Quiet Food

by Tilly

I saw in Christmas 2010 and the new year at a Buddhist retreat centre (the Buddhist Retreat Centre in Ixopo in the South African Midlands, to be exact). Apart from daily meditations, discussions, reflections and “mindful ambling” (which is just a fancy way of thinking while you walk), one of the anchors of this retreat were the meals. Three-a-day, ovo lacto-vegetarian fare, it was something I looked forward to. 

Admittedly, I even pigged out a little. How could I resist?

The food was simple. Cottage pie made with lentils instead of beef. Baked potatoes with guacamole and cheese. Pea soup. Vegetable soup. Just loads of yummy, yummy but plain-and-simple meals.

Because the Centre is built on acres and acres of land, they of course have their own veggie patch. The patch isn’t so much as a 4 metre by 4 metre square of ground they had spare at the back of the kitchen, but a massive area where they grow loads of things.

Another rule of the Centre is that you are silent during meals. (Actually ‘mindful’ is the word they use, but really they just mean silent.) This is to encourage actually eating while you eat instead of mindlessly shoveling food down your throat as fast as it can go, while discussing the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

So, with all of this is mind, here is what I’ve learnt:

• What real olives taste like. Which, for the record, is nothing like the crap they sell at supermarkets.
• How buttery and tasty an avocado can be if it is naturally grown and not the size of one’s head. These were about the size of a tennis ball and man, did they taste good.
• How nourishing hot porridge can be on a cool and misty morning.
• How good vegetables are when they’re not overshadowed by a hunk of meat.
• How textures can be so pleasing to the mouth. Case in point: a gem squash half, with peas scooped inside. The firmness of the peas contrasting with the softness of the squash is heavenly.
• How cold water feels when it’s chasing warm food down my gullet.
• What it feels like to be satisfied (not fully full, but full enough).
• And lastly, how easy it is not to have to talk to people while you’re eating.

I am looking forward to another great year of great food, great wine and great conversations. But I want to try it all from a different angle this year. So here are my eating resolutions:

1. Don’t be a glutton. You don’t have to eat everything or try everything. (You can just try Tara-Zee’s).
2. Don’t get drunk. Drink wisely and enjoy the bouquet of the wine. Really taste it.
3. Drink more water.
4. Pick up more food types on a fork so that the textures can be enjoyed at once. Really think about whether or not it works together and why or why not.
5. Eat more veggies. Eat less meat (including poultry and fish).
6. Have one meal a day in silence. Enjoy every mouthful of it.

Happy 2011! I look forward to more meals shared with TZ and friends, and more of these experiences shared with you.

PS. Wonder if I’d get away with telling TZ that “this meal will be eaten in silence.”… She’d probably stare at me for a while and then roll her eyes and carry on talking. 

The morning (at Cnr Café) after the night before (at Tallulah and Tiger’s)

by Tara-Zee

So, this one time, we woke up from a great Christmas party at Tallulah and Tiger’s – I for one got out of bed still wearing my Christmas apron (the one that matches my Christmas oven gloves and serviettes – what, not everyone has a set?) over my clothes! And we (the eight of us who’d spent the night) were in need of a good breakfast.

Once we were all showered and dressed (Tallulah ensured that Jan put on some proper shorts over his teeny tinies), we headed to Cnr Café Bistro & Deli. The previous time we had been there (just me, Tilly and Tallulah for some Fat Bastard and light snacks), Tallulah had convinced us to walk, but on this morning, the rain bucketed down and we were happy to drive.

There is nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread and hot coffee, which – along with friendly staff and a cozy table – was what greeted us as we escaped the storm outside. Our waitress was attentive and soon had fresh fruit juices (Tilly loved their strawberry juice and my orange juice hit the spot), coffees, water – and even an alcoholic beverage for the one of the eight of us (the one with the most bloodshot eyes, I might add) who felt it was best to get over the night before by continuing where we’d left off.

Half of us went for the breakfast roll option – served either on panini, ciabatta or health bread (all of them made on the premises) with bacon, egg (fried or poached), rocket, lettuce and tomato – I am salivating just thinking about it! (Tilly and Mr T-Z will tell you that this is a common thing for me when I think about food.) Other choices included the fry-up (with potato fritters, which we tried to convince Tiger are the same as hash browns) and French toast. And as our tummies filled, so the conversation increased and we came to life.

We all headed off to face the day, which meant a bit of work, a little Christmas shopping, some cricket on TV and loads of stories about the night before.

I’m looking forward to many more meals shared with friends in the New Year. For now though, I am counting down the hours to a week of relaxing in the Eastern Cape (and probably at least one glass of FB at Michaela’s). Until we meet and eat again, I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas (filled with good food and drinks) and a great start to 2011.

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.