Calexico has to be hands down one of our fave chillaxing spots, and the fact that are so well known for their tasty nachos, sticky ribs and double double burgers, not to mention signature cocktails and craft beers, this is foodie heaven for sure. We also love their cool and eclectic music selection, and the outdoor seating area is perfect for after work drinks or chilled lunches with friends. When Calexico let us know that they would be hosting some cool events from October to December that we certainly didn’t want to miss out on, we headed over to find out more. So, what’s on the cards for the rest of the year, you ask… Boozy Brunches Whether you’re recovering from a big night or looking for something different to do with friends, Boozy Brunches at Calexico will definitely do it for you. There are two seating times, starting at…
If you are heading down to the Cape soon, and are going to be in the Durbanville area, then may we suggest a stop in at the beautiful Meerendal Estate. You can taste some vino of course, but there is loads more on offer and Meerendal boasts biking and running trails, paragliding (when the weather’s just right!), and its family friendly weekend vibe. There are two restaurants on the estate, The Crown Restaurant and Carlucci’s – the latter is the one that fills up fast so that come lunchtime, one would be hard pressed to find a seat in the restaurant – either in the undercover area or the garden with its sweeping views of the Boland mountains. The restaurant has been open since 2016 – initially as a small restaurant which has evolved into a full blown restaurant with rolling lawns, ample space for kids to play in a…
It was just recently announced, and not that surprising either that one of our favourite restaurants ever (and one of the most popular in SA since Chef Chantel Dartnall won best chef) Orient Boutique Hotel – home of the acclaimed Restaurant Mosaic – has won the Best Hotel Wine List in the World for 2018 beating off strong competition from around the globe. The 2018 Fine Wine World’s Best Wine List Awards, now in its fifth year, honoured Restaurant Mosaic in the following categories: • Best Hotel Wine List in the World 2018. • Best Long Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best Champagne & Sparkling Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best Dessert & Fortified Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best By-the-Glass Wine List Without Coravin in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Jury Prize Mosaic’s competition in the…
Your excuse to rev up the romance is here – why not book a table for two at The Da Vinci for Thursday night and spoil your better half to a superb meal created by Chef Sylvester Nair and his team at The Maximillien Restaurant. This one is a great deal – affordable, and in one of our favourite restaurants in Sandton – what’s not to love? Situated in Legacy Corner Mall, guests at the restaurant get to enjoy a New York style vibe with impeccably prepared bistro fare incorporating touches of the famed New York Bistro, Balthazar. The restaurant has been designed with expansive windows and an extended deck to afford guests a spacious restaurant with beautiful views of Sandton City life, and the hustle and bustle down below seems a distant memory when you are unwinding on the comfy couch chairs and surrounded by beautiful black and white…
Whatever you do, make sure that you have Saturday 29th September diarised as the much anticipated Steenberg Garden Party is heading to our beautiful city! The venue is the picturesque l’antico giardino part of the forum company in Lanseria which boasts the most stunning gardens and is the perfect fit to host laid back live music with ample seating in relaxed garden lounge areas, which will keep you delighted for the duration of the afternoon. Not only is the view a good one, but you can also savour the best of spring with fine bubblies and wines at this annual event which is brought to the people of Jozi by Steenberg Vineyards, one of the jewels of the Constantia Wine Route, this elegant outdoor affair invites you to explore Steenberg wines and tuck into a harvest table laden with fresh culinary delights. From the youthful and vivacious Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc…
Bartending as a career has really taken off, and competitions such as Protégé and World Class are providing platforms for talent to shine and helping to launch people like Julian Short, owner of Sin + Tax, into the limelight they so deserve. Julian’s highlight for the year is being able to support not one, but two salaried professional barmen at his establishment. His eyes light up when he says, “A few years back there was no way you’d have been able to make a career out of bartending in the South African bar industry as a mixologist.” Innovation is the key to Julian’s success, coupled with the growing range of seriously mixable, premium brands becoming available in South Africa. Reinventing the kitsch cocktails of the seventies and eighties using fresh ingredients that subtly enhance the handcrafted base spirits is resulting in a cocktail revolution in South African bars and restaurants.…
We love good food, and we also love trying all the latest and newest restaurants in Sandton, so that we can share them with our avid foodie readers. Acclaimed international chef, David Higgs has just opened his latest offering, Saint ‘Pazzo Italiano’ in partnership with entrepreneur Gary Kyriacou of Marble fame, in the brand spanking new The Marc precinct in Sandton and a visit to Saint is nothing short of an experience from start to finish. While Marble has gained kudos for celebrating quintessentially South African fair, Saint sees the powerhouse duo introduce the concept of “Pazzo Italiano”, meaning “Mad Italian” – an offering which encompasses pizza and pasta as well as a range of dishes cooked on woks and an open fire.” It’s not an Italian restaurant but there is a definite Italian feel,” says David. No attention to details was spared in the décor and layout, and we…
If you enjoy tasting great wines in beautiful surroundings, then you are in the right city for one of the best events on the wine calendar. The Sommeliers Selection wine tasting festival is heading back to Johannesburg for the third year and promises to be bigger and better than ever and with a range of wines to suit every palate and pocket. The Sommeliers Selection is the only South African wine competition judged solely by a panel of South Africa’s top sommeliers, in categories fashioned around the perfect varietals for a restaurant wine menu. This year, more than 300 wines from 120 of the country’s top wine estates were entered into the contest which was held in Cape Town in June. Winning wines to be sampled at the Gauteng tastings come from over 50 farms and include the likes of Almenkerk, Babylonstoren, De Grendel, Eikendal, Glen Carlou, Jan Harmsgat, L’Avenir,…
The gardens at The Maslow Hotel are a real treat, the green lawns and the balcony overlooking the sparkling pool are popular on the weekends, and it is clear to see why. They are about to become a bit busier thanks to the latest offering from the hotel – a unique Pairing High Tea – which offers a modern twist on a centuries-old tradition. The pairing will take you on a culinary journey of 5 courses no less, as decadent treats are artfully paired with handpicked specialty teas in a delightful journey. Every Saturday, located next to the pool and overlooking the middle city oasis garden, and in the comfort of enveloping arm chairs, guests can enjoy a sumptuous selection gorgeous treats paired with some of the most perfect teas available in this country. “We are inspired by the burgeoning diversity locally produced, specialty teas and how their flavours and aromas…
Ash Heeger is one of the coolest chefs on the Cape Town block. Fearlessly female and sporting more tatts than some blokes we know, this pint-sized chef is making waves and literally going from strength to strength. Her restaurant ASH is currently (at the time of the interview) in the throes of being remodelled and renamed and the news should be hitting the streets soon about the new name and theme. We caught up with Ash to find out a bit more about her, her passions and food and of course…what’s the deal with all the tattoos… Ash, tell us how you wound up in this industry, is it something you have always wanted to do, or was it a happy coincidence? Honestly, I’ve never even considered following another career path. I was, as I recall the only one of my friends/ peers that knew what I wanted to do…