Woodstock and Wembley Square last night

Dear friends,  Blogger 'crashed' and lost all 'posts' for the last two days, which is bloody unfortunate as my last 'art' post required a serious amount of 'copy and pasting' to get all the arty details correct!!
Here goes a retry at my last two posts.....I'm pretty sure by the time I finish, Friday 13th and all that, they will have retrieved it and re-posted it, so I'm having that extra scotch now.....

Niklas Zimmer delivering his opening speech

Wednesday night we attended two exhibitions, first stop iArt, Wembley Square, a photo essay exhibition by Nicklas Zimmer on the 21st anniversary celebrations of the Boeremusiekgilde held at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria.

Down the road to Woodstock, Blank Projects, always an excited buzz, full, people spilling onto the pavement.

Edgy Woostock, Sir Lowry Rd at night

Blank Projects hosted two solo exhibitions, Abrie de Swart's 'To walk on Water' and Ian Grose's 'Other things'. Ian Grose- painting from existing images, enjoyed his Lindsay Lohan mug shot portraits and Abrie de Swart- photography and video installations.

All the pretty girls

Love the moon above the entrance

Interestingly, one of Ian Grose's portraits is entitled 'Norman Thomas di Giovanni, translator to Borges 2010' .
I thought I'd throw in an interesting Borges quote- 
"Dictatorships breed oppression, dictatorships breed servility, dictatorships breed cruelty; more loathsome still is the fact that they breed idiocy.'

A HOLIDAY MISSED

Spectacular view from the cave of  the unspoiled beach, just a few baboons watching

I'm writing this to console myself,  for the past 14 years (I know, we're creatures of habit) we have taken a holiday at the end of April by the sea and not just any old sea, our most favourite, special sea.
But this year, everything seemed to conspire against us and before I knew it, it was two weeks to go, nothing was booked and horror......winter blew into Cape Town, very early and very uninvited!

Perfect solitude with nature

Our summery thoughts fading into a distant memory whilst we lit the first fire at home-  so cold too quickly.

Beach art from driftwood

So here's my wish.....  having missed saying a wistful goodbye to 'old summer',  I hope we'll get a chance to scream a welcoming hello to ' new summer' in September.

Full moon, wild sea

Don't worry, of course I'm going to share our special spot with you, just don't spread the word, let's keep it between ourselves........Keurbooms beach, Plettenberg Bay- see you there.

TASTE OF CAPE TOWN

With the promise of good food and drink on our minds, we bundled up against the howling south easter wind last night and set off for the Green Point Cricket Club, host to this years Taste of Cape Town.

Lovely venue with our new stadium in the background

Popular tent that was in full party swing by the time we left at 10.30 pm

I'd done a bit of internet homework checking what was on offer in order to pace myself, which absolutely wasn't necessary, as this year, we were generously treated to the VIP experience, courtesy of  'The Renaissance couple'- unlimited premium bar and more 'crowns' than we could count out. So first stop- Nobu- of course..

I could go back today for more..

Loved peeking at the chefs in action

As you might have guessed from previous posts, I've got a soft spot for pork and Nobu's pork belly with spicy miso, was most definitely the best piece of pork belly I've ever put in my mouth... perfection, their sashimi- lovely.  Next up Societi Bistro, their squid-  super tender, flavour explosion, chilli, mint & rocket, best fish taster I had. Fanie had Savour's Honey chilli prawns with mango radish slaw, and declared them fantastic. We went back for Societi Bistro's legendary mushroom risotto- I would happily have had it for breakfast this morning again.

Societi's squid

Chef at Societi  Bistro and his vivacious girlfriend

Fyndraai restaurant  was a fantatsic surprise, their cape snoek veloute, bokkom mayonnaise and snoek fish cake with potato & onion crisps had us 'oohing and aahing' at the flavours, as did their venison with shaved parmeson & pumpkin seeds.

Presentation and taste perfection

I'm embarrassed to tell you that after all of the above,  I was still happily eating, so many more restaurants, smells and food passing before me- I hardly gave my diminishing capacity a thought!
Two more winners, The Taj, Bombay Brasserie- Punjab lamb curry, deliciously hot, spicy and big on flavour and lastly a unique salad from Pierneef a la Motte- Cape Bokkom salad with dried apricots, almonds and wild garlic dressing, although description doesn't do it justice, there was SO much more in it.

The Taj's front man- charismatic francois,  put on a great show

That Bokkom salad

Dessert had to be done and when something has to be done, leave it to the girls- we chose two, Planet Restaurant's, the 'nutty one'- ice-cream and choc mousse creation- yum! and Bistro Sixteen82's lemon meringue profiteroles served with meringue brulee- big delicious sigh here, it was light, airy and meltingly sublime and that was us finished! There was definitely more delicious food out there and sadly we missed George Jardines, Chalmar sirloin with foie gras bourguignon, it sold out at 9 pm!

The best dessert

Happy chefs having fun from il leone mastrantonio

Buzzing but not too crowded, probably due to the freezing weather

 We left satisfied and slightly weaving (we drank to keep warm!). Next year I need a better plan, too much was left untasted- perhaps a doggy bag or basket?
I also noticed how many beautiful young people were there- a whole new generation of  'foodies'.

BEST PIES IN CAPE TOWN

Very cool looking pie bar

How about a juicy 'pulled' pork and roasted apple pie.....is your mouth watering yet? What about slow cooked Beef jus or maybe ratatouille pie, roasted chicken and mayo? All that and more at Down South Pie Bar. Whenever we're close to Long street at night, this is our stop for the following days lunch, at R20 a pie- fantastic lunch! 

