Harbour House's new menu created by chef Eric Bulpitt

Kalk Bay in Cape Town, the picture perfect setting for one of Cape Town's leading seafood restaurants, Harbour House (there is one in Kalk Bay & another in the Waterfont on Quay 5). On the most stunning winter day this past Monday, I went to the Kalk Bay venue to a tasting of visiting chef Eric Bulpitt's outstanding new menu additions that will also be available on the winter special menus from today, 1 August 2013. Let me tell you, I was in foodie heaven. I know Eric doesn't like fanfare but the man is a culinary genius & I can't wait for you, People from Near & Afar, to experience what he has done. Book a table & have a delicious time....Harbour House awaits...

Kalk Bay...the view from the hill...

Inside Harbour House Kalk Bay; book your table with a view...

For starters, duck breast with aubergine purée, pickled beet & shimeji mushrooms...

Prime beef rib eye with soft truffled polenta (I want to eat that every day!), caramelised baby onions & sauce bordelaise ...

Eaton Mess dessert..what might you ask is that? Coconut meringues, creme chantilly, berry compote & coconut & vanilla sorbet...

And voila, Eric Bulpitt. Take a bow Monsieur.

Harbour House V&A & Kalk Bay are part of the Harbour House Group. The Harbour House restaurants trade 7 days a week for lunch & dinner. For more info about the other restauants in the group & the various winter specials on offer, visit www.harbourhouse.co.za. See you at the seaside...

All photographs copyrighted to DIVA PR.

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Sushi superbly done in Sea Point...

Andy Wang used to be a sushi chef at Willoughby & Co at the V&A Waterfront, widely regarded as the best restaurant of its kind in the Mother City. Last month he opened his own place in Sea Point, a small eatery called Andy's Sushi that probably only seats 20 people tops. It's quite a sparse place, simply & sweetly decorated; the emphasis here is clearly on the food which is fresh, fabulous Chinese & Japanese fare, excellently done & very well priced. Sushi, sashimi, noodles, soups, rice dishes, it's all there. Take your own vino (no corkage is charged) as they don't yet have a liquor licence, & NB, it's cash only when you pay. 315 Main Road Sea Point, 076 578 6322 is the number to call~ might be a good idea to reserve your table *

No fuss with the decor...their focus is on the fabulously good food...

Egg fried rice...

Pretty wall hanging...

Vegetable spring roll...

They're open as I type so come on in; trading days are Monday to Sunday, 11:00 ~ 22:00 *

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Fat Cat...

You may remember Felix, my rescue cat? Now 8 months old & a bit fat. Lover of keyboards, duvets-in-sunbeams & scratch posts loaded with catnip.

 

 

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Oohlala, I had lunch chez Bizerca....

Bistrot Bizerca, a French restaurant par excellence in beautiful Cape Town...have you been? I hadn't eaten there since 2012, only because it was always a bit of a shlep getting to their original spot on the Foreshore. No more of that though as they have relocated to Heritage Square, where Caveau used to be, on Shortmarket Street. I had a delicious light lunch there: a duck confit salad with winter leaf, soft quail eggs,onion croutons, avo, apple & a truffle dressing to faint for....it was a generous portion & oh~so~more'ish. That, with a glass of Tamboerskloof 2008 vino, & Clare Mack's delightful company, made for a perfect lunch. I love being able to enjoy incredible food in an unpretentious & casual setting. Bizerca has a relaxed, warm atmosphere, & superb waitrons like Messieurs Alan & Tshepo make the experience all the more memorable. I'm not surprised Bizerca is in the Fleur du Cap Restaurant Awards Top 10. For more about the restaurant & owner chefs Cyrillia and Laurent, visit www.bizerca.com *

The duck confit salad....superb...

Being an Eco diva, I was really impressed with this bottled water by Aqua V, sourced in Paarl....they use returnable & reusable glass bottles, I love it ~ the first company in South Africa to do so... would that other bottled water companies would follow suit...

Bizerca: 98 Shortmarket Street, Heritage Square,Cape Town, 021423 8888 / http://goo.gl/maps/qo4S7

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Tasty things & pretty flowers at the Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town...

