Kitima Sunday Buffet - A steal

The words "all you can eat" and "buffet" - when used in one sentence - are generally enough to strike fear deep into my soul. I stay way from these offers the same way I wouldn't go to Pep and buy "all the clothes I could wear".  The point I'm making is that quality, as a rule of thumb, is compromised at these special offerings. But, as they say, there is always an exception to the rule. In this case it is Kitima in Hout Bay. 

I used to go there for their Sunday buffet pretty often. Too often probably. I got a bit tired of it. But, after enjoying a birthday party for The Gym Nazi a few weeks ago, and after seeing their new cocktail lounge, I was keen to give it another go. I had given it more than a year and figured I was ready. 

Those of you who haven't been to Kitima will be floored by how beautiful the decor is. The venue is an old manor house and the place has been beautifully restored in a combination of colours and fabrics. Deep reds and blues are offset by delicate silks, lavish ornaments and over-the-top mirrors with gold frames. There are thick carpets running along dark wooden floors, stunning details on pressed ceilings and a new outside area beneath a bedouin tent. The new cocktail bar (I think it's called Raya Lounge?) is also a skoochie addition and a perfect place to have drinks before your meal. Or after. Or during. Or before, after and during. 

I have never eaten from their regular menu but in terms of what they throw out for a buffet you are spoilt for choice. There's sushi, duck springrolls, steamed dumplings, fried wontons, wok-fried noodles, tom-yum soup, pastries, green curries, beef stews and more. With nobody being able to tell me where the meet came from I stuck to sushi and vegetable dishes and nailed a creme brulee or two at the end. While nothing was mind-blowing, nothing was disappointing and at R195 per head I've got to say it is still the bargain I remember it as. 

As I have a habit of doing, I made up for the savings on food by ordering expensive wine and drinking too much of it but they had Moreson 2008 Premium Chardonnay. I mean, come now. If you can control yourself better than I did you can leave having enjoyed brilliant value-for-money. 

The buffet ends at 15h30 so book early (we went at 12h00) and settle in for a long, boozy lunch. There's no rush. I mean...it's Sunday. In Hout Bay.

Cheers,

Jamie Who 

Maze at The One & Only - I'm underwhelmed

The problem with putting a restaurant in the lobby of a hotel...is that it often feels like a restaurant in the lobby of a hotel. And Maze, at The One & Only, is a good example of that. Dark wood, thick carpets with geometric prints and heavy, oversized light-fixtures make it seem impersonal rather than impressive. Of course, the space is made to seem all the more soulless when there are hardly any people there and, after accepting an invitation by management to have lunch there yesterday, the first thing that struck me was how dead the place was. In their defense, they have obviously realised the need to get some local lunchtime trade coming through the doors and have introduced a set lunch menu. At R150 for two courses and R200 for three courses it is extremely good value when compared to (a) The rest of their menu, and (b) Some of the V&A Waterfront restaurant prices. 

The new lunch menu is set to change weekly. Yesterday there were three options as starters, three main dishes and three desserts. After checking with the chef that his meat was strictly free-range, I began with a duck and chicken terrine served with peach chutney. Feeling the long weekend a touch prematurely I also ordered a bottle of Bouchard Finlayson Sans Barrique Chardonnay (What, like you wouldn't have? Grow up.) The Queen ordered quail. I was very impressed with my dish. Beautifully presented, with the subtle chicken and the slightly weightier duck working nicely together. The chutney was a win too and was served as a chunky "Mrs. Balls" style along with a much more elegant puree version. They also brought out some toasted brioche - a nice touch. The Quail was good but nothing special. For mains The Queen ordered kingklip with bourgignon sauce. I was intrigued as I have never seen the sauce served with fish before. The combination didn't work for me - the delicate flavour of fish being totally overpowered. My ribeye was a trainwreck. The first few bites were good enough and the sauce was exceptional. (They had smoked tomatoes and combined them with baby mushrooms and a deliciously silky jus.) After a few mouthfuls I started to panic though. I simply could not chew meat that tough. I tried. And tried. And chewed. And chewed. And chewed. Eventually I just left some of the steak on the plate. Desserts were a lemon meringue cheesecake, which went a little way towards compensating for the steak, and a rooibos panna cotta which was equally good. In an effort to right the earlier mistake we were both given a free glass of Rudera Noble Late Harvest to enjoy with the dessert. I must say, I always enjoy managers admitting they have done something wrong and trying to make amends. Too many are far too arrogant and would rather sulk or make the customer feel like they are actually the one who has done wrong. 