Warning- its going to be very hard to choose

These pies have the thinnest crust of perfect pastry encasing their delicious fillings- eating just one leaves you with that satisfying 'sit back and put your feet up' fullness.

The charismatic pie-man himself!

If you hurry you can make it down to Long street before lunch, its next door to Down South Food Bar (remember me telling you about their delicious ribs and succulent prawns)...I'm so hungry now..

VINTAGE CLOTHING AT SECONDHAND ROSE

I followed a beautifully dressed woman yesterday, straight into a forgotten treasure of a shop - Secondhand Rose, its tucked away in Cavendish Close, a hidden portal into a glamorous world.

Gorgeous display in the window by the door

Pre- children, a very long time ago, when I had hours to shop for the perfect item, I used to visit Secondhand Rose, then, at the end of the Main Road in Claremont. Always the excited anticipation of finding that perfect 'something' , that long forgotten treasure.

As you enter- which way to turn first!

The last time I shopped there was very hurriedly a few days before my wedding on New Years eve, 22 yrs ago- I was looking for the perfect  top go with my Jenni Button blue and white polka dot wrap skirt - (I know you're wondering, but its a long story!)

Chanel - if I remember correctly?

It's a place to spend hours browsing and chatting to the friendly owner, Liz, custodian of these treasures for way over 30 years now.

I can't help but wonder what dancing diva wore those shoes and to what fabulous parties

All the clothes in beautiful condition lovingly displayed by the owner

I found my  treasure- a little black Hilton Wiener jacket with faux fur collar, a perfect fit. I'll definitely be back to look at those bags hanging behind the till, specifically the red ostrich one .....and don't even get me started on the jewelry cabinet......

See that red one? Ostrich leg leather- very rare

FRESH HORSERADISH & BLOODY MARY'S TOMATO JUICE

This time it all started with the 'spidery' dusty and very hairy root I spotted between the broccoli and the beetroot-  fresh horseradish.  I was still thinking up wonderous ways to use this root, when my husband came up with the very best way- well, definitely maximum fun- fresh tomato juice bloody mary. He's a bit of a 'Jamie Oliver fan' and remembered Jamie using fresh horseradish in his tomato water, now add to that the ever lingering taste memory of a tomato starter we had in December at the fabulous Bizerca bistro, it blew us away- part of a tomato trio- a clear tomato juice in a shot glass with flavours from the Gods! .....So now we play.........

Oops forgot the basil and some Maldon salt

 We've made it twice now, first time for the last lunch party (sadly we drank to much of it to remember to photograph!) and again today to give you a pretty picture,  both times were pleasantly different. Take all of the ingredients on the above board - 2 kgs tomatoes, 2 slugs of vodka, 2 chillis, 3 cloves of garlic, a little slug of balsamic and a mans thumb of horseradish - and don't forget a handful of basil, a pinch of salt. Whizz it all up in the blender and strain through a muslin cloth/table napkin into a jug in your fridge,  your juice will be strangely clear, Jamie suggested adding a slice of beetroot to colour it, which it does beautifully, but just for a bit, so as not to flavour. Next time, I'm adding some celery to the whizz as well- so close....do you think Bizerca will part with their recipe?

Taste and add more chilli if  needed and of course extra vodka!

 

Salute! This ones for my gorgeous daughter Carrie on the other side of the world- a bloody mary drinker of note! x

ROCKABILLY MAGIC AT THE HARLEY DAVIDSON CLUB

Great venue, behind us the crowd spilled onto the outside smoking area, cordoned off  by cars- on the left a 'braai-area'!

It rarely gets better than Saturday night, just gone 9 pm and already the Harley Davidson club was pulsing with a spectacular cross section of beautiful people- hipsters, rockabilly chicks, goths, easy riders, housewives, bankers, young and old, all coming together for one spectacular party..... but none of us would have expected anything less from the sensational line-up- Them Tornados, Dave Ferguson and Peachy Keen - Dave Ferguson's farewell concert. (..shedding a tear here..)

Loved this gorgeous couple- coveted so many pairs of shoes last night and don't even get me started on the stockings, by the time I'd stopped the 2nd girl to ask where she'd got them, I gave up- overseas, was always the reply.

First up- Peachy Keen, my first time- great band, 2 gorgeous blondes up front, gave me shivers when they sang ' I shot a man down' .....fantastic! Have a listen their facebook page.

Gorgeous Sassy blondes

Next up- Dave Ferguson.... (fans who missed Saturday- yes, you guys just back from afrikaburn- avert your eyes now)...... he played like the freshly resurrected, like we've never heard before- I could feel it in my bones.

Love the belt and pants- always the dresser

Lastly, the rock stars- Them Tornados..... just look at those pics, no denying it, those boys ooze it and by the time they get to 'she drives me crazy' the crowd is wild. We've seen them play at Albert Hall and Jo'burg bar, but there was something special about last night...

Si Perry- don't you love that Bass

Ian Arrow- he owns that stage

Matthew Ferguson- you have to see him in action with those drums-wow

Close-up of the ink

I don't even want to mention when Dave played with them, its too bitter- sweet. Oh the joy of it and the loss of it!

Match made in heaven

What can I say- come back quickly Dave, so we can do it all again, we'll all be waiting.