Posted on: November 9th, 2011 BHPizza Special at Andiamo

Next time you’re in the Cape Quarter, consider the following Andiamo special; Enjoy two pizzas or pastas for only R99 (excludes pizzas & pastas from SPECIALS menu).

The pizza and pasta menu is simply to die for so if rustic food at fabulously tempting prices is the key then this is the place to be. So, if pasta or pizza is your favourite way of enjoying Italian food – this is the best recession beater around and offers the perfect excuse for eating out!

This special is available until the end of November 2011.

Andiamo / Cape Quarter Centre / 72 Waterkant Street / Cape Town / Tel: 021 421 3687 / info@andiamo.co.za / www.andiamo.co.za

Posted on: June 7th, 2011 BHWinter 2011 - 4+ Course Specials

Winter is on us again and Cape Town’s fine eateries are dishing up the usual multi-course specials. Take a look at the list below for all the restaurants offering 4 or more courses, listed alphabetically;

1. Jordan Restaurant - R225 (4 courses, includes 2 glasses of wine)

2. La Mouette - R240 (6 course tasting menu)

3. Myoga - R195 (6 course, Dinner)

4. Nobu - R299 (5 courses)

5. The Food Barn - R185 (4 courses, wine paired Mondays to Saturdays, Lunch & Dinner)

6. The Food Barn - R215 (5 courses, wine paired Mondays to Saturdays, Lunch & Dinner)

7. The Greenhouse - R295 (5 courses, wine paired)

8. The Jonkerhuis - R200 (4 courses, Lunch & Dinner)

9. The Planet Restaurant - R220 (4 courses, Vegan)

10. The Planet Restaurant - R300 (6 courses, Vegan)

11. The Roundhouse - R240 (7 courses)

12. The Roundhouse - R460 (7 courses, wine paired)

13. The Square - R195 (5 course tasting menu)

14. The Square - R295 (5 course tasting menu, wine paired)

The above specials are as listed on numerous online sources but we’d recommend you double check that these specials are still running when you make your reservation.

Posted on: June 7th, 2011 BHWinter 2011 - 3 Course Specials

Winter is on us again and Cape Town’s fine eateries are dishing up the usual multi-course specials. Take a look at the list below for all the 3 course options currently advertised, listed alphabetically;

1. 221 Waterfront - R135

2. Aubergine - R275 (until 20^th June)

3. Beluga - R160 (Lunch & Dinner)

4. Blues Restaurant - R150 (Includes a glass of wine and coffee)

5. Brio 1893 - R165 (Monday – Thursday)

6. Cafe Delicieux - R155 (Dinner, Fridays)

7. Catherina’s - R195 (Lunch, including a glass of wine)

8. Catherina’s - R215 (Dinner, including a glass of wine)

9. Chez Max - R145 (Includes 2 glasses of wine)

10. Constantia Uitsig - R220 (Lunch, Monday to Saturday)

11. Constantia Uitsig - R250 (Dinner)

12. Five Flies - R150 (Mondays & Wednesdays, Dinner)

13. Hildebrand - R130 (Early Dinner)

14. Mama Mia - R175

15. Myoga - R145 (Lunch)

16. Olivello - R119

17. Pure - R195 (Includes 2 glasses of wine)

18. River Cafe - R180 (Includes a carafe of wine, Monday to Saturday)

19. Savour (15 on Orange) - R189 (Includes a glass of wine)

20. Servuga - R160 (Lunch & Dinner)

21. Sinn’s - R150 (Dinner, Includes a glass of wine)

22. Sotano by Caveau - R100

23. Taj - R185 (Includes a glass of wine)

24. Taste Restaurant - R160 (Sunday Roast, Lunch)

25. Terroir - R195 (Includes glass of wine)

26. The Black Marlin - R140 (Including glass of wine, until end July)

27. The Cove - R150

28. The Food Barn - R165 (wine paired, Mondays to Saturdays, Lunch & Dinner)

29. The Roundhouse - R180

30. The Square - R160 (Lunch, Monday to Saturday)

31. Trees Restaurant - R130 (Dinner)

32. Zenzero - R180 (Including as glass of wine or grappa)

The above specials are as listed on numerous online sources but we’d recommend you double check that these specials are still running when you make your reservation.

