Epicure is the restaurant name that is on everyone’s lips, and it’s no secret as to why. The Belgian-Burundian Chef has made a name for himself in the restaurant industry, and we were excited to pay him a visit. Located in Central Square in Morningside, Épicure is a unique blend of Pan-African chic and the unique menu features some creatively named dishes such as Taste of Tangier, Perfect Pepe, Hunters Reward, and the Rolex (a tasty beef curry wrap with a Ugandan twist.) Épicure in itself is an adventure from a décor perspective. Beautifully appointed booth’s and tables with low hanging woven grass lamps, beautiful blue suede fabric, and dark wood with leather chairs – its an interesting mix, but together the entire collection works so well together that to remove anything would be a travesty to the look and feel. The Afri-tapas menu (or Share-Share as it is called)…
We love an excuse to celebrate and recently headed through to Montecasino’s Casa Bella to hellp them celebrate their first birthday, in true Italian style, of course. Nestled in the heart of Jozi’s premier entertainment destinations, Casa Bella, means “Beautiful Home” in Italian, and that it certainly is. Beautifully tiled floors and polished wood feature in the stylish interior which, combined with a warm, inviting ambience, provides an upmarket yet friendly dining experience. It is literally a home that runs on love, laughter, delicious food, outstanding wines and exceptional quality and service. The standard menu features fresh, authentic and carefully considered cuisine made from the finest quality ingredients such as imported Italian flour, 100% Durum wheat and locally sourced fresh food items. They are also ranked in the top 10 according to TripAdvisor, as well as a recent nomination from the Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA). Authentic food is…
If you are heading down to the Cape soon, and are going to be in the Durbanville area, then may we suggest a stop in at the beautiful Meerendal Estate. You can taste some vino of course, but there is loads more on offer and Meerendal boasts biking and running trails, paragliding (when the weather’s just right!), and its family friendly weekend vibe. There are two restaurants on the estate, The Crown Restaurant and Carlucci’s – the latter is the one that fills up fast so that come lunchtime, one would be hard pressed to find a seat in the restaurant – either in the undercover area or the garden with its sweeping views of the Boland mountains. The restaurant has been open since 2016 – initially as a small restaurant which has evolved into a full blown restaurant with rolling lawns, ample space for kids to play in a…
It was just recently announced, and not that surprising either that one of our favourite restaurants ever (and one of the most popular in SA since Chef Chantel Dartnall won best chef) Orient Boutique Hotel – home of the acclaimed Restaurant Mosaic – has won the Best Hotel Wine List in the World for 2018 beating off strong competition from around the globe. The 2018 Fine Wine World’s Best Wine List Awards, now in its fifth year, honoured Restaurant Mosaic in the following categories: • Best Hotel Wine List in the World 2018. • Best Long Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best Champagne & Sparkling Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best Dessert & Fortified Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best By-the-Glass Wine List Without Coravin in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Jury Prize Mosaic’s competition in the…
It was such a hit last year, and we are really looking forward to the second edition of the much talked about Pinotage and Biltong Festival, which will be showcasing 18 of the countries top Pinotage producers at this event, taking place on the 13th and 14th of October! The wineries are: Bellevue Wine Estate, Beyerskloof, De Krans, Ernst Gouws & Co, Flagstone Wines, Grande Provence, Hill & Dale, Jakkalsvlei, Koelenhof, Mellasat Vineyards, Mount Vernon, Neethlingshof, Perdeberg Cellar, Simonsvlei Winery, Taillard Wines, Van Loveren Family Vineyards Whalehaven and Wellington Wines. The Festival will once again be hosted at Leriba Hotel in Centurion and will the same procedure as last year, namely seeing one wine from each winery being paired with a biltong flavour, but most of these producers also have other Pinotage’s which will be for tasting and for sale directly from their stands. The festival concept offers visitors a…
We are so ready for beach days, braais and holidays – and were over the moon to learn that one of our fave pool side refreshers, Frost Popsicles have just launched an awesome range of cool new flavours, just in time for summer! Plus there are a few non-alcoholic versions planned – so everyone can join in the Frost Popsicle Revolution! The entire Frost Popsicles range is made from all-natural ingredients, is low in calories and contains no artificial flavourants, colourants or sweeteners. And with the exception of the Vanilla Coffee Popsicle, all other Frost Popsicles are dairy-free and vegan-friendly. “We’re thrilled with the growth we’ve seen over the past two years,” says Natasha Fagri, who created Frost Popsicles with business partner Jon-Marc De Carvalho. “When we launched in September 2016 we began with just two wine-based Popsicles – the Tranquille and Brut PJ Pops™ – selling in 26 stores…
Whatever you do, make sure that you have Saturday 29th September diarised as the much anticipated Steenberg Garden Party is heading to our beautiful city! The venue is the picturesque l’antico giardino part of the forum company in Lanseria which boasts the most stunning gardens and is the perfect fit to host laid back live music with ample seating in relaxed garden lounge areas, which will keep you delighted for the duration of the afternoon. Not only is the view a good one, but you can also savour the best of spring with fine bubblies and wines at this annual event which is brought to the people of Jozi by Steenberg Vineyards, one of the jewels of the Constantia Wine Route, this elegant outdoor affair invites you to explore Steenberg wines and tuck into a harvest table laden with fresh culinary delights. From the youthful and vivacious Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc…
Our country is so beautiful, and we honestly believe that as long as we live, we would never run out of places to go and wonderous things to see. We spent time in KZN recently and share about two amazing new retreats that we discovered. Surrounded by mountains, and peace and quiet – these are both literally an oasis of calm and relaxation. Wild Horses – Drakensburg If you’re looking for a true hideaway and escape from life, then look no further than this charming spot in the notorious Drakensburg which overlooks the breath-taking Sterkfontein Dam and Platberg Mountains on the Sterkfontein Nature Reserve. The comfortable yet stylish lodge is all about the finer details, and with freshly baked biscuits accompanying your tea and a nightcap waiting for you on your bedside table, you’ll quickly get used to the spoils that accompany this restful and restoring getaway. With only four…
We love good food, and we also love trying all the latest and newest restaurants in Sandton, so that we can share them with our avid foodie readers. Acclaimed international chef, David Higgs has just opened his latest offering, Saint ‘Pazzo Italiano’ in partnership with entrepreneur Gary Kyriacou of Marble fame, in the brand spanking new The Marc precinct in Sandton and a visit to Saint is nothing short of an experience from start to finish. While Marble has gained kudos for celebrating quintessentially South African fair, Saint sees the powerhouse duo introduce the concept of “Pazzo Italiano”, meaning “Mad Italian” – an offering which encompasses pizza and pasta as well as a range of dishes cooked on woks and an open fire.” It’s not an Italian restaurant but there is a definite Italian feel,” says David. No attention to details was spared in the décor and layout, and we…
Bontle Modiselle is certainly one of South Africa’s most multifaceted performers. Over a relatively short period of time, this Soweto-born beauty has gone from an unknown dancer with just a dream, to one of the country’s most sought after film-and TV personalities. Bontle stepped into the spotlight when she played the female lead in Africa’s first dance film, Hear Me Move (2015), for which she received an Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She has gone on to conquer both the small and big screens, and this year she was a judge on the reality TV show Ultimate House Party (Mzansi Magic), and has also been appointed as an Ambassador for the iconic cosmetic brand, Revlon. We caught up with this dynamic young lady to find out more… Bontle – tell us about your youth. Where did you grow up, and about the dancing of course!…









