Arts on Main and The Attic

by Tara-Zee

So, this one time, my Sunday morning started with a 10 km race (remember, Tilly and I are still training for that little half marathon in April). My running partner for the day (let’s call him Mr Snookychooks) was great – he stuck with me when I was struggling, encouraged me when I managed to breathe instead of wheeze, and didn’t even mock my playlist, well not too much. And he was happy to share some yoghurt, muesli and mango juice with me and Mr T-Z after the race. (Unfortunately there was no coffee or greasy fry-up, as our electricity was down.)

Then Mr T-Z and I decided to head out and the day turned into a perfect date. We started at the Market on Main at Arts on Main (check it out: http://marketonmain.co.za/). My passion for The Drum Decade was reignited as we looked at old Drum covers; memories of the World Cup came floating back as went through some commemorative posters; and the pottery made me wish I had a bigger home and a bookshelf to fill with beautiful bowls. Aaah – and then the food. Such elegant cupcakes, chocolate brownies made by Miss Poppysocks (you can buy your own mixes to take home and impress your friends with your great baking … or, better yet, give them as presents so your friends can bake for you!), fresh veggies, a variety of cheeses and great breads (including my favourite – the summer rye … samurai). We tasted, took in our surrounds and then popped through to Parkhurst for lunch.

Now, you see, Mr T-Z and I love eating out (obviously). But, one of our resolutions for the year was to eat more home-cooked meals. And our success rate has been really good (and when I say “our”, I mean Mr T-Z’s – he has become a pro at planning and preparing dinner and lunches – but that’s for another story). So it was fun for us to go through to one of our favourite restaurants, The Attic. We were seated at a table out of the way enough to give you some privacy, but also good for people spotting. We shared a bottle of the Kleine Zalze Chenin Blanc (perfect for a sunny summer’s afternoon) and started with the chilli-salt squid and the duck dim sum – yum! Mr T-Z went for the Sunday roast (lamb, crispy potatoes and summer veggies), which was rich and tasty. I went for the mussels, which filled my craving for a taste of the sea. And although I have a weak spot for pudding, I was perfectly full, and we chose instead to do more window shopping.

A lazy afternoon on the couch was followed by a platter of delicious things from the morning’s market and the chance to relive a lovely day in the city. 

Byzance and the lone hill

I know what they were thinking. They were thinking “what could possibly be so nice all the way out there in Lonehill?”

Well, let’s just say that I told them so.

You see, I actually live in Lonehill. Which, if you’re not from Johannesburg, will most likely mean nothing to you. It’s a little far from the CBD is all. TZ and Mr. TZ happen to live pretty much in the CBD. It can make dinner arrangements awkward.

I always end up driving to their side (granted, I usually also crash in their guest room). So when I once suggested that they join me for dinner at Byzance, a classy Greek restaurant in Lonehill, I was immediately met with cries of “All the way out there!? No way!” and a hint of “Can’t be that great if it’s in Lonehill.” Snobs.

So, fine. I went with another friend. We’ll call her Barbie, shall we?

Barbie and I love Byzance. She lives even further out than I do, so it’s a great halfway meeting point (okay, it’s close for me).

To get to Byzance, you need to descend stone steps that are flanked by a trinkling waterfall (well, “watertrickle” made no sense). You feel as though you’re walking into the wine cellar of a castle in Europe.

In winter, there are cosy fires (in fireplaces obviously). The interior section of the restaurant is arranged in circular booths that fit up to 8 people at a bit of a squish. Each booth has its own chandelier and they are separated by discreet screens for privacy.

You could also choose to sit at a table in the bar, which is a bit noisier and warm in Winter.

In summer, they throw open the doors to the lake view. (Yip, there’s even a small lake. Take that, non-believers!)

Barbie and I love to meet just before sunset and sit outside on the stone patio overlooking the lake and the lone hill (the suburb had to be named after something). We sip Buitenverwachting Buiten Blanc and munch on deliciously hot triangles of pita bread and Aegean Tapenade (olives, capers and garlic – yum).

We then either get very hungry and order the Souvlaki, or we just order from their extensive Meze menu. My personal favourite is the beef ravioli thingys that we had last time. OMG. It was so good, I try not to think about it too much (too much drool).

