In the name of love

The couple with their talented children

Our friends celebrated 30 years of marriage last night, very special in our time.

I mused over it till late last night, what makes a long and happy marriage...

An alchemic blend of two generous hearts, kind and gentle words, loving thoughts, forgiving natures and trust.

and then the magic......when you're excited to see that person every single day.

the party venue

the party!

the drive home

All hail the King of the Test Kitchen

Remember the prize I won with my food/wine pairing from good guy jamie who over at aficionado, well last night was the eagerly anticipated night.

'The Fantastic Eben, Adi and Luke show'-  at The Test Kitchen in Woodstock- 11 sensational courses, inspired pairings with fine wines I won't forget and the chef -  Luke Dale Roberts is the King.

You know that feeling when you've experienced something so awesomely spectacular that you feel compelled to stop absolute strangers to tell them how wonderful it was.... well, that was how good it was.

A treat to see the action- such talent

I'll start at the beginning, how cool is that menu?  A quick glance and I knew I'd somehow pleased the culinary gods- all of my favourites were there, oysters, tongue, sashimi, tuna, duck, sweetbreads, oh my beating heart....

the clever 'art teacher' got the menu for me- I'll hang it in the kitchen for inspiration

The first course, tiny perfectly poached quails eggs on truffle infused toast, the little yolk oozing onto the toast and the truffle oil oozing down my chin, oh my delight.... the Cellar Hands white was sublimely subtle.

Next those oysters with that mysterious 'soba dashi' and the funky white, 'wow' pairing, unexpected sensations as the oysters tame the wine.

Onto the wine I'd been dreaming of  tasting, Sadie Family Palladius 2008, way out of my price range and now that I've had such a wine, I am once again happily ruined.
It was paired with the yellowtail sashimi -  melting sashimi, crunchy chick peas & edemame and that soy milk yuba I'd happily convert to vegetarianism for, utterly delicious combination.

Another surprise was the tomato & miso cream cheese mousse with the Sequillo Cellars Red 2008- I'm embarrassed to say I  actually took my finger to the plate to this one.

Tuna tataki

My favourite...I think, too hard to choose, the foie gras, red cabbage and fig 'mi-cuit' - words escape me and with another curveball, Sequillo White Port 2010- unexpectedly perfect.

Aaah, the veal tongue, as it came to the table, a hint of  the scent of  the American oak veloute, sensational  with another wine favourite Mrs Kirsten's 'The old vine chenin' 2007, wish you could all have tasted it..
I'm a big fan of Chenin Blanc and was swooning with the whites.

Veal tongue and scallop

Just look at that bottle and label- art!

Stop... see that hand, cradling the precious bottle, it belongs to the charming Simon, his knowledge and service was simply stunning, explaining the wines, their origins, the motivations, the stories and the pairings- in fact his whole team was elegance in motion, timing perfection- very rare.

The warm duck salad...hmmm

Simply put- this was the best food experience I've ever had and actually, excellent value for money, think of those wines and that menu- I know we'll be thinking about them for a long time....

Luke Dale Roberts taking a well deserved break talking with patrons

Woodstock side street on the way home

They don't like Rhubarb

As a child I used to cut the rhubarb stalk in the garden, grab a bowl of sugar and intermittently chew the rhubarb stalk, dip it in the sugar and chew some more- Oh the delight!

Rhubarb is not very well known or readily available this side, so when I saw a bunch this week I pounced, rushed home and convinced the kids to try it 'a la my childhood'....what can I say..something must have been lost in the translation- the agony on those faces.

So I stewed it... sorry no recipe, just chopped the bunch up, almost covered with water. about 3/4 cup sugar and juice of a lemon, simmered slowly until soft, syrupy and rich in that delicious rhubarb colour.

Tried the kids again, this time rhubarb and ice-cream, a little more success, but no epiphanies.

There's a reason that in the 1400's, rhubarb was listed along with the valuables '...silk, satin, musk, rubies, diamonds, pearls and rhubarb.' ... stop laughing, its true.

So, tomorrow,  homemade crumpets, rhubarb and cream for breakfast-  I don't give up easily.

Flowers in the house

I know its a bit late, call it 'cape town time', we're a bit slower in the southern hemisphere......I  saw this little bit of fun on Marie's beautiful blog 66 Square Feet, its a 'Monday floral chain' that was started by Jane, blogger of the delightful Small but Charming 
Post a picture of the flowers in your home, lovely to look through the participating blogs and see everyone's  arrangements from the delicately simple to the grand displays.

City Bowl Market on Hope

Beautiful eye catching facade

Town has a new Saturday market, City Bowl Market on Hope, popped along for a quick peek....silly me- two trips back to the car to offload my shopping.

Beautiful old doors as trestle tables,  stuffed coffee bean bags as seats, candles on the tables...make a great night market as well?

First in the door, is the fresh fruit and veggie stall, I naively through I didn't need any, but spotted bags of limes and Naartjies for ZAR10, long stem Broccoli, and Quinces, 3 for ZAR10!..first trip back to the car.

Immediately to the right a sign 'oysters, champagne and books upstairs' well,  you know me....2nd trip to the car- fresh Mossel Bay oysters.

Finally, I do my rounds of the hall, delicious bacon from Cure Charcuterie- this skilled young man's mission statement- ' I'm out to cure the world, one succulent free range porker at a time'.

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Couldn't resist these honey roasted chicken dumplings- Char Siu Bao,  from the lovely men at the South China Noodle Factory- seriously delicious.

I left to find a bottle of bubbly to go with those oysters- Saturday nights supper was in the bag!

Moonbasket

the orange necklace- a flaming burst of creativity

Over the mountain to Woodstock on Saturday morning, for a warehouse sale, an impressive collection of  wares by Moonbasket, Missibaba, Skinny laminx, and Queen magpie.

As you enter, the rustic and expensive smell of leathers, the shelf on the right is packed full, an array of beautiful colours and textures.

Missibaba's bespoke handbags are very covetable, the young ladies were swarming around the bags- clever girls, spend whilst you can- in a few years it will be on children, school fees, mortgages and car repayments!

A peek on the left - a rail of beautiful clothes

Moonbasket stole the show for me- remember the clever Laura who crocheted that magnificent blanket for Gilles, well together with her partner Dani Le Roy they make these unique handmade pieces.

They have elevated crochet to a whole new level of luxury and desirability, the lampshades glow with a warm cocooning light.

I couldn't keep my eyes off that orange necklace, a burst of creativity with thread, buttons and rings foraged from the Milnerton market.
Do you see the rug...... * sigh * ...I now desire white floors for that slate grey rug.

It's alright Winter

the beautiful little dam on the Constantia turnoff M3

Winter solstice has just passed, but not a sign of  her surrender,

more like a renewed attack.... we could barely see the road.

'the art teacher' testing out his new 24mm lens

But I'm smiling, two sweet words-  School holidays.

Three delicious weeks, no waking before the birds, only the occasional job, my clever clients have migrated to sun drenched destinations

I see my future and its three cosy weeks with my tower of books, slow-cooking, board games, card games, a TV series or two and a few brisk winter walks to collect pine cones for the fire.

the small greenbelt by Sillery farm

Our celebratory lunch, homemade pizzas, a glass of chenin blanc....now to get a spot in front of the fire.

overladen pizza!