AmaZink Eatery - Sensational

When you're getting paid to eat out, and deadlines loom, the danger is that sometimes the pleasure of a restaurant experience is lost. It can become a job rather than a passion, as dishes and flavours blur into plates of "sameness". Having said all that, what it does mean is that when a restaurant or meal stands out from the masses it does so because it deserves to. It stands out because it is memorable and special. It is a defining food moment. One of these moments presented itself to me on Saturday. In the middle of a township. 

AmaZink Eatery is the brainchild of Bertus Basson, the man behind the fine-dining establishment, Overture. His new venture is poles apart and is a no-nonsense, no frills restaurant in Khayamandi. The decor is a collection of lively coloured wooden chairs and gorgeous painted tables. There is an amphitheater set up with a big screen for watching sport and an outside section where you can watch the goings on of a bustling township. The menu is scribbled on chalkboards in funky fonts and the meat you're about to eat displayed behind glass. Loyiso is the man in charge of a friendly, vibrant staff and he runs the show brilliantly.  

I sat down and skeptically ordered a glass of their house white. A pleasant surprise arrived in the form of a cold glass of Chenin Blanc from Ernst Gouws & Co. I asked our waitress about it and it turns out it has been created especially for AmaZink. Nice. To eat, I ordered a vegetable soup to start. It arrived with light, steaming-fresh vetkoek and was an enormous portion. The soup itself tasted like vegetables which already was a lot better than vegetable soups I have had in more expensive settings. With none of the meat being free-range, I asked Loyiso if I could taste some of his pap. What arrived was the biggest plate of food I have seen. Ever. Pumpkin fritters, potato wedges, chakka lakka, spinach, pap, sauce. Alright then. I ate until I couldn't actually face another bite, savouring every bit of food. This was proper food, cooked simply and with a distinct sweetness to the vegetables that is characteristic to the culture. The Queen had a perfectly cooked half Peri-Peri chicken, blackened by an open flame. The same vegetables were offered, this time with a generous combination of samp and beans. Again, brilliantly cooked. 

Other options for mains were pork, lamb, chicken, wors and even a platter for two combining everything! We couldn't face desserts but next time I reckon I'll just start with one of them. I already know the malva pudding will be the real deal. 

Next time you feel like doing something different, this place is worth a trip. Unfortunately I was driving, but the best way to enjoy this place would be to hire a shuttle, get 10 mates, do a bit of wine-touring and end here for lunch. That - my friends - would be the ultimate day. Who's keen? 

Cheers,

Jamie Who

P.S. Check out their website on http://www.amazink.co.za 

Espresso - Bad name, good fun

If you judge a restaurant by how busy it is (and quite a few people do) then Espresso in Parkhurst must surely be one of the best in the country. Every time I have visited the place it has been absolutely heaving. The formula of: arrive for lunch, get an outside table on the pavement, drink copious amounts of wine, eat calamari and go across the road to The Attic (a funky bar with plenty of character) was revisited last night as I hooked up with The Big Dog and his missus for an early dinner. It was the first time I had been to Espresso for dinner and upon examining the menu it became obvious why. It is simple, cafe food that lends itself to daytime eating. Less obvious is the reason behind calling the place Espresso...

The pizza is thin, crispy and delicious, with the pasta playing a solid hand too, but really it is their secret Peri-Peri sauce that forms the backbone of the menu. It is splashed on the three best things to order at Espresso, which are:
1. The falklands calamari
2. Beef trinchado
3. Prego roll

I tried a caprese sandwich last night which was decent and packed with some high-quality pesto. Not as good as the three options above but something to consider if you just feel like something light.

A strange aspect of Espresso is the fact that they only accept cash. If that seems a bit shady...well...it is. If you don't like it I guess they are happy with you going somewhere else. As I mentioned, with the amount of people this place gets they seem comfortable with losing the odd customer.

Call them on (011) 447-8700

Cheers,
Jamie Who

The Ski Boat Club - Average. At best.