As for TZ and Mr TZ: TZ saw a couple of photos and their menu online recently and is keen to do lunch there… Well, it’s a step toward dinner.

PS. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was my crème brulee. But that’s because there wasn’t enough of it!

Eat, drink and be merry, Christmas!

by Tilly

I am currently preparing to leave for a nine-day holiday away from temptation and all of my friends (except one). I am going on a silent retreat. Apart from the calmness and zenness that is to follow, apparently the ovo-lacto vegetarian food is out of this world. But I digress.

What I really wanted to talk about was the Christmas party hosted by our friend Tallulah, to which TZ and I contributed food and alcohol. Good times.

With a work-related lunch under our belts (Tallulah works with us too – it’s dangerous at times), off we went to the shops to stock up on supplies. Tallulah got boerewors for the braai, herbs and other veggies. I got pudding, decorations and cotton wool. TZ got oil from the leftover pasta she was carrying down the front of her dress, and smelled like a Greek restaurant all the way home.

Back at Tallulah and Tiger’s (Tiger is Tallulah’s man), we spent the better part of an hour decorating madly. Metres of tinsel, candles, fake berries wrapped around napkins later we sat down with a glass of Fat Bastard Chard and Christmas carols playing in the background (yes, of course they were TZ’s) to admire our handiwork. And the fun started to roll in.

In attendance were a mish-mash of my, TZ’s and Tallulah’s friends. And what a laugh they all were. Even the buckets of rain pouring down couldn’t put a damper on this crowd!

As for the food: For starters, TZ made a little salmon plate with yummy smoked salmon, topped with asparagus and smooth cottage cheese, topped with lemon rind (you may have seen the tweet – I assure you, it looked better in real life!). For mains, Tiger and Mr TZ (and other assorted boys) braai’d fillet steaks (perfectly I might add) and boerewors, which Tallulah finished off with roasted potatoes and a delish salad. Dessert was my turn to shine with an impromptu chocolate plate: a dollop of chocolate mousse, a chocolate profiterole, a chocolate sweet, chocolate covered pretzels and a party-popper for the festivities. Alas, there are no photos. Only chocolate-y memories!

The night proceeded to get a little rowdy with shots of tequila, and all sorts of other liquers and liquors making the rounds. All in all, it was a very merry Christmas!

PS. Tallulah and Tiger got engaged a couple of days later. How Tiger managed to keep his plans secret with that much tequila in him will forever remain a mystery.

PPS. This is my last post for the year. Happy holidays and a very happy new year! Be good (but not too good).

Meet & Whine

by Tara-Zee

So this one time, Tilly and I had to go to a workshop in Pretoria. Yes, P-town. Tilly came through to my place at the crack of dawn (well 07h15 felt like it that day, as we hadn’t got up at the real crack of dawn for gym), we packed the car (you need to ensure that you have water and snacks for the long drive) and headed off to the executive capital city.

Workshop done, it was time for a pedi. We made our way to Brooklyn Design Square (not to be confused with the Design Quarter in Fourways) and had our toes transformed into a perfect 10. And then we were thirsty and craving something sweet. We stopped in at Lila’s bistro.

Our waiter: “I’m new here.”

Me: “So are we.”

Silence

Our waiter: “Can I get you something to drink?”

Me: “A mojito for Tilly” (she’s not big on sickly sweet cocktails), “and a cosmo for me.” (Mr T-Z and I have just finished watching the entire Sex and the City box set and I was reminded about how much I fancy cosmos.)

We decided we felt like more than they had on offer to eat, so drank up and did a little shopping before settling on MooMoo Wine Bar & Grill. Good choice, us. 

Hmm, what to drink? – Yay, they serve Fat Bastard by the glass (and in wine glasses – an improvement on the beer glasses at JD’s). 

What to eat? – Definitely a platter (remember, when you’re sharing, you’re halving the calories).

Me: “We’ll get the Meet & Snack platter to share.”

Our waitress: “For two, I assume.”

Perceptive, their staff is.

Man, that platter was good! Cubes of aged beef and sweet chilli chicken thighs on skewers, haloumi sticks, boerewors (and I’m not even a boerie fan) and shoestring fries. Served with cheese, peri-peri and sweet chilli sauces on the side.

