Blah Blah Bar and Ferdinando's pizza

I promise I didn't try and keep this a secret, you know I love to share...we just needed a few more visits to make sure I had the best pictures of  Blah Blah Bar 

Now a quick glance at the pictures and you'll see just what kind of wonderful this place is-

But if you need words- it's trendy, but casual in a cool artsy kind of way -

Erdmann Contemporary is upstairs.

 Regular live music downstairs, just keep an eye on their facebook page. 

It's a perfect party venue, not too big, a bit edgy, sort of like a home party in an alternative rich person's Victorian house.

and in the back.......Pizza!

I know- can this place get any better?

It's also not just any pizza, it's that pizza that I've been promising to tell you about, it's Ferdinando's pizza,

I really can't describe this little pizza kitchen to you- take a look and you'll see- but I can tell you how it makes you feel- warm and happy.

That's Ferdinando there on the floor looking for a treat.

What kind of rock star proprietor thought of all this you ask? 

 

Ja, ja- say no more, he was born to it.

I'll finish with some stunning 'drive-by's' taken by the art teacher on our way there

A proper book party

there in the foreground lies this season's most coveted book

I was going to say launch, but with that wicked punch, endless rows of pink bubbles.... and don't get me started on the sublime pork pate-  it really was a very good party.

WIth The Book lounge in Roeland street as the perfect venue, our fabulous and now famous Marie from '66 square feet'  reigned supreme last night.

I would describe the book to you in all it’s delicious detail- but they’re gone- yes, all of them.....snatched up even faster than those delicious morsels of crispy pork rind!

I can tell you that everyone was there and we loved the question and answer session with the vivacious Sam Woulidge of Confessions of a hungry woman fame.

Whispers overheard amongst the books ....'so thoughtful', 'captivating', 'intelligent', 'witty' - and as you can see Marie signed all those books as if she were born to do it.

Off to Kalahari.net to secure my copy - .now I just need it signed...,,

 

drive by- drive home

Cape Point Vineyard market

 

Feel like a glass of wine...or two, as well as a yummy selection of eats on a Thursday evening? 

Cape Point Vineyard Market in Noordhoek - We visited a few weeks back, coming over the mountain a little after 6 pm, it was already bursting with happy people.

I headed straight for The foodbarn's stall and couldn't help but start with dessert- the churros with chocolate sauce....*insert 3 minutes of pure melting enjoyment*...I actually couldn't eat anything else after that.

Now turn around, look at that view, take a sip of wine and know what it feels like to be living in Cape Town.

A few of the lovely stallholders with their treats

Drive home- drive by

Maynardville Carnival

It's the time of the year for harings, rollmops, shots of genever and piping hot bitterballen dipped in mustard- yippee!

Tensions were high this year, as on Wednesday the precious harings were still sitting with customs, but don't worry, they thankfully arrived yesterday.

We found a few bargains in Petticoat lane, the kids did the bumper cars last night, the art teacher has his eye on a juicy shwarma from the larger than life Cairo man.

Finish the evening with a grappa and an espresso from the Italian tent - goes perfectly with a crispy, sugar dusted rosenkuchen.......can you feel my satisfaction?

Earth Fair Food Market

In search of oysters we visited the Earth Fair Food Market  in Retreat on a Wednesday evening, I hadn't been for about a year and it was all grown up.

Free hugs were offered at the door- having gladly accepted mine, I was propelled towards the bar, where I gratefully accepted a large glass of Chenin Blanc at a very good price....so far so good.

We found our Saldanha oysters- freshly shucked and tasting of the sea- yum!

Lots more places to sit and enjoy the food, both inside and out.

We'll be back soon, there are some Portugese chicken livers calling my name.

La Parada- best Spanish tapas in Cape Town

I can feel the Kalk Bay locals cursing me and I confess to a moments hesitation,  but your happiness dear friends will be my reward.

As in the best surprises, it was totally unexpected- Cafe Olympia's menu didn't inspire us, the art teacher suggested the new tapas bar next door- glancing at the chalk board menu I shook my head and thought that these are all authentic Spanish tapas, if not made properly, they'll be awful.

And then I heard it- quick paced chatter....in Spanish!.....glancing upwards- be still my beating heart-

 6  no 7 fat Lucas Jamons hanging from the ceiling.

A flutter of excitement started in my belly and very quickly worked it's way to my excited taste buds.

Let's just say we've been twice in 2 days and have had everything on the menu except for the Spanish omelette, paella and prawns (I have never felt this tragic over my allergy) 

Two Octupus dishes...oh heaven! The 'house special' tapas and the croquette- don't even get me started, but the highlight, which leaves no doubt as to the experience at play in this kitchen... the rice pudding- so perfect it's the only dessert on the menu.

It's an open kitchen, so you see the wonderful Spanish lady at work...mostly very fast- punctuated by flares of fire from the pans, but not to busy to smile and wave a warm greeting.

Young ladies.....be sure to order the Serrano ham and watch as the charming and very efficient young manager meticulously sharpens his knife then proceeds to the ritual of carving wispy thin layers of jamon..

They are open from 12 pm  and kitchen closes at 10 pm - you might have to stand, but it'll be worth it.

  

A drive by from the art teacher on each day

High tea at the the Vineyard

The Romania beauty celebrated her birthday in style on the terrace of the Vineyard Hotel,

200 years old and originally the country home of Lady Anne Barnard

Tiers of treats arrived, silver pots for tea with teabags made from silk,

The terrace is full on a Sunday, a long lunch tables under the big tree, children appearing like nymphs from the lush garden, toweled guests strolling across the lawn to the pool.

A couple of hours later.....deliciously languid and in need of exercise we followed the cobbled paths into the shady garden- there were bridges to cross and ponds with stepping stones to negotiate.

I loved the continual flow of people, towards late afternoon some arrived for just tea and scones, others to enjoy the solace of the garden with a glass of a wine.

The Dogs Bollocks and The Bitches Tits

I haven't had the pleasure of one of The Dogs Bollocks legendary 50 burgers- we're yet to make it from the suburbs by 5 pm to get there before they sell out by 7 pm, but we'll keep trying.

I knew we could manage The Bitches Tits, daytime name for the same inspired alley way venue.

We grabbed our coffees from Deluxe, you'll see it at the end of the alley way on the right. You know when the coffee goes down so well that you order another and it's never as good as the first? Well it was.

Mucky Mary's hub cab breakfast list is on the blackboard, everything from bacon, pork sausages, baked beans to tomato dip- hard choices, which is why you need that coffee-  pick and choose and build your own, all a served on a large hub cab of flat bread or rye.

Maggie expertly fried up my simple order of mushrooms and egg on rye- fresh rye just brought in, layered with a silken bed of mushrooms then topped off with a perfectly fried egg, slightly crispy yet when you bite the yolk oozes seductively on to the mushrooms- can you tell I enjoyed it?

We stayed through to the start of the lunchtime rush, the smells were tempting, a large table tucked into meatball heros, the philly cheesesteak and prego roll had me wishing we could stay longer and sweaty betty's sexy soup?- well who dares resist.

 We'll be back with empty tummies.