yum yum

I'm still not feeling wonderful and the very thought of food makes me feel ill, but I just had to share this recipe I came across today. Vegan banana ice cream! Which is actually just frozen chunks of banana blended smoothly. I love bananas, so I'm sure I'll love this.

Image: Last train to pooksville

mushy cheesy goodness

I do so enjoy a good grilled cheese sandwich. Wouldn't mind one right now. This mushroom croque monsieur looks so yum. Minus the ham, of course. Let's make this when I come visit next month, okay Mooky?

Image: Bon Appetit

just to torture you

I ate some really yummy food in Cape Town. My fave were the toasted banana bread with mascarpone and honey at Melissa's, seared salmon with crushed potatoes at Greens, banana tempura with vanilla ice cream at Genki, a vegetarian version of Croque Monsieur at Superette, and courgette and parmesan soup at Manna. Mmmm... I am definitely making the salmon and the banana bread sometime soon.

Image: Mission Nutrition

thoughtful gift

So I arrived in Cape Town yesterday afternoon and so far it's been great. My mom brought with a belated birthday present from a friend of mine. Thanks Elz! Me and my Moomin cookbook are gonna have so much fun!

Image: Amazon

food by ferran

The husband and I have been invited to a screening of the El Bulli documentary (as part of the Durban International Film Festival) followed by dinner at fine dining restaurant Harvey's on Sunday. By our local video store. How cool is that?! Well, I guess we are pretty loyal customers. The chef at Harvey's will make the food shown in the doccie. Sjoe dude, hope you've been practicing! Just kidding. We've eaten there three times before and the food is really wow.

pity party

So I succeeded in killing my phone this morning. Sigh. If anyone has a spare Blackberry or iPhone lying around, I'd be ever so appreciative if you could send it my way. Did I mention I'm also sick? I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself at the moment. One of these A Merry Mishap bracelets sure would brighten my day.

I must just also mention a new place called Mooki Noodle Power where the husband and I ate earlier the week. Omg...the fish cakes covered in sesame seeds are so good. If you live in Durban, get yourself to Mooki ASAP. You won't be sorry.

Image: A Merry Mishap

hire me

I would flippen love to work for Chronicle Books in San Francisco. They publish the most inspiring books. These are just a few of their cookbooks I want.

Images: Chronicle Books

sad face, happy face, hungry face

So the husband left for England yesterday, which made me sad, but my parents arrived, which made me happy. We went on a shopping spree today and I got spoilt rotten. Thank you mooky and dad! Also looking forward to the Zara and Ikea goodies the husband will be bringing back with him. I joked with him and told him he's my personal shopper - not sure if he likes the title or not!

One of the things I love about having my mom around is that we make yummylicious food together. I guess I am the sous chef, but I like to think my chopping and strirring makes the food taste even more delicious. We're planning on making French onion soup and this recipe that I spotted in the latest Woolies Taste magazine. Mmmm ... wild mushroom ragout on herb mash.

Image: Taste

the cool kid

If I had to go into work every day (as opposed to stumbling half-asleep the few metres from my bed to desk every morning), I would so pack my sandwiches in a Blafre lunchbox.

Yes, I know it is meant for kids, but when did that ever stop me?

Image: Lunchbox World

amber, banksy and pie

So my Easter weekend wasn't too exciting. My dog, Amber (she's 15 years old), had to stay at the vet with a drip in her paw last night, so I spent most of my time worrying and praying. I did, however, eat a super yummy meal and watched an arty documentary. The meal was tuna and pea pie and creamed sweetcorn at the Woolies Cafe and the doccie was Exit through the gift shop. The former has me obsessing about how I can recreate its deliciousness at home and the latter was pretty thought provoking, though I wish there had been more of Banksy in it. He seems like a really cool guy.

Image: Banksy

bye-bye summer

So, (and I hope I'm not speaking to soon) it seems autumn has finally arrived in this horribly humid city I live in. Which means winter is on its way! While I do love summer, I did not grow up in a tropical climate, so this weather has been driving me crazy. Hence me welcoming the drop in temperature with open arms and a wide smile on my face. Anyhoo, in my excitement I have put together a winter wish list:

Cool tunes from The Head and the Heart to listen to while working.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese for a chilly evening

A thick book to dig into. Like Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother or Blood, Bones and Butter.

A bright and beautiful photo collection from Little Brown Pen to stare at on gloomy days.

An awesome cropped peacoat from Country Road that I won't get bored of wearing.

food and facial hair

If we had a Dunkin Donuts in South Africa I would probably be a very large person. Alas, we do not, so I remain average sized. Luckily, the Woolies at one of the malls has a bakery that makes fresh donuts such as chocolate and creme. Mmmm...so good. It's covered in chocolate ganache. And when you bite into it? A liquid custard creme comes squirting out. I bought two. So I may very well be on my way to becoming a very large person...

The husband and I also eventually ate at Craft Trattoria yesterday. The food was pretty darn great, but what I really loved was the decor done by Egg Designs. Modern and oh-so-stylish. The husband and I shared the terrine salad of artichoke, red pepper and over roasted tomato with rocket and verjuice dressing as a starter. For mains I had the prawn linguine and he had the tricolore gnocchi with pork and red wine ragu.

Oh, and the husband was mistaken for Jack Parow. He was not amused. I blame the zef facial hair...

mamma mia

I can't wait to try Craft Tratorria, a new restaurant here in Durban. The menu looks amazing. Also wanna attend one of the Feasts Days...maybe the May Day Risotto Festival? Mmmm...

Image: Craft

yummy, yummy, yummy, I want olive oil cake in my tummy!

This recipe on Smitten Kitchen for blood orange olive oil cake looks yummylicious. I enjoy baking, but my husband isn't the type who will eat more than a slice or two of cake, which means that I have to eat the rest. Not that I mind, but I think my hips may! Anyway, that puts me off baking unless it's for a dinner party. But this does look tempting. Does anyone know if one gets blood oranges in South Africa?