Muratie - Warming up Winter

It feels like just over night we went from sweltering hot Summer days to icy winter evenings where even the sun disappears before 7pm.
On the up side this means cozy blankets,comfy jerseys and PORT. We love port and can pretty much drink it any time of the year but we need even less of an excuse when winter comes because lets be honest - It can warm up even the coldest winter nights.

Not so long ago we decided we'd take my dad on a little adventure and where better to go then Muratie. We'd had their port many times but it's always so much nicer when you visit the place where something you love is made. Muratie is laced in wonderful history...and cobwebs. The tasting takes place in the old wine cellar and the walls have just as much character as the wine.
The rich history of this estate is amazing with stories fit for a BBC drama series and on top of that they make really good wines...needless to say we walked away with 2 cases.
The staff there are so friendly and informative. Even though the day we visited the tasting room was swarming with people we still enjoyed ourselves. We were able to taste about 8 of their wines including their sweet wine Amber Forever (they wines are all named after people who lived on the estate and played some role in its history) which was simply delicious.


Muratie is just off the Knorhoek Road along the R44, also along this road your able to find Delheim, another really lovely estate with fascinating history that goes back as far as 1699. They make a very famous wine called Spatzendreck, which also has a very interesting story attached to it. Delheim does a very informative cellar tour and has a German influenced restaurant which does cheese fondues around the fire places during winter.

So finally winter is on it's way and we've stocked up on winter warmers! Muraties Cape Ruby is definitely one you shouldn't miss out on and if you lucky enough to visit on a day they have their older vintage ports you're in for an absolute treat. 

Entrance of Muratie

lovely music setting a festive mood at Delheim

Muraties tasting hours:
Monday to Friday: 10h00 to 17h00
Saturday: 10h00 to 17h00
Sunday: 10h00 to 17h00
021 865-2330/6


Delhuim tasting hours:
MON– SUN: 09h00 – 17h00
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 09h00 – 17h00
CLOSED: New Years Day; Good Friday; Easter Sunday; Xmas Day
TOURS:Mon – Sun: 10h30 & 14h30
021 888 4600

Bucket lists

Sunday lunch at Tokara

This is just a quick post because we thought we needed to share this Sunday Lunch gem.

Tokara is well known for their wines and olive oil and as we found out their breath taking view. With my line of work I was eager to taste their olive oil (which really is quite good - despite me being very bias) and was surprised to see how many delicious variations they produce.

Tokara is along the Helshoogte pass heading towards Francshhoek so one rainy Sunday afternoon we set off with our friend Nick to explore a little bit. We decided when we got there, that looking around wouldn't be enough for us and we needed to try some of the delicious goodies at their Delicatessen. They have the most wonderful lunch buffet which worked out pretty nicely because there is no set fee, you simply weigh your plate at the end of the line of the Sunday lunch delights. Roast chicken ,lamb in gravy, veggies, exotic salads, all sorts of goodies. The Deli has a wide variety of specialty items and could make any cooking enthusiast drool. 
It's also a very child friendly place and we'd definitely recommend it if you have kids of any age - their jungle gyms are so cool, we even had to try them out (if it wasn't for the rain we'd probably have stayed even longer). 
The view of the valley is absolutely stunning and it goes on forever. Since it being a Sunday, their wine tasting closed at 3pm so sadly we missed out - we were lucky enough to taste their 5 year old potstill brandy at WineX in November and it is as beautiful as the bottle they pour it from.

We decided it was far to early to go home and seeing as Hillcrest Berry Farm is just around the corner from Tokara we made it our next stop. The chilli hot chocolate is definitely something worth writing home about and I have loved it ever since I tried it about 6 years ago. This accompanied by the cutest ginger lady really hit the spot.

 

A night with Madam Zingara

Madam Zingara has been on my Bucket list for as long as I can remember and we've finally ticked it off.

For those of you who don't know Madam Zingara's Theater of Dreams is a travelling dinner circus, not the kind with elephants and poodles. The kind where beautiful girls with glitter and feathers do amazing acrobatics from the top of the circus tent while you enjoy your delicious 4 course meal. It takes place in the only Spiegel tent in Africa and is propped up by 1000 beveled mirrors.

We arrived a little earlier to enjoy the atmosphere and take in as much as we possible could. The entrance itself is a feast for your eyes with so many different things happening around you, from the Geisha on a podium to the floating top hats at the bar.

Once you enter through the door you find a fancy dress shop so you can make yourself feel at home as well as face painters do the most exquisite art works.

Fancy dress shop

Face painting

                                     

Welcome drinks are passed around and you're ushered to your seat (we were lucky enough to get an upgrade so we were even closer to the action). Before the show started we were served a wonderful mezze platter with a wonderful spinach and pear soup as well as cheeses,roasted nuts, bread sticks and a variety of dips.

