India Palace, Weltevreden Park - Warm and inviting

On this cold and drizzly summers day (??) I would like to do 2 things – 1) Be dressed much more appropriately for winter, whilst cuddling under a huge fluffy duvet and watch movies, Masterchef Aus marathon, or an entire season of Grey’s…

2). Indulge in wonderfully warm feel good food, that makes you want more. I’m think along the lines of proper Indian.

 My favourite is Karma in Greenside, but recently I have been introduced to a charming slice of India, in a nook at the Palms Centre in Weltevreden Park. Yes – the centre is slightly suspect, but most things in Weltevreden Park are, but once inside India Palace you’ll not even notice the fake palm tree trying to disguise a signal pole or the KFC drive-through.

A lovely little restaurant with a warm interior and extremely friendly authentic Indian staff who make you feel right at home.

Whenever I dine at a restaurant of a different culture, my key is took look at the owner, chef and people who work there – if they are authentic, chances are the food will be too, which means you’ve got gold!

 A fair selection of wine, at a very reasonable price, and delightful warming dishes for all meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. What makes any Indian dish even better? Naan!! India Palace has a nice variety of naan breads and roti’s to select, to enhance the indulgence of your meal.

Crispy, non-oil dripping vegetable Pakoras and onion Bhaji with a spicy minty sauce is the perfect way to wake those taste buds for the love that is to come. The portions are very generous, definitely to share, and all appetisers for under R20.00!

Most people order Dahl as a side dish – but here, I had the black Dahl as my meal, and cleaned the little brass pot with naan to get every last bit of flavour.

The Korma is packed with flavour and ingredients, loads of different veggies, or juicy bite sized chunks of meat. At a glance and a smell the butter chicken look rich creamy sauce without the luminescent guava pink colour to it ( in my eyes, that is a bonus) which means only one thing – the colour comes from the proper ingredients used, and not from a little Moir’s bottle.

What I don’t like – the mountains of basmati rice that come standard with any order…rather give me Naan, or a choice of rice or naan. The massas of rice just goes to waste.

" I like rice. Rice is great if you're hungry and want 2000 of something."

                                                                                                                   - Mitch Hedberg

I think I might need a take away to calm my nerves after the storm that is to come. Keep warm, and your cars covered!

 

Happy Friday! Until we eat again…

 

Tony's Spaghetti Grill, Randpark Ridge - Jack of all trades, master of none.

I find it rather appalling that all “Italian” restaurants these days are moulded from the exact same mould, like a cookie cutter. Same interior, same menu, same music, same table clothes.

Is there no originality left? And if all these served proper Italian food – and not a 3^rd world country’s idea of Italian-style food, I might be ok with that…however this is not the case.

After an extreme delay in going to dine at Tony’s Spaghetti Grill in Randpark Ridge, with good reason – as mentioned above – I finally went.

Surprise surprise!! This is probably the mother of the cookie cutter Italian restaurants. Then again, they do sort-of warn you about this, stating on their own website that they serve al fresco style food.

The massive double volume restaurant with terraces on both side, are filled to the max with tables. Gives me the feeling of cattle being herded together.

Plain 3 colour (another surprise) interior; a less than average wine list, opposing the extensive food menu and not very attentive staff (which in all honesty is not the staff’s fault, but the doing of management by over stocking the barn with customers).

The extensive menu ranges from pizza and pasta to salads; anti-pasta’s to steak and seafood, pork, chicken, lamb and vegetables; and even more tit-bits in-between.  Now the problem with menu’s like these that make your head spin, in my experience, is basically – Jack of all trades, master of none.

It is simply not possible to have a menu of 8 pages, and be able to produce all dishes with care and perfection.

Have a pizza and pasta menu, and make the best darn pizza base and fresh pasta you possibly can, and be proud. Or Have a seafood restaurant, and serve beautifully fresh bites of ocean, I don’t care how you split them up really – but do not, ever attempt to put all that the lands produce offers on your menu.

