You know the scene. You slide onto a cool barstool, catch the bartender’s eye, and order a martini. Then it comes. The question. The one that has launched a thousand Bond impersonations: “Shaken or stirred?” It’s the cocktail equivalent of “Paper or plastic?” But let’s be real, do most of us really know why we pick one…
Tag: alcohol
#DearFutureRestaurant
A Culinary Dream in the Making Dear Future Restaurant, I write this as both a promise and a pledge—a love letter to the dream that I’ve nurtured for as long as I can remember. You are the culmination of my passion for cooking, my dedication to using the freshest ingredients, and my unwavering belief in…
[REVIEW] DuToitskloof Pinotage 2018
Wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike have long been captivated by the allure of our South African wines, and the Du Toitskloof Pinotage 2018 is no exception. ON THE NOSE:Upon uncorking the bottle, the senses are immediately greeted by a symphony of aromas that dance delicately from the glass. The initial impression is one of rich,…
Essentials for your serving board
When making a charcuterie /cheese board, you know you’re going to spend a pretty penny. You buy the cured meats and fancy cheese that you regularly don’t purchase and you make sure that each element is really well presented. I wanted to build a list of the essentials for a serving board. Let’s pretend we…
[RECIPE] Fresh cherry Clafoutis and Zandvliet rosé pairing
When cherries are in season, the price drops significantly and although they’re still quite costly, you need to treat yourself once in a while. I was snacking on cherries and I opened the bottle of shiraz rosé from Zandvliet and the flavours complimented so well that I had to mix it up and take it…
A red blend that’s for everyone
In the mid-1990s Hennie, Bussell, Phillip and Neil Retief – famously known as the Four Cousins – joined the family business and today run the company side by side, having made it South Africa’s leading family-owned winery. From the cousins in the Cape to my rack in Joburg came the Retief Reserve, another brand under…
A night with Hawksmoor wines
Set on one of the busiest roads in Johannesburg, witkoppen, is a quaint beach bar with personality galore! The greenhouse was the home for this wine tasting with Hawksmoor wines. Earlier that day, I met up with a friend that I hadn’t seen in 2 years. Our brunch turned into an afternoon break and wine…
Another anniversary
My plan was to take today off and just relax. It’s a Sunday, my sports teams knew yesterday and my throat hurts so I think I’m getting sick. But then Google reminded me that I have an anniversary today and I knew that I had to post something. Having this blog has provided me with…
Repost: Heatwave – Short Term Overheating of Wine
With South Africa having one of its hottest transitions to Summer, the thought came to mind out how this heat affects our wine? and in this drought, we have to atleast drink wine right? (This is not medical advice at all). Came across this article that I just had to repost from Wineintro.com. We all…
The Wine Decanting Myth
Let’s first start with the definition of decant, which Google so amazingly laid out: Why do we need to decant? Not every wine needs decanting. Many of us associate decanting with older vintage port wines or aged Bordeaux – wines that throw off a lot of sediment as they age. Decanting separates the wine from…
Its Lady Vera 