Tea for two at 54 on Bath

Last Friday myself and my friend Thithi (of teeteeiswithme) were treated to tea at 54 on Bath. It seems that we had tea on the Level Four restaurant terrace just in time because the chill has hit Jozi this week. The terrace is a little rooftop garden haven in the centre of Rosebank. I absolutely love the contrast of a perfectly manicured garden against the surrounding cbd.

As soon as you're seated the waiter(s) explain the English tea tradition and ask whether you will be having the traditional tea or the royal tea. The traditional afternoon tea offers tea sandwiches, an assortment of afternoon pastries and scones of course with premium tea leaves of your choice. You can spend the afternoon eating and sipping on tea to your heart's content. The royal tea is the traditional afternoon tea with an added glass of kir royale. As Thithi said what's afternoon tea without a few bubbles?!

We opted for the Royal Tea and spent the afternoon sipping on a glass of Vueve Kir Royale along with a five minute strong English Breakfast tea. I have to be honest the tea is filling and Thithi &I were convinced that our tea stand for two was meant for four. But we were assured by our waiter Bruce that it is for two and we should feel free to request more items should we like some more.  The tea stand offers an assortment of sweet pastries and afternoon tea sandwiches including cucumber sandwiches and smoked salmon cream cheese sandwiches. But that's not all a small selection of quiches were brought out next, warm from the oven. The scones were spot on and my favourite item of the day.

Thank you to Thithi for all the wonderful images!

Dilmah English Breakfast steeping

Assortment of sweet pastries

Individual asparagus &salmon quiche

An afternoon well spent

It was the perfect way to wrap up a long week, thank you to the 54 on Bath and Tsogo Sun team.

Level Four High Tea
54 on Bath, 54 Bath Avenue, Rosebank
Tea is served from 15:30 - 17:00
Best for: The Royal tea, what's tea without a few bubble?! And the house champagne is Veuve Clicquot
Traditional Afternoon Tea R165
Royal Tea R245

Photography by Thithi Nteta

The High Tea was sponsored by 54 on Bath, Tsogo Sun.

On the Bookshelf - Cooked in Africa

A couple of weeks ago I was part of the blogger judges that were invited to judge the Jo'burg auditions of Ultimate Braai Master. It was a great morning tasting the good, the bad and the phenomen giblets & chicken feet. As a thanks we received a goodie bag which included Justin Bonello's Cooked in Africa

Cooked in Africa is a chronicle of Justin's cooking journey through Southern Africa. It offers a blend of traditional South African dishes and continental cuisine. I am keen to try Justin's take on some of the traditional dishes I serve at home like the crab curry. But living in an apartment in Jozi means I won't be making a pit oven, but there are still recipes for  those in the comforts of their own home like the Tom Yum Goong Risotto.

If you're in Cyrildene: Gangnam Korean BBQ

My friend Amy (of Littlemissconceptions) invited me to dinner at Gangnam Korean BBQ in Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene. As you expect from Derrick Avenue, don't judge a book by its cover or by it's lumo green sign in Gangnam BBQ's case.

The restaurant is filled with sets of wooden tables and chairs. Each of the tables have a special centre feature, all the better to barbeque with. Amy was designated barbeque lady for the night.
Once seated and orders made, the waitresses brings out hot coals and sets it inside the table centre and then we're ready to barbeque. Next the waitress sets an assortment of pickles on the table along with lettuce leaves. The assortment of pickles includes pickled cucumber, potato pickle and a small serving of kimchi (pickled vegetables).

We ordered three meat items; the marinated beef short ribs, marinated pork rashers and chicken wings. The meat is marinated in a salty, umami, slightly spicy marinade.  The marinated pork is served with two dips; a spicy chilli sauce and a salty poppy seed dip. If you eat pork I recommend it highly. The idea is that once the meat is cooked you take a lettuce leaf and fill it with pickles, meat and the dipping sauces. The lettuce is a wonderful neutral cold element that balances the warm, spicy & salty meat. As our side we ordered beef noodles, these are no ordinary noodles but translucent sweet potato noodles. There are splendid and unexpected.

I enjoyed the evening, it's great for interacting and the restaurant is perfect for a quiet one on one dinner or for a group dinner. My next trip will be with a group, so that I can try a larger variety of dishes. 

Step out of the ordinary and instead of your usual spot try something new this week. I would suggest making a booking if you plan to go over the weekend.

Gangnam Korean BBQ

28 Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene

0791721239

Best for: A group dinner. The fish balls are a MUST try.

Going back for: The outside bbq night, where skewers of chicken wings & skewers of fish balls are barbequed or braaied on site.