The salads are not bad, but stacked with ice-berg lettuce, and very little topping. But again – not bad.

The pizza base is mediocre, yes there is a big pizza oven – this means nothing if you do not produce a thin crust that crunches in your mouth, and a golden, bubbly, stringy grilled cheese topping.  Meat wise – well I can only say from what I saw and what a heard from my trusty companions: average, but the mushroom sauce that accompanied the rib-eye was as white as snow, and tasted that way too.

Look, I’m not saying it’s revolting. What I am saying is that I simply do  not understand the hype around this place, and how they keep so busy? I can understand that if you usually have a microwave meal for dinner, that this would be a real treat – other than that, no, I can’t fathom why. Everything is average, nothing is great. I would not go back to this mass producing cookie cutter Italian-STYLE restaurant.

But apparently to the sheep of JHB with little food knowledge – this is a gem.

My personal opinion – keep to the right and pass along swiftly.

 Trust your instincts, until we eat again…

The Red Chamber, Hyde Park - Tantalising authentic Chinese cusine

When you think of Chinese food, do you get an image of deep-fried balls/strips of what is supposed to be chicken, but could in fact be any form of animal protein (know as well as unknown to man), drenched in that sickly sweet pink sweet-and-sour sauce, accompanied by enough rice to feed a family of 6?
You have that picture in your mind, and feeling slightly uncomfortable and nauseated? Aha, yes – we all do, and if you don’t, you are in need of some culinary education.

Today I will tell you where to go to have anything but the above mentioned.
The Red Chamber.

Owned by a Chinese lady who has been running this authentic restaurant for almost 30 odd years, speaking a very good English but still with a heavy Chinese accent – you know you’ve hit the jackpot.

Dark wood with accents of bamboo to break the lighting on the sides of the restaurant, and proper chopsticks (well not the R0.50 wooden ones that splinter in your mouth) no silverware present on the tables – this is the real deal.

Armed with a delicious and curios array of dishes, lamb, duck, chicken, pork, seafood and of course vegetables, you’ll take a couple of moments to decide what to take and what to leave; who you can persuade to take the second dish you would like to try, doing so with the “sharing is caring” motto.

If all else fails and you still want to order food that might feed and army, ask the extremely helpful waiters or owner, who will tell you what the specials are, the most popular dishes as well as how they can change the dish you want to enhance your experience.

Big juicy spring rolls, packed with veggies and flavour, not transforming paper to translucent with oil, and a spring onion think-crust pastry is always the way to start, you  will not regret this, served with a soy, ginger, chilli dipping sauce - what an outright delight!

The portions are very generous, and ideal to share, especially if you are planning to indulge in starters and mains. However, I do not see the problem with a little take-away snack for late night nibbles.

An easy spotted favourite – or easy heard favourite is most definitely the sizzling duck, beef or kingklip with garlic and chilli. The sizzling and smokingly hot plates are delivered to tables all around with great fascination and delightful aroma. A little bit of theatre at the table.

What I love is that you order your own rice or noodles - as much or as little as you like, one portion of noodles is usually enough for 3. Waste not want not.

(I do suggest an ice-cold Chinese beer rather than wine to compliment the flavours).

This is without any doubt my favourite and most authentic Chinese restaurant in all of Africa (and other countries, perhaps maybe even China).

Tantalising tastes and wonderful flavour combinations guaranteed in this humble little place.

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ~Luciano Pavarotti

Untill we eat again…

Cafe Del Sol, Olivedale - Don's be stupid, break the habit

Sometimes we do things that are really extremely stupid. But I mean seriously.

Sticking your finger into a plug; purposefully touching the glowing red stove top just to ensure that it is indeed burning hot; ordering an unpronounceable dish at an unknown Chinese restaurant without pictures, possible ending up with earthworm soup or cat testies; having 2 bottles of wine, whiskey and shots on a weekday evening until 4am the day before you have to be in court at 8am.

Yes, the human race never seizes to amazing in doing stupid things.