Mention must be made of the awesome service. The waiter and sommelier were friendly and extremely knowledgeable. I loved the layout of the winelist too, which is split into regions rather than grape varieties. An impressive selection of wines by the glass too. 

All in all, I would say the place is underperforming. There is inconsistency and a lack of atmosphere that borders on depressing. But there is definitely potential. Chatting to the manager, he told us the aim is to make Maze less intimidating for Capetonians. They want to get people coming for relaxing after-work drinks, business lunches or just a glass of wine. The problem is...in Cape Town we already have so many other places to do this. So there is a lot of work to do. But they know that. And that, at least, is a good sign.  

Cheers,

Jamie Who

La Bottega - I'm happy enough

They haven't exactly re-invented the culinary wheel there, but La Bottega has definitely added value to the ever-improving Woodstock restaurant scene. (Remembering Superette and The Kitchen)

Set in Buchanan Square (opposite Banks) the decor is the (cliched?) exposed bricks mixed with more modern materials like steel and wooden decking. A blackboard lists the specials which I'm told change every day or two. What is not a cliche, however, is the enthusiasm the owners bring to the place. We were greeted, sat and partly served by one of them who looked unbelievably young. I'm pretty sure if he walked out of his bar and into another one he might be asked for ID. The pride for his restaurant was there for everyone to see though and I'm always impressed by that. He took us through the menu which is basic and Italian in origin. The focus is on ciabatta (which they bake daily), pizza, pasta and salad. I was impressed to see things like marinated artichokes, roasted peppers, high-quality mozzarella and pork loin featuring. My lunch was good enough - fresh ingredients and well seasoned but to be honest it's not somewhere you go for a fine-dining experience. It's chilled. The waiter called me bru and openly perved my car. That's the vibe there. The owner (Alistair by the way) was wearing a baseball cap and doing it unapologetically, which I actually liked. They're not being arrogant but they certainly know what they are all about. 

I was busy thinking how much I HATE bedouin tents (they have a huge orange one covering their awesome deck) when I heard Alistair telling another table how it is only temporary and they plan to build something more permanent. When they do, I can see this place becoming very popular for after-work drinks. He tells me they already heave on a Friday. What they do is put bowls of free food out (free bowls guys...like free bowls) and only ask customers to pay for drinks. You buy a R100 booklet which gets you 7 drinks. Bloody hell that's a good deal. No wonder it already heaves. 

Give them a call on (021) 461-9731. 

Cheers,

Jamie Who

The Roundhouse - pleasure and pain in one weekend

Regular readers will know by now that The Roundhouse in Camps Bay is one of my favourites. Everything they do there is class. Breakfast on a Saturday morning dealing with a hangover? Let's try the scrambled eggs with salmon trout. Formal dinner with the boss? I'll have the roasted scallops with cauliflower caramel please. Quick lunch? Try the roasted bone marrow with oxtail marmalade. You get the point. There's also a picnic they can throw together for you with amazing tapas and a bottle of Villiera bubbly. So when I found out about their Friday afternoon "drinks and snacks after work" vibe - that's not the official name in case you were wondering - I was always going to be there. Except for not being able to get my hands on a Jack Black, I wasn't disappointed. 

What they do on a Friday afternoon is offer the tapas/picnic/chilled menu on their grass lawns. There is a DJ playing chilled background music, waiters and waitresses fetching your drinks for you and a view that could make Zeus weep. If you don't start going there then good. More for me. Booking is essential so plan ahead. If you don't you can always take a seat on their terrace though which is also cool. 