Whisperings were filtering through Plett about a place that served the best fish and chips in the area. Big call. Huge call actually when you consider The Deck, Emily Moon's, Enrico's, Off the Hook and...my house. I was told it was the choice of locals. That's normally a good sign. Unfortunately, Crocs are the footwear of choice for a lot of the locals. Ignoring this I went searching. I found the spot easily enough. It is on Main beach with a great view of the famous Beacon Isle. The only signage was a tatty sign that read "Ski Boat Club". Tatty is a word that describes pretty accurately the entire experience. 

Firstly, I'm all for a place that is cheap and cheerful. In fact, fish and chips taste best when served that way in my opinion. And that is what the Ski Boat Club offers. Tomato sauce from plastic red bottles. Proper vinegar. Tables made of pine wood. Walls made of pine wood. Actually, the entire place made was made of pine wood. You know the vibe. We were seated outside and if you could ignore the sunburnt poms and screaming kids (which I never can) things were pleasant enough. We ordered the fish and chips (what else would you order) and waited. And waited. And waited. After two polite enquiries the food arrived and part of me wish it hadn't. The batter was disturbingly yellow, a clear sign I told a by-now-horrified-Queen of the cleanliness of the oil it was cooked in.  Look, the fish beneath it was fresh at least and the chips were delicious. Luckily I had gone for grilled hake. Well, I say luckily but let's not get carried away. I spent a good amount of time pulling bones from my teeth. And not little bones. Like baby elephant tusks. The actual fish, when I found some, was good enough.

Worth a trip? Sure. For a beer in the sun and a meal to fill the gap. Best fish and chips in town? I hope not. The search continues.

Cheers,

Jamie Who 

Hello Sailor - Well played sir

I love getting a heads-up from a reader when a new spot opens up. To me, that's what makes blogs blogs. The interaction. And with the rise of social media it means you can get this kind of feedback pretty much instantly. Like...someone goes for lunch, someone digs lunch, someone tells you about their lunch. It's cool. 

This is exactly how I found out about a gem in Observatory called Hello Sailor. Cut from the same cloth as The Kitchen, Superette and Cheyne's, it is obvious that the owners subscribe to the idea that design and food are interlinked. I say this because the place is flat-out cool. Look, it's not in the best area (it's in quite a shitty area actually) but the decor is awesome. Little trinkets, posters and sailing memorabilia have been collected to form a colour scheme of red, blue and white which acts as the backbone of the place. The room is tiny (I reckon it can seat 20 people) and the menu just as small. Breakfast is the usual stuff with nice additions like a pea and chorizo frittata. Lunch is a collection of sandwiches with interesting fillings and flavour combinations. I went with smoked chicken, sundried tomatoes, pesto and feta while The Queen chose grilled chicken, preserved figs and camembert. I was a bit disappointed at the fact that I could only have ciabatta but the flavours were good, even if the bread was average. 

A drawcard is the fact that they sell Deluxe Coffeeworks, which I'm told by those in the know challenges for the best coffee in town. The guy who served us also explained that they are also open to chat about private dinners which would be a very cool and unique venue. Something to consider for sure. 

They're in Lower Main Road but I couldn't find an address or phone number. Check them out on www.hellosailorbistro.co.za 

Cheers,

Jamie Who 

Wild Woods - Can comfort food get any more comfortable

You know that restaurant that's warm and inviting, serves simple but tasty chow, good wine and local beer. You go there often. You call it your local. You pop in there for something quick and easy during the week but also for a lazy lunch on a Saturday or Sunday. You tell everyone how reasonably priced it is. Got it? Well Wild Woods, Pete Goffe-Wood's new venture in Hout bay, is that place. Only better. 

I went to check it out last night with Pafoof and The Dragon who were down from Joburg and was impressed. When you walk into Wild Woods, there is a window that allows you to see straight into the kitchen where Pete is hard at work. Up a few stairs and you know you're in a neighbourhood spot pretty quickly (I don't mean that in a bad way...it's more in reference to the relaxed vibe). There is a particularly inviting pub with two equally beautiful features taunting each other for pride of place. One is a gorgeous piece of Jamon ham. The other is a Jack Black tap. There is a mixture of some interesting light fixtures and a green mosaic feature wall behind the bar. The eating area leads onto a deck which boasts awesome views of Hout Bay. It's basic but nicely done. 

