Casa Beukes

Slightly worn for wear after a very challenging August, the four of us cosied up in Peet's kitchen for an evening of sharing and de-stressing. She confiscated a couple of bottles of Pinot Noir from her oenophile husband's collection and prepared a beautiful meal of chicken, oven roasted veggies and a papaya salad to die for...

"If wine gives you a good feeling,

makes you enjoy your food and love the people around you more,

then its a good wine!"

Sebastian Klaassen

Galpin Peak 2005 Pinot Noir

The pictures could never tell what a lovely evening we shared - there is something to be said for how food and wine tastes when shared amongst friends...

Till next time....sante!

Winter warmer...

It is freeeezing in Cape Town. Instead of going out, Peet suggested a dinner at her place. Although this blog is about eating well and talking about it, it is also famous excuse to connect with fellow amazing women :)

So the next blog will have something to say about Casa Beukes and her hubby's amazing wine stash!

Until then....

Balmy Winter's Evening
Those of us who have lived in Cape Town for a long time, know that a Cape Town winter is not just about rain and cold. In between we are blessed with the most gorgeous, balmy weather that makes us forget that the next cold front may be just around the corner. The 18th of July was just such a day and Cafe Paradiso was the absolute perfect venue to enjoy the mild weather and the beautiful views. So, we promised that we would rate our experience, so here are my views:
Food: 3/5
I wasn't very hungry so ordered the Butternut Rissotto. Though overall quite nice, it was bit under-seasoned and the presentation could have been better. I did feel as if though I was eating a bowl of porridge.
Wine: 5/5
Good winelist, sparkling wine (Pierre Jourdan) and Springfield Life from Stone was kept in an ice bucket and glasses topped regularly.
Ambience: 4/5
Sitting on the stoep and looking out over the city while the sun is setting - priceless. One point deducted for the roaring pot of fire (though nice when it got cooler) that smoked so much that I had to wash my hair twice to get the smoke smell out of it!
Service: 4/5
Unobtrusive and friendly.
Price: 3/5
Reasonable. We had 2 bottles of wine, 4 mains, 2 desserts and coffee and tea that came to R972 (without the tip). Not bad for an evening out in the middle of the month!

Looking at the menu it seems as if Breakfast at Cafe Paradiso is also a good option, especially if you have children!

Cafe Paradiso....

A tantalising, if slightly tipsy evening at Cafe Paradiso in Kloof Street....

...and the Gourmet Goddesses are ready to tell all. 

The pictures cannot do justice to this restaurant's gorgeous setting.

The city and the mountain as a back-drop....on nights like these, one cannot help but smirk delightedly at living in Cape Town :)

Our wine was Life from Stone - Sauvignon Blanc 2011...delicious!

We had Risotto, Kingklip and Salmon and ended the gastronomic adventure

with Chocolate - and Red Velvet cake.

So on a balmy winter's evening, four female friends drink to Madiba's 94th birthday and to life...

La Heim! Till next month....

Gourmet Goddesses xxx

 

PS: We rated Cafe Paradiso on the Wine, Food, Ambiance, Service and Price, so see comments from fellow Goddesses for more detail.

An invitation to dance!

The days are getting longer....the sun is shining brighter.
We are surrounded by beautiful friends and amazing people. And today we have a Goddess night out!
So many reasons to celebrate life, to dance - made me think of this beautiful piece by Oriah Mountain Dreamer:

The Dance

I have sent you my invitation,

the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.

Don’t jump up and shout, “Yes, this is what I want! Let’s do it!”

Just stand up quietly and dance with me.

Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,

the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart.

And I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet and the stars overhead make

my heart whole again and again.

Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude,

knowing both our absolute aloneness and our undeniable belonging.

Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words,

holding neither against me at the end of the day.

And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest intentions has died away on the wind,

dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale

of the breath that is breathing us all into being,

not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.

 

 

Don’t say, “Yes!”

Just take my hand and dance with me.

See you tonight Ladies!

xxx

the bonds that connect us and make us strong

I have been thinking about what to say about the food (delicious), the wine (sublime), the ambience (special) but what I really want to talk about is the company. What a privilege to share a meal with 3 gorgeous, strong, opinionated, generous women. We have created a safe place for conversation and ideas to abound, where there is always a shoulder (if required) and a hell of a lot of laughs. Long may it last. PB

The Bombay Bicycle

Caren decided we had to have a "swinging" evening - so we did ;)

We tumbled into an exotic and cosy atmosphere, helped along by a gracious doorman...and almost like walking into a mystic cove, our table and swinging seats unfolded in front of us. Good service, great food and equally intoxicating music all made for a wonderful evening.

Our menu included:

Wine:
Springfield Estate Whole Berry Cab 2010 (Rating: 3.5/5)

Starters:
Drunken Camembert
Deep fried waterblommetjies


Mains:
Chili-chocolate fillet
Rib-eye with 3 cheeses
Yellow tail with Jerusalem artichokes

Dessert:
Chocolate cigars with vanilla ice-cream

Please read the Goddesses comments below.



Till next month - Cheers everyone!!!