On Sunday I had an altogether different Roundhouse experience. They say dynamite comes in small packages. If by dynamite they mean torturer and small packages they mean lycra then they are absolutely right. You see, I had signed up for their Bootcamp Breakfast. How it works is you pay R150 and you are then put through a hectic workout for an hour before being served a health breakfast. Again, it was extremely well done. Our torturer's name was Jenny and she proceeded to put me and The Queen through our paces until we could hardly stand. Various cardio excercises were mixed in with some strength stuff and it all ended up with a little mini trail-run through The Glen. Working out outdoors is special and the views of Camps Bay definitely eased the pain a bit. Breakfast afterward may not sound exciting (muesli and yoghurt with fruit and fresh orange juice) but true to form it is better than anything in its category. Homebaked with cinnamon and dried cranberries and served with plenty of banana, kiwi fruit, apples, raspberries and blueberries it tasted awesome. As does any meal when you feel like you've earned it. 

Get hold of The Roundhouse to book for either of these very different experiences on (021) 438-4347. 

Cheers,

Jamie Who

The River Cafe - Somebody got a facelift

Complacent. That's how I would describe the attitude of the Constantia Uitsig River Cafe. Until recently that is. You see, in the past there were always three types of people who flocked to The River Cafe: 

1. Tourists
2. Old people
3. Soccer moms looking for a few glasses of vino in between errands

So the restaurant seemed happy serving average food that was overpriced. Why not? People kept coming. That has changed radically now though, with the introduction of Luke Dale-Roberts. Look, when you've won Chef of The Year and your restaurant has won Restaurant of The Year for two years in a row you are pretty hot shit and his impact at The River Cafe is plain to see. The atmosphere is relaxed and less stuffy and the food reflects this. 

I stopped in for a lunch with The Big Dog, Pafoof, Monkey Whisperer and Thirsty and was stoked to see the bistro-styled food. As a table we ordered quite a wide range of things and all of them were brilliant. A tempura-prawn salad came with wonderfully crispy batter and was laced with avocado and tomatoes. My yellowtail came perfectly cooked and was served on fresh, seasonal vegetables with a sauce that seemed to be a variation on the classic Bechamel. The slow-cooked lamb shoulder was packed with garlic and rosemary and fell off the bone - you could've eaten it with a plastic spoon that you get on SAA Economy. But it was The Monkey Whisperer who stole the show with his ribeye burger. Oh. My. Word. I can still smell it. It was delivered on a wooden paddle with chunky, crisp fries and I challenge anyone to find a better version in the country. I know "where can you get the best burger?" is a popular question but you won't be hearing it from me. Because I already know. The answer is The River Cafe. 

The food was decently priced and the service was some of the best I've had anywhere. Friendly, efficient and knowledgeable, even when I asked the waitress if the fish was on the green or orange list. (I knew that already by the way but I just wanted to test her...yeah yeah, I'm a dick. Whatever.) 

I got a really good vibe at The River Cafe. You can see and taste how fresh the produce is. The portions are generous, the mood is laid-back and the setting is stunning. They are open 7 days a week, which in itself is amazing. There was even a wine special on when we were there so we tucked into a few bottles of the estate's Sauvignon Blanc for R50 a bottle. Not bad at all. In fact, if I didn't have a job I would probably still be there. 

Give them a call on (021) 794-3010

Cheers,

Jamie Who

P.S I took a beautiful photo of my fish but it has somehow been deleted by evil Nikon gremlins. So...you'll just have to take my word. Or go there yourself. 

Jardine - Now serving lunch

There's something pretty exciting happening. Well...exciting if you love amazing chow at silly prices. What's that? You do. Well then listen up. 

From today Jardine in Bree Street is serving lunch upstairs on Wednesdays (fake Fridays to me anyway) and Fridays (umm...real Fridays I guess). For the first two weeks they're having a launch special where starters are priced from R40-R60 and mains are at R80. Desserts come in at R40. So...three courses cooked by one of the best chefs in the country, at one of the best restaurants in the country, will sting you about R160. Call the cops people, that's a steal. Dishes like Saldanha Bay Oysters, West Coast Mussels, Roasted Line Fish, Ribeye with green beans and Dark Chocolate Mousse feature. The vibe is that they bring fresh, seasonal meals out quickly with no stuffing around so that - if you want to - you can be in and out pretty quickly but still get a killer meal. Sounds like a win. 