The menu at Wild Woods changes daily but retains most items. The style of the food is unashamedly bistro and concentrates on flavour and texture combinations more than frilly presentation or overly complicated cooking techniques. I was thrilled (like high-school girl waiting in line to see Twilight thrilled) to see hangar steak on the menu. The only restaurant in SA I've seen it at before was Carne. I explained it there but let me do it again for you. Hanger steak is found near the kidneys of the animal and as a result is dark and quite gamey. You don't see it too often because not too many people know how to cook it. Also, not too many people know how to eat it. You really do need to have it rare or maaaaaybe medium rare. If you cook it any longer it becomes way too tough. Anyway, last night I had it with roasted shallots, potatoes and spinach all served in a rich, dark jus. Fantastic, strong flavours. I started the meal off with some of the Jamon ham already mentioned. It was paired with nectarines and rocket and the clash between the salty ham and sweet fruit was perfect. I made sure to taste food from the plates around me and can confirm that the home-cured duck with figs, a salmon gravadlax, the yellowtail with new potatoes and the roast chicken breast with porcini mushrooms were all superb. (How confident do you have to be to put chicken breast on a menu?!) 

Look, the place has only been open for two weeks so there were always going to be a few teething problems but I expected that. The good news is that they arrived in the form of our waiter rather than the food. It wasn't through lack of trying either - the dude really was doing his best - but the language barrier was more Berlin Wall-ish in proportions. Shame, he battled with everything and we did wait too long for our food. As I mentioned though, these things can be fixed and I'm sure they will be with a bit of time.

Chatting to Pete he told me that he'd much rather have a restaurant full on a Wednesday night than a Saturday. He reckons those are the guys who will pop in once or twice a week regularly rather than the person who gets dolled up and treats Saturday night like a big occasion. Fair enough. My impressions were that the place is likely to be full on a Wednesday AND a Saturday night pretty soon. Everyone is going to want to call this place their local. 

Wild Woods is open for dinners (18h00 - 23h00) from Tuesday to Sunday but the bar opens at 16h00. On Saturdays and Sundays they serve lunch from 12h00 to 15h00. Call them on (021) 971-1166. 

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 Kitchen - Quirky and cool in equal parts

I had it on very good authority from a reader of this blog who's opinion I have come to respect that The Kitchen in Woodstock was well worth a visit. Yesterday I stopped in for lunch and can honestly say it was one of the coolest and unique lunchtime venues I have had the pleasure of experiencing for a while....

Let's start with the decor. Imagine putting all the characters and colours of Alice in Wonderland into a blender and then taking the resulting mix and kind-of just throwing it around a room. That's the vibe at The Kitchen. But I mean that in a good way. From the customers to the awesome owner to the actual food itself the place is dripping with a vibrant energy that you can't buy or re-create. It's a special, intangible quality that some restaurants have and others don't. 

The room itself is tiny and can only seat about 15 - 20 people at a time (not that it's a problem because you can be in and out in 15 minutes if you want). I took up a seat at a low counter with my back to the action. I soon found myself turning around every couple of minutes as I tried to actually take it all in. There are trinkets everywhere with a collection of retro crockery that looks as if it has been collected from HUNDREDS of garage sales. Some of the food is laid out for you to admire (I saw the most decadent-looking chocolate cake I have ever seen alongside apple streudels and ginger fudge), some is behind glass (beetroot salad, buckwheat salad, potato salad etc.) and...well...some of it is just kind of lying around. Like the mielies I almost knocked over. Somehow it all works beautifully. 

The food itself has to be amongst some of the best-priced I have seen. You get to build your sandwich by choosing from a variety of artisanal rolls and fillings and finishing it off with some proper, homemade pestos, pickles, preserves and salads. I went with their famous grilled chicken on a 100% rye roll and built a side salad. My meal came to R35. Hey?!! How awesome is that. A wrap from Kauai costs more than that and believe me you cannot even compare the two. It would be like paying more for an ugly hooker except the cheap, hot hooker has a personality. Yeah...maybe that simile was a bit too hectic. But you get the point. Personality. X-Factor. That's what this place has. And as a result it falls into the Cheyne's and Superette category for me. Something a little bit different. 

