December

and trying to get festive

Trying to muster up a festive spirit at this bleak time in South Africa where the world has shut us out is very difficult. Just when we were bouncing back on track with international tourists streaming in, politicians deemed it necessary to block us from the world. I’m spitting mad. Along with the constant living in limbo around Covid restrictions and pending 4th wave, it’s all so exhausting. At least we can have delicious festive food to prepare and hopefully enjoy with our family and friends.

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Out & About

The Winchester Mansions has reopened in Sea point after a 90 million rand refurb. It’s looking stunning. How they managed to preserve their iconic bougainvillea in the courtyard throughout this is a mystery. Their restaurant, Shoreditch is serving a small plate menu where everything is cooked over coals. It’s concise and all the dishes we tasted were delicious. I’m going back for the tuna tacos, the dirty ribeye with chimichurri, and the filled churros. All their staff are vaxxed and this should be the norm.

Geuwels has opened on Vergenoegd Löw The Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. This is Bertus Bassons’s latest restaurant with head chef and co-owner Drikus Brink (ex-head chef of Overture). Open for breakfast and lunch the menu is inspired by South African cuisine and flavours. Expect small sharing plates from an evolving seasonal menu and the jaffle filled with a sublime curry and toasted with beef fat is not to be missed. The famous ducks are still on the farm but are no longer paraded around. They eat snails in the vineyards and supply eggs for the breakfast menu. We got a sneak peek into the new and beautiful fine dining restaurant and functions venue called Clara’s which is set to open early next year.

Due to being smothered in work, I haven’t managed to post about my stay in the Tankwa in the little Karoo recently but will do so in my next newsletter. Along with all the details of an amazing stay at Halfaampieskraal in the Overberg. Both places were food for the soul.

Christmas inspiration

I look forward to Christmas food all year and I’m a big fan of this holiday.

I keep a running post with all my favourite Christmas recipes so you can browse them all, but these are a few things I would put straight onto my Christmas feasting list:

The best chicken liver pate is always a winner around the holiday. Picnics, drinks, and snacks, etc. Along with bacon-wrapped chipolata sausages roasted with honey & rosemary served with mustard cream.

A great starter salad is this raw salmon salad with goat’s cheese and pine nuts or for something a little different, my easy duck pancakes with plum sauce are festive.

For Mains, my Gammon cooked with ginger beer and rooibos tea is my Go-To. I cook it in the Instant Pot but you could easily adapt it to a stove-top cook if you didn’t have this amazing appliance. The Confit duck legs with a cherry sauce (also done in the Instant Pot) is a special dish and so hands-off.

Sides - check out my list of the best vegetable side dishes or my honey & almond Hassleback butternut (see below). Christmas would not be Christmas without my best ever duck-fat roast potatoes.

Creamed onion and blue cheese gratin is an unctuous and decadent old favourite that I think needs a revisit

Desserts are always the easiest and I could honestly list about 500 here, but for lighter and bright, Summer berry Eton mess with pistachios is easy to make in advance and delicious. Or pink swirl meringues with pomegranate syrup (or turn that into a pavlova with berries).

Christmas holidays are not complete without mince pies and these apple and mince pie crumble bars are way more delicious than a mince pie. Buttery shortbread topped with apple and fruit mince, more shortbread, and toasted almonds.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Peel’s honey, the oldest honey producer in South Africa has an incredible range of honey and honey products on their website. They are offering my readers a 20% DISCOUNT site-wide until the 31st of December. Use Code: DND20% at check out.

SHOP PEEL’S

Recent recipes on my blog

Almond & Honey Hasselback butternut

This is a show-stopper of a vegetarian side dish for Christmas

Creamy chicken with red peppers and spinach

Greek lamb souvlaki with easy homemade pita

Cheesy baked gnocchi with a creamy tomato sauce and spinach

Chicken, sausage & potato tray roast

Berry smoothie bowls with banana and granola

In case you missed it, my new eBook ‘Comfort’ is launched and you can purchase a direct download copy here.

Thank you for reading my newsletter here and please stay safe.

Sam xox