 

If you want to break away and do something completely un-stupid, book a table for dinner or Sunday lunch at Café del Sol in Olivedale, JHB.
This is one of my favourites by far, and it’s not just me who thinks this - having one countless prizes, including best Italian restaurant in SA, and being rated as JHB nr 1 restaurant on Trip advisor by the masses.

The location is a little odd, in a small corner centre overlooking a parking lot.

However, once inside, the vibe is amazing! If there is background music, I’ve never heard it, as the chattering and laughing of guests, and clinking of glasses in celebration fills the space with absolute delight.

Simplicity is key, with modern touches here and there. The walls are filled with quotes about food and wine, and other little drops of wisdom. Inspiring and quirky alike.

So if your family or friends are not the most talkative, or you’re stressing about not having a topic of conversation on a date – there are walls full to fill the silence.

 

I’m always amazed at the amount of food that is being produced in that small open kitchen; and the magician chefs that man 6 to 8 pans of the burner at the same time? What a pleasure to watch!
For starters, think (the best) homemade gorgonzola and walnut gnocchi, beetroot risotto, fresh rocket and parma ham spring rolls, tempura prawns.

One of the signatures which I absolutely adored before converting to my meat-free ways, is the calamari limoncello with a black squid ink, parmesan rice tower – delicious!! Another classic is their balsamic fillet, as well as the stuffed calamari, served with a beautiful spicy vegetable noodle side. My tastebuds are dancing just thinking of this little gem of a place.

A selection of mouth-watering cakes are proudly displayed on the counter, pre-order a slice of lemon meringue if that is your poison, as it disappears before your eyes. And my personal favourite is the delectably smooth panna-cotta, always a different flavour.

The quality has never disappointed, not wavered even once.

This family owned restaurant offers an attractive selection of wine, and have friendly attentive staff, who are personal without being invasive.

We have been there so often that they know every one’s favourite dishes and drinks. The delightful owner always walks around telling about the specials and just having a quick chat.

 

Café del Sol sure does have a lot of Italian soul. If I would have to choose one restaurant in JHB, this would be it.

Go on, don’t be stupid, break the habit. But book in advance, as they are fully booked mostly a month or 2 in advance.

 

Happy Friday to all, until we eat again…

Alpine Restaurant, Randburg – best fondant by far!

This open aired restaurant, with a lovely deck under some shady trees, prides itself on their quality of meat, as they have the Alpine deli and butchery as well. Not a vegetarian’s dream restaurant, needless to say I was rather skeptical, but all restaurants deserve a fair chance.

I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of veggie choices on the menu, and innovative salads and side dishes.

For starter I had a lovely black mushroom tart, and tried a bite of the backed Camembert with figs as well – delish! My pea and asparagus salad for main was nice and fresh, and the pork belly was said to be divine, and I have to say a very impressive portion! The baked sweet potato as side is the best in town hands down, and the chips and chunky and hand cut, not oven processed oven baked rubbish.

The let down on the mains however was the calamari - under cooked and under seasoned, with almost no sauce.

Time for dessert came, and we settle on a chocolate fondant, and creme brulee. The fondant was absolute perfection!

All and all, I have an enjoyable experience, with friendly and attentive staff, mains and dessert took a little long – but totally worth the wait for the fondant. Good wine selection, and they do not up the wine prices by 300% like most other restaurants. I will gladly go back to Alpine for a lazy Sunday afternoon lunch of fresh salad and gooey fondant.

Happy weekend. Until we eat again...

Toni's Fully Furnished Pizza Co. - Nostalgic delight

You know how sometimes you get all warm and fuzzy inside when thinking of a good thing?

Well Toni’s Fully Furnished Pizzeria gives me that exact feeling every single time – never failing.

I’m willing to bet their signature Pesto Pizza that this is the same for countless others, ask anyone between the age of 18 and 35 in PTA, and you will see their eyes wonder and the corner of their moths turn up into a sneaky grin as they reminisce about their last meal there.

