Auction shopping

On Tuesday afternoons you'll find me scratching through dusty boxes looking for treasures.... loved what I saw in this box -  leather gloves, cotton gloves, soft white linen and even softer fur- do you see that colour?
What's in the next box....vintage leather handbags- a box full...

I'm desperately trying to stay focused on what I'm looking for- lamps, a cupboard for the bathroom and a sturdy little steel stand for that extremely heavy worm farm. But the pretty trinkets are distracting me-         
                                                             *   deep sigh *

This heavy tarnished platter is enormous, easily 70 cm long, lots of fruit for a medieval banquet...or Xmas?
As I mentioned, the trick is to stay focused or you'll find yourself buying a lot of pretty things you probably don't need.
When it comes to the bidding,  keep your price in your head and stick to it, if you're even slightly competitive, you'll find yourself paying a lot more than you intended to.
The best Auction house in the Southern Suburbs- Hofmeyr Mills, opp  Maynardville Park in Wynberg- friendly people, viewing Tuesdays and Fridays- Auctions Wednesdays and Saturdays, see you there!

A Beef Bourguignon evening

The 'boat-builders' invited us for dinner,  Beef Bourguignon cooked as Julia Child would have done,
perfect for a cold winters evening.

the 'french-American' in action- master of his station

Delicious heady aromas greeted us at the door... I see the heavy Larousse gastronomique open on the counter, trying to make a contribution.

The chef was the affable 'French-American', and they had been cooking under his direction since lunchtime- I'm hoping at least one of those three bottles of red destined for the beef went to the cooks.

Cooking tips flowed, as did tales of demented ex lovers, all spiced with a few Clinton jokes...backgammon by the fire and back over the mountain to a heavy sleep on a full belly..

a very large helping, but we rose to the challenge

Whats red underneath and very high?

They are still sitting on the diningroom table next to the roses and the champagne from the night before, quite fitting I think, for such a pair of shoes... I shall have to leave them there indefinitely-  my cupboard most certainly won't do.
My first pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, a gift from the 'Irish Lass' a shoe (and Choo) lady of note, they were a gift to her, two sizes too big, oh my good fortune!
I have since discovered a few things....nothing fits like an expensive pair of shoes and height doesn't matter, no tottering about in these shoes,  I could very comfortably run the New York Mile.
Needless to say, I am happily ruined, the 'art teacher' generously suggested I might now need a new dress...and an occasion...oh dear- did you notice the hint of that sexy red underside.

Platters for feasts

I confess to a weakness for platters, I used to collect, using my catering as an excuse, but the truth is I can't bear to see my precious platters leaving the house.
On Friday night we braved the storm and attended an opening at our long time friend Cheryl's picturesque gallery above the Cafe Olympia-Kalk Bay Modern , a gorgeous white balcony space, windows overlooking the harbour and a blazing fire to keep us warm.

These platters and urns made by our talented friend Leora Lewis had me drooling, Oh the foods that I would fill those platters with!

This beautiful sculpture and ceramics exhibition is running at Kalk Bay Modern until 15 July 2011, many more talented artists on display- the truth is, it was packed full of people, as you can see below and hard to get pics of all the works.

I also loved these wrought iron artworks, quite individual, three alcoves full of them- perfect for outside walls..

Amongst this wonderful collection of ceramics and sculptures was work by two of my favourites- John Bauer and Clementina van der Walt, we didn't get pics of their work on display, but below are examples of their fabulous work.
I have three little bowls from John, one of which I gave to the 'art teacher' as an anniversary present and Clementina's Irma Stern dinner service, well, I'm still dreaming about it.....

one of John Bauer's bowls

Clementina's  Irma Stern dinner service

The dinner service in Irma Stern's dining room

Lunar eclipses and Time flies

there was a brief parting of the clouds as we could glimpse the beginning

Whether it be dragons as the Chinese believed or a mystical union between the sun god and moon goddess- a lunar eclipse is a disturbing thing of wonder.
On this occasion our usually quiet sky was ablaze with lightning, booming with thunder and pouring with rain- only madmen and fools ventured out... yes- we were in this latter category.
Our friends, Time flies decided on an incidental mayhem evening with an open band practice, they didn't disappoint- it was a great evening.
Strangely on this ecliptic evening the poor 'art teachers' camera lens gave notice...so guys we need another practice evening to get some great pics.
By the time I got my little camera working, an enterprising bunch of young ones had taken over the band equipment for their own practice session- my money is on these two future rock stars...

Love the drummers dress style

Drive by pictures- Woodstock nights

As promised, some more of  the 'art teachers' fabulous drive by pictures,. these are a few from his collection of Woodstock nights, mainly Albert road and Main road.

Love the edginess of the pictures, the contrast of the beautiful old buildings in the seedy side streets and again the movement - the transient nature of  life in the side streets.

Franck's Foodbarn in Noordhoek Village

Franck Dangereux has a fabulous restaurant, The Foodbarn, nestled in the quaint Noordhoek farm village.
As legendary as Franck was at La Colombe, I couldn't be more grateful that he has his own place- fine dining, freshest quality ingredients, all in a relaxed space with affordable prices and staff you wish could migrate with you to every restaurant, the last part probably has a lot to do with partner Pete de Bruin- front of house man.
We usually go during Winter as his specials can't be resisted. The menu is changed weekly and when I spotted tripe on the menu, we knew this was the week.

Just sweep your eyes over the Steenberg winter special blackboard below.....3 courses with wine pairing for R165...for heavens sake- we might just have to move to Noordhoek.

Don't worry, between the two of us we had the entire board covered except for the mussels, which I'm now sorry I didn't order, as delicious as the lamb chops were, well they were lamb chops.

The goats cheese and brinjal tart and that sauce, I could have licked the plate

I keep thinking of those duck livers and THAT sauce

The two starters, literally no words- absolute heaven, both the highlight of the meal.  The duck livers had a suprising light crispness outside, then creamy softness and the delicate crunch of the praline and hazelnuts...Aaah.
The 'art teacher' started to look a bit sad,  it was his realisation that in his lifetime he'll never be able to cook sauces like he's tasting- men and their sauces!

Tripe- the hint of chilli without the burn, just the heat and flavour

Needless to say, I won't be doing lamb chops for dinner anytime soon

The tripe's sauce of course, was perfection and the tripe melting tender, my lamb jus with garlic cream...say no more, I don't want to upset the 'art teacher' again.

Date pudding with homemade ice-cream

Must buy quinces today and make that compote

The desserts picture perfect, loved the quince compote with goats cheese, just look at that gorgeous old plate.

We were stuffed by the time we finished, next time (the special runs for the whole of the long Cape Winter) I'm doing 2 starters and a dessert....or maybe 2 starters and main....

We drove back home over Ou Kaapse Weg, in a blissful quiet- all our senses satisfied.