The Kitchen is run by Karen Dudley who is pretty awesome herself. You should check out her site at www.karendudley.co.za 

If you don't you're a loser. 

Cheers,

Jamie Who

East Head Cafe - Fish and chips. Order it.

Hi everyone. I gather quite a few of you started work today. Me? Not quite yet. I think I'll knock around Knysna and Plett for a bit longer thank you very much. I'm lucky enough to have a place in both of these awesome towns and love them both. The Knysna abode is on the Heads and is literally just above Cornuti, where I have spent several long and difficult hours hard at work for you trying to find out what the best wine and food on offer is. (I'll let you know in due time of course). The other day I thought I'd give the less fancied restaurant on the Eastern Head (creatively dubbed The East Head Cafe) a go for lunch. Let's have a look. 

A few years ago this place was...how do I say this nicely....well, quite shitty. I'm glad to say it has been taken over and been given a nice facelift. Touches of funky African prints and cushions offset an otherwise pale colour scheme and the outside area has been redone with wooden tables and a bedouin tent to properly make use of a really spectacular setting. It's casual, "slip-slop" stuff, typified by the fact that I could take Elvis along. 

To eat I went with a jalepeno burger which showed very little sign of heat. The patty was decent enough, well cooked and definitely home made. The star was The Queen's fish and chips though. Let me just say, The Queen has been hard at work too. Unselfishly eating fish and chips throughout the holiday until she could find a winner, she announced it here. The batter crunched with every cut and prod, the flesh was moist but not oily and the chips were perfect. A couple of beers washed it down and we left happy. Look, it could've gone very differently as a result of Elvis lifting his leg on a guest's bag. Yeah, not great. Luckily the dude was obsessed with bulldogs and was totally cool about it. 

Anyway, if you're looking for something cheap and cheerful and you're in Knysna check this place out. It's a good alternative to the hectic queue you'll get at Cornuti. Give them a call on 0443840933. 

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Ocean Basket (Claremont) - Aaaaand...never again

Let's get one thing straight: I am not a food snob. Great food experiences don't need to be expensive. A boerewors roll on the side of a rugby field can be just as rewarding as oysters and champagne. It's all about the timing. What you feel like. What you crave. Sushi. Dark chocolate. A fruit platter. An ice cold Jack Black. Mom's potato salad that doesn't quite taste the same when you make it. These are taste sensations that you need to fulfill expectations. On Saturday, after a solid run in the mountains, I felt like a nice piece of grilled fish and a salad. These were my expectations. The sun was out, I was feeling the summer vibe and I wanted to keep things healthy. After hearing from a sh*tload of people about what "good value"the Ocean Basket is, I stopped by for lunch. What a mistake. What a horrible, horrible mistake. 

I had only ever been to the Kloof Street branch before (years ago) and wasn't bowled over, but let me tell you, the Claremont restaurant - and I use the word loosely - is a shocker. The Princess and I both ordered the catch of the day, Yellow Tail. I specifically asked for mine grilled but when it arrived fried and swimming in butter things were off to a shaky start. The side salad of chunky tomatoes, two olives, some feta and lettuce was tiny. I would later discover that it was the best part of the meal. My fish - despite the enormous amount of butter - was dry. There had been absolutely no effort made to fillet the fish and I literally had a bone in every bite. The Princess's fish was exactly the same. After a few bites I left mine and watched her soldier on. As she picked bones out of her mouth I assumed a crouching position, ready to leap up and apply the heimlich maneuver should she miss one of the smaller guys. 

The meal was woeful. At R70 for a small fillet of fish I wouldn't say it was cheap either. A massive, uncompromising, read-it-and-listen-to-me piece of advice. Give Ocean Basket in Claremont a skip. 

I was going to call Ocean Basket "The Fish Spur" in my heading when I started writing this piece but, thinking about it now, that would be a huge injustice to Spur. 

If (for some reason) you want to check it out, it is at the entrance to to The Cavendish Link. Opposite Sumo...where I had to stop to get a smoothie on the way home. 