Saturday morning is Biscuit Mill time for many a Capetonian. A leisurely traipse down the aisles of the Neighbourgoods market reveals all sorts of deliciousness & temptations...these are a few of my favourite things. (didn't a certain Miss Julie Andrews say that? Hashtag Sound of Music) ....
I begin traditionally with eggs Benedict.. I'd love to know just how many eggs Luke Dale-Roberts goes through on any given Saturday...

A French baguette s'il vous plait, for my broccoli & pear soup (that I'll make my very own self)...

Koeksusters, a plaited pastry, a Cape Town/ South African tradition...

I faint for this pistachio fudge...plus plus plus...

Bottles of superior port...

The Creamery does it best..salted caramel & peanut butter flavours & then something new & oh so more-ish, naartjie (a South African citrus fruit) & choc chip, mixed together...words cannot describe it...

Exquisite lilies & more...fresh fleurs always make my heart sing...

Vintage wheels spied in the parking lot...

And the view going up Roodebloem Road, en route home...have a lovely weekend People from Near & Afar....

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Bastille Day in Franschhoek...

A belated Happy Bastille Day mes amis! Where better to celebrate this historical French moment than in Franschhoek, a must- visit village about 75 kms (50 minutes) from Cape Town. Founded in 1688, it's one of the oldest towns in the Republic & a fave destination of ours. This weekend we headed there in a friends new Porsche Carrera 4S... tres fabulous, tres fast & so the journey, in that speedmobile, was tres shorter. It's a car to covet, I won't lie.

The Franschhoek valley from the mountain pass above...

A chilly wind was about....

Parked on the pass...

Swing a left for a great coffee at Deluxe...

Lateral Paul's hair's on fire...

A glass of vino & bowl of excellent soup was had at Dutch East....

Take a drive to Franchhoek ...there are many boutique hotels & guest houses offering winter specials so take advantage. www.franschhoek.org.za A bientot!

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Cape Town designers I love...

Cape Town has amaze designers...this is an uber creative city that inspires me on a daily basis. Last week I chanced upon the new Pop Up Shop in the Gardens Centre (in Mill Street) & saw so many beautiful things...fashion, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, homeware...loveliness all around. Nothing more satisfying than perusing excellent local craft. Step back & take note World, Cape Town will be the planet's Design Capital in 2014, for good reason*

Chair fabric that matches my tattoo....

 

Visit The Shoestring Collective's Pop-Up Shop in the Gardens Centre, Cape Town, there until 11 August 2013. On Facebook as The Shoestring Collective & @TSC_POPUPSHOP on Twitter. Go be inspired by designers like Lauren Fowler, Bow Peep, Selfi, Oh Dear Megan & more....

 

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Burgers in Cape Town? The Dogs Bollocks ...

The Dogs Bollocks, Cape Town's burger joint in Roodehek Street, Gardens, where the burgers are famously fabulous & the size of a small tortoise, the way I see it. Head into Roodehek Street (off Buitenkant), look for the parked white 70's Lotus & hang a left (on foot) into the Yard driveway that is the Bitches Tits by day (open from breakfast time onwards) & the DB by night. How it works? Nigel only makes 50 burgers a night so don't go thinking you can pitch up whenever you feel like it for your dinner. Not gonna fly. Do the sensible thing people - get there early & swiftly book your spot. Your name goes on the door, you place your order when - & only when - Nigel is ready for you & your time will come. Sure you'll wait a bit, but it's worth it as that burger is uber satisfying, lathered in layers of the sauce of your choice, onion rings, pickles, tomato & a LOT of iceberg lettuce, (too much for me) but don't be distracted by all that greenery ...deliciousness awaits. Red & white vino (no label I could see) is available at R60 a bottle, plus soft drinks & beer. What you need to bring: wet wipes (you'll see why) & if manhandling your bun is not your style, take your own foodie tools. It's a mess I won't lie, but when you get that burger craving, it's the 'go to' place. Nigel is Cape Town's reigning burger king.

The Dogs Bollocks is The Bitches Tits by day... Email: Ukuva@netactive.co.za; call: 083 4407843 / address: 6 Roodehek Street, Gardens, Cape Town @yard_ct 

The Yard is the location that houses Dogs Bollocks (from 17h) / The Bitches Tits (07h-16h), & Deluxe Coffee (Mon- Sat)

My burger is ordered...

Lateral Paul uncorks a bottle of vino...

My name is safely on Le door....

Uncorked & poured...cheers!

Nigel is a-burgering...

Bon appetit!

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