Homage 1862

Life is one of those crazy beautiful things. One day you think things are going to be a certain way and the next, everything has been turned upside down. 

A close friend of mine bought herself a lovely home here in Cape Town and was settled in with her partner playing house. 

Next thing you know; he gets an exciting job offer in Boston and within three months time, she will be off to go place house in the states. Wild to say the least. 

So when the opportunity came up to go for a sneaky week day lunch at the Homage 1862

 I couldn't resist. Time together is priceless and life is short. 

(that, plus I will find any excuse to go for lunch!)

Homage is located on Loop street in Cape Town CBD. It is a gorgeous building that has history flowing out of every corner. The beautiful old Victorian structure dates back to 1862. 

The decor is framed by natures greens complimented by the earthy tones of the exposed rough brick and raw wood. My favourite part, of course, is a number of lush plants scattered around to play off the teal velvet cushions. The interior designer did the space justice. There are well-placed textures giving it a rustic feel with subtle pops of colour. 

Homage has a lovely upstairs area that can accommodate cocktail-hour loving visitors on the balcony whilst they listen to the cool music selection for the night in the lounge. 

The main feature in the downstairs dining room is a large wood fire encased in glass. The wood fire flavours carry through into the dishes which mirror the earthiness of the interior. The fire is of course also very welcome on colder days here in Cape Town. 

This spot is wonderful for vegetarians and vegans who are looking for vegetables that are glorified in all the right ways and salads that aren't stuck in the 80's. 

I highly recommend the earth plate as I am a sucker for a charred sweet potato that has been left to caramelize within itself. Served with smoky eggplant and charred sweet corn you will be left wanting more! 

If you are in the mood for something meatier, then I can wholeheartedly vouch for the salmon.  Buttery, sweet and utterly delicious accompanied with charred broccoli for that extra crunch, it's definitely one that I will be returning for.

I finished off with a chocolate fondant and I can only say it delivered with all the gooeyness and chocolate feels. Your spend would be roughly R150 per head minus drinks. 

The service was laid back and friendly and the staff's

knowledge of dishes was good and their recommendations were spot on! 

I know that I'll miss my friend while she goes off to seek adventures with her partner, but there will be places like Homage here to fill any melancholy that is likely to arise when the distance feels too great.

To book here are the details:

+27 21 422 0900

-Melissa 

Mondiall summer menu

The Victoria and Alfred waterfront is one of those places that I love to hate. There are moments where it can be wildly busy and filled with chaos yet it is also a great spot to grab a bite to eat and get all your shopping done in one place. A few of the spots, however, can be a let down in terms of the quality of food. Maybe it is because I am spoilt for choice with all our amazing restaurants in Cape Town. 

One place I love to love is Mondiall. It is one of those spots at the waterfront that always delivers high-quality food that is beautiful to look at and bursting in flavour.  I recently got to experience their summer menu and it is packed with all things delicious. They have just celebrated their third birthday and talented head chef Stephen Mandes (winner of the "ultimate braai master" tv show) has created a menu that will satisfy a curious palette and has an international culinary influence. 

New on the Summer Menu are dishes ranging from Seafood Ceviche with fresh sweetcorn salsa and crisp taco; and Prawn & Leek Roulade with lentil salad, sugar snap peas and lime aioli; to Spice Crusted Seared Tuna with romesco sauce, crushed new potatoes and gremolata; and Organic Lamb Duo of loin and braised lamb neck served with shaved vegetables and minted jus; ending off on a sweet note with Nutella Cheesecake with honeycomb and berries. 

An expert in ‘cooking over coals’, Mandes uses ‘Green Eggs’ in the Mondiall kitchen to create enticing smoked flavours. His menu incorporates influences from all over the world, as he takes the diner on an adventure to explore the best each cooking style has to offer, from Europe to Asia and crossing over to America.

Mondiall offers various elements on the menu, but also various menus for different occasions to meet the needs of each guest. Breakfast is served (10:00 - 11:30) Monday to Friday and features classics such as the lauded Eggs Benedict. Lunch is served (12:00 - 16:00) accompanied by the Bar Menu (11:00 - 22:00), which features the full spectrum of the newly-launched summer menu daily. This is followed by Happy Hour (where all cocktails and selected craft beers are offered at a 50% discount), as well as the Afternoon menu which highlights the Mondiall Signature Dishes namely – Mondiall’s Signature Fish Tacos and Mondiall’s Famous 100% Wagyu Cheese Burger. Dinner takes place in the evening (18:30 - 22:00) and Brunch is available over weekends (10:00 – 16:00 Sat & Sun), featuring the ultimate Fluffy American Style Pancakes. 