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Massimo's Pizza Club - Good luck beating it

I recently wrote an entry boldly declaring Carlyle's the best pizza in Cape Town. http://jamiewhatshisname.blogspot.com/2009/09/carlyles-best-pizza-in-cape-town.html

Read it, read the comments, enjoy my charismatic writing and hear me out. I was wrong. Now...it's not often I admit a mistake but I come to you tail-between-the-legs to ask forgiveness. I appeal especially to the person called "L" who suggested Massimo's Pizza Club in Hout Bay had Cape Town's best pizza. Turns out, she was spot on.

I went there last night with The Rentals and was blown away. Take everything you think you know about pizza and throw it out the window. These creations are paper-thin, spread with a delicious tomato sauce (the hero of the pizza) and topped sparingly with only a few ingredients. The philosophy here is that a real pizza should not be over-complicated.

Last night the quality of ingredients was critical and the flavour combinations were traditional and unique at the same time. (Coppa ham and rucola, pancetta and mushrooms, pear and gorgonzola, anchovies and capers, mozzarella and pesto etc.) There was even a boerewors pizza and a white pizza with no tomatoes, but instead smoked cheese and garlic. All were sensational. You can order off the normal menu but the true concept is to settle in for a pizza feast, whereby Massimo brings the pizzas to the table and everyone helps themselves. This encourages everyone to try as many flavour varieties as possible. For R98 you can eat as many as you like and even enjoy the house salad for the evening. (When I went it was cannellini bean and tuna).

Decor. Ummm...this is going to be a very short paragraph. No style awards here. Brown paper tablecloths with the winelist (good by the way) scribbled in black pen. That said, it kind-of adds to the appeal of the place. Rustic and laid-back. No hang-ups.

Service was outstanding and to top things off we sampled some AMAZING Limoncello which is for sale. We also had Bicerin which is a chocolate liqueur. Both hand-made, both phenomenal. I could not leave without a bottle.

In terms of X-Factor, Massimo's is flooding with the stuff. Hospitality from a husband and wife team, quality food and real passion. Hard to beat. As I said, my idea of Cape Town's best pizza has shifted very quickly. With hindsight, my trainer and I can count ourselves lucky that this place is not closer to home.

Call them on 073 390 1373 or check out their website www.pizzaclub.co.za They are open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 17h30.

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Carlyle's - The best pizza in Cape Town?

Nothing sparks a heated debate in the food circles quite like the question "where makes the best pizza?" Don't get me wrong, I love talking about the skills and effort that go into high-end dining. I love talking about the intricate presentation of places like Jardine and La Colombe, and every real foodie will have their say on what makes a particular chef/restaurant their favourite. But it's the simple pizza that gets people really animated. People get defensive and quite bleak when you tell them their pizza place can't compare to yours. It's all pretty funny actually. Now, in my opinion, Carlyle's in Vredehoek makes Cape Town's best pizza. I used to go there often when I stayed in the area but since moving I have been looking for an excuse to go back. On Saturday night we met Vin D, Pocket Rocket, Shmici and Justice to see if it was as good as I remembered. It was even better.

What you want to do at Carlyle's is reserve one of the tables in the lounge area with the couches. Set up camp there, open a few bottles of red wine and get involved. The second thing you absolutely must do is to order half-half pizzas. It's the only way. I went with half prawn, chicken, coriander and cherry toatoes and the other half parma ham, rocket and parmesan. They killed it. Thin, crispy bases, the perfect amount of toppings with plenty of fresh herbs and not too much cheese. This is a big deal for me. Too many places put way too much cheese on and what arrives is a pizza dripping with grease. Not cool. 

We all went with pizza but it is worth noting that they serve a mean lamb-shank and excellent salds if you are strong-willed enough. The bar is usually quite vibey too and is a good place to kill some time if you are waiting for a takeaway or have arrived without a booking. Service is really good considering how busy the place gets and is worth a mention. Kerryn was looking after our table and did a really good job, even joining us for a coffee Patrone. *lifts eyebrows while nodding slowly

For the best pizza in Cape Town give them a call on (021) 461-8787 or visit them at 17 Derry Street.

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Soupa - Duper

In Thibalt square, across the road from its more fancied competitor, there lurks a little gem of a restaurant that feeds those who are lucky enough to know about it. Because of me, you are now one of those people. You’re welcome.