Delicious Mezze plater to start the evening

The lights dim and the magic starts. A giant chandelier is lowered from the top of the tent and two women climb on and are lifted to the ceiling where they start the most spectacular acrobatics - no safety nets or strings attached. It's hard to take your eyes off them as they dangle above the audience.

The show is stolen by Cathy Specific, Queen of the Skies. She has a body to die for and quick wit to match, she had us laughing every time she was on stage. Cathy Specific is originally part of the musical comedy Mile High with Cathy Specific. What an awesome performer...she's have you eating out of the palms of her very large hands.

After the first half of the show dinner is served. What a menu, they've really made a huge job out of choosing what you want as a main. After our waiter Sheroo had gone through the list it was a no brainer to choose the Madam Zingara specialty of Chocolate Chilli Fillet with a magnificent tower of vermicelli which was equally spectacular on the taste buds as the show was on the eyes. (This awesome dish can also be found at the Bombay Bicycle Club if you can't get tickets for the show)

The rest of the show was one jaw dropping performance after the next with Russian balancing acts and contortionists to mention a few. Madam Zingara definitely brings a slice of magic to Cape Town and the Theater of Dreams will be at the V & A Waterfront until June. Tickets range from R385 - R475/R495 depending on where you are seated but seating is staggered so you are able to see from anywhere. Booking online seems to be the simplest way to book.

Audacia - Root 44 Market

I'm a real sucker for a market! I just love everything about a market and hearing about a new market is enough to get me out of bed bright and early on a Sunday morning.
There's nothing better then waking up, going to have your coffee and lovingly made breakfast somewhere new.

The Root 44 Market at Audacia Winery (along the R44 to Stellenbosch) started 3 weeks ago and wil be without a doubt one of the best things to hit Stellenbosch. Unlike most markets there's ample space, with 2 huge marques and apparently more in the pipe line you are able to move easily from stand to stand. Once you've bought your tasty treats you're able to find a chair under one of the very cleverly positioned tree shaded tables - they have actually built the tables about the tree trunks. There's also a huge stage that has been built for live concerts during the market. Which caters for young and old as well as hula hoop workshops-definitely the first I've heard of that
.

With so many markets popping up everywhere these days you often land up seeing the same things over and over again but fortunately the Root 44 market is a breath of fresh air with all sorts of new stalls. There's plenty of delicious organic fruits and veg as well as gorgeous baked goods and countless craft beer stands (as well as a beautiful bar called the Blue Moon Bar). There is just so much to choice from!! -Personal favorite was the cannoli from La Masseria and their mascarpone, fig and walnut cheese.

Do yourself a favor and make a day out of it, pack your picnic blanket and don't be put off by the packed parking lot-there is loads of space and so much to see.


ROOT 44 Market is now open on Saturdays & Sundays from 09h00 - 15h30

Snakes and old places

It's Summer in Cape Town and there so many places to go!!!!

A few weekends ago we decided it was about time we dug into the adventure fund and go to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for a picnic. I think we had the same idea as every other Capetonian but fortunately there's enough trees for everyone and we found a lovely spot with the guinea fowl. It really is a beautiful place to spend and afternoon.

There's so much to see at Kirstenbosch that I never knew existed. If you walk to the top of the gardens you'll find a little coffee shop and gift shop as well as a huge nursery with all sorts of plants. We wandered around the garden for about an hour along different path ways and found some stone art and a big black SNAKE!!! Living life on the wild side...one things for sure,I'm glad he didn't join us for a picnic or my nature days would be over.

On our way out we decided to stop an have a quick drink at Moyo...what an experience! Such friendly staff and the most delicious ice tea under the African Sun. The menu is great and unlike some of the other Moyo's they have an Al la carte menu which is very affordable - Spring onion and cheese samoosas are a definite winner and were accompanied with delicious complementary bread. The best part of this experience was the fact that we had our hands washed before our meal by our lovely waiter.

Around the corner from Kirstenbosch is Rhodes Memorial* and everytime Pieter and I drive through to Cape Town he asks 'What's up there?'.
So off we went to Rhodes Memorial. Other then the lovely view of Cape Town it's really forgotten about and could be a little more looked after and enjoyed (Although I hear the tea room has a great reputation). There must have been at least 3 very brightly colored wedding parties having their photos taken which was sweet but they took over the 49 steps -one for each year of Cecil John Rhodes life- and made it very difficult to get to the top of the memorial. It's worth seeing at least once though.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes_Memorial
* Entrance to Kirstenbosch is R42 for adults and R10 for children under the age of 18.
   Gates are open from 8am to 7pm in Summer.