Beijing Opera pops up in Jozi

I was over the moon when I saw this posted up on the Beijing Opera fb page. I'm pretty sure Yang got tired of me asking when The Beijing Opera is coming to Jozi. The dim sum Pop Up Beijing Opera will be on our Parkhurst streets in two weeks.

Trust me this is not to be missed! 

The WKND Social November Edition

The Collective is at it again! We told you it's a monthly right!

The WKND Social November date has been announced Saturday 17th November. Like THE WKND SOCIAL facebook page and follow us on twitter @THEWKNDSOCIAL for more details.

Courtesy: THE WKND SOCIAL

Let's brunch and day party!

Looking forward to Food Jams in Jozi

This week I'm looking forward to Food Jams in Jozi hosted by Jade de Waal (yes of Masterchef SA). The first one in Jozi, to my knowledge at least, is this Friday at a location that will be revealed via email on the day, all I know is it's somewhere in Milpark - I love suspense!

Courtesy: Food Jams fb page

What are food jams you ask?

"Social get togethers where eating the food is only half the experience, with the real event being the experience of cooking new dishes, paired in teams with strangers, and invited to improvise, making your part of the meal truly your own creation." - Food Jams About fb page

I look forward to cooking and eating food with like minded "strangers" that are passionate about food.

For more info on Food Jams go ahead and like the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/FoodJams or follow the eat your heart out blog http://whocsoc.com/eyho/ and the food jams blog is in construction/ coming soon http://foodjams.co.za/eat-your-heart-out-food-jams-leweekly/

So Yum Ramen

I had a tea that turned into dinns at So Yum in Hyde Park this week. Although they are known for their dim sum, it's chilly out and I was in the mood for ramen. You know how I love ramen. So Yum happens to have a duck ramen, I do enjoy duck so it was a go.

This contemporary ramen had a light, flavourful broth, though I could've used with a little chilli. The duck was perfectly done the meat tender and the skin crispy, yes I said it crispy skin on top of a broth. The only thing that beats crispy duck skin is crackling. The broth, soft ramen noodles, slightly crunchy bok choy and crispy skin make for a great bite slurp.

My dinner, well tea, date Nandi of http://mamakashaka.blogspot.com/ (yes we love her blog) ordered a few recommended dim sum, the prawn toasts and hong kong pears (sans actual pear), to taste. The absence of actual pear was a disappointment to Nandi but she said it was tasty nonetheless.

Happy bite slurping!

So Yum
Ground floor, Hyde Park shopping Centre
011 325 5360

The Jozi hit list: Jacobs Board Game Cafe

It's as if someone read my mind when they decided to open Jacobs Board Game Cafe in Parkhurst. Thanks to a twitter friend I found out about it, alas I was snubbed for the launch. But I do like the concept of a good cuppa Jacobs decaf, chit chat and a little fun + games.

I've totally been looking for a place to relax and perhaps play a game of scrabble or cluedo, I'm not a monopoly fan and with the people I know I'd have to rent the place out to play 30 seconds. Can u say R.O.W.D.I.E (not that rowdy is spelt like that). I tried to pop past yesterday evening but it was closed, so will have to try again

I've found out it's open Tues - Sun 10am - 10pm till August because it's a pop up!
Go on like their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/JacobsKronungSouthAfrica

Let the games begin!

Jacobs Board Game Cafe
69 11th Street Parkhurst (cnr 4th Ave & 11th str)

Rhubarb crumble

This is the tale of to crumbles one rhubarb one apple...... Winter has finally hit Jozi and that gets me into a fierce dessert craving home cooking kinda mood. I'm notoriously terrible at baking so I decided that making a crumble is the first step. I started with a rhubarb crumble last week and made a apple crumble yesterday.

Rhubarb should come with a warning:

"You just can't imagine know how tart I am, I'm the tartiest tart a real tramp!" 

a piece of my rhubarb crumble with cream

The crumble topping was wonderful but I have to say that rhubarb is a bit too tart for my liking. My brother and his gf (Themiffany as they are affectionately known by me) loved it! Next time I'll add a few apples just for me to balance it. 

I used Nigella Lawson's rhubarb crumble recipe from her book Feast I adapted it slightly and added a few slices of fresh ginger to the rhubarb. For those looking for rhubarb in Jozi try; Athol oaklands fruit and vegetable or the food lovers markets 

Happy crumbling!

Tequila Tuesday: Melrose Arch hotel Library Bar

Courtesy: http://wetu.com/iBrochure/en/Information/14881/African%20Pride%20Melrose%20Arch/ImageLibrary 

Today I've come down with the flu but usually I spend Tequila Tuesday (Wednesday or Thursday) at the Melrose Arch hotel Library Bar. It's really cosy and perfect for winter evenings with the fireplace, although be warned it does tend to fill up for the upper crust slightly "older" after work drinks crowd at 6pm and then is pretty clear from 8pm onwards during the week. It's great if you're looking for an intimate chat or a quite game of pool. It also stays open late, and as long as a hotel guest is present you could be there till 3am - oh I've said too much.

My weekly stop includes a shot of gold tequila and a passion fruit mojito - not to be missed! Cocktails are as you'd expect from a hotel at around R50-R60 depending on what you've ordered.

Tequila's all round

And we love the snacks that come with the drinkies! The library bar is what I'd classify as an oldie but a goodie!

Happy Tequila Tuesday-ing!

Tonight we Tanqueray!

I hadn't realised that there was a campaign and tag line Tonight we Tanqueray but it is so fitting because that is exactly what I intend to do tonight.

The Tonight we Tanqueray campaign sees film, fashion and music stars make a commitment to start the night right! The campaign features Aloe Blacc, Idris Elba and Michael Pitt as ambassadors. If ever you needed a reason to take up gin, particularly Tanqueray, Idris Elba is enough for me- not that I needed a reason.

Image courtesy:

http://social.taylorstrategy.com/smpr/smr/tanqueray/tanqueray.html

My gin tipple of choice is a classic Tanqueray and tonic with a slice of lime, which according to the campaign would make me a Michael Pitt girl. I might try Tanqueray and OJ just for you Idris!

Image courtesy: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/tonight-we-tanqueray

For more details of my preferred gin and the Tonight we Tanqueray campaign: http://www.tanqueray.com/index.html

Halloumi & Sardines at Mezepoli

My girlfriends and I decided to have a midweek catch up over a guilt free dinner. By guilt free my friend meant a place that has good salads, seafood and sushi, so Mezepoli it was. The service as always is good & slightly hands off or let me say not overbearing which is great for a ladies catch up session.

We ordered a few dishes to share, the Greek way! Halloumi salad, grilled sardines and peri peri chicken livers. All I can say is that the peri peri chicken livers are always a winner, perfectly cooked in a mild spicy peri peri sauce.

The halloumi salad was wonderful with a creamy dressing, they don't ask if you want it on the side and I'm not complaining. The salty grilled halloumi & olives served on a bed of greens and cucumber with tomatoes and red onion slices.The dressing did well to balance the saltiness

The sardines weren't as I expected, well not as salty as I would have liked. I guess I have the idea of salt encrusted sardines grilled in a clay oven or over an open flame. But these were good served with pickled fennel and a lemon vinaigrette.

I ended dinner with a sweet Greek coffee and I have to say that I felt that the proportion of grounds to water in the brew was off as the grounds settled quite high up in the cup. The last thing I wanted was a mouthful of grounds with every sip.

I would recommend Mezepoli for those days when you want a little bit of everything, have some time to spare and a few good notes in your pocket. Try the chicken livers and a caipirnha, they're always winners for me. If you're looking to celebrate have a shot of Ouzo!