Delightful Turkey

Gone are the days of my knowledge of Turkey being limited to the fake versions of Turkish Delight sampled as a kid growing up. I landed on Wednesday, wet behind the ears and only really armed with the information hurriedly googled on my hand held device, otherwise known as the cellphone. Boy was I blown away?

The people or rather the dark haired, burly men are VERY friendly. The women are civil and in a professional setting extremely efficient. It's winter so I can't say anything great about the weather so let's cut the chit chat! The food...

I must say I've been quite shy in trying native dishes. Mainly because in Taksim, the area I am staying, there are many restaurants and the sense I get is that there isn't authentic Turkish food being offered but rather a mix of cultural tastes to cater to the many tourists that flock to this area. My stomach does not agree with street food so I am patiently awaiting my trip to the 'other side' in order to get a good taste of Turkey. 

For now, I am at an Italian Restaurant called Faros. When I came across their slogan- "Dine and Wine" I was thrown off a bit because a) I'm used to it the other way round- wine and dine- and b) because I wondered if I would have my food and end up "whining"! Such was not the case.  Great service. Delicious pasta. Caloric array of bread and olive oil but appreciated nonetheless. Happy and ready for my next meeting, if I don't fall asleep! 

The Squires Loft- Parkhurst

For my woman’s day treat, my romantic and ever so thoughtful man, treated me to an unexpected fancy lunch in Parkhurst, Johannesburg. 

Okay, I lie! 

While he is rather the charming man, I doubt that this outing had anything to do with celebrating the fairer sex, but more of a “I’m-turning-30-soon-and-panicking” moment of madness for him. You see, we frequent the same restaurants over and over again mainly because his theory is that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. So you can imagine my elation when he suggested that we venture out from the normal Sandton and Fourways restaurants.

I reckon if we analysed the interaction between Scorpios and Libras, we may find that there is a strong sense of indecisiveness that they experience especially when faced with an otherwise easy decision to make. Individually we boast of being in control and taking charge, however together- we fumble into situations where no one takes the reins, mildly put- this often results in chaos and some irritation. So after randomly picking Melissa-The Food Shop and mulling over the menu for a good ten minutes, we realised that the vibe, the menu and the alcohol options were not in line with our goals- rather an Einstein moment for us both in all honesty.After the helpful guidance of an overzealous waiter (who I must say, did nothing to convince us to stay but instead gave us rather precise directions to a Steak house up the road-never mind biting the hand that feeds him), we found ourselves at the door to heaven! LOL- dramatic much! However we found just what we needed on this hang-over ridden day. A cosy steakhouse nestled in the heart of Parkhurst Square- “The Squires Loft”.

Definitely a premium and high end restaurant, it is clear that you pay for what you get. We were greeted by great service, unexpected contemporary architecture and décor characterised by glass, wrought iron, wood and accents of red in the furniture, artifacts, menus and even cosy red blankets for any takers. The double storey establishment, that is this loft, is airy both inside and outside owing to the clever use of the perception of space, the glass the gives off the feeling of more volume than there really is and so does the use of wooden beams that allow light in through the roof. Being a steakhouse- there is no sparing of bull artifacts and patterns all through the décor. What can I say I was blown away before I tasted the food.

THE FOOD!

My gourmet burger was great- I reckon I have eaten similar if not better. The steak however was scrumptious, juicy and succulent. I know because I practically ate all of Phill’s! That’s how great it was.

The mains impressed me so much that albeit my swollen guts, I was brave or stupid enough to try the dessert menu. Well worth the risk! Meringue, fresh crème and strawberries- sounds plain, tasted absolutely divine.

The Squires Loft

The Squires Loft

    

The Squires Loft- the outside seating area

                         

Me, Snuggled Up In a Cosy Blanket

                             

The Squires Loft- View From Above

       

Chef Recent- (try not to focus too much on green items in the foreground)

   

         

            My Gourmet Burger                      

         

Gourmet Burger with cucumber garnishing

     

Phillip (and Ida's) Steak and Chips

Meringue, Fresh Creme and Strawberries!

   

 I tip my hat to the management and staff of The Squires Loft! Salute!

Chicken Curry, Basmati and Salsa

CoCo Bongo (My DefaultChowSpot)

DefaultChowSpot

Pronunciation: /dee-folt-chauw-spot

Definition of DefaultChowSpot

   noun

An eating place that one  will most likely visit when one fails to make a decision on a new or less frequented restaurant. Reasons range from sheer laziness to ignorance but more often than not, it’s the easier  choice given the love of the DefaultChowSpot

Origin:

OurKitchenAffair

The DefaultChowSpot! I have one. You have one. We all have one, and if you don’t, you sure as hell need one.