Give them a shout on (021) 424-5640.  

Cheers,

Jamie Who

The Foodbarn - Will you forgive me?

When people ask me where to eat out to celebrate special occassions I always ask them what their budget is. When they insist they want top-end dining by the best chefs in town the obvious restaurants always come to mind (Jardine, La Colombe, The Tasting Room, until recently Nova and The Showroom etc.) but for some reason I never think of The Foodbarn. I seem to have forgotten that Franck Dangereux is the man in charge in this kitchen. I seem to have forgotten that he was responsible for putting La Colombe on the international stage by being placed 28th in the world's top 50 restaurants in his time there. I visited on Friday night to see exactly why I had forgotten. And honestly, I couldn't find one reason.

I hadn't been to the renovated premises but upon arrival I was impressed with the much-improved layout. The deli area has been moved across to the other side of Noordhoek Village and now operates as an independent daytime venue. In its place there are more tables and a funky bar beneath gorgeous (too gay? Gorgeous?) chandeliers. Baby-blue screens are a nice accent and vintage kitchen accessories are framed on the walls. In one corner there is a "stage" set up with rows of chairs facing it. This faux-theatre is where Franck does his cooking demonstrations three times a week.

We were seated upstairs by our waitress Alex, who was full of energy and very knowledgeable about the menu. She offered us the usual still or sparkling water but what blew my mind was when she said "Or a jug of water with ice and lemon?" These are the little touches which make the big difference. In tough times when other restaurants are charging ridiculous prices for water, some even charging for tap-water, this was extremely refreshing.

We were there to try out the winter special menu which is made up of 3 courses and a caraffe of wine for R175. Between The Dragon, The Silver Bear, The Princess and myself we pretty much got to try most of the various options, which included: Starters of caramelised-onion tart with shavings of roasted-lamb, a tomato and aubergine terrine with bocconcini and fried goat's cheese with fig, blackcurrant jam and pumpkin seeds. I was a bit disappointed with the goat's cheese dish as I was expecting fresh figs but generally all of the starters were amazing - I was most impressed with the terrine. It was a perfect example of allowing food to speak for itself.

For mains, I went with veal trotters wrapped in savoy cabbage. Presentation-wise it wasn't the most attractive but it more than redeemed itself when I had my first bite. Absolutely delicious. The others had a wild mushroom and ricotta ravioli finished with truffle sauce and a rack of lamb with a bread and lemon crust. We made a bit of a spectacle of ourselves passing the food around like we were eating dim-sum in Chinatown but the food was so good and we wanted to taste it all. Besides, by now, the wine was flowing. The wine - we had an extra bottle after our caraffes were done...as you do, was their House Red which was only R78 a bottle and could have fooled a lot of posers who would gladly have paid twice that amount if it had a different label.

Desserts involved a cheese platter, a chocolate and almond biscuit with toffee sauce and a crepe filled with chestnuts and served with a milk sorbet (brilliant touch).

With obvious French influences, The Foodbarn reminded me a lot of Bizerca Bistro in terms of the unpretentious style of food. Both could charge far more and both make you feel extremely welcome. There are lessons to be learnt in service and quality of food that some of the more celebrated restaurants would do well to take notice of. Next time you are looking for somewhere to book, don't make the mistake I did of overlooking this place. It is pure class.

Give them a call on (021) 789-1390. The also have a pretty cool website: www.thefoodbarn.co.za

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Q:What's pink and is behind the labia? A:The Mount Nelson hotel...

Admit it. On Sunday, when the sun was out and it was 25 degrees you went a little bit overboard. The slops were hauled out from the back of the cupboard along with dresses and skirts. Vests and boardies were donned and the sun-g's were thrown on. We all acted like it was December! It was pretty cool. But you know what? I don't feel like summer yet. Don't get me wrong, I love the beach and the sun and cocktails and the rest of it as much as you but I dig winter too. Stews and soups and slow-cooked roasts. Red wine, fires, pubs...it's all good. And movies. I'm not shy of a movie in winter. So, when I saw what The Labia theatre in Orange Street is offering I was intrigued.

