Main Ingredient's list of Valentine's Day events 2010

Valentine’s Day events. February 2010

Main Ingredient and its owners endeavour to make this list as accurate as current information allows. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the list
Click on the blue bits to open the links to websites
Spoil your Valentine at The House of J.C. Le Roux
Sparkling wine and romance have always been a perfect match. Celebrate your love at The House of J.C. Le Roux on Valentine’s Day with a romantic food and sparkling wine affair in picturesque Devon Valley outside Stellenbosch.
Spoil your loved one with one of the special Valentine’s menus Seasons Restaurant has to offer. From a Mediterranean mezze, kingklip, char grilled sirloin with black mushrooms, to the sweetest delights such as hazelnut and white chocolate parfait, créme brûlée OR divine cheese cake – more reason to fall in love all over again!
The menus are priced from R79.00 – R235.00 per person, and include a glass of sparkling, chocolate hearts and a beautiful cupcake on arrival. If you want to reserve your table, contact The House of J.C le Roux on 021 865 8200 OR visit http://www.jcleroux.co.za/ for more information.


Meloncino Restaurant Valentine's Day menu: Price: R225.00 per person (excluding Service Charge of 10%)
Aperitivo: A complimentary Italian aperitif will be served on arrival – Antipasti: Carpaccio di carne con salsa di miele e mostarda servita con marmellata di cipolle dolci con rucola e scaglie di Parmigiano. (Beef carpaccio with a honey and mustard dressing, served with a sweet red onion confete and topped with fresh rocket and shavings of Parmesan) OR Insalata di calamari marinati alla grigla serviti su un letto di rucola e peperoni marinati guarniti con coriander fresco, menta e limone. (Marinated grilled calamari salad served on a bed of rocket and marinated pepper, topped with a fresh coriander, mint and lemon dressing) *** Secondi Piatti: Petto di anatra con salsa alla crema di mandarino e vodka, accompagnata da una salsa di chutney servita su letto di polenta soffice. (Breast of duck topped with a creamy mandarin vodka sauce, accompanied by a home-made gooseberry chutney. Served on a bed of soft polenta) OR Filetto di kingklip fresco, fritto con il pangrattato e salsa di pomodori pachino con basilico fresco servito in un letto di pure’ di patate leggero. (Freshly filleted Kingklip, sautéed with garlic infused cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. Served on a bed of light potato puree) OR Risotto con salsa ai quattro tipi di funghi e asparaghi croccanti, con spruzzata di parmigiano fresco (Risotto infused with a varietal of four mushrooms and crisp asparagus, then finished off with a sprinkling of Italian Parmesan)  *** Dolce: Panforte fatto in casa al cioccolato e noci, alla salsa di amaretti e spuma di noci. (Amaretti infused panforte with chocolate and nuts. Served with a hazelnut foam) OR Millefoglie con crema pasticcera e frutti di bosco con salsa di cioccolato caldo. (Layers of puff pastry filled with pastry cream, fresh blueberries and drizzled with a hot chocolate sauce).
Book now. Shop 259, Upper Level, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town 8001 Tel: +27 (0)21 419 5558 Fax: +27 (0)21 419 5559 Email: info@meloncino.co.za


Vanilla Restaurant, Cape Quarter

Shop 017, The Square Cape Quarter Extension, De Waterkant.  Website: http://www.vanillarestaurant.co.za/  Phone: 021 421 1391 VALENTINE’S DAY ROSÉ MENU

Amuse Bouche: Steak tartare on a brioche crostini, Served with Riebeek Cellars Pinotage Rosé ***** Quail: Pan-fried deboned half quail served with a beetroot and cumin purée, fondant potatoes and ginger caramel. Served with Dornier Cocoa Hills Rosé ***** Norwegian Salmon: Cured and seared fresh Norwegian salmon served on citrus and vanilla risotto with a shaved baby fennel salad. Served with Kleine Zalze Gamay Noir Rosé ***** Tasting of Vanilla: Summer berry and Champagne jelly with ice-cream Swiss roll and a free-standing crème brûlée. Served with Kloovenburg White from Red Brut ***** Coffee and truffles.  R350.00 per person. Ala carte menu also available

