Sunday lunch at JD's

by Tara-Zee

So this one time, Mr T-Z and I had survived a birthday party for a friend’s two-year-old son. Now don’t get me wrong, we like children, we’re just happy that they belong to other people. And we have become quite inventive at answering the inevitable question (you know: “So when are you two going to …”) – my favourite response on that particular day was to cut in at the dot dot dot and finish the question with “do the Duzi?” “No, I’m not quite ready for that, although Mr T-Z will paddle with his big brother again next year.”

But, at least this kiddies party had a fun theme (pirates, aaaarrrrgh), a chance to catch up with some friends, enough other grownups to keep an eye on the children, and good snacks (including those chocolate and rice crispy treats and pirate cupcakes – yum). But, once the candles on the cake were blown out (and the cake covered in kiddy spittle), we were on our way down the dirt road and back to bustling Fourways. Who better to see and share a bottle of vino with whilst in this part of the world but Tilly?

We headed to JD’s, pleased that they had tables available in the garden, some relaxed live music and were able to move the umbrellas so that we could all get some shade (in our experience, not all restaurants are capable of getting this right – as Tilly has told you). And then it was down to business: a bottle of Fat Bastard Chardonnay (served in beer glasses for the girls, as they’d run out of wine glasses!), some sparkling water, a coke for Mr T-Z, and Tilly’s notebook so that we could have the first of our official meetings for our trip to Portugal and Spain next year. The planning starts with Mr T-Z finding a map of the region on his iPhone 4 (like all iPhone owners, he loves the applications – which he cannot believe I refer to as functions – and showing others what it can do), and Tilly listing the places we want to investigate as possible destinations.

Next thing Tilly goes quiet and then says: “I don’t want to freak you out, but there appears to be a dying pigeon over there. Mr T-Z, maybe you should check it out?”

Mr T-Z: “Hmmmm, nah.”

Tilly:  “Oh, ok. So back to Spain.”

(You’ll be happy to know the pigeon was playing dead and flew off a little while later.)

The food arrived as we’d divided the list of places to research. Mr T-Z had a chicken burger with bacon, peri-peri sauce and garlic – so much garlic that he had to scrape most of it off (I’m a huge fan of garlic and even I was a bit weary). Tilly’s beef burger looked tasty (it must have been pretty good; I don’t think she offered to share), and I had a chicken pie (man, I love pie!) – which was comforting, but could have had crispier pastry and needed a little tobasco (but that might just be me with pie). So, nothing remarkable, but nice pub-type fare, good service and a lovely time to be together and enjoy some fresh air. And, of course, nothing picks one up like planning a trip with your two bestests. The children were a distant memory and I was singing along to Phil Collins covers – a perfect Sunday afternoon (for me, anyway).