Offering a wide range of choice, the wine list features a variety of cultivars and vintages, consisting predominantly of South Africa’s top wine labels that are exclusively selected to ensure that the cuisine is complemented by the best quality wines.

Your average spend per head is around R350 and bookings are essential, here are the details:

reservations@mondiall.co.za
www.mondiall.co.za
Tel: +27 21 418 3003

-Melissa 

*This blog post is sponsored by Mondiall, all opinions are my own. 

The Hickory Shack

When last did you take a road trip? 
With spring in the air and blossoms showing their pretty faces in the country side, I recently took a shot left to Elgin. Just an hour outside of Cape Town, on the N2 over Sir Lowry's pass, the countryside changes rapidly and before long, you find yourself amidst mountaneous hills dotted with pine trees, waterfalls, rocky outcrops and lakes.
It is an exceptionally beautiful part of the country that plays host to a plethora of outdoor activities.

Did I mention the area is also rife with glorious apple orchids and vineyards?
I could not help but get lost on the farm roads and between the little dexter cows (you are going to have to google them) and the ducks waddling down the road, I was swept off my feet by Elgin. 
I had been threatening to take a trip to explore the area for the longest time, but it was only until I found a suitable gastronomic reason to put my procrastination to bed did I eventually "bust a (proverbial) move"
Whoever said food is not a grand motivator has obviously never been to The Hickory Shack.
Owned by Jay Haupt this spot is all about slow cooking Texas style. Their wildly talented pit master, Eugene nurses the pit flames like a new age alchemist to ensure the perfect, tender, juicy meat. From brisket and ribs to chicken wings and cowboy beans, I guarantee that your taste buds will never be the same.
It is a carnal, sensory and simplified space with emphasis on the quality of the meat, both in taste and ethics.

The atmosphere is as relaxed as your favourite pair of jeans with country blues playing in the background while the fire place crackles in in agreement. This is a place where you will get drawn into the slow lane and end up staying for a while.
The decor is beautiful with wood at every turn. I couldn't help but think it pays homage to the beautiful forest surroundings. 
The tables are generous in seating and definitely built for extended family style feasting. More is more at the Hickory Shack and I loved it. 
Now lets get down to business and talk food. It was absolutely phenominal. 
The meat is prepared with a Texas dry rub. No sauces or artificial flavours are added to their product. 

Locally sourced meat is smoked in a huge smoker for several hours prior to serving. The duration dependant on the cut and type of meat; namely chicken, brisket, ribs and pork with the brisket demanding the most attention at 30 hours.
The meat mains are accompanied with sides that are true to texas flavours. The cowboy beans are a labour of love and take 3 days to make. They contain brisket cut offs and their smokey flavour coupled with another side of buttermilk mash is what I would call a match made in heaven. 
They have a sweetcorn salad on offer and (my favourite) coleslaw which is prepared with vinegar, cut through the richness of the meat with such sweet perfection - I wondered how I would ever eat anything else again. 

Every side is a well thought out addition with a clear intention to compliment the meat perfectly. 
The average spend is around R250 per person including a beer or two.
I had to try the pomegranate cider which I highly recommend (and to be honest if I wasn't driving I would have had another five or ten)
So if you are wondering what to do this weekend - why not take a road trip and experience slow cooking at its finest! 
Just remember more is more so you will need an empty stomach and very big eyes.

-Melissa

*This blog post is sponsored by The Hickory Shack all opinions are my own. 
 

La Colombe

La Colombe garden

West coast oyster, caviar, kalamansi, apple and soy

Tuna ‘La Colombe’

Grilled fillet of line fish, saffron bulgar wheat, squid, chorizo, smoked soubise sauce.

Smoked ox tongue, coriander, ginger, capers, red onion, umami broth, crisp kataiffi. 

Scallop and Pork. Citrus glazed scallop, asian pork belly, cauliflower fondant, smoked cauliflower velouté.

