Despite the blistering heat, another suitcase is being packed...this time we are heading towards Frankfurt, where banks and more await us...but I am hoping to snap up plenty of interesting people and tasty food! Till then, you all be good and stay fashionable...
Vintage postcard credit: hiveminer.com

When visiting Ryan’s Kitchen in Franschhoek, it feels as though you are being welcomed back after a long journey, thanks to Ryan’s wife, Lana, who is front of house, all pretty and professional. Here, the smile that registers you as a familiar face makes the visit to this restaurant that more special. We have been going to Ryan’s for a good few years and I must still think about our first dinner there where we sat outside, when Ryan’s was still on the main road. Now, the same expertise and passion for food makes us come back each year. It is THAT good.

From the Brut Rosé, to the swordfish starter, to my ‘Koeksuster’, Ryan was up to his usual surprises, playing with texture and ingenuity. We had the springbok main and the line fish, which was perfect. I had no space left, but, Jürgen refused to give up on his tradition at this eatery and ordered the sky-high soufflé. It was amazing. Followed by 2 espressos and a celebrity spotting (Annie Lennox wafted by to say hi to the chef, who was so engrossed in his cooking that she had to wait for him to register her!) our dinner was complete.
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All in all, Ryan’ s remains top of my list in Franschhoek, a town known for its (now almost) legendary culinary scene…see you next year, Mr Smith.

The Cape Town file is almost done and here are a few snapshots from the trip...the moments I tried to capture but sometimes a camera can only go so far...the rest has to be pledged or bound to memory. This city never ceases to amaze me with not only its reinvention, but its ability to both charm and excite...and Franschhoek is not all that bad as well.... ;-)

One of my highlights in Cape Town, has to be a visit at La Colombe at Silvermist. Tucked away, above the winding road that leads from Constantia to Hout Bay, is a restaurant that has such an atmosphere that it would be pointless trying to capture it in photographs, and in so doing, I would spoil the effect for anyone wishing to give this wonderful establishment a try. So, instead, I will let the food photographs underneath do all the talking for me...

There are views...and then there are VIEWS...case in point, Haute Cabrière in Franschhoek, where the three of us (David, Jurgen and myself) found ourselves for a sunset drink, followed by a dinner abover the cellar. We had always driven passed Haute Cabriére and it was always on our 'to-do list', but somehow never managed to do so...then, when David rolled into town, we racked our brains about where to go...and it was suddenly clear that we had to try this restaurant. 

We started off with three glasses of the Cuvee Brut Rosé (which our waitress, Wendy, suggested), which was perfect and almost matched the sky above. Wendy continued to offer excellent advice throughout our meal, winking slyly at me as I gushed as the Cap Classique arrived.

​Our starters included two asian venison tartare dishes with a crackly brittle and raw egg and Jürgen had the beetroot trout, which had the correct earthy taste, followed by mains of prawin linguine and one gorgeous grilled line fish (which made David and me envious as Jürgen tucked in). Dessert was a wonderful affair with a mango parfait, a guava soufflé (a first) and a cheese plate that David eagerly devoured. After two espressos and one flat white, it was the end of a perfect evening, in the dimly lit restaurant overlooking the heavy oak barrels that made us sad we did not think about a wine tour.

Meeting someone like Anthea, is something indeed....she is so full of energy and vitality that you HAVE to take a moment and just admire not only that shock of hair, but also her really positive energy. This blog was created to showcase exactly that: wonderful people who are not only fashionable, but people who have that certain something that make them exceptional...once again, Cape Town manages to surprise and excite me...even after all these years.

Just when the weather takes a turn for the better, I am packing a suitcase and heading to France...this time to take in the sights of Toulouse (and to give Montpelier a second chance as last year presented the city amid rain and thunder). Hopefully this city, fabled for its student-living and relaxed atmosphere will provide many snapshots for you all to see...and now I can't get this song out of my head.

It is hard to always find the next best thing in a city like Cape Town where re-invention is a charachteristic that makes this beautiful city so unique. We discovered Equus, by Cavalli online and like all well-mastered digital photographs, we were dazzled by what we saw. When we arrived at this stud farm...yes, you read that correctly, I realised that in my next life, I would like to come back as a Cavalli horse. The grounds and lodgings are spectacular and far away from the drum of the inner city.
We settled into the downstairs wine tasting area rather too easily and thank you to the wonderful staff  who introduced us to the wine of this great house, which took place opposite the whiskey room. 
Lunch was a rather lavish affair. We started with yellowtail ceviche with compressed vanilla apple, confit tomato and goats cheese ravioli and finally, seared beef carpaccio with ginger soy dressing (amazing). From this, we went on to the mains that included seaweed crusted linefish(perfect for the blisteringly hot day) with butter poached shellfish and springbok with mature cheddar croquette (a great balance here between the hearty meat and sharp cheese). And if you think we were faint-hearted, we even tackled the desserts (an insanely luscious panna cotta and to-die-for chocolate bar that we strangely forgot to photograph...it was THAT good).
Cavalli delivers on almost all fronts (the service was sadly lacking in experience, but the design and attention to detail almost made up for this) where a great setting and well-constructed food take centre stage.

Friday morning and the world is turning towards a weekend that will hopefully present us with great weather and relaxed moments...above and below are pictures of someone I ran into while I was in Cape Town and I loved the eyewear, coupled with that major hairstyle...a great and effective combination (when you consider he is a head-turner and he is only wearing a simple black tee). Once more, Cape Town proves to be a centre for all that is snap-worthy!

The buzz on the foodie scene in Cape Town is centred on one street this summer, and it is Bree Street where all seems to be happening. Villa 47 is a location that offers three levels for all your culinary needs. On the ground floor you have good italian, on the second, a bar level with a small tapas menu and head up another flight, you will find the more formal dining area. We started with drinks on the first level and then headed upstairs where we were served some bread that looked like bits of barbeque coal...you can only imagine the shared looks at this table...the bread was in the end, very good.
Our group of four hungry diners, ate our way through duck salads (very weall seasoned), cured salmon (that was more than enough for one), three plates of lamb chops (korean-inspired), one baby chicken (divine) and three hearty portions of truffle fries (for the over-indulgence). Add to this Aperol Spritz, a good whisky and some MCC, then you can only imagine how this evening ended...I felt sorry for our waiter, Lewis, who literally had to duck and dive between the conversation (which is always an indicator that an evening out is a success)!