Friday, December 13, 2024

In MENU this issue – Platter 2025, SA Chardonnay Assn, Flagstone, CT to Exeter, Exmouth, Oxford St to Camden Town, Dim Sum in Soho, Cotswolds


After another hiatus, because we spent a few weeks in Great Britain, here we are again. This time, we tell you about the 2025 Platter’s guide launch, the very important launch of a new association of Chardonnay producers, a celebration at Flagstone winery and five stories about our trip to the UK. To open them, click on the pictures, the headlines or simply Read on…

Launch of the 2025 Platter’s Guide


The tradition of the Platter Awards is that last year's winner hosts (if possible) the current year's awards. Eben Sadie, last year’s winner, opened his new Swartland cellar this year and so had the perfect place for the function. Read on…

Launch of the SA Chardonnay Association at Marthinus Ferreira's Jordan Restaurant, Stellenbosch


We were invited to an exciting event held at Jordan Wine Estate, the Launch of the Chardonnay Association of South Africa. This has been a while coming and we are pleased to tell you that it has set off with many exciting members,

including some of our premier Chardonnay producers. And, as of yesterday, they had attracted 58 producers and more are joining. Read on…

Flagstone’s Celebrations on Saturday


An invitation from Flagstone Wines in Somerset West to an exclusive celebration of Flagstone’s remarkable achievements this year. This gave us a chance to connect with head winemaker Gerhard Swart again, as we keep seeing him at wine competitions. They have not had an event at the cellar for quite a while. Other media and trade were also invited to this celebration, as were the members of Flagstone's Wine Club. Read on…

From Cape Town to Exeter and the Jurassic Coast


And so began our epic journey to the UK. We were going for a celebration of a long and happy marriage. We had been invited by Lynne's cousins Rick and Mary Pratt to celebrate their 60th Wedding anniversary in Devon. And, generously, they funded our trip which, after a very hard year for us, was such a joy and a relief and an uplift. We booked on Emirates via Dubai as it is very economical. Read on…

Exmouth


After the Anniversary celebrations, we moved to our cousins Rick and Mary's new ground floor flat in Exmouth on the Exe estuary for a few days. Their current house in Clyst St George is only a short drive away. Read on…

A day in Oxford Street and Camden Town


After a rather fraught train trip from Exeter because our train tickets did not work, we arrived in London. Fortunately, no one scanned them! Getting from Paddington Station to our District Line Tube platform was horrendous, dragging cases and ourselves up and down endless staircases, thankfully being assisted by other passengers. Apparently, we were directed to the wrong route and there is a lift. We arrived exhausted at the home of our friend Angela in Wimbledon. Read on…

Dim Sum at The New Loon Fung restaurant in Soho's Chinatown


Sunday midday and we were off up to the West End for a reunion with good close friends, in a famous pub to be followed by a blow out afternoon at a good Chinese Dim Sum restaurant. Read on…

Two days in the Cotswolds


A trip by train to Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds to stay a couple of nights with our old friend, musician Terry Rodbard, who has visited us several times in Cape Town. Terry recently moved there after several years in Greece. Read on…

All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email

Posted by MENU at 12:42 pm 0 comments

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Dim Sum at The New Loon Fung restaurant in Soho's Chinatown

Sunday midday and we were off up to the West End for a reunion with good close friends, in a famous pub
 to be followed by a blow out afternoon at a good Chinese Dim Sum restaurant

So sad to see this, the trees lining the streets of London all seem to have diseases
This one is infected by fungus, probably brought by the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) beetle
which is first and foremost a killer of trees
The beetle burrows into the trees to breed, but takes with it a fungus which then kills the trees
Even in South Africa, we have a huge problem; we are told that we will not have any oaks in 10 years

and many are already dead

For some of her friends, it had been 30 years since they had seen Lynne
We met in a famous London Pub in Chinatown, the Salisbury
Mike and Jean Walsh, Alison Jee and her husband Alistair Edwards
and Linda Jee, who surprised us by arriving unexpectedly from Leicestershire
with her son and daughter and new baby
So good to see old friends in the flesh. We keep in touch, but reality is so much better

The organiser of the event was Chris Hutton, (known to his close friends as Buddha),
Linda Jee, LRJ, Kate Dawson, Angela Redman, our hostess in Wimbledon, and Mike Walsh

The new cherub

Off to China Town, just around the corner from Shaftesbury Avenue
Sadly, the Dim Sum restaurant we visited for years has now closed, so we were off to try a new one

Lynne used to love shopping at the Chinese supermarkets here,
it's where she could pick up unusual ingredients to make Asian food
Chef Ken Hom has a lot to answer for, all of it good
and next to the Supermarket was our destination, The New Loon Fung restaurant

We had booked a table for 10 and were taken to the top floor. The restaurant is very popular indeed

Chris (whose mother was Burmese) organising our seats and the choices on the menu
Each of us could choose a favourite and he ordered enough for one each of 10 different Dum Sum dishes

Our table in the corner. When booking at a Chinese restaurant, never book for 9, its unlucky

We drank Tsingtao beer and tea with the food

and it was fabulous. Yam croquettes are very moreish,
made of sweet potato covered in a crisp kataifi-like pastry and deep fried

CHEONG FUN – 肠粉 – RICE NOODLE ROLLS
are rice noodle rolls containing barbecue pork, prawns or, here, delicious scallops