LOVE IS… Spending VALENTINE’S week-end on the WEST COAST
GROOTVLEI GUEST FARM, 6kms from the seaside village of Lambert’s Bay offers a special Valentine’s package in one of our unique guesthouses GROOTVLEI LUXURY GUEST HOUSE B&B and GROOTVLEI GUEST HOUSE OF THE DUNES B&B. Spend ONE night with your Valentine and get one night FREE on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 June
Contact Jaconette at 027 432 2716 for more information


Valentine’s Day at Kingsriver Estate: 14 February 2010
In addition to an aphrodisiac infused menu, this Valentine’s Day visitors to the Kingsriver Estate will be serenaded by John Hargreaves who will be performing on a host of different instruments, including the saxophone and piano, whilst singing his self penned love songs.
Tickets cost R150 per person and include a three course meal. If you are planning a romantic weekend away for two, accommodation is also available at our Kingsriver Guest House. To make a reservation (booking is essential), please contact Madie Maans on 023 625 1040 OR visit http://www.kingsriver-estate.com/ for more information.


Prue Leith Chefs Academy
262 Rhino Street, Hennopspark, Ext2, Centurion. ph +27 (0) 12 654-5203 newsletter@pausebreak.co.za
Valentine’s Day Menu, 13 February @ R300 p/p
Complimentary glass of MCC on arrival *** Bread basket: Sun-dried tomato bread *** Amuse-Bouche *** Miniature brioche a tête, foie gras terrine, cassis jelly *** Entrée: Home made feta and watermelon salad, Avocado marble, mint and pomegranate dressing *** Soup: Gazpacho consommé, Pink and black pepper grissini *** Main Course: Oak smoked Cradle trout, Roasted artichoke ravioli, prawn popcorn, tomato salsa, saffron vinaigrette and beurre blanc OR Marinated duck breast, Caramelized peaches, grilled asparagus, pommes fondant, Chianti jus *** Dessert: Berries and cream, Strawberry shortcake, blueberry cheesecake ice cream and almond crumble, champagne and berry jelly, black forest mousse cake, rose croquembouche Friandise: Hand made chocolates, Hazelnut praline


St Luke’s Hospice Valentine Sunset Picnic at Buitenverwachting
St Luke’s Hospice turns 30 years old this year, and what better way to show your support than to join us for our romantic sunset Valentine Picnic?
Enjoy a delicious picnic with an exciting menu from the Picnic Company, whilst listening to the music of Dead Cat bounce on the beautiful lawns of Buitenverwachting Farm. A complimentary bottle of Buitenverwachting wine is included in the picnic.
The event starts at 16h00 until 20h00 and will take place at Buitenverwachting Farm, Klein Constantia Road, Constantia. Early booking is advisable as space is limited and tickets sell fast! Contact Pam Bosman on 021 797 5335 OR email fundraising@stlukes.co.za to make your booking. Visit http://www.stlukes.co.za/ Funds raised through this event will go towards the care of our over 650 terminally ill patients.
Menu is as follows: Biltong slices (OR Spicy crackle mix – for vegetarians only) *** Mini mielie meal loaf with smoked snoek terrine (OR smoked vegetarian terrine for vegetarians only) *** Refreshing cous cous salad *** Kitka roll filled with smoked beef, mozzarella, mustard & rocket (OR fresh Mediterranean wrap of grilled haloumi cheese, roasted red peppers & rocket – for vegetarians only) *** Camembert skewer with grape preserve *** Savoury biscuits *** Apple crumble tartlet with vanilla cream
You will also receive a complimentary bottle of Buitenverwachting wine. Teas, coffees & cool drinks will also be on sale.


