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….

Panteli’s Italian Kitchen {Restaurant Review}

January 14, 2016 by Jess 1 Comment

New restaurants don’t open often in my neighbourhood, so I’m always eager to try them out when they do open. Panteli’s Italian Restaurant in Boskruin opened a few weeks ago at Summerfields shopping centre at the same time the revamped Pick ‘n Pay opened. There have been a few different pizza restaurants in this spot since I have lived in the area, but I think Panteli’s is the best one so far.

I ordered pizzas as take aways from a very enthusiastic waitress. After about 15 minutes they were ready, and I was also informed that they offer free delivery in the area….

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.

…

Nougat and Nutella Cinnamon Buns

July 5, 2015 by Jess 4 Comments

The idea for these nougat and Nutella cinnamon buns started in Clarens. I was browsing the shelves of the Purple Onion Deli, and came across a jar of nougat spread. The label stated that it would be delicious spread on warm cinnamon buns, and the seed was planted.

Fast forward a few weeks with dreams of nougaty cinnamon buns, I received a recipe book to review that fell open on a Cinnabun recipe. Fate I tell you.

The recipe called for raisins (*shudder*), and since that was never going to happen, I smashed some frozen nougat with a hammer and used that as a filling instead. The idea was to melt the nougat spread, so I could drizzle it over the top of the buns, but that resulted in a catastrophic mess in the microwave. Note to self. Plastic bags, sugary treats and microwaves = sticky inedible disasters. And possible fire hazards. I shouldn’t be left unsupervised.

I was rescued by Nutella. (If I ever write a book, that’s going to be the title.) I drizzled some melted Nutella over the top of the buns, topped them with chunks of nougat and TADA! Pure Food Magic!

The nougat chunks inside the cinnamon buns melt and start turning into a crunchy caramel. It’s pretty freaking awesome.

Make these if you have patience to wait for dough to rise (patience is not my strong point). Eat them warm. For dinner. And breakfast.

Recipe adapted from The Ultimate Snowflake Collection (a South African recipe book with easy to follow recipes, and awesome pictures, and it’s only about R200)

Nougat and Nutella Cinnamon Buns

Delicious for breakfast, dinner or any other time you need to treat yourself to doughy goodness.

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

For the buns

4 cups (560g ) Snowflake cake flour
1 tsp (5ml) salt
¼ cup (50g) sugar
1 sachet (10g) instant yeast
½ cup (125ml) lukewarm milk
2 large eggs
80g butter melted

For the filling

125g nougat
30g butter, melted
½ cup (100g) sugar
2 Tbsp (30ml) cinnamon

For the topping

4 Tbsp Nutella
1 Tbsp Milk

Instructions

For the buns

Sift together the flour, salt and sugar.
Add the yeast.
Whisk together the warm milk, melted butter and eggs and add to the flour mixture and mix to form a dough (make sure the mixture is lukewarm and not too hot otherwise the eggs will cook and be gross)
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic
Place the dough in a clean, oiled bowl and cover, leave in a warm place to rise until its double in size (this took an hour for me in winter in a sunny spot)

For the filling

Place the nougat in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to freeze up. Hit with a heavy object to crush the nougat into chunks. Alternatively cut it with a knife. The smashing is more therapeutic.
Mix together the cinnamon and sugar.
Bash down the dough, and knead it on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth.
Roll it out into a rectangle about 20cmx40cm.
Brush the melted butter on the pastry leaving a 1cm gap around the edges
Sprinkle over the cinnamon and sugar mixture, and the nougat chunks
Roll the dough up tightly from the short end, and cut into 2cm slices.
Arrange the slices on a greased baking tray, leaving a gap of about 1cm between each slice.
Cover the tray and leave in a warm spot to rise for 15 minutes.
Pre heat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
Place the buns in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

For the topping

Place the nutella in a microwave safe container (I used a teacup) and heat for 15 seconds on high or until warm and slightly runny
Add the milk and mix until incorporated.
Drizzle over the cinnamon buns

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the The Ultimate Snowflake Collection from Snowflake to review. All thoughts and views expressed are my own.