In layman’s terms the definition really just describes a restaurant that you default to when all else fails. In my case, I look for certain fundamental elements in my dining experience. While this may differ based on the occasion, generally I look for:

·         -great food (duh)

·         -great ambiance that is a mixture of music, clientele culture, décor/lighting

·         -value for money.

·          

Top on my list of DefaultChowSpots (because we all need a few), is CoCo Bongo.

Situated at Monte Casino, Johannesburg, this restaurant has never disappointed me. On their busiest nights, they have a 3 member musical ensemble on the stage that incorporates Bongo’s and renditions of popular music. While the décor often throws me into a Jurassic Park meets Pirates-and-Parrots-on-a-Tropical-Island frenzy, the food is hearty and warm and soothing! The service is great from the Management to the Waiters, the entrance to the balcony. I know it seems like I am sensationalising the experience, but everything seems ‘lekker’ after 3 glasses of a good wine-(can’t remember the name for obvious reasons *cough* I was tipsy). With that said, another reason I default to CoCo Bongo is the fact that I lose sight of the outside world and just allow myself to enjoy the music, food and wine- isn’t that what life is about?

Oxtail Roast Vegetables and Mash

Black Pot Of Oxtail

The Proverbial & Safe Steak And Chips

Oh What A Night...An Indian Night!

I honestly believe that if you are going to cheat, do it reaaaaal good- and that, is exactly what I did. I got down and dirty and made every second count- guilt free. I am talking about food here, where was your mind?

I occasionally indulge in a not-so-healthy meal when I feel that I have eaten clean and trained dirty. By mere chance and a quick game of ini mini miny moe, my Boo and I found ourselves at Ghazal Restaurant in Sunninghill, Johannesburg. My humble expectation was to have a cosy, modest Indian dish while sipping on a modest house wine over some lovers talk. On the contrary, I was totally blown away by the experience. In short:
-the service!!!
-the ambiance!!
-the food!!
-the food!!
-THE FOOD!?

Need I say more? My ever safe Boo with his tried and tested menu choices, opted for a Tandoori Chicken with Chips and a Side Salad, while my slightly more adventurous self delved into a Chicken Tikka Masala with Rice and Garlic/Butter Naan. Boom!

The Bestestest Garlic and Butter Naan in the world. So far. I think!? hehe

                           

Chicken Tikka Masala- Served at mild 'heat'

                           

Tandoori Chicken- yummy though safe

                             

So Glad The Food Came Sooner Than Later

                            

The general decor set the Indian warm, red and cosy theme, while the paintings told a story of music and Indian stories.
 

                                                    

     

                                                  

                                                  

My camera didn't do the night justice unfortunately but that's okay, because my belly was pleased all the same.

                                       

                                            

Oh what a night...and next time I will make sure I sneak in a pic or two of my Boo- just to dispel any doubt that he exists...hehe.

Delish Quiche (the friend diet)

“Seasons change, things rearrange and friends become strangers”- there has never been a time that this phrase has resonated with me so much. What started off as a slow shedding of ‘fat’ a.k.a useless people in my life has resulted in me being a lot lighter on my feet with less baggage on my back. While this hasn’t been an easy transition, I feel somewhat free and able to focus on people that really matter. Coming from me- your local foodie:-)- I highly recommend this diet.


I recently invited two girlfriends over for lunch and made a delicious quiche and a fresh salad. It was epic to say the least, and we topped off the afternoon with a bottle of bubbly- BLISSSSS!


Puff Pastry


I use pre-made frozen puff pastry. It’s probably better to make it yourself however if you are a busy person, take the easier route.


1. Defrost the pastry by leaving it to sit until it is soft. On a warm day, one hour is more than enough.


2. Unroll and place flat on a circular tray, cutting off loose hanging edges.


3. Blind Bake the pastry to prevent bubbles forming in the oven.


a. Pierce tiny holes in the pastry base with a fork


b. Place a sheet of wax paper on top of the raw pastry on the tray


c. Pour on two cups of raw beans


d. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees for 10-15 minutes till slightly baked. The pastry should not be

browned or crispy at this stage, but more like a pan cake.




The Filling


You can use any filling that you like- within reason of course.