Pepper Club on the Beach, Camps Bay's latest fine dining restaurant and cocktail bar, invites you and your loved one to celebrate this year's Valentine's Day in style. Watch the sun set as you sip champagne and sample the latest in fresh summer flavours. Setting a romantic tone for the evening, renowned South African musician Chris Swanepoel will also be singing a selection of the greatest love songs.
Receive a complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival. Limited seats available, so book now! For bookings contact: 021 438 3174, onthebeach@pepperclub.co.za
Pepper Club on the Beach is the official beach club of the R400 million luxury hotel and spa, Pepper Club.


Cuvée at Simonsig. Valentine’s Day at Cuvée
13 February 2010, Saturday dinner, 5 courses
Upon arrival, a glass of brut rose *** amuse bouche *** fresh oysters poached in Belgian white chocolate and brut rosewith beluga caviar *** pink Scottish salmon tartare with pickled ginger and crisp pink lady apple wafers *** terrine of foie grass with fresh Karoo fig carpaccio and toasted coconut and vanilla cake *** fresh Mooiberge strawberry and Johan Malan grappa sorbet *** loin of Karoo lamb rubbed with truffle salt, butternut mousseline and baby vine tomato butter *** fresh black cherry soup with double Belgian couverture chocolate semi-freddo and crushed almond tuile *** coffee and friandes


Lunch, Sunday, 14th February 2010
3 course: upon arrival: glass of brut rose *** cucumber with crème fraiche, dill and pickled ginger *** seared pink Scottish salmon with raw shaved beetroot, dried cranberry and pink apple cream OR coconut dusted fried baby calamari with mesclun of watercress, parmesan and truffle mayonnaise *** flame grilled fillet of beef with roasted hillcrest blue berries and wild mushroom and gorgonzola cream OR grilled fresh white fish with cauliflower and oak smoked apple puree and almond and brandy cream *** macadamia nut meringue and dark Belgian chocolate terrine with white Belgian chocolate crème anglaise OR slow sugar roasted Mooiberge strawberries with hazelnut praline sabayon
Phone: 021 888 4932 or email simonsig@winebusiness.co.za

SATURDAY 13 FEB IS VALENTINE'S DINNER AT
SOCIETI BISTRO!

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL!
http://www.societi.co.za/8Feb10.html

Olivello Restaurant. Join us for a romantic candellit dinner on Saturday 13th February
Marianne Wine Farm, Valley Road on the R44, Klapmuts, Stellenbosch. [road map] Telephone: +27(0)21-8755443. Fax: +27(0)21 8755483 ...www.olivello.co.za/ e-mail to restaurant@olivello.co.za
Sundowner Classic Kir Royale made with L’Avenir Brut Rose Cap Classique 2008 **** Contemporary Caesar Salad. Franschhoek smoked salmon and green asparagus on crispy cos lettuce pecorino shavings and garlic croutes **** Deliciously Sticky Citrus Free Range Roast Duck, scented with star anise, chilli and fresh ginger, served with steamed green beans almondine and crispy roast potatoes OR  Classic Lamb Shank Balsamico, slow-braised with Marianne Estate Shiraz and fresh rosemary served with steamed green beans almondine and crispy roast potatoes OR Spicy Seafood Coconut Curry with prawns, crayfish, mussels and fresh mango, served with steamed jasmine rice and sambals **** Death by Chocolate and Rum Fudge with vanilla ice cream OR Classic Crème Brulee made with organic vanilla pod
R245 per person, plus 10% service charge. Lucky Draw and Special Sunday Mediterranean Table Discount Vouchers. Join us from 6.30pm on Saturday Night, 13th February. Vegetarian Options available only on pre-order

The Dornier Bodega Restaurant and Wine Lounge is open daily for lunch and wine tasting, and from Thursday to Saturday for Dinner.

