Joburg Staycation: The Quarters at White Light in Lanseria

March 23, 2017 by Jess 2 Comments

Joburg is all about the WORK WORK WORK vibe, and to find a few moments to get away from it all can be a bit difficult. Enter the Joburg Staycation, a trip you can take within an hour of Joburg to just chill for a night or two.

We were fortunate enough to be invited on one such trip recently to the newly renovated The Quarters at White Light in Lanseria. This 5-bedroomed place nestled among the trees, was just a 20-minute drive for us from Randburg.

The Quarters has 5 spacious bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, a small kitchenette, a lounge with a fireplace, a giant balcony and a fire pit….

Introducing: The #2017ChowList

January 26, 2017 by Jess 4 Comments

I’ve put a list together of all the Joburg restaurants I want to visit in 2017. There is a lot of them, ranging from the fanciest (also read most expensive) to the hole in the wall serving food that you don’t particularly want to Instagram.

This list just seems to grow every time I read a review online, so maybe take this as #2017ChowList – Part 1.

Being a bit uninspired by this whole blogging thing, I post most of my reviews on Instagram at the moment (which auto-posts to my facebook page) so give me a follow if you are interested in seeing the progress on the list, or simply look for the #2017ChowList hashtag if following me sounds like a big nope.

And just in case you want to stick the list on your fridge too, you can download it here:

Download the #2017ChowList

Simply fill in the for below, verify your email address and you'll be sent a link to download the #2017ChowList of restaurants to try in Joburg in 2017.

*Your email will be used to send future updates on #2017ChowList. It will not be used for spam or other horrendous activities.

You’re welcome.
K Bye.

UberEATS vs Mr D Food in Johannesburg

December 14, 2016 by Jess 5 Comments

I’m not going to deny it. I’m lazy AF. The thought of getting in the car to go and buy lunch fills me with dread. You see, we don’t have a canteen at work, so if you were too lazy to make yourself lunch, you have to hop in the car and scout the neighbourhood for something tasty.

Enter in the life changing food delivery services: UberEATS and Mr D Food. Since UberEATS has FINALLY launched in an area relevant to me (hello Fourways), I could try out their service.
At the same time, I thought it only fair to compare UberEATS vs Mr D Food, since both essentially offer the same thing.

Want R100 off your first UberEATS order? Use the code eats-uberjesska under the promotions tab in the app. This Uber EATS promo code will work in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and future cities in South Africa*

How it works

Whether you are using UberEATS or Mr D Food, you need to download the app from your App Store to your phone. The Apps for both services are pretty much identical. …

Urbanologi {Restaurant Review}

June 19, 2016 by Jess 5 Comments

I’m somewhat reluctant to share this epic restaurant with you. It’s the kind of a secret you want the world to know, but at the same time, keep to yourself, because if more people know about it, it will be fully booked forever like every other mouthwatering place in Joburg.

Urbanologi is a brand spanking new tapas style restaurant located at 1 Fox Street in Ferreirasdorp in the Joburg CBD. The middle of the gigantic, beautifully put together space is taken up by the biggest craft brewery I have ever seen. They haven’t started brewing yet, but I’m sure some fantastic beers will be gracing their taps soon (they mentioned July).

The huge open kitchen is headed up by Chef Angelo Scirocco (like the car). He used to work at The Chef’s Warehouse and Canteen on Bree Street in Cape Town (side note, if you are ever in Cape Town, make a plan to stop for their ever changing tapas menu, Liam Tomlin and his team make some amazing, delicious food)….

Bidon Bistro in Muldersdrift {Restaurant Review}

February 21, 2016 by Jess Leave a Comment

I have a bit of a soft spot for weekend breakfasts, which probably stems from my childhood. Every Saturday or Sunday growing up, my mom would make something delicious for breakfast, from crumpets to scones, freshly baked muffins and even a good ol’ fry up, it was always something to look forward to.