Tilly: “So, how do they make cheese sauce?”

Me: “You start by melting butter, then add some flour and then-”

Tilly: “What?! Flour? Yuck. Cheese sauce should be made from cheese.”

Me: “Well yes, then you add milk and then the cheese.”

Tilly: “Flour? Really?”

Me: “So the sweet chilli sauce is good.” (I know I’m not going to get the flour out of her head.)

We finished off with another glass of FB and MooMoo’s chocolate volcano – melt in your mouth chocolate pudding served with ice cream – and their mini cinnamon rolls – nyom, nyom, nyom.

Satisfied, we raced off to The State Theatre to see The Nutcracker (which was followed by more dining, but that’s for another time). Overall, a lovely experience and great to know that such good eating establishments with great service exist in the capital; eating establishments that agree that fine food and wine should not be reserved for special occasions.

I choose dinner

by Tilly

They say that having a gym buddy is good for motivation. That theory didn’t fly yesterday when upon meeting Tara-Zee in the gym parking lot, a unanimous decision was taken to get straight back into our cars and meet at the nearest restaurant. Hey, at least we made it to the parking lot.

“Shall we try something different?” I said. “Don’t be stupid,” Tara-Zee said. Why ruin a winning formula, right? You see, Tara-Zee and I have this ritual. It’s Friday, one of us has a wobbly at work, the other secretly thinks “Thank God it’s not me today” and off we go to lunch at Pomodoro at Morningside Shopping Centre. We order a l’insalate con pere e pecorino, la pizza con salame e carciofini, a one-litre bottle of sparkling water and glass of unwooded chardonnay (don’t tell the boss). All to share, of course. Of course.

But, no matter what Tara-Zee insisted, tonight was going to be different for a variety of reasons. Firstly, there were no available tables in the outside deck area, which meant that we were shown to a table next to the bustling waitron station. Secondly, it was a Tuesday evening and not Friday lunchtime, which meant that the waiters were all different. And thirdly, neither of us had had a wobbly that day.

In the spirit of mixing things up without really mixing anything up, we decided that instead of ordering our usual salami and artichoke pizza (10 points if you already figured out that’s what it was), we would order one of the specials. The conversation went like this:

Me: Should we order our usual pizza?

Tara-Zee: That ravioli sounded good.

Me: What ravioli?

Tara-Zee: The one that the waiter told us about.

Me: What waiter?

Tara-Zee: The waiter that came over and told us what the specials for the evening were.

Me: Oh. Where was I?

Tara-Zee: On Facebook again. Honestly, we may as well be married.

Me: Nah. We’d always be drinking. That wouldn’t be a healthy marriage.

Tara-Zee: So are we getting the ravioli?

Me: What’s in it?

Tara-Zee: Duck. And with a Cointreau sauce.

Me: I don’t want to drink and drive.

Tara-Zee: They burn the alcohol off, so I think it’ll be okay.

Me: Fine. Get that. But then I’m choosing the salad.

Tara-Zee: We’re getting a different salad?

We ended up getting the same salad (pear and pecorino with shaved almonds, yum) and ordered a glass of wine. The waiter seemed confused about the one-glass-of-wine-and-one-empty-wine-glass-thing and so decided to block it out of his mind. Thankfully, two other waiters, a salad and a plate with four pieces of duck-filled ravioli later, his memory was jogged and he plonked the glasses down (already shared out at the bar, excuse me) with a cheerful “No drinking and driving for youuuu”. Genius.

Since we had a whole glass of wine left to drink, we decided to really move away from the whole gym idea and order dessert. We ended up ordering two: la pannacotta con frutti di bosco, which was more of a berry and milky porridge in a bowl. If I were a judge on MasterChef I’d say: “Hmm. Seems your pannacotta hasn’t set properly.” But I’m not a judge on MC, so I ate it. It was nice and the kind of thing I’d eat alone on a Saturday night on the couch. The second dessert was Il torta alla mandorle, which was a nyummy almond tart on a bed of honey (so much of honey) with a side of gelato.