Deep fried calamari

Yum. Where to start? well luckily the selection rolled around on the  revolving Lazy Susan
And they kept coming. Besides soy, they bring different vinegars and dipping sauces and chilli

It was a fabulous selection 

LO BAK GO – LUÓBO GĀO – 萝卜糕 – TURNIP CAKE

Steamed cabbage roll stuffed with minced beef, with ginger

NO MAI GAI – NUÒMǏ JĪ – 糯米鸡 – STICKY RICE CHICKEN LOTUS LEAF WRAP

More lotus wrapped sticky rice

SIU MAI – SHĀOMAI – 烧卖 – PORK DUMPLINGS
another favourite, as are Har gow – steamed shrimp dumplings
We can get these in Cape Town too or make them

CHA SIU BAO -叉烧包 – BBQ PORK STUFFED BUNS
Luckily we can buy these at Chinese supermakets in Cape Town, another favourite, but difficult to make

WAT GAI CHEON GUN – 滑鸡春卷
Chicken Spring Rolls

We kept our waitress rather busy
Our bill for the feast (each) came to £23.00 including drinks, tip and all the food, very, very reasonable for London
At today's rate that is R524,19 pp

Do you think he has had too much or is working up strength to have another go?

Sadly, time to say goodbye again as, the next day, we were off to the Cotwolds. Alastair always looks grumpy!
We hope we'll see some of them soon, perhaps in Cape Town?

On the way to Leicester Square tube and home. No dinner needed that night

All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email

Posted by MENU at 6:28 pm 0 comments

Launch of the SA Chardonnay Association at Marthinus Ferreira's Jordan Restaurant, Stellenbosch

We were invited to an exciting event held at Jordan Wine Estate,
the Launch of the Chardonnay Association of South Africa
This has been a while coming and we are pleased to tell you that it has set off with many exciting members,
including some of our premier Chardonnay producers
And, as of yesterday, they had attracted 58 producers and more are joining
To see who has joined, check out their web page https://chardonnayassociationsouthafrica.com/ 

The event began with a Welcome by Andre Morgenthal, Manager & Communications
Many of the members were there to showcase their Chardonnays at the event
and we had a great deal of enjoyment tasting them
This noble grape produces such beautiful wines and deserves the focus
Jordan, generously, hosted the venue and Chef Martinus Ferreira of The Jordan Restaurant supplied excellent food
to pair with the different styles of Chardonnay

The focus is on positioning South African Chardonnay to ensure it is recognised alongside the world's leading white wines,
elevating its status and influence globally. They want to highlight the unique expressions of South African Chardonnay
at both local and international events, bringing attention to the rich terroirs and craftsmanship
that set these wines apart
They support research and innovation in viticulture, winemaking techniques and marketing trends
relating to this mutable grape, enhancing climate resilience, production methods
and consumer engagement to further strengthen the industry

You can contact them on 
#chardonnayassociationsouthafrica


Jordan Restaurant Chef Marthinus Ferreira at the pass
We had a Walk-Around Tasting in the Jordan Restaurant followed by canapés and a Bowl Food Dinner
A relaxed dining experience with plenty of time for informal discussions and mingling

A humorous and pointed Address by Jordan's cellarmaster Sjaak Nelson,
Chairman of the Chardonnay Association

Winemakers and their wines for tasting ringed the back of the room
We sat and listened while the speeches were made

Doekie and Rejeanne Vlietman of Den Anker

Winemakers, wine and media

Intent audience

A Keynote speech by Michael Fridjhon, esteemed wine expert, critic, writer, importer and educator
He highlighted the complex history of Chardonnay in South Africa and gave a validation speech
which certainly highlighted the motivation and the need for the Association
"This is a game changer for the SA Wine Industry", he said. "[Chardonnay] has finally come of age" 

Specs on, Chardonnay at the ready were listeners from Delaire Graff, Oldenburg and Thelema

The kitchen busy doing the prep

Rapt attention

Craig Wessels of Restless River and Maryna Calow of WOSA

Johannes Richter of Wineland Magazine with Hannes Storm

Johann de Wet of Dewetshof with Paul Cluver winemaker Chelsea Corney

Nic van Aarde, Oldenburg winemaker and Thomas Webb of Thelema

Monet Janse van Rensburg of Cavalli with Jan-Nico Coetzee, Head of Wine Sales at Delaire Graff Estate

Gottfried Mocke, Cap Maritime winemaker, Boekenhoutkloof's new brand from the Hemel and Aarde

Samantha O'Keefe, owner-winemaker of Lismore in Greyton
She is also the current Chair of the Cape Winemakers Guild

pouring for Marthinus Ferreira

Happy chef, happy life

Thea van der Merwe and Stephanie van Oppell, Journey's End

Glenwood cellarmaster DP Burger and LRJ

Two wines from Haute Cabriere

presented by the winemaker, Tim Hoek

 Welma and Martin Smith, Paserene

David Finlayson, Edgebaston owner-winemaker and his sister Carolyn Martin, Creation co-owner

Carsten Migliarina and Rejeanne Vlietman

Chantelle van Heerden, Quoin Rock brand manager

Higgo Jacobs and Christine Rudman with Johnnie Calitz, Glen Carlou winemaker

Some food for the photographer, who often forgets to eat

Capensis Chardonnay

Rogge Kloof from the Sutherland Karroo region, the highest wine growing region in South Africa

All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email

Posted by MENU at 5:42 pm 0 comments
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