrumbs.
• Top with the remaining breadcrumbs and coat the entire fishcake evenly.
• Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Heat a pan on medium high heat and coat with either spray and cook or oil.
• Pan fry the fishcakes for 5 minutes on each side till browned.
• Transfer onto a baking tray and bake for a further 10 - 15 minutes

Serve with a light salad and a citrus dressing

Happy At Home eating!

 

The Big Bad Wolf at The Wolfpack

I have to say that The Wolfpack makes a mean burger, big bad wolf mean. Having only a few moments in my day to grab lunch and a monster craving for a burger I decided to try The Wolfpack. I called and ordered from my car and told them "Give me your signature burger, grilled to perfection!". I reached The Wolfpack, immediately seated and had the big bad wolf placed in front of me, Oh yeah!

The burger patty was super juicy and tasty, like good quality beef topped with a slice of cheese, garlic aioli, crispy wasabi onion rings, jalapenos, pineapple and pancetta. Everything but the kitchen sink and it's super tasty! You would think that it has too much going on but it turned out to be just enough. The patty to bun ratio is perfect every bite had a piece of patty, that as I have found out is no small thing. I would definitely go back for that bun and those damn good almost curly french fries!

Now for a little burger porn a subsidiary of food porn (lol)

The Wolfpack

See details on Zomato here

Seafood Masala in no time

My food memories are filled with simple items being turned into something special. To date one of my favourite quick easy meals is a smoor, tomato based curry flavoured sauce. In collaboration with Lucky Star (visit their FB page here), I get to stretch my recipe chops and show you that there's more to a can of Lucky Star Pilchards than putting them on a piece of toast. 

Taking the Lucky Star Pilchards smoor up a notch and turning it into a wonderful seafood masala.

Now to get down to it!

Ingredients:

1 Can Lucky Star Pilchards in tomato sauce

1/2 Can of Lucky Star mussels in oil (optional)

1/2 small onion finely chopped

1 tsp chopped garlic

1 tsp grated ginger

1 hot chili deseeded and sliced

1 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp garam masala

1/2 tin coconut milk

small handful of chopped fresh coriander leaves

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt and a squeeze of lemon for seasoning

Preparation time: 10 minutes (I chop slowly)

Cooking time: 23 minutes

Serves: 2 big portions and 4 small portions.

Method:

• Heat a medium sized saucepan on medium heat, add the olive oil and saute the onions till translucent about 5 minutes. 

• Then add the fragrants; garlic, ginger and chilli saute for a further 3 minutes until the onions start to colour. 

• Add the dry spices; ground cumin, ground coriander and the garam masala mix thoroughly and allow the heat to build the flavour for a minute, add a little bit of water if the pan is too dry. 

• Add the can of pilchards in tomato sauce and the coconut milk to the masala mix. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes then reduce heat and slow simmer for another 5 minutes. 

• Stir occasionally and lightly so as not to break up the pilcahards

• Add the mussels, salt  & a squeeze of lemon to taste and chopped coriander leaves, turn down the heat and simmer for a final 3 minutes. 

Serve over basmati rice.

Tip 1: I usually add some sugar to all tomato base dishes to balance the acidity. In this case I don't because the tomato sauce is quite sweet so adding sugar is not necessary.

Tip 2: If you prefer more heat feel free to leave the seeds in the chilli

Happy Eating In!

Eating New York - The BEST Bacon Caramel Corn and Candy Bars from Liddabit

I love the Chelsea Market for the under roof close to Meatpacking district Smorgasbord it is. Since my last visit a candy store has popped up it's called Liddabit Sweets and it's AMAZE!

I first heard of Liddabit from OhJoy! so I was absolutely ecstatic when I saw the store. I went into a happiness frenzy and bought a ton of Bacon Caramel Corn, yes like bacon diddle daddle if it existed only better. Thithi (of teeteeiswithme) was there to capture my moment of blissful madness.

I walked out of the store with a candy bar in each flavour, boxes of caramel corn and bacon caramel corn, a box of chocolate dipped sea salt caramel and a box of pretzel beer caramels. Wait there's more, I bought the cookbook and a free twix inspired candy bar, which they don't sell but give to customers who drop a guap!

Photography by: Thithi Nteta of teeteeiswithme

Liddabit Sweets
425 W 15th St. (Or use main market entrance at 75 9th Ave.)
New York, NY 10011
(212) 229-0022
Best for: Bacon caramel corn and the chocolate dipped sea salt caramel
Not sold on: the twix inspired candy bar (I guess that's why it's free)

The Delicious Festival Winners are....