Valentine's Dinner, Saturday 13 February
Chef Naas Pienaar will spoil you and your partner with a memorable dinner and fine wines. More

Main Ingredient's MENU - Emperor salad, 15 on Orange, February events

http://www.mainingredient.co.za/

A hadeda ibis on the roof - evening in Sea Point

Emperors Chicken Salad

OK, Lynne started with a Caesar Salad recipe and then adapted and tweaked and added, so we don’t think it can be called a classic Caesar. Quantities are for a two person meal-sized substantial salad. She is experimenting with some of our new products. This one used Pink peppercorns and Pistachio oil, both very aromatic. You could use seared tuna, salmon or other seafood to advantage, instead of chicken.

Cooked chicken (1 breast and one leg cut into bite sized pieces) - 1 small Cos lettuce broken up - 2 Roma tomatoes, quartered - 1 stick of chopped celery - 1 raw carrot, julienned - half a red or yellow pepper, cut in strips - 6cm piece of cucumber, peeled and cut into julienne strips – 2 T croutons or broken bagel chips

Dressing: 1 t pink peppercorns, ground in a pestle and mortar - 1 lightly poached egg - 1 T grated parmesan cheese - juice of half a lemon - 1 or 2 anchovies - 2 T olive or avocado oil - seasoning.

Put all into a small liquidiser, blitz, adding more oil if you need to, adjust the seasoning and pour over the salad and mix well, so everything is coated. It should be quite a thick dressing. If you have any, add a drizzle of Pistachio Oil and a shake of Cayenne pepper. Toss in the croutons and serve.

Tastings and other events       The Kromboom Rotary Club is helping to organise the annual Rabbie Burns celebration, which takes place at Kelvin Grove on February 6th. In addition to being a fun evening, it also helps raise money for the Nonceba Trust, which takes care of abused women and children.

Late February will bring a rash of events worth visiting, so making the right choice becomes a bit of a challenge: De Krans Wine Cellar, in Calitzdorp, alongside the well known Route 62, will offer visitors to the area the opportunity to pick delicious, sweet Hanepoot grapes. This fun-filled picking experience will take place daily (except Sundays) from 10th to 27th February, between 08h00 and 16h00.

The Robertson Wine Valley will host its second Hands on Harvest Festival from 26th to 28th February, giving you a chance to experience the magic of harvest for a day - without having to quit your day job! Groups are small and intimate, so you are sure to have a hands-on experience you’ll never forget. Many of the activities are 'kiddie-friendly' and, on Sunday, the Harvest Market promises to be a true family affair. Other activities include grape picking, grape stomping, vineyard tractor trips, grape vs wine tasting, and loads more.

For the Love of Sauvignon Blanc Constantia Fresh Festival will happen on Friday 26th & Saturday 27th February. There is an exciting programme of events. Click here to check it out.

Darling Cellars will host their annual Crush Day on Saturday 27th February. The day begins with breakfast at 08h00, after which you can pick and crush your grapes (your wine, with your own label follows 10 months later), participate in a label design competition and enjoy a traditional West Coast lunch. The price is R190 per person. Contact Cornel Loubser on phone 022 492 2276 or tasting@darlingcellars.co.za

A date for the future you should try not to miss is the Taste of Cape Town 2010 between 24th and 28th March at the Granger Bay Extension – V&A Waterfront