My Fancy Fat Pants go on a Gastronomic Journey

July 3, 2015 by Jess 1 Comment

Man, I love good food (in case it wasn’t obvious) so any opportunity where I can indulge in a meal that has been painstakingly prepared for me, deserves the donning on the fancy fat pants. Fancy fat pants, for those of you who are not familiar, are pants that are nice enough in appearance to wear to a 5 star hotel, but made from stretchy fabric, so they have a bit of give during a night of ultimate indulgence.

My visit to Level 4 at 54 on Bath was the perfect time to put on my FFP, because a 3 course meal awaited. I knew I was in for a treat that would end with me thinking, just one more bite <<<<stretch>>>>>.

The winter menu at Level 4 is filled with comfort food favourites, jooshed up and beautifully presented.

For starters I ordered the Smoked venison carpaccio, oxtail croquette, black currant mustard and quince. That smoky carpaccio was amazing, perfectly salty and complimented well by the black currant mustard. I was not a fan of the texture of the quinces, but the hit of sweetness made the dish tie together.

Venison Carpaccio

For mains I tried the most South African sounding item on the menu, lamb ribbetjies, with lamb rump, peas, pumpkin and peach chutney. I’m pretty sure I was served an entire sheep, and was unable to finish the delicious lamb that I’m sure songs will be written about. Flavour explosion.

Under that big piece of lamb on the right, is another piece of lamb!!!

And dessert, hazelnut molten cake, with caramel popcorn, ice cream and chocolate pearls. Piping hot chocolate moreish nom noms. <~ professional food terms. That popcorn was life changing, my only complaint is that there wasn’t more of it on my plate. Imagine popcorn covered in caramelised sugar and topped with chunky salt flakes. YUM.

Hazelnut molten cake

Malva Pudding

Thanks to Tsogo Sun and 54 on Bath for hosting me and my partner. I love you guys. Totes for real.

Rapunzel’s Castle in Clarens {Review}

June 27, 2015 by Jess 10 Comments

Once upon a time, in a field in the middle of the Free State, stood a majestic castle, fit for a princess. Named after a royal lass with golden more-than-mermaid-length hair, Rapunzel’s Castle in Clarens is a real life fairytale that makes you wish you had donned a tiara and twirly dress for your visit.

The back garden at Rapunzel’s Castle in Clarens

I came across this castle in an obscure article in 2014, and ever since have been dying to stay in it. Luckily for us, they didn’t have any bookings for the night we wanted to stay, so we paid over the monies, packed the royal carriage, and off we went….

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…

The Rolls that Revolutionised Economy Class Dining.

April 24, 2015 by Jess 2 Comments

Recently I attended a lunch as a guest of Qantas Airways. It wasn’t in one of their planes, but it was their plane food, served in a swanky location in Sandton, by flight attendants off airplane trolleys. (That’s halfway there)

I have suffered through a number of average (and downright ghastly) economy class meals, the only highlight being the occasional tub of ice cream, or a vacuum packed cookie, and to say I was sceptical about the experience I was about to have was putting it mildly.

Side Note: my golden rule, irrespective of carrier, is NEVER eat the egg dish in the morning, it has served me well, when compared to my travelling companions.

Boy was I pleasantly surprised, Qantas has recently revamped their entire economy menu, which was extensively tested on actual flights before being rolled out globally. They include locally inspired meals as well as a healthy salad option for those of you off on an Australian Beach Holiday.

On their awesome more modern planes (some of which travel to Joburg) they have a self service snack bar, complete with the well known Aussie favourite of Tim Tams, in addition to chips, choccies and fresh fruit. You could pretty much eat non stop on your flight if you wanted to.