Congratulations!!! to @luminousmk and @remembercarla who have each won a set of tickets to The Delicious Festival this weekend. See details of The DSTV Delicious Festival here

Delicious Festival Giveaway

As I mentioned in the Delicious Festival post (see here) earlier this week I do have 2 double tickets up for grabs to the Delicious Festival. Each ticket is valued at R380. That means you could see sexy Ed Baines in action!



What do you need to do to win?
Like the  Jozi Foodie Fix facebook page and write on my wall what you're most looking forward to at the festival and tag Delicious Festival SA  OR 
Follow me on twitter, tweet what you're most looking forward to at the festival and tag @JoziFoodieFix  #DSTVFood

It's a flash competition which closes at midnight Monday 30 September 2013. Winner will be announced on 1 October 2013.

Delicious Festival comes to Jozi 5 and 6 October 2013

I am so looking forward to the Delicious Festival on the 5th and 6th October. I will also be giving away two double tickets to the festival, watch this space! If you haven't heard of it, here's the 411.

"Described as the music festival for food lovers or a food festival for music lovers; Delicious is set to take the South African entertainment and culinary world by storm in Johannesburg from 5 – 6 October 2013. With nothing else quite like it in South Africa- Delicious promises to give festival-goers something completely fresh and unique with the A list line-up performing on both the Saturday and Sunday. 

Presented by DStv in association with Checkers, Ocean Basket, The Sunday Times and Sowetan. South Africa’s first international food and music festival will bring world-class culinary talent. UK celebrity chefs Aldo Zilli, Ed Baines and John Burton Race showcase their signature dishes at their own pop-up restaurants. 

Ed Baines looking all vintage

John Burton in his signature grin

Headlining the music is renowned international act Jamiroquai; who will be supported by a host of top South African artists namely; Lira, Danny K, Khuli Chana, Prime Circle and Mi Casa.

The three international pop-up restaurants, San Carlo Cicchetti, Randall & Aubin and The John Burton Race Experience, will provide patrons with the opportunity to experience their fine cuisine first hand while enjoying live music from a raised vantage point overlooking the crowd. These restaurants will be taking bookings for lunch and dinner sittings daily; and with limited seats available, they are expected to sell out fast!

In addition to the pop-up restaurants, there will also be a huge artisan food market encompassing a vast array of African, European and pan-Asian cuisine. Many of these are already firm favourites for local market lovers."

Visit the website, the FB page or shout them out on twitter for more details 

Website: http://www.deliciousfestival.com/

Facebook: Delicious Festival SA 

Twitter: @DeliciousFestSA

 

This is how I make my NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Cuppa

The Good People at NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto delivered a wonderful package to myself and ten other bloggers, lucky us! The package included a Circolo coffee machine and pods. While we get comfortable with the coffee machines and the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto flavours, you stand a chance to win one of eleven Genio coffee machines. 

The Circolo is easy and quite intuitive to use and there's a NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto flavour for everyone because Coffee is not just Black!

Watch me at work with the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Circolo!

The toughest weeks so far - Get Smarter Events Management

As you all know I have been doing an Events Management course through UCT Get Smarter, I have completed weeks 1 through 7 (see posts here). I can't believe the weeks have flown by so quickly, only 3 left go before certificate time!

I have to say that weeks 5 and 6 have been the toughest weeks so far from a prioritising perspective. The content has so far been most relevant and relatable to my role in THE WKND SOCIAL module 5 Event operations and logistics and module 6 Event design and decor.

I was in New York for week 5, working while there (with a six hour time difference), packing up our NY apartment and trying to have a bit of vacation time. Once again the convenience of the online course made it simple to get my course work and submit my assignments for the two weeks I was in New York.

I had to however ask for an extension, which of course you have to motivate for, but the team at Get Smarter do understand the exceptional circumstances and pressures placed on career driven individuals like myself who are slashers (Zomato SA AVP / Blogger / Food writer). While I made every effort to schedule appropriately I did need a couple of extra hours in the week I got back from New York to submit my assignment 6.

Now that I'm back into the swing of things, you can find me at my desk dedicating an hour a day to Events Management. Next to the convenience, is the Get Smarter's team approach to online adult education and the understanding that sometimes no matter how much planning we do LIFE gets in the way.

You can still win with NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto

The good people from NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto are giving away 11 Genio coffee machines, all you have to do is head over to their Facebook page for details.
 