Posted on: June 7th, 2011 BHWinter 2011 - 2 Course Specials

Winter is on us again and Cape Town’s fine eateries are dishing up the usual multi-course specials. Take a look at the list below for all the 2 course options currently advertised, listed alphabetically;

1. 1802 at D’Ouwe Werf - R100

2. Aubergine - R200 (until 20^th June)

3. Beluga - R120 (Lunch)

4. Blues Restaurant - R120 (Including a glass of wine and coffee)

5. Cafe Delicieux - R125 (Dinner, Fridays)

6. Catherina’s - R165 (Lunch, including glass of wine)

7. Constantia Uitsig - R190 (Lunch, Monday to Saturday)

8. Five Flies - R120 (Mondays & Wednesdays, Dinner)

9. Hildebrand - R99 (Early Dinner)

10. Myoga - R120 (Lunch)

11. Mama Mia - R150

12. Olivella - R99

13. Sevruga - R120 (Lunch)

14. Taste Restaurant - R130 (Sunday Roast, Lunch)

15. Terroir - R170 (Includes glass of wine)

16. The Cove - R120

17. The Black Marlin - R115 (Including glass of wine, until end July)

18. The Square - R130 (Lunch)

19. Trees Restaurant - R95 (Dinner)

20. What’s On Eatery - R99 (Includes a glass of wine)

21. Zenzero - R155 (Including as glass of wine or grappa)

The above specials are as listed on numerous online sources but we’d recommend you double check that these specials are still running when you make your reservation.

Posted on: June 3rd, 2011 BHC: Carne: Could Do Better

TH: **½
GS: ***
RL: **½
BH: ***

Average rating: ***

For “C”, we thought we’ve give 95 on Keerom’s sister restaurant; Carne.

As their website puts so elegantly, Giorgio Nava, well known chef and proprietor of Cape Town’s award winning 95 Keerom, has spread his Milanese flair with the opening of his second signature restaurant: “Carne SA”, situated directly opposite 95’s front door in Keerom Street. Dedicated entirely to meat, as is evident from its Italian name, Carne SA is a carnivore’s paradise; serving a unique offering of the finest cuts of Romagnola beef and Dorper lamb, off Giorgio’s very own Karoo farm.

As with 95, Carne’s interiors are well considered and the the slick masculine finishes are well suited for an (almost) meat only menu.

The menu boasts free range, grass fed meat, dry aged in their own fridges and, as I’ve mentioned earlier, the Dorper lamb even hails from Giorgio’s farm in the Karoo. With all this, you expect the meals to be phenomenal and the meat to make you cry as you taste the first bite. High expectations indeed…

As usual, we wanted to give the Featured Restaurant every opportunity to impress, so we ordered 4 different starters, mains and desserts.

For starters, TH had the “Primi” Raviolo, which she found a little unremarkable, while GS sampled the Veal Tongue with poached tongue salad. Again, nothing exciting to report, but more concerning was that the dish looked a little bit like suspect sandwich meat. RL had the Carpaccio which was “fine”, although cut a little thicker than she liked. Not a great start, but not an awful one either. Wanting to see what they could do with a veggie dish, I ordered the Asparagus. Surprisingly, I actually quite enjoyed mine. Unlike the usual flash-blanched asparagus you’d normally receive, Carne gives theirs a quick flip on the griddle for a smoky, chargrilled touch that worked very well with the distinct Asparagus flavour and parmesan shavings.

For mains, GS tired the marinated leg of Dorper Lamb which he found unusually tough and not at all “lamb-y” in flavour or experience. A great fan of lamb dishes, RL admitted that if she had ordered his dish, she would have been greatly disappointed.

As an experiment in different meat cuts, TH, RL and I decided to give their three classic steaks a go. In theory, this would give us the best of tenderness, flavor and the middle ground. TH had the Sirloin, the most tender, I had the Rump, the most flavoursome, and RL had the Ribeye, a mix of both. The result were not as one might have expected… the Sirloin had a stronger flavour than the Rump and both were equal in their mostly-tender texture. Unfortunate as we had hoped the Sirloin would melt in our mouths, and the Rump would shout with richness. In contrast, the Ribeye, the supposed “happy medium”, was the most tender and flavoursome, but a little too chargrilled and tasted like braai meat at times. Surprised? We were.