Called Soupa, the place serves modern South African contemporary fusion cuisine. Really Jamie? No, not really. The place serves soups. It also does salads, wraps and fresh smoothies (real smoothies, not the powdered rubbish). The design won’t win any décor awards but somehow the combination of bright polka dot table cloths and a candy-striped counter where you order seems to work. It adds a bit of character. And that is exactly what I like about this place…character. The staff are worth a mention too. Service with a smile is taken to a whole new level here and I know of plenty of high-end restaurants that would do well to take note of how it should be done.

The food itself is simple and rustic but extremely tasty. With fresh ingredients, there is a definite focus on health with soups like beef and barley and “detox vegetable”. There are basic salads like chicken, tuna, Caprese and roasted vegetable. In fact, you can’t really go wrong health-wise as long as you stay away from the muffins. Commercially made muffins are often made with butter and sugar and you’d be better off having a fruit salad. I was there for lunch and went with an Asian beef noodle wrap. (I had a spinning class to psyche myself up for so the extra carbs were important.) It was nice to find proper pieces of medium rare meat as opposed to tough overcooked strips of minute steak. I also had a berry smoothie which was better than most. Lambert had a chicken noodle soup and was impressed. Packed with vegetables and with a nice amount of chicken, she seemed happy.

A really nice touch is the fact that you can get a drive-by take away meal if you are in a hurry. Just phone ahead and they will literally wait on the sidewalk and hand you your meal. Pretty cool.

As mentioned, you can find Soupa in Thibalt Square. Shop number 42. Or get hold of them on (021) 421-1506.

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Hudson's Burger Joint - All the cool kids are doing it

The new talk of the town amongst the Cape Town trendy (that's you and me by the way) is Hudson's Burger Joint on Kloof Street. Owned by the same guy who is in charge of Cape Town's beloved Caprice, the place oozes cool. Maybe it's the giant wooden head that dominates the interior, maybe it's the J-BOT ,(Jack Black On Tap - cool abbreviation, I know, use it if you want) maybe it's the trippy upside-down skyline painted in the bathroom or maybe it's the cute waitresses in their fited cowgirl shirts. Oh yeah, maybe it's the burgers...

With a menu that punts designer burgers in 150g or 250g patties there is something for everyone, including two vegetarian options. Every burger comes with chips and a funky name with dishes like The Wiseguy, The Works, and of course the signature Hudson. Toppings include cheddar, avo, bacon, mayo etc. and there also some pretty cool side orders in the form of chilli-poppers, beer-battered onion rings and Jessica Simpson chicken wings. Wash them down with homemade lemonade or some delicious sounding milkshakes, including peanut butter and Horlicks versions.

The burgers themselves are good but not yet the best in Cape Town. (I have a feeling with time they will mount a serious challenge though.) If you want a solid, affordable burger with a side order of people watching then this your spot. Plus, you can keep it tidy by ordering the ostrich burger - ostrich is naturally low in fat and high in protein - and laughing off the chips. The side salad they bring you in their place is impressive. Unlike most places where a side salad often feels like an afterthought and is made up of some limp leaves and stale tomatoes, Hudson's has nailed theirs. Pine nuts, artichokes and fresh greens makes you feel like you aren't really sacrificing that much. And if you're the type who can't say "burger" without immediately following it with "chips" ask them to do a half-half with salad and chips. Yip, you can do that.

Hudson's Burger Joint is at 69A Kloof Street. Call them on (021) 426-5974.

Cheers,

Jamie Who

The Red Herring - See you never

*Guys, let me start by pointing out that the photo above is not, in fact, a photo of the restaurant The Red Herring but rather an actual Red Herring. I left my camera at home and had to improvise...

Yesterday, after a near-flawless performance at Steenberg had seen Long Distance and I comfortably defeat The Silver Bear and So-So over 18 holes we headed out to Noordhoek Village for lunch. Oh. My. Word. It was an absolute bleeding eyeball. There were kids and dogs, kids with dogs and kids pretending to be dogs. It was pretty hectic. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that's the vibe out there and I understand that but this was all a bit much. I didn't feel like the scrum of finding parking so we headed off to The Red Herring. I had never eaten there, except for a pizza at Power's birthday party but it was Sunday, I was chilled and I figured "how bad could they be?" Absolutely shocking is the answer.