In case you missed it I received a wonderful surprise from Nescafe Dolce Gusto, see post here and along with 10 other bloggers we were given a flavour (see my flavour clue here) and the opportunity to offer you our readers the chance to win one of eleven Genio coffee machines worth R1999.

 

I've been putting my Circolo coffee machine to work and trying every single NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto flavour. The machine is portable (I've taken it to the office), stylish (I got a great red one), easy to use and pretty intuitive. I read the instruction booklet once and was ready to go. Yes it makes coffee in like 60 seconds! Coffee is not just Black! I have tried almost every flavour and there is something for everyone.

Do you self a favour and head over to NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto's facebook page to stand a chance to win! It's a great addition to the kitchen.

Reminder - Ultimate Braai Master Season 2

I received this wonderful package in the mail as a reminder that Ultimate Braai Master Season 2 airs tonight, 18 September 2013, on SABC 3. I've been watching the re-runs on the Travel channel and I'm excited to see the quality of contestants Season 2 serves up.

Ultimate Braai Master Goodie Bag

For those who don't know anything about the show: 60 days, 8000 kilometres and only 15 spots around the fire.

For the next 60 days, teams will compete against each other in a gruelling braai-inspired road trip that will see them travelling the length and breadth of South Africa, from the banks of the Kosi Estuary, through Mpumalanga, Lesotho, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and ends in the winelands of Cape Town.

Eating New York - Cronuts at Dominique Ansel Bakery

As I mentioned here I was in New York for two weeks, I'm back on the Jozi Cool as of  this past Sunday. Of course after the craze and my craving (see here), I couldn't be in New York and stop in at Dominique's for the real deal, he patented the name CRONUT and for a quick pose of course!

Dominique and I

After a full week and a half in New York, promising to be in SoHo (South of Houston said HOUSE TON) by 6 am, finally Thithi (of teeteeiswithme) and I made it to SoHo. An hour and a half waiting on line, we finally made it to the counter to order.  I ordered my allocated two per customer cronuts along with ten made to order madeleines and the magic souffle. Welcome to pastry heaven and sugar rush central, oh yeah we ordered coffee to go with it all too.

Madeleines and the magic souffle

This month (September 2013) is the Fig Mascarpone Cronut month. The Cronut is layers of laminated dough (almost flaky croissant like pastry) proofed, shaped, fried and rolled in sugar like a donut with a sublime filling. I'm am using the word sublime objectively. The fig mascarpone filling is a texture combination of a cream, meets a creme anglaise that holds ever so well in the cronut.

The September mascarpone with a fig preserve swirl filling, is light, creamy & perfectly sweet. At first bite you get the slightly crisp exterior, a glazed sugary lip then the layers of flaky pastry and finally a creamy balanced not overly sweet mascarpone cream and a fig preserve kick. It's truly to adults what a finger in a jam donut is to kids.

Merci  beaucoup Dominique!

What is the magic souffle you ask? I'm dedicating a whole post to Dominique's latest, watch this space.

Photography by Thithi Nteta of teeteeiswithme

Guess what NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Flavour I am and WIN!

To stand the chance to win one of 11, make a cuppa in 60 seconds, Genio coffee machines all you need to do is guess my NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto flavour.

Believe me when I tell you that NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto coffee is not just Black. I mean the range even has a little something for the tea drinker.  There's a capsule to suit every mood and any craving.

My flavour, like myself, is light, bright with unexpected depth. Pairs with my winter white, easy drinking to city sunrises, complements early morning pick me ups.

Images courtesy Pinterest.com

What NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Flavour am I? Click the flavour below to stand a chance to win

One Liner - Nice on 4th

I had Sunday brunch with Donovan at Nice on 4th a couple of weeks ago and he has a serious jones for their egg baskets.

"There are definitely drugs in the egg baskets at Nice. I'm a junkie for those things"

Nice on 4th
37 4th Avenue, cnr 14th Street, Parkhurst
011 447 7287
Best for: Egg Baskets, OJ and brunch

Hello NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto

I just received a surprise package in the mail, well honestly it wouldn't fit in the actual mail it's that big. I arrived home a couple of nights ago (just before I was off to New York) to a big black box with a gold ribbon and a label NESCAFÉ  Dolce Gusto waiting for me on my kitchen counter. It turns out that NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto is launching 11 flavours and have decided to give bloggers the full perfect cup experience. Lucky me I seem to have made the blogger cut, I mean the package is in my house yo.

I thought I'd share my gift experience with you, you just have to see the size of this NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto package and what's inside.