Now, we have spoken before about how many winter specials there are. A sh*tload basically. Some of them are good, some of them aren't and all of them sound pretty much the same. That's why when something a little bit different comes along it's exciting. The Labia attempts this by teaming up with a few restaurants in the area (Gardens) and doing a dinner-and-a-movie vibe. For R70 - R75 you get 2 movie tickets and two meals. Monday and Tuesday is pizza at Societi Bistro, Wednesday and Saturday is the same deal at Diva Cafe, Thursday and Friday is Kauai and from next week Wednesday it's Hudson's Burger joint's turn.

What's also cool is that at The Labia you can buy a glass of wine or a beer and enjoy it during the movie. Nice.

Cheers,

Jamie Who

The Foodbarn Deli/Manuka wine pairing

There are sooooooooooooooo many winter specials on at the moment it's a joke - it seems every restaurant is trying something to get you to brave the cold and make a turn past their spot. Some of them do stand out however, and, as your physical and spiritual leader, it's my job to let you know about them.

Now, I love Noordhoek. Specifically I love Noordhoek Vilage. With The Foodbarn, The Foodbarn Deli, Cafe Roux and The Toad there are restaurants to meet any budget and taste. There is a lawn to let your dog loose, a couple of art galleries and Manuka wine store. The whole vibe is pretty awesome and I visit as often as I can. So when I heard about The Foodbarn Deli teaming up with Manuka and De Noordhoek Hotel (did I not mention there was a quaint little hotel there?) to offer an evening of wine tasting paired with delicious food, I was more than intrigued. The hook for me was that after wining and dining you can stroll across to the hotel and stay the night. Even breakfast is included. How much? R450 per person. Someone call the cops please because that, my lovelies, is a steal.

The menu includes a mixed mushroom tart, lamb shanks or a vegetarian lasagna, malva pudding, florentines and more. If you don't want to stay the night in the hotel the food and wine pairing is R225. For more information get hold of them on (021) 789-1966.

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Restaurant specials to keep you warm this winter

I have been getting a few e-mails and checking the occasional ad regarding winter specials currently on offer. I know I have mentioned Myoga and Caprice in the past but The Godmother sent me a list of all of them which is nice of her. I'm going to give you that list now which is nice of me. If you went and invited me that would be nice of you... (UPDATE: THIS LIST MUST BE CREDITED TO DAX FROM HIS SITE AS BEING THE ORIGINAL. HIS LINK IS IN MY BLOGROLL ON THE RIGHT)

Okay, check these out. There are a sh*tload of them, some better than others.

Andiamo: Two pastas + two glasses of wine R100. Everyday, lunch and dinner.

Alba Lounge: Two pastas and two glasses of wine for R100. Everyday.

Aubergine: Two courses R185 / three courses R245. Everyday.

Barristers: Early bird special. Choice of 8 mains. R39. Monday to Saturday, 12 - 7PM.

Bravo: 1kg of prawns for R69. Monday to Friday lunch and Tuesday evenings.

Beluga: Two course lunch R125 / three course dinner R165. Every day until the end of September. Don’t forget their year round specials: 1kg prawns R100 / 26 piece sushi platter R100 / half price sushi until 7pm.

Bungalow: Crayfish R100 / Lamb Shank R100 / half price cocktails & tapas between 5pm and 7pm. Everyday.

Caprice: Two of their legendary burgers for the price of one. Lunch and dinner, Monday to Thursday. 3 course meal with Heineken R80. Friday nights.

Catharina’s: Two course set lunch menu with glass of wine R125 / three course set lunch menu with glass of wine R165 / three course set dinner menu with glass of wine R195. Everyday.

Five Flies: Two course menu + glass of wine R125. Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

Geisha: Half price sushi & dim sum before 7pm / 25% of noodle dishes. Everyday.

Harbour House: Three course R150 / two course R130. Everyday except Sunday lunches.

Henri’s in Somerset West: Three courses R120. Everyday.