Now that I no longer live at home, and hate doing dishes, finding places to enjoy a good breakfast on the weekend is at the top of my priority list. I’m happy to say, my latest discovery, Bidon Bistro in Muldersdrift, ticks all the right boxes.

Located right next door to Kloofzicht, (Travel down Beyers Naude until you feel like you are in a different province, then turn left onto the R374) this newly opened, rustic little restaurant is hidden among the trees. It’s very well signposted and they boast a big parking area for cyclists, complete with a bike-wash service.

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Riversands Farmstyle Market (near Fourways)

October 1, 2015 by Jess Leave a Comment

The next time you are travelling down the road on your way to Fourways Farmers Market, consider driving a few km’s further to Riversands Farmers Market instead. No, you won’t get the rad hipster vibe or have to fight off 10 other people for somewhere to sit, but you will get some great food choices, a huge area for your dogs (and kids) to run around in, and a table to sit at to enjoy your food. (Oh and parking, there are tons of places to park around the market)

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Grain Restaurant in Maboneng

August 7, 2015 by Jess Leave a Comment

I was invited to the launch of Grain – food & wood in Maboneng, Johannesburg. A lonely restaurant on the edge of an urban park that has combined gluten free food options from Gihon Foods with a showroom of products from the Woodlady.

Interior of Grain Restaurant

This unique space has gorgeous raw wood products made from recycled wood, a number of healthy ingredients on the shelves and a small menu with a range of interesting meals.

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Breakfast Buffet at March Restaurant – Melrose Arch Hotel {Review}

May 12, 2015 by Jess 2 Comments

I’ve eaten my fair share of hotel buffet breakfasts around the world as well as in South Africa (which may explain the issues I’m having buttoning up my pants lately). Therefore, I think I’m more than qualified to gauge whether or not the exorbitant prices charged are worthwhile or if you are better off heading to the closest cafe for your morning munchies.

Psst, yes you, want to win R500? Participate in the #FoodieTruthorDare Challenge and it could be all yours. More details here – http://jesska.co.za/2016/01/22/win-r500-with-the-foodietruthordare-challenge/

Having recently stayed at the Melrose Arch Hotel, I can confidently say that they have one of the best breakfast buffets on offer. This is mainly due to the fact that all of their hot food is made to order, instead of sitting for hours in a bain marie, getting watery, cold and inedible.

You can help yourself to their continental breakfast spread, which consists of a multitude of cereals, fresh fruits, the cutest yoghurts packaged in glass jars, cold meats, cheeses, fresh pastries, breads and other sweet treats.
If that isn’t fancy enough, they even have fresh…

Copperlake Brewing Co {Restaurant Review}

May 6, 2015 by Jess 3 Comments

I may be a closet hipster. I don’t have the giant black framed glasses, or the slightly tousled festival hair, but I do appreciate the kind of restaurants where hipsters like to hang out. Restaurants where the food is served on wooden boards, and craft beer is on tap. I actually just enjoy good food, however it is served.

At the beginning of the year, I noticed signs going up on an empty shop in Broadacres shopping centre. “Copperlake Brewing Co” and after opening about 3 months ago, I finally went to try them out on a Friday night.

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A Churrasqueira – Portuguese Restaurant {Review}

March 5, 2015 by Jess Leave a Comment

A Churrasqueira used to be located on Main road in Rosettenville. Eating dinner there required parking your car in a dark side street, trusting a foreign car guard would ward off the Nigerian drug dealers and navigating past the multitude of prostitutes that hid in the shadows. The food was amazing, but the location was not what it used be back when it first opened. This is coming from someone who went to a nursery school in Rosettenville. #gangsta

Last year, the owners moved their restaurant to a house in the quiet suburbs of Brackenhurst. The new venue is beautiful, bright and clean and even boasts a playground area for the kids. For those of you who find other people’s children annoying, they have a “quieter” section of the restaurant, away from the play area. …