Sweet chilli poached egg breaky...

This is the most delicious breaky option when you want to do something a little more exciting than egg on toast. 

So simple but looks impressive and tastes amazing!

Health toast with a healthy spread of philadelphia cream cheese, then comes sliced avo, followed by bacon with a poached egg on top and sweet chili sauce drizzled on top of the stack

*In the above pic it was done on an english muffin but i prefer it on health toast.*

Nespresso Martinis!!

I really struggle with cocktails because generally i find them far too sweet! That's why i enjoy G&T's, because they are refreshing rather than sickly sweet. *See: G&T Revised*

I also discovered an espresso martini to be a great cocktail that is delicious and one of the few that is not too sweet. It is more of a decadent cocktail than our refreshing G&T and does have some sweetness which is balanced out with the bitterness of the coffee. getting that perfect icy cold espresso martini with a thick creme is tops!

Of course when we find something we love we have to make our own new and improved version.

We make Nespresso martinis!!

Things you need:

• Nespresso Machine
• Nespresso pods of choice
• a cocktail shaker
• ice
• vodka of choice. (Absolut is a good value for money option)
• Kahlua
• Coffee beans *optional*

Simple fill your shake with ice and add:

1.5 oz Kahlua
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Nespresso

Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 3 espresso beans.

Creamy Tomato Pasta!

YUM! I absolutely LOVE creamy tomato pasta! Tomato pasta's can seem too plain or tart and a creamy Alfredo can sometimes be too rich.... a creamy tomato pasta is everything in one- perfect harmony!

Sometimes we add:

•  crispy pancetta bits and chilli

Or

• mushrooms and chilli 

*The chilli really adds a contrast to the creamy flavours making the overall taste more exciting!*

 If you're not a fan of heat then chilli's can certainly be left out and in fact you can tailor this pasta to suit you by trying out different things!

The main thing is that is is yet another super simple, delicious and impressive dish!  Creamy Tomato Pasta

I like to serve it with a fresh salad that includes avo, rocket and feta with a balsamic dressing to contrast and balance out this creamy dish.

Creamy tomato pasta

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Spier Winery

Perfect Picnic...

I have enjoyed a good few perfect picnics at Spier. It is especially great as a spontaneous decision as no prepping is necessary.

 One simply need visit their deli where you pick up a shopping basket and create your perfect picnic by purchasing from their selection of meats, cheeses, fresh baguettes, pesto, olives, wine etc

.

 Picnic blankets, cushions & wine glasses are for hire and they give you napkins, plastic cutlery and paper plates.

One can happily spend an entire day there indulging, napping, reading and chatting.

I have heard comments of it being "too touristy" but there are plenty of secluded spots to be occupied where you can enjoy your picnic in peace. We did also experience less than amazing service at the deli on one occasion which was well worth putting up with considering the many hours of bliss spent in this wonderful location!

Spier Winery

The Stinking Rose Restaurant- San Francisco

If you LOVE garlic and find yourself in San Fran then this restaurant is a MUST!!!

*3000 pounds of garlic is served at this restauarnt each month!*

I absloutely love the place! Inside it is bustling and vibey...  yet a cozy and intimate atmosphere is also created by a warm red glow from the lighting. There are a few different dining areas to choose from. The deco includes tons of chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling, photos, and tons of garlic including the world's largest garlic braid winds it's way through the restaurant.

Our favourite starter "Garlic
soaking in a hot tub" Garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy. Served with focaccia bread. DELISH!

Every single meal is packed with garlic. From melt in your mouth garlic studded lamb shank to a 40-clove garlic chicken.

Great food, great wine, great service, great atmosphere!! The Stinking Rose

Altimera, Hamburg's Best Tapas...

If you haven't already gathered.... we are BIG TIME fans of TAPAS!!!
It is in fact the very first thing we look for at each new place we travel to.

When we asked our Cab driver to take us to a Tapas bar we had researched , he said that he could take us there or he could take us to the BEST tapas restaurant in Hamburg!

And that is how we discovered "Altimera".cafealtimera.de

It had a fantastic, busy, vibey atmosphere with phenomonal tapas, beautiful wines and charismatic waiters!

Since we were eating Spanish food we thought it only fitting to pair it with a Spanish wine. We enjoyed a delicious 2008 Luis Canas Rioja. 

Rioja is the most famous wine area in Spain and Bodegas Luis Canas is one of the leading wineries in Rioja Alavesa.... so it was bound to be a fantastic wine!

 "Crianza" on the label of a red wine from Spain means: with a minimum of 1 year barrel-matured.

Sabio's Restaurant- Singapore

http://sabio.sg/menu/,

Dassiesfontein Farmstall

www.dassies.co.za

If you are in the area and looking for THE authentic , rustic farm stall experience - THIS IS IT! 

 We dropped by and sat at a scrubbed wooden table where we enjoyed a steaming pot of coffee.We also had a delicious home made bean and vegetable soup which was served in farm style tin bowls with a thick slice of freshly baked bread, butter and jam. 