I suppose the warnings signs were there. When we asked our waitress what the linefish was and she said she had never had linefish and didn't know what it tasted like I should've left immediately so maybe what followed was my fault...

The fish and chips was a tiny portion of hake with a soggy batter. The pre-bought oven chips were fine but what really made me have a little giraffe (a laugh. My new word, use it if you want) was their garnish. A sprig of rosemary, a stalk of lavender and a small bunch of coriander. Three herbs. One plate. Come on. The burger and self-same oven chips were better but not great.

Now, I need to make something clear. I am not a food snob. I see the value in a toasted cheese made on the braai, a bacon and egg roll, or a hot-dog, when the timing is right. Cheap and cheerful is fine but it can still be done well and with a level of pride. Unfortunately, The Red Herring is disappointing in all areas and I left feeling totally dissatisfied. I have heard their pizza is legendary (I remain skeptical) and there are great views from the deck upstairs so maybe you are best sticking with that. Otherwise, give it a miss.

Cheers,

Jamie Who

Bihari (Newlands) - kids dig it

The Silver Bear and The Dragon touched down from JHB on Friday, which meant I spent this weekend eating for the A team. We didn't feel like anything too hectic on Friday so we popped in to Bihari in Newlands. The space (next to The Southern Sun hotel on Main Road) has seen a couple of restaurants come and go but the place was packed so hopefully this is here to stay.

The staff are pretty cool here and after talking cricket with the manager and politics with the barman I was taken through the masses of kids to our table. Now, I'm no snob but there is something about going to have a good dinner and being swarmed with children that irritates me. I know I might piss some people off by saying this but children running around, screaming and bumping your chair has the potential to ruin dinner for me. There is a reason I didn't go to Spur on Friday and unfortunately that is exactly what it felt like. Anyway, let's not get too worked up about things - two glasses of Boschendal Shiraz (good but not WOW!) and all was forgotten.

The food. We were a table of four and got a mixed platter for two to share. This was more than enough and the samoosas, chicken tikka and lamb kebabs served with mint yoghurt and poppadoms were all delicious. For mains, I had the prawn korma which was awesome - plump, decent-sized prawns and plenty of them. There was also a lamb rogan josh and a chicken kasoori which was the tastiest meal of the lot. Unfortunately, the lamb korma was a shocker. Tough lamb and a pretty uninspired sauce that didn't even compare to the prawn version.

Dessert was...weird. We ordered a pistachio kulfi which the waitor suggested. He said it was like ice-cream. It wasn't. Instead, it was a strange texture that left my palette feeling confused. It was like hardened condensed milk. I tried to tell my brain it was ice-cream but I just couldn't enjoy it. The four of us shared one little blob of the stuff and we couldn't even finish it.

All in all, the food here is worth going for. The service is top-notch but don't go for a romantic dinner or if you feel like unwinding.

Get hold of them on (021) 674-7186

Cheers,

Jamie Who

1890 House Sushi and Grill - glory

When talking about restaurants, a 'little gem' is normally a place that nobody else seems to have heard of. A place you keep going back to because the prices are affordable and the food is awesome. A 'little gem' is a place where you keep asking yourself: "What's the catch?" But most importantly, the definition of this type of restaurant is a place that you love so much you don't want to tell anyone about it in case the secret gets out... so it's a bit weird for me to be telling all of you about one such gem, but I have to. It's that good.

1890 is a sushi bar in Obs. It is in Trill Road and the seedy location seems to make it even cooler. Once you find it (it's a bit off the beaten track) you won't be disappointed. As well as literally the best sushi in Cape Town, they have pork and beef wontons, crispy fried tuna, spicy calamari etc. The food is brilliant and the prices are insane. For the same meal in a more fashionable part of Cape Town you could easily pay three times as much. Plates of sushi on the conveyor belt range from R12 to R30 which is refreshing value-for-money. You can have a plate or two of sushi, some tuna, a couple of beers or glasses of wine and be in for under R80 which comparatively is a steal.

Next time that sushi craving hits - and you know it will - keep this place in mind. Like I said, it's a gem. Just don't tell too many people...

Cheers,
Jamie Who