Palate cleanser. Spheres filled with citrus liquid. 

Charmer beef, sweet breads and squash purée, crisp onion rings, port jus.  

Springbok loin, jerusalem artichoke, barley, lavender and bourbon jus.

Three ages of boerenkaas, onion, quince, walnut and cumin

Cherry Blossom. Manjari 64% chocolate crémeux, cherry stracciatella, kirsch,tonta bean almond.

There are moments – believe it or not (for those who know me) where I can be left speechless. They don’t happen often and they sure don’t last long. One of these golden moments happened recently at La Colombe.

If you haven’t heard of La Colombe before, they are situated on the Silvermist Estate in Constantia Nek. The head of the kitchen is the S.Pellegrino Chef of the Year Scot Kirton, a master of flavours and a showman with his food. 

The dining room is minimalist and the service is as sharp as a chef’s knife. I had to wonder if the muted décor was an intentional stroke of genius to ensure nothing detracted from the food.

I had previously tasted Scot’s work at the Chefs Who Share Charity gala and thought that I knew what to expect. Think again Melissa.

On my visit to La Colombe, I decided to experience the full extravaganza. Diving mouth first into the full tasting menu left me well, speechless. 

Each bite was perfection and the progression of flavours was masterfully put together resulting in a crescendo of the senses by the time the last course was cleared.

If I had to choose one word to sum up my experience at La Colombe, it would have to be something like ‘immersion’ – nothing else comes quite as close. 

The price? R 870 pp (without wine) - R 1270 pp (with wine) - R 1680 pp (with Fine & Rare wine)

Booking is essential.

The Shortmarket Club - Appetizer

There is a new kid on the block and it’s called The Shortmarket Club but trust me, there is nothing rookie about this spot

Owned by Chef Wesley Randles, his mentor and legendary Chef Luke Dale Roberts (Test Kitchen and Pot Luck Club,) Simon Widdison (and a few others) The Short Market Club is the hottest new spot in Cape Town and it is not even open yet! 

This exciting new restaurant will be open from the 27th of June and I was lucky enough to get a “behind the scenes” look (tasters included.)

Marked by a beautiful manhole with an owl, fox, hog and butterfly you know you have found what you are looking for when walking down Shortmarket Street.

The Décor is exquisite and the first thing that makes an impression as you walk up the stairs from a humble entrance into the Grand parlour. You get the feeling that this is going to be an exclusive club that not everyone can get an invite to. You are surrounded with woodwork panels created by artist Pete Eastman and stained glass doors that will leave you breathless. The main bar area sports black and white mosaic tiles with small tables - The perfect spot for a pre dinner drink.

As you enter the main dining area it is nothing short of glorious. With high ceilings and classy leather booths I couldn’t help but notice the attention to detail right down to the copper light fittings. I got the feeling of a grand 1920’s speakeasy and felt as if I was stuck in some by gone era during prohibition. Baz Luhrmann eat your heart out.

The main wall of the dining room is the next thing to impress you - It is a beautiful wall of what initially seems to be the main butterfly collection from the museum of natural history. However, on closer inspection you realize that it is an extensive artwork created by artist Mark Rautenbach made up of all the notes, photographs and memories of The Test Kitchen and Pot Luck club burnt into butterfly wings. Wes shared with me that Sandalene, Luke’s wife, had been creative voice behind the magnificent décor along with input from Wes and the Luke Dale Roberts team.  

The menu is going to be one that will pay homage to Wes’s path so far as a chef. A “modern interpretation of the classics” if you will. 

Having followed Luke as far back as La Colombe, Test Kitchen, Pot luck club and Naturalis - the menu is sure to blow your taste buds. With everything from Tomahawk steaks to lobster this menu is something I cannot wait to experience! 

Whether it’s a girls night out filled with cocktails and indulgent food or the setting for an industrious breakfast meeting, The Shortmarket club is ready to serve its eager customers. They will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and from what I can gather (and have tasted) it is going to be an experience to savour. 

A big thank you to Head Chef Wesley Randles for his time and for allowing me a sneak peek of what is sure to become not only one of the Mother Cities Gem’s, but undoubtedly an additional peacock feather in our proud countries culinary cap.

-Melissa