The ceiling was crowded with old chandeliers of all descriptions for sale. There were tons of other things for sale from antiques to clothes, to delicious cheeses and preserves. We bought farm fresh eggs, and a combo hard cheese wheel with Sage, Cumin, Mustard and Stinging Nettle. 

                                   *You have to try Stinging Nettle!*

Hmm, tapas...

Mari and I hadn't seen each other in months and had plenty of catching up to do when i arrived to visit for the week. What better way for us to spend our first evening than to be in the comfort of home enjoying tapas and a special bottle of red from Mari's collection - Blaauklippen Shiraz 2007- (www.blaauwklippen.com)

Bergkelder - Fleur Du Cap

We first discover this great cellar back in 2012 after The Cheese Festival where we attended a Pinotage and Salt Pairing hosted by Fleur Du Cap.

The very next day we went on the Bergkelder Cellar Tour.  This was a turning point in our "Wine-Submerging Holiday".  Our guide was so informative and passionate that we wanted to learn more and more.  Loads of Ah-ha moments… The cellar is one of the biggest bottling plants for a few top-class wines from the Western Cape, Alto and Allesverloren, to name only a few.

We recently went back for a Wine and Salt pairing and left, once again, with boxes of goodies.  Chloe loves the Lazlo, which is their reserve wine.  We both enjoy their 'unfiltered' range.  At the cellar they sell other vineyards wine too, along with artisan salts and wine accessories…

Bergkelder

G&T revised

After much trial and error we are happy to present the perfect Gin&Tonic. We love Bombay Saphire or Tanqueray and Martini Bianco for ours. The trick is to hold a few sprigs of rosemary in boiling water for a few seconds and then place into the bottle and pop it into the freezer. This is the simplest way to create rosemary infused gin.

One capful of Martini Bianco

1 shots of Gin

Ice

Tonic water

Squeze of lime

Cucumber slithers and a small sprig of rosemary for garnish

This refreshing sundowner will keep you happy till midnight...

A recipe to impress!

Stuffed chicken breasts wrapped in pastry.

Another Jamie Oliver gem! Yes we like to get creative and eat delicious and beautiful food but we also want our impressive dishes to be simple and fullproof. 

This is it!

Jamie Oliver Wellington Chicken

What's great is that you can choose your perfect filling.

 You can do :

• Pesto
• Tapenade
• Spinach & Feta
• Garlic Mushrooms

You can also change the mustard sauce to a creamy mushroom sauce.

These are just a few change's i've tried but you can get creative.... the concept is simple and the same!

My favourite so far is to smear some pate on the pastry (beef wellington style) and stuff the chicken breast with a black olive tapenade(with anchovies) and Feta. The strong flavours really boost the flavour of the chicken breast which can otherwise be a bit bland.

*Mari who is for the most part anti-chicken or poultry in general has been convinced to try this!*

Basil Pesto

Today my step mom made a delicious fresh pesto from a Jamie Oliver recipe. Mari and i LOVE pesto and not only can we put it on just about anything but it is an essential part of our Tapas style meals which we have as often as possible! *In the recipe we used roasted almonds instead of pine nuts.*

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/pesto

Our guilty pleasure...

On a whim, we bought some bone marrow from the local butchery, grilled it in the oven and had it with slices of warm, fresh-out-the-oven ciabatta and coriander pesto! We love to play around with artisan salts and used Hawaiin Black Lava salt for this treat...
Next time I would love to try this on the Himalayan Salt Rock Slab

Bringing garlic to breakfast!

We love garlic SO much that we have managed to bring it to breakfast. Mari found this recipe in a book.

So "eat, Pray, Love" , so decandent! It reminds me of the scene in the movie where Julia Roberts has an indoor picnic on her floor by herself and slowly savours and indulges.

It is simply; medium boiled eggs studded with slivers of fresh garlic and drizzled in olive oil. Simple and delicious!

If you are trying to choose a good olive oil.... "Willowcreek" is our pick! www.willowcreek.co.za

Creation

Has to be our best Walker Bay vineyard experiences till date. Everytime we find ourself in the Hemel en Aarde valley we end up spendibg hours at this heavenly situated gem! For the best sensation we would recommend the Food and Wine Pairing. 8 exceptional wines paired with 8 canapes, also available in full flavour sizes!! The well informed staff guides you through a mouthwatering affair...

www.creationwines.com

Kudu Carpaccio

We have Kudu in our freezer and we're in the mood for carpaccio but

we don't have parmesan or rocket ....

...Unfazed, Mari uses her artistic license and replaces the above with spring onions, green peppercons and hard sheeps cheese.

This meat was sealed on a Himilayan Salt Slab which Mari got as a present from her parents. It is a thick, square slab of Himalayan salt which you can heat to an extremely high heat on a stove top or in an oven. It's surface will turn white after which you can remove it from the heat and cook your meat on it. While the fillet gets sealed it also receives an infusion of salt.

Himalayan Salt Slab Guide

It is a super cool idea for hosting a dinner at home! In some restaurants they heat the Himalayan Salt Slab and bring it to your table where upon you cook your own meat to personal perfection. Quite a novel idea..