Colombia's Food Fare - What to Eat and not to miss!

I know, I know... It's been such a looong time since my last post! But trust me, I bring some great culinary adventures and a great New Year full of more exciting recipes to share with you... and so I hope you will forgive my absence. Apart from the December Holidays, which I will talk about in my next post, I was in my home country, Colombia, for about 5 weeks. My trip was work related, but nevertheless, it allowed me to dig into the food stuffs that while being away you may at times remember with a bit of nostalgia. This post then, will be dedicated to what to eat whilst in Colombia and the stuff you can't leave the country without trying. You can print this and use it as a checklist...

Rabbit in the Moon - Bohemian Cafe in the heart of Sandton

Food: Eclectic Bistro (a bit of everything)

Wine: Very limited, but some good choices. Prices rather on the high end.

Service: Very Good, attentive and enthusiastic.

Ambiance: Smart Casual, relaxed but eclectically elegant.

In a nutshell: Flavorful Food in a Heartwarming setting where the client is king. Prices on the Menu for the starters and Lunch Menu Items are on the affordable side, with the dinner price range significantly higher, yet reasonable. An excellent choice for a romantic dinner or simply the place to chill out with a nice selection of cocktails. Don't Miss: Filet Mignon and Three Milks Dessert.

City: Johannesburg, South Africa

Address: 198 Oxford Road, Illovo. (Same complex as Yamato, next to Thrupps)

Tel: 011 447 6720

Pepper Beef Fillet with a Truffle, Porcini Mushroom and Pine Nut Sauce

Signature Dish by iSa

Type: French, Italian, Fine Cuisine

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cooking Time: 20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

4 Beef Fillet thick steak portions (200-250 gr each)

1 big or 2 small Shallots (Brown onion is ok if you can't find Shallots)

2 Large Garlic Cloves

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp Olive Oil

250 ml Fresh Cream

40 gr Toasted Pine Nuts

100 gr of Fresh or 50gr of Dried Porcini Mushrooms 

50ml of dry red wine (use one you would drink)

1 bunch of Fresh Thyme

Freshly crushed Black Peppercorns

Freshly ground coarse salt

The best Black Truffle oil you can get your hands on

MasterChef South Africa is here and auditions are open!

After the great success of the many versions of MasterChef that have been launched worldwide and what appears to be the thirst for more from the South African public, the MasterChef franchise has made its way to SA and auditions are now open! To enter and check out all of the relevant info go to: http://mnet.dstv.com/2011/10/27/masterchef-south-africa-2/

I will not be entering the competition, in case come of you may be wondering. Because as much as I love cooking, it is not my thing to do it professionally. I'll leave that to one of you, fellow foodies! 

See below the promo video used for MasterChef Australia, I couldn't find one for SA but this should get your cooking adrenaline pumping!

Addis in Cape Restaurant - Ethiopian Food in the heart of Cape Town

Food: Ethiopian, Curries and Beans.

Wine: Small Selection.
Service: Some staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the food but not wine.
Ambiance: Romantic with dim lights. Colorful and authentic Ethiopian feel.
In a Nutshell: An unforgettable dining experience where you share and eat delicious food with your hands. Don't miss: The tasting menu and great for a Romantic dinner!

Where: 41 Church St, City Bowl. Cape Town, Western Cape.
Tel: 021 424 5722
Email: celebrate@addisincape.co.za

Website: www.addisincape.co.za

Following various recommendations from friends, we were eager to try the flavours of Ethiopia at Addis in Cape Restaurant. Our first attempt to go was on Sunday for dinner but they were closed, remember my previous complaint? We then tried them again on monday and succeeded to our delight. 

Decorated with a great variety of colour and what I imagine are Ethiopian artifacts, the place transports you in a matter of seconds to to your destination: Addis Ababa. The lights are dim and a lot of candle light brightens the room, giving it a relaxed, warm and romantic atmosphere.

The Foodbarn Restaurant - Loving Food and Life in Noordhoek

Food: Fine dining, French inspired with some Asian twists.
Wine: Selection not excessive but right (all budgets).
Service: Outstanding, knowledgeable and friendly.
Ambiance: Relaxed country chic style, food barn setting.
In a Nutshell: Enjoy an unpretentious fine dining experience where food tastes fresh and is approached with creativity, care and a bit of dare. Don't miss: Tuna Sashimi, Nitida Wine, the Deli.
Where: Noordhoek Farm Village. Corner Village Lane and Noordhoek Main Road. Noordhoek, Western Cape.
Tel: 021 789 1390

Email: info@thefoodbarn.co.za 

Website: www.thefoodbarn.co.za

Looking to plan something to do during our trip in Cape Town that we hadn't done in our previous visits, we were determined to take a stroll down Chapman's Peak Drive. I figured it would be nice to arrive in Noordhoek right around lunch time and looked for the best place to eat in that area. Almost immediately The Foodbarn popped up about everywhere and I was making a booking in no time. We arrived to find a very country chic styled restaurant where we were warmly welcomed. I had read about the Nitida Menu Winter Special on the website which were 3 to 5 course menus with Nitida wine tasting included. We opted for the 3-course menu option and our adventure began...