Not having had such a great meal so far, we moved onto desserts. TH & GS decided to simply have a glass of dessert wine while RL surcumed to the “95″ Chocolate Soufflé. Although this dessert was more fondant than soufflé, it was rich and decadent with a runny centre, but not over the top. RL naturally wolfed it down. I decided to check out the infamous Grappa trolley - literally a trolley filled to the brim with various grappa’s and digestifs. After smelling a few and listending to our waiters explainations, I selected one I thought wouldn’t kill me and a single espresso to accompany, in true Italian style. It was a little different, but in a good way and the grappa I chose, the name of which I can neither remember or pronounce, went down smoothly

All in all, we went to Carne expecting the meat to blow us away and it simply didn’t. It was simply “okay” but we had high hopes and were probably overly critical as a result. That said, the prices weren’t outrageous so I didn’t leave feeling ripped off, although the starters are a little steep. I was simply disappointed. On the other hand, if it weren’t for the average food, Carne would be amazing. The service was spot on; a healthy mix of casual and professional, our waiter was very knowledgeable and eager to please. The venue is chic and modern with a timeless elegance to it. So many “hits” but such an important “miss”.

I think the lesson to be learnt here, is that if you’re going to specialise in a particular type of dish - make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.

Ambiance: ****
Service: ****
Food: **
Wine: ***
Bathrooms: ***½

Carne SA / 70 Keerom Street / City Bowl / Cape Town / Tel: 021 424 3460 / Email: info@carne-sa.com / www.carne-sa.com

Posted on: May 5th, 2011 BHBread Cafe at the Bromwell

Bread Cafe can be found within one of the convention-challenging establishments popping up in Woodstock’s Albert Road, The Bromwell. Claiming to have Cape Town’s best Almond Croissant, this small cafe would great for breakfasts before or lunches after a morning of shopping some of Cape Town’s big name designers’ showrooms.

Prices are pretty average for a Cape Town establishment, meaning that while there may be a few cheaper options, most meals will be more than R50. That said, having sampled the Bread Club Sandwich, Salmon Bagel & the Green Chicken Curry Wrap I can tell you that the fare is fresh and tasty and well worth the visit. On top of that, they make a mean cup of coffee with their special blend, accompanied by a mini-meringue.

Bread Cafe / The Bromwell / 250 Albert Road / Woodstock / Tel: 021 447 4730 / enquires@breadcafe.co.za / www.breadcafe.co.za

Posted on: May 2nd, 2011 BHHarrie’s Pancakes - Hout Bay

If you find yourself in the “Republic of Hout Bay” and peckish after cruising the flea market, Harrie’s Pancakes is just a short walk away.

Harrie’s is laid back and unpretentious with a good measure of  special ‘Hout Bay” charm.

As you guessed, Harries specialises in pancakes, both sweet and savory, but also has a decent range of other items to choose from. We tried the Thai Chicken & Mushroom, Bobotie, Dutch Bacon, Cinnimon & Sugar and Apple Pie pancakes. I personally enjoyed the smoky flavours of the dutch Bacon, with grilled bacon bits cooked into the batter, and served with cheddar cheese.

Other highlights are the yeasty homemade Ginger Beer and little play area for the little ones, making it a great spot for a day out with the family.

Posted on: March 14th, 2011 BHPicnics at Jonkerhuis

Looking to share the last rays of summer with family or friends in a relaxed and picturesque setting? Try Jonkershuis, at the Groot Constantia Wine Estate, surrounded by vineyards and ancient Oaks, overlooking the Constantia Valley.