I had to do a little research into the beauty that is the package I got the other night. The NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto machine, I have the single cup coffee machine that delivers a perfect cup every time, each drink variety can be prepared in less than one minute. Yes 60 seconds!

The Circolo

The new flavour capsule range has something for everyone, ranging from the white (milk heavy) cup to the black (I like it strong and pure cup). 

The Cappuccino "A little kick with lots of froth"

The Latte Machiato "A stylish little number with tasty of layers"

The Chococino "Devilishly creamy hot chocolate"

The Mocha "Mocha rich coffee with a delightful chocolate twist"

The Vanilla Latte Macchiato "Indulgent smooth and milky with a hint of vanilla"

The Caramel Latte Macchiato "Soothe your coffee craving with smooth caramel flavour"

The Cappuccino Ice "Chill with a cool refreshing coffee kick"

The Café Au Lait "The perfect morning drink"

The Tea Latte "Indulgent black tea based beverage with milk and sugar rich in foam"

The Espresso Intenso "Small perfectly formed with & extra strong"

The Americano "Americano coffee shop quality at home"

Now being a certified caffeine addict and coffee lover who gets tired of routine having access to these 11 capsules is absolute heaven. There's a capsule to suit every mood and any craving. And here's the kicker you can make a coffee shop quality cuppa in a minute in the comfort of your own kitchen with the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto machine. Variety, quality, speed and precision - what more could a girl want? I can't wait to start putting the Circolo to work, watch this space!

NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto have surprised myself (Jozi Foodie Fix) and a few other bloggers with this amazing package and are offering our lucky readers the chance to WIN one of 11 Genio coffee machines. 

All you, yes you the Jozi Foodie Fixer, have to do is guess What NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto flavour I am. You know me so well, this should be breeze.

Easy, just follow this link for competition details (https://www.facebook.com/NescafeDolceGustoSA)

What He Said - If you can't make it to Milan, Café Del Sol hits the spot.

Situated at the Olivedale Corner Shopping Centre,  serving scrumptious contemporary Italian the food at Café Del Sol is “a reflection of a new age Italian family” and  I can attest that the love can be seen, smelt, tasted and felt in every plate.

To judge by the amount of glowing feedback from my family and friends, who joined me for a Sunday lunch; it seems that Café de Sol can do no wrong. The compliments come thick and fast (‘incredible food', ‘perfect service') and it's clear this is a restaurant at the top of its game, with a strikingly beautiful, modern dining area with white walls  decorated with the most superb quotes about life, love and food.
The diverse menu delivers cracking flavours and as it declares, “seasonally fresh ingredients with swirls of love and just with a pinch of true Italian laughter” are served with a smile and executed perfectly.
Highlights include stunning starters, gorgeous mains and dishes of flawless technique and deep flavours accompanied and delivered with excellent service.

Beetroot Carpaccio

It is not your average Italian place with dishes like Beetroot Carpaccio – thinly sliced beetroot with Dolce Latte gorgonzola, strawberries and orange segments and spouts all drizzled with a balsamic reduction or the Calamari Limoncello with a wow inducing secret Limoncello sauce served with a Grana Padano parmesan salad.

Pastas are especially good. They have bite and a comforting, starchy, slipperiness, which makes the sauce cling to them, like baby koalas to their mothers.  They do numerous raviolis. The ravioli of the day is inspired and I absolutely loved the baby spinach and ricotta ravioli with a creamy parmesan and truffle sauce.

Baby spinach & ricotta ravioli

The risottos are also incredible, so good in fact, we ordered two – The Seafood Risotto with Prawns, Falklands calamari, smoked salmon, red pepper, mushroom & baby tomatoes sautéed with garlic & onion in white wine & finished off with a dash of fresh cream & parsley is delightful.
For all the mushroom lovers! Earthy Porcini mushrooms risotto, with green peas & a drizzle of truffle oil is a decadent treat!

The star dish of the day for me was the Porcini roasted chicken – Two tantalizing roasted free-range chicken breasts with a crispy skin, which was moist, served on a bed of tasty Porcini mushrooms, green peas & a delicate truffle oil risotto, with a Porcini mushroom cream sauce. The dish was cooked to perfection, well balanced and had my taste buds doing cartwheels.

The food was amazing the service sublime and the drinks list is peppered with appetizing Italian names. Ask for Alessandro Khojane whose infectious personality and good humored jokes added to our dining experience  – he and Café Del Sol are definitely setting the benchmark for Italian cuisine in Gauteng!

Grazie!