Myoga: Six course menu R150, paired with wines R225. Dinner only, everyday.

Pepenero: Rump with fries and sauce R80 / half price sushi / seafood platter for one R110 / 1kg of prawns with chips or rice R100 / oysters R9 each / sushi platter R90 / Osso Bucco with mash R90 / pasta of the day R55. Everyday.

Salushi (Claremont): Half price sushi until 5pm / standard starter + noodle dish R70. Everyday.

Sinns: Two courses with a glass of wine R100 / three courses with a glass of wine R125. Everyday.

Tank: Half price sushi. Everyday.

The Foodbarn: Three course meal R175. Everyday.

The Kove: Parties of 4 get one of the meals free / half price on entire menu between 5pm & 6:45pm / 2 courses with glass of wine R100, 3 courses with glass of wine R130. Everyday.

The Square (Vineyard Hotel): 2 course meal for lunch or sushi platter for 2 at dinner. R115.

Tobago’s at the Radisson: 25% off tables of 4 or more.

Tuscany Beach: Order two main courses, get one free / 20% of all sushi and oysters. Every night and lunches Monday to Friday.

Winelands:

Buitenverwachting: Three courses + carafe of wine R230. Everyday.

Constantia Uitsig: Three lunch courses R200, with carafe of wine R230 / 3 dinner courses R240, with carafe of wine R280. Everyday.

Cuvee at Simonsig: Two courses with a glass of wine R125 / three course with a glass of wine R165.

Jonkershuis at Groot Constantia: Starter & main from the Cape Malay themed buffet R100 / add dessert R110. 6pm to 9pm weekdays.

La Colombe: Three lunch courses R210, with carafe of wine R240 / 3 dinner courses R250, with carafe of wine R290. Everyday.

Terroir: Two courses R150 / three courses R195. Everyday.

Event specials:

Cape Colony restaurant at the Mount Nelson: Four course pairing R350. Last Thurs of each month.

Salt at the Ambassador hotel: Four course pairing R350. Last Thursday of each month.

Continuous specials:

Cafe Sofia: Cooked breakfast for R20. Everyday.

Sevruga: Twenty six piece sushi platter R110 / seafood tasting platter R110 / sushi half price between 2pm and 5pm and all day Sunday.

Societi Bistro & Labia: Two pizzas + two Labia movie tickets R70. Monday and Tuesdays .

Phew, there you have it. Decisions, decisions. I hope all this info is correct but maybe just phone them to check. I can't do ALL the work hey. If you take advantage of these please let me know how they were.

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Myoga - Six course special

As winter sets in you'll notice restaurants start announcing their specials. This is the time of year that reallly tests the worth of a restaurant, as people prefer to get cosy at home instead of braving the weather. I have seen dozens of restaurants advertising their version of a winter special but for me the one that really stands out is at Myoga. Mike Bassett is offering a six-course tasting menu of his phenomenal fusion style for R150 which is awesome value. The menu consists of:

1. black pepper tartlet onion ragout broccoli rabe crème fraiche stone fruit chutney

2. roast pumpkin miso soup gorgonzola croute

3. linguine thai pesto grana padana homemade lamb chorizo

4. raspberry jelly coconut milk dressing

5. sous vide beef fillet sauce bordelaise puff pastry feullentine char grilled vegetables crispy roast potatoes wasabi hollandaise OR cape sea fish lemon verbena risotto broccoli rabe candied ginger and chilli coriander beurre blanc

6. liquid aerated sponge Mexican vanilla bean ice cream Ayrshire cream

If it sounds complicated, that's because it is. The flavours at Myoga are complex and unusual and this special is an opportunity to get a sense of Mike Bassett's food philosophy. The deal runs until the end of May. For R225, the six courses will be paired with wine.

Myoga is an amazing eating experience, from the UV lights in the toilets to the open plan kitchen where you can watch every masterpiece being prepared. There is a bit of a "Alice-in-wonderland" vibe, with oversized wingback chairs, brass sinks with whisks as props in the entrance and jelly beans on the bar counter. Check it out.

Cheers,

Jamie Who