 

Luckily for all of us currently residing in the greater Johannesburg region, she has finally opened a delightfully modern decorated shop in Dunkeld. Praise!

The ambience is great and vibey, with cut out wood walls and the signature mosaicked pizza oven the centre of attention. Good wine list and not overpriced.

The menu is the same, and I hope it always will be, offering luscious gourmet pizzas, waver thin crispy crusts, topped with juicy fresh ingredients of the best quality. Every bite an explosion of flavour. What I really love about them, is that they offer all pizza’s in a pizzette as well (15cm) for the not so hungry, or in order for you to try more than one of the amazing combinations. For the very hungry, you also have the choice of half-and-half on your big pizza.

 

Dessert pizzas – sound weird I know, but if you are able to not devour an entire main pizza, and leave some room for dessert, the Belgian fold over is a must, oozing with melted dark chocolate as you slice into it.

Some more praises to add, the staff are all friendly and  knowledgeable, without lurking behind you asking if everything is fine just as you take a mouthful of deliciousness. Also, they are more than willing to add or remove anything from you selected pizza, even using vegan cheese if you ask them (this they do not have in stock though – you have to take your own, but hey, I’ve seen this happen!)

Happy days unitil we eat again…

It's been a while, but I'm back

Regret is a funny thing, most people seem to be afraid of it and live by the "YOLO" motto in fear of missing out on something that could possibly be life changing, but most likely not.

Regret the things you didn’t do as opposed to the things you didn’t? - now there I do not completely agree, not only taking myself into consideration, but also thinking of really idiotic things that other people have done - off the top off my head - drinking 3 bottles of wine and adding some shooters, on a Thursday night (having an important meeting/interview the Friday morning) just in case you never get the chance to drink wine again; getting tattoo’s in foreign symbols, later to find out you are now inked with the word “dog food”,  getting tattoos of someone’s name; recording a video of oneself doing a cover of an Alanis, Cher or a Taylor Swift song, and posting this on Youtube - no wait, you recording yourself doing anything, with your smartphone's front camera, and posting this on Youtube. I bet there is an army of people regretting these kinds of things.

What I regret is not blogging and noting down my food findings across the plates of Joburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and abroad.

It's been too long, but I have devoted myself again to name and shame, as well as give praise to all culinary delights I might stumble upon.Luckily I do have the memory of an elephant, and yes, I do take pictures of pretty much all food I consume, as well as what the rest of the table is having - this I do not regret.

Before I dive into my next review, I think perhaps the time is now to reveal a little more about myself and why I think I am able to pass my judgement on food and their establishments.

I grew up in a family of 6 - 3 of us loving everything foodie and different to a plate with steak and chips. There are more cookbooks in our house than literary books - well very close, and I have paged through all of them, more than once, tried the recipes, adjusting where I see fit, to give a dish a little more hutzpah. BBC Food, Food Network, Masterchef (Australia - not the other rubbish versions) - bless the souls and makers of these programmes, I watch them religiously. Respect and awe for all the hard work, skill, and hours of preparation that go into every beautifully prepared and extraordinary plated dish that I have ever seen and devoured. It is true, we really do eat with our eyes as well.

When ever we travel, or when at home, we always have a look in the EatOut magazine, Tripadvisor etc to book place at one (or all if possible) of the top 10 restaurants. Lucky me! I have more than one friend who qualified as a Cordon Bleu Chef, and sometimes shocking, mostly rather impressed, I know more about food that they do. Sometimes the reviews in the magazines are bought and bribed, sometimes they are relatively accurate, but mostly Tripadvisor is the one I trust- as it is ordinary foodies, with ordinary camera's, no special lighting, smoke and mirrors, their own opinion, what they get is what you see.

As a lover of food and animals alike, I have become a vegetarian and been one for almost 3 years - however luckily the other 2 foodies in my family are both carnivores and I value and trust their opinions, as if it were my own.

And now my findings on culinary delights and horrors can continue.

Untill we eat again...

" One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own