Dessert done, and wine glasses empty, we got that sudden ‘man, I’m tired. Let’s pay immediately and get home’ feeling, which was inconvenient for a restaurant with one bluetooth credit card machine (at least it’s bluetooth…). We eventually managed to pay the bill. (Which we split. Obviously.) Not a bad price for a classy restaurant and I usually don’t mind forking out at Pomodoro, but it was a little steep for an evening where:

a)      the salad leaves tasted a little like chlorine

b)      there were fewer almond shavings in the salad than usual

c)      the wine was only delivered to the table after dinner

d)     the pannacotta was runny and served in a bowl, and

e)      the chefs (visible kitchen) had moustaches for Movember (noble, but not so attractive, and thankfully over as of today).

Overall, though, I like Pomodoro and the manager is always visible and available if you are so inclined to complain. Tara-Zee and I will go back. And we will share a l’insalate con pere e pecorino. And a glass of unwooded chardonnay.

PS. It’s always me that has the wobbly.

A Day of Eating

by Tara-Zee

So, this one time, Tilly and I had to work on a Saturday. (Well, not just that one time, really, but that’s the nature of the job.) Inevitably, it turned into a day of shared meals. We met at the gym to try to squeeze in a workout before facing the day ahead, only to have the lights go off as we turned into our parkings alongside each other. Some might abandon the gym immediately in such circumstances, but hey, we needed to shower! And once we’d done so, the lights returned – and with them, the inspiration to stop in at Kauai: two skinny cappuccinos, a muffin and muesli and yoghurt – to share. Aah – that muffin with the little cappuccino-flavoured chocolate chips and the nice crunchy outer – yum; and when halved and eaten between mouthfuls of muesli and yoghurt, what could be healthier?

Work lunch was finger foods, including mini sandwiches on the deck. Way over catered, but a good array of veggie options (mmm, cheese and gherkin), chicken mayo, beef with way too much mustard, and some different combinations like cream cheese and pineapple (on white bread – clearly sticking to a colour palette).

Then we were done. And there was nothing to do, but head to a drinking establishment. But first, we needed something fabulous and new to wear. We felt glam; we were welcomed by the concierge at the Melrose Arch Hotel like we belonged there, and the receptionist showed us to the first floor and their famous drinks deck – yip, that’s the one with the tables in the pool. I should have worn a skirt (Tilly’s dress was perfect), but I rolled up my slacks, we ditched our sandals on the side of the pool, and we took our place with our feet dangling in the water.

Waitron 1: “Can I get you ladies a drink?”

Tilly: “The menu would be great, thanks.”

Menu in hand, we decided it was definitely a cocktail moment.

Me: “We’ll have one cosmo and one strawberry daiquiri please?”

Waitron 2: “Are you guests here?”

Seriously – we’ve been here for 10 minutes, have been welcomed by 5 people, and you are the first to ask?!

Tilly (picture the look on her face): “No.”

Waitron 2 (timid smile): “Sorry, we only serve hotel guests. But can I interest you in a dessert?”

(Tilly’s facial expression turns to WTF. I’m a bit slower – I think, “Ooh, pudding!” – and then realise we’ve pretty much just been kicked out of the Melrose Arch Hotel Bar.) We left – having dried our feet on the hotel towel.

Never stumped, we headed to Moyo for a bottle of Haute Cabriere Chardonnay/Pinot noir. “And can we get the potato and pea samoosas, the cheese samoosas and the snoek pate – to share?” Who’d have thought they could make potato and pea taste so good together? 

The texture is just right, although the cheese samoosas were definitely a winner. (FYI the snoek pate was a little too runny and tasted better on the complimentary bread than the toast served alongside it.) A few hours (and way too many secrets) later, we were ready for dinner, elsewhere.

Making a grand entrance to Grand Central (well, I didn’t bump into anyone or trip over anything, which at that point was grand enough), we headed to a corner table.

Me: “Mmm – I feel like pudding.” (That woman at the Melrose Arch Hotel really got into my head.)

Tilly: “Pizza it is then – you know you need some proper food.” (She really knows best.)

Me: “You order the food and I’ll pick the wine.” (Pizza sans vino is just not the same.)

Tilly’s choice was perfect: cheese, salami and avo – and what was even better was that they plated it (stylishly) for two. My choice in the rosé wasn’t as great, but overall, it was a lovely end to a full Saturday. And their takeaway packaging, is just lovely – which is just as well, as I was ready for bed!