The countdown to my culinary adventure in Spain has begun. I'm eagerly anticipating basking in the final days of the European summer and escaping this dreadful winter. Spain was the first country I ever visited outside of South Africa at age 16, and apart from a short holiday to Ibiza when I was 25 I haven’t been back. Researching where to eat is a priority when I plan a trip and we are visiting a few delicious places. I adore Spanish flavours and can’t wait to take you along with me. Make sure you follow me on Instagram as I share my trip starting on 4 September. Leave a comment if you have any restaurant recommendations in Madrid, Barcelona and San Sebastian.
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What I’ve been cooking
Creamy one-pan orzo with chicken, mushroom & spinach
This is a delicious one-pan wonder that comes together in 20 minutes with leftover store-bought rotisserie chicken. If you live in South Africa you all know the one I am talking about. Garlic and thyme add delicious flavour along with the umami-laden mushrooms & goat’s cheese. This is a keeper.
Halloumi saganaki with sultanas & pecans
Inspired by my love of Greece, this fried halloumi dish with a warm salad of sultanas and pecans hits the perfect savoury/sweet balance that is ultra more-ish. Fried rosemary leaves add a pop of crunchy flavour.
Classic Greek lamb moussaka with eggplants
I controversially left the potatoes out of this delicious Moussaka recipe and I’m not sorry. This lowers the carbs and I loved it (as did two of my Greek and Cypriot friends). This one is going straight to my favourite recipes for 2023 list. You can see my top recipes of 2022 with links to all past year round-ups.
A few other Greek-inspired recipes you might like:
Chicken kebabs with yoghurt, paprika and lemon
Spinach and 3-cheese phyllo pie with herbs (spanakopita)
I made the best ever French onion grilled cheese sandwich with utterly incredible La Motte sourdough bread.
I also produced two new easy and healthy Air Fryer recipes:
Chicken fajitas (baked for extra crispiness)
Healthy Air Fryer frittata loaded with vegetables
Where I’ve been eating
The iconic Belmond Mount Nelson has recently launched their Verandah Experience, by Executive Chef George Jardine and Sous Chef Brinelle Cunningham.
I was invited to experience a delicious three course dinner last week in this beautiful conservatory space. The area is cosy in winter, and in summer, the doors open up to the gardens and al-fresco dining is de rigueur.
The dishes are elegant but not fussy, generous and delicious. Vegetarians and vegans will find options too. Chef George, known for his commitment to seasonal and sustainable produce, will create hyper-seasonal a la carte menus that change every two weeks, featuring locally infused and globally relevant flavours & ingredients.
The Verandah Experience pays homage to organic purveyors and includes dishes from The Nellie's new Wild Foods Garden. Restaurant manager and sommelier Keegan Terry offers expertly curated wine pairings.
Where I’ve been staying
Temenos Retreat in McGregor
I visited the quaint town of Mc Gregor for (embarrassingly) the first time last month and loved every bit of it. We stayed at the beautiful and incredibly tranquil Temenos Reteat where Chef Christiaan Campbell (ex Boschedndal) and his wife Moya head up the kitchen and hospitality of the property. You can read all about my weekend here.
La Petite Ferme in Franschhoek
A few weeks ago I was invited to spent a wonderful night at La Petite Ferme.
It was a Friday and another big Cape storm was rolling in. We stayed in a beautiful suite in the Manor House which was so cosy and luxurious. With fireplaces throughout the restaurant and views over the Franschhoek Valley, it was the perfect place to gather around a large table with interesting strangers over a citrus-themed food & wine-paired dinner.
I loved the Jerusalem artichoke soup with spiced seed crunch and fried sage, the fish course of delicious prawns and scallops, and the main course of duck breast with an orange glaze.
The Themed Evenings take place on the last Friday of April – September. A five-course dinner with wine pairing is set at R1 450 per head.
Dinners are inspired by a primary flavour theme. The chefs choose an ingredient which will be used across all five courses paired with an estate wine. The remaining two events for the year include:
Themed evening 3: Mushroom - Friday 25 August
Themed evening 4: Chocolate – Friday 29 September
To reserve your table for a La Petite Wine & Food Experience send an e-mail to reception@lapetiteferme.co.za
The accommodation at La Petite Ferme is really fantastic. You can see images of the Vineyard Suites from a previous stay here. The four suites in the Manor House are very spacious with a lounge area that has a built-in fireplace. They all have an outside area and access to a huge shared pool.
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Sam x
Spain! Vermut! Jamon! Amazing olive oil ... I could go on. One of my favourite memories was catching the local bus to Getaria from San Sebastián for lunch at El Kano. It was more formal than I expected but the fish was one of the best meals I have ever eaten (this was 2016). And the bonus is you can walk 100m up the hill and visit the Balenciaga Museum which was fantastic. Plus the clusters of blue wooden boats, the women sitting in tiny stools mending fishing nets and the low key vibe. But really, you can’t go wrong anywhere in Spain I think.