VINEYARD PICNIC BASKET

LOCAL CHEESE BOARD with savoury biscuits & grape relish
OLIVES & PICKLES
SLICED MEAT PLATE with piccalilli
SMOKED SNOEK PATE with orange marmalade
SPINACH & FETA QUICHE with fresh rocket
MOROCCAN CHICKPEA SALAD with peppers, apples, lentils, baby potatoes, paprika
ARTISAN FRENCH BAGUETTE
KOEKSISTER
CHOCOLATE

R270 per basket, Feeds 2 guests

VEGETARIAN PICNIC BASKET

LOCAL CHEESE BOARD with savoury biscuits & grape relish
OLIVES & PICKLES
TOMATO TART with Dijon mustard, seasonal tomatoes, puff pastry
ROASTED BUTTERNUT PATE with flavoured with honey & cinnamon
SPINACH & FETA QUICHE with fresh rocket
MOROCCAN CHICKPEA SALAD with peppers, apples, lentils, baby potatoes, paprika
ARTISAN FRENCH BAGUETTE
KOEKSISTER
CHOCOLATE

R270 per basket, Feeds 2 guests

GRAND CONSTANTIA BASKET

LOCAL CHEESE BOARD with savoury biscuits & Grape relish
OLIVES & PICKLES
SLICED MEAT PLATE with piccalilli
SMOKED SNOEK PATE with orange marmalade
SMOKED SALMON TROUT with capers, red onion & horseradish
SPINACH & FETA QUICHE with fresh rocket
MOROCCAN CHICK PEA SALAD with peppers, apples, lentils, baby potatoes, paprika
PRAWN AND AVOCADO SALAD with marie rose sauce
ARTISAN FRENCH BAGUETTE
KOEKSISTER
CHOCOLATE

R370 per basket, Feeds 2 guests

KIDS PICNIC LUNCH BOX (Includes takeaway lunch box)

BROWN ROLL with grated cheese (no butter on the roll)
LIGHTLY SALTED POPCORN
FRUIT YOGHURT
FRUIT JUICE
BARLEY STICK
CARROT STICKS
CUCUMBER STICKS
CHERRY TOMATOES

R 70 per picnic lunch box

BOOKING, CONFIRMATION & PAYMENT POLICY

Basket orders must be placed and finalized no later than 24 hours in advance.
A 50% deposit for bookings of 5 baskets or more due to confirm your reservation and the balance is payable on the day of your picnic.

Please note provisional reservations for bookings of 5 baskets or more will be released without notice should the deposit and confirmation of deposit not be received within 24 hours from the date & time of the reservation.

Please note baskets will only be kept for an hour after the initial reservation period.
Deposit payment may be made by either credit card or cash - should you wish to pay by electronic fund transfer or direct deposit, please contact us and we will issue a specialized reference number.

Be aware that an EFT or direct deposit without a reference number from Jonkershuis office will not be allocated and the booking may not be confirmed.

All prices quoted are inclusive of VAT at 14% and are based on estimates which may be revised should market related food prices flutuate.

Picnic blankets are NOT provided - however you are more than welcome to hire a blanket from the Jonkershuis. A R100 refundable deposit is required per blanket.

Welcome to bring your own blanket.
We are fully licensed and have a great selection of Cape Wines, BYO at R50 corkage per bottle.

Jonkerhuis / Groot Constantia Wine Estate / Constantia / Cape Town / Tel: 021 794 6255 / www.jonkershuisconstantia.co.za / email: info@jonkershuisconstantia.co.za

Posted on: March 11th, 2011 BHSummer Lovin’ at Pepper Club On The Beach

Enjoy the last rays of Summer watching the sunset in Camps Bay, while tucking into the following specials at Pepper Club On The Beach until 31 March 2011;

Prawn Platter, served with lemon butter & rice - R98.95

Sirloin & 3 Prawns, served with rice or chips - R98.95

Seafood Platter, served with rice or chips and a choice of sauce - R149.95

Sunset in Camps Bay wouldn’t be complete without cocktails, good news if you can get any of the following for R25;

Cosmopolitan, Caiparinha, Daiquiris, Martinis, Long Island Ice Tea, Mojito, Bloody Mary, Black or White Russian, Singapore Sling

Pepper Club On The Beach / The Promenade / Victoria Road / Camps Bay / Tel: 021 438 3174 / onthebeach@pepperclub.co.za / www.pepperclubonthebeach.co.za

Posted on: March 9th, 2011 BHBlack Marlin Evening Special Menu Continues