Ingredients


5 Eggs


½ Cup of Milk


2 Chicken Breasts chopped


½ Cup Spring Onions


250g Brown Mushrooms


½ Red Pepper


Feta


8 Cherry Tomatoes, halved


Honey, Olive Oil, Garlic, Ground Pepper,Salt




The Magic


1. Heat up some olive oil, enough to lightly fry the chicken till it is just cooked.


2. Add the ground pepper, salt to taste, garlic, mushroom, onions, and red peppers- lightly fry and keep mixing the ingredients.


3. Add some honey to make the mixture sweet-ish.


4. Add a ¼ cup of milk into the egg mixture and beat. Pour half the egg mixture onto the baked pastry.


5. Add all the chicken mixture evenly over the egg.


6. Crush the feta and spread evenly.


7. Pour the rest of the egg to cover the chicken mixture almost completely.


8. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and spread over the top of the dish.


9. Slow bake at 150 Degrees Celsius for 45 min or until firm. Tip: Test by piercing all the way to the bottom of the quiche with a clean knife. It should come out without any raw egg on it.


Serve with a green garden salad with a few grapes and feta tossed in.



Enjoy with a real friend.

Chicken, Mushroom and Feta Quiche

Serve with a fresh salad

                                     

                                     

Chicken Chop Suey

Chicken in Soya Sauce, Dumpling delight

Joy and Jubilation!

Well maybe not so much, but I must say I was rather chuffed when by chance, I came across a Chinese supermarket in Rivonia, rather close to my ‘hood. Kong Tai is a restaurant and supermarket situated at The Wedge Shopping Centre in Joburg. The restaurant looks quite smart and welcoming while the aromas set off Pavlovian-like salivating impulses- can I get an AMEN!??

 The food was impressive much to my relief because I have been longing for a reliable Asian takeaway spot and have been left disappointed one too many times.

I spent a good buck in the supermarket as well, buying everything from variations of Soya sauce, Dumpling Sauce, Eggs Noodles, Spinach Spaghetti, Chicken and Cabbage Dumplings- (to die for!), Chinese Vegetables like Pak Choi and some Chinese Crockery.

This week I am trying out an Oriental twist to my menu, owing to the fact that after having suffered a fateful case of food poisoning (someone else’s food I assure you), I am leaning more towards light and easy going food.

I hope to explore a few dishes by talking to people and getting pointers, researching but mainly experimenting with flavours.

Oriental Soup

If you've been a bad person like me and stuffed your face with bad food, and now you feel so bad inside, here is a bad ass recipe for you and your bad, bad self.

Serves 2

 Ingredients

Crush and make into a pulp  in a pestle and mortar the following ingredients:

1 tablespoon of garlic

1 tablespoon of ginger

1 tablespoon of coriander

Salt

Pepper

5 de-shelled prawns cleaned and chopped into smaller pieces

1 reel of egg noodles

1 small head of pak choi

Method

1) Bring to boil 2-3 mugs of water.

2) Add the coriander/garlic/ginger pulp.

3) Add pepper and salt seasoning and allow the mixture to boil.

4) Add the prawns in first and simmer for a minute, then add pak choi and egg noodles. Turn down the heat and simmer until noodles are cooked- (they cook quick)

5) Serve and Enjoy.

Lunch at Katjusha's Fried Tilapia and Nshima

Yeoville is Joburg’s hub for a myriad of cultures from all over Africa, and fortunately what follows is an even wider choice of cuisines to excite the pallet. I have had the privilege of dining at a couple of restaurants in the area and each experience has been adventurous, delightful and left me wanting more. Having decided that for my own safety and because I lack the confidence to venture into Yeoville alone, I did some research and was pleased to find that Randburg has its fair share of African Restaurants.

On the edge of Randburg, somewhere close to Bryanston, I came across the restaurant and pub, Katjusha’s. Humble and hidden behind a local shopping centre, this place is misleading. What seemed like a simple pub from the outside turned out to be a warm, friendly and well run establishment. And what’s even more endearing is the Fish and Nshima (Sadza/Pap) that comes second only to my mother’s own version. 

The Chef, Danny, is a cool fellow who took my complements in his stride and went on to tell stories of his escapades in the olden day Zimbabwe.

My host for the day, Nyembe, provided entertainment in the form of his own tales and managed to distract me from what would otherwise have been a lonely lunch with my novel for company. All in all I enjoyed my experience and vowed to return with a hungry and nostalgic contingent.

Nshima and Tilapia Fish

Chef Danny At The Entrance