…

#ChickenWingChallenge: Mo-zo’s Fast Food

October 9, 2014 by Jess Leave a Comment

We are currently on the hunt for Joburg’s best chicken wings. Follow our #chickenwingchallenge posts to find the tastiest wings that the city of gold has on offer.

Got a favourite we haven’t tried yet? Let us know in the comments.

Meet the hungry people:

Jess

The Fussy Eater

Eats chicken wings like a lady, dabbing the corners of her mouth as she goes, prefers flavour over fire and mistrusts menu descriptions.

Tyron

Chicken Wing Expert

Has an appetite for chicken wings that would put Molly Schuyler to shame. Likes them hot and spicy like his woman. Must be served with beer.

The Verdict:

Where: Mo-Zo’s Fast Food

What: 6 buffalo wings in BBQ sauce

Cost: R35

Cooking Method: Flame grilled, then coated with extra sauce

Service: Quick and Friendly

She says: Mo-zo’s is like the disappointing younger brother to Mozambik, the kid that is never bragged about, the under-achiever that is just passed by. These wings were so dry (as was the half chicken we ordered), and the sauce they were coated in was mediocre, nothing that made my taste buds dance.

He says: The wings were a bit dry, not very tasty and not very big. Maybe if we had gotten the peri peri ones they would have been tastier. Definitely won’t be rushing back.

Worth it: Nope. This takeaway joint hasn’t maintained their standards from when they first opened (you can read my review here). Skip it.

Nineteen69 Pub and Grill {Restaurant Review}

August 31, 2014 by Jess 8 Comments

Since writing this review, I had an issue with my images being stolen by the restaurant and being used without permission on their website, only after I emailed, and then resorted to contacting the web designer, did they get removed. The restaurant was unwilling to remove the images themselves. This obviously left a bad taste in my mouth, and I cannot recommend that you visit this establishment.

My original review is below, you can read it, but meh.

I was quite surprised when the Keg in Boskruin closed, well not entirely, it was a bit of a hole, but it was a busy hole, especially on weekends and major sporting event evenings. The restaurant stood empty for a number of months, but recently it was renovated and a new restaurant by the name of Nineteen69 opened up. We went for lunch 3 days after they opened, and they were astoundingly busy for a new establishment.

Located on the left end of Boskruin Village Shopping Centre, with red chairs and white tables behind big glass doors that enclose the outside balcony, the place has had a complete overhaul. The interior has tiles that look like wooden floors and the walls are plastered with reprinted adverts and journals from 1969. A giant wooden bar, complete with Jack Black Craft beer, is accessible from inside the restaurant, as well as from the balcony. A giant couch in the corner is perfect for those who just want to chat and drink, and an oversized clock will ensure that you get home before your carriage turns back into a pumpkin.

My only gripe with the arrangement of the restaurant is that there is no separate smoking section, so if you sit outside, or even close to the door inside, you will get to share in the second hand smoke of other patrons. Not something I’m used to since all the strict smoking laws came into play.

The menu has a number of options from “build your own” platters, pizzas, burgers, nachos and prego rolls. They also sell Lindt brownies and you can even order strips of bacon as a bar snack. We ordered the chicken nachos and a beef prego and all the food is served on wooden boards or in frying pans (very hipster).

The nachos were a generous portion of deep fried(why you would do this, I don’t know) tortilla chips, covered in cheese and dolloped with guacamole, salsa, chicken stips and chopped chillis. They were tasty (my boyfriend reckons my homemade ones are better), but the deep frying of nacho chips seemed unnecessary.

The prego had a fairly large piece of beef on it, and was served with double fried chips in a metal bucket. The steak was too tough to eat with my hands, and I had to cut it up with a knife and fork, the Portuguese roll was a bit stale, but the sauce they put on it was delicious. I would give this item a skip, unless they change the way they make it.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad experience, the waiter was fairly attentive and very friendly, we will go back again in a few weeks time to see if the food has improved.

Disclaimer: THE PICTURES IN THIS POST BELONG TO ME. DON’T USE THEM