We’ve visited two new 5 star hotels in Cape Town recently. African Pride, the premium arm of the Protea Hospitality group, has opened Crystal Towers in Century City and 15 on Orange which is in central Cape Town, next to the South African Museum. Each hotel displays a fair amount of bling, uniquely styled, with very modern furnishings and enough chandeliers to light and decorate all the mansions in Clifton with change. They are both extremely luxurious. Each is in an area which is a hub of business activity, with 15 on Orange also being very well situated for visitors to Parliament. Our focus, naturally, was on the food. At 15 on Orange, the chef hails from Mauritius, but has been in Cape Town for several years and has spent 7 years as chef on The World, the ultra luxurious floating apartment block. Our meal began with an amuse which was delicious: a fairly generous portion of tuna tartare. Lynne’s starter was a crab cake, which was not exciting. Crab is not a local delicacy and this may have been tinned crab. John had a superb dish: a plate of thinly sliced Parma ham, with two fresh figs which had been filled with Gorgonzola and warmed just enough to soften the cheese. Something to try again as soon as possible. Our host had a steak tartare, which was excellent. Lynne’s main was a very mild, tender duck curry in coconut milk, made for delicate palates unused to the South-East Asian heat we like. John’s seared fillet of tuna in a fruity sauce was beautifully crisp outside, perfectly soft inside. Our host ordered a sirloin, which was delivered medium, although he had ordered it rare. The last two dishes were accompanied by very good chips which had been dressed with grated parmesan and a sprinkling of truffle salt. Fleur du Cap unfiltered chardonnay was a good match for all the dishes. Service was discreet and very competent. We were guests, so did not see the bill. Our host’s room was really comfortable, large and beautifully designed and equipped.

The next evening, after the Wine Magazine sauvignon tasting, we joined friends at Table Thirteen round the corner from the Victoria Junction in Green Point. They focus on lunch and only open for evening trade on Thursdays. Our vegetarian friends enjoyed a soft leek, feta & dill pie with avocado and asparagus salad and a huge salmon salad, both of which were delicious. We opted for the evening’s two R99 specials with a glass of wine: delicious and very tender grilled chicken with roasted fennel and asparagus on butternut mash and slow roasted pork in red wine with cannellini and wilted spinach. The pork was a little dry, but the flavour was excellent. We all spoiled ourselves with something from the dessert table: American pecan pie, huge chocolate brownies and excellent butternut and lemon polenta cakes. Service was friendly and efficient and the atmosphere warm and very comfortable. Prices fit comfortably in our R100 per person target.

Restaurants and picnics Please let us have more feedback about the restaurants in our list of specials. Your input is very valuable to all our readers.

We’ve enjoyed picnics at Buitenverwachting and Allée Bleue and we look forward to trying Rickety Bridge and the new picnic at Warwick. We are so lucky to live in a beautiful environment, where we can enjoy wonderful wines and food in such lovely places.

Click on the highlighted hyperlinks in the attached list to book for these events or to learn more about them.

Weekend market: Susan and Jane will be on our pavement as usual this Saturday with their delicious country goodies. Come and buy fresh farm eggs, fruit and vegetables, preserves and home baked breads, cakes and pastries from them and then come and visit us! We will be tasting wines, so do come in and have a chat and a taste and buy something great to cook with this weekend and a good wine to go with it. Wine and food are inseparable partners.

Your invitation to Main Ingredient’s Free Saturday morning Wine Tastings

every Saturday from about 10am in the shop

30th January – Wolvendrift sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, cabernet merlot and muscadel

28th January 2010

Remember - if you can’t find something, we’ll do our best to get it for you, and, if you’re not in Cape Town, we can send it to you! Check our product list for details and prices.

PS If a word or name is in bold type and underlined, click on it for more information

Visit us at Shop 5, Nedbank Centre, 15 Kloof Rd, Sea Point 8005, Cape Town, South Africa

Phone: +27 21 439 5169 / 083 229 1172

We are the only shop in Cape Town which offers hard to find gourmet foods matched with well-chosen wines

Our Adamastor & Bacchus© tailor-made Wine, Food and Photo tours take small groups (up to 6) to wine producers who are not usually open to the public. Have fun while you learn more about wine and how it is made! Tours can be conducted in English, German, Norwegian or Dutch flavoured Afrikaans.

Recommendations of products and outside events are not solicited or charged for, and are made at the authors’ pleasure.

All photographs, recipes and text used in these newsletters are © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus

Our restaurant reviews are usually unsolicited. We prefer to pay for our meals and not be paid in any way by anyone.

Whether we are invited or go independently, we don’t feel bad if we say we didn’t like it. Honesty is indeed our best policy.

While every effort is made to avoid mistakes, we are human and they do creep in occasionally, for which we apologise.

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