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Saturday, 16 July 2011

...............''Breakfast @ Tashas''.............................

a walk through ' Melrose Arch ' .......on an icy cold , grey Joburg morning.........cobbled streets.......corporate head offices..........architectural wonders , both olde world and concrete minimalist...........swish loft style apartments...........European designer flagship stores.............pavement coffee cafes...........an eclectic selection of the best eating places in the city............cool boutique hotels........................................................












  i could be forgiven for thinking that i was walking on the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, Switzerland..............the richest street in the world...the most expensive and exclusive shopping avenue............the exception being, the missing trams that run down the Bahnhofstrasse.................,,the similarity is uncanny............i love the feel , the vibe, the energy and the pulse that most European cities exude.......theres almost a thread that runs through.......crispness, starkness, a cosmopolitan feel, it is sophisticated in a sexy stylish yet classical way..............now...........to have .......this.........virtually...........on my doorstep.......ok!.......with a little bit of imagination........I'm getting the same emotional satisfaction......no passports,or schengen visas needed....and i can still pick up keedos from school on time.........yip........gotta make the day work for you,, right..............some escapism..........and the mood is good.................

" Bahnhofstrasse "

"Melrose Arch"

"Bahnhofstrasse" 

"Melrose Arch "


 im meeting Mariam......a childhood friend.....we have reconnected after twenty five years..........and the friendship is still so sweet.........we have so much to talk about.......today we are meeting @ Tashas..............for a good brekkie........some good chat.............some soul stirring...................thats what good friendships do for the soul...........................................









Tashas..........has become a bit of an institution to the South African, hip, happening.........and " want  to be seen " set...........obligatory shades .. yip ..  male, female  and metrosexual male.....inside , and outside......yes......i too.....wear the shades....."Audrey Hepburn" shades.......what i go to Tashas for, is the food....the food is fabulous!.....especially the salmon mini burgers..with avocado, homemade aoili and shoestring fries.........A and i......love these......................




" Tashas "




.................the interior is plush, velvety,almost neo classical.......with a french barn house like feel....my interpretation anyway........large glass urns with sweet delicacies, piled high........Turkish delights, American brownies, Greek shortbread........the calories virtually pile on .........just looking at these temptations.......................


if the company is stimulating enough, one can possibly end up being here from one meal sitting to the next...........before you notice the waiters getting fidgety around you, thats your cue , to up...............




                  ,you savour the company...........like you savour the food............. like you savour the surroundings.............its about the experience...............................life is an experience.....................................




i ordered Greek scrambled eggs, with feta, spinach,  olives and oregano..buttered health toast on the side.........Mariam went healthy today and ordered "Dr paw-paw"........slices of paw-paw.............great big dollops of definitely home made yogurt, light as air, toasted almonds , drizzled with honey......we ended up sharing.....and though paw-paw is no favourite of mine................"Dr paw-paw" was scrumptious..............skinny.......alway skinny for me , hot chocolate and cappuccino for Mariam..............................................................................












                                                                  we ate, we chatted, we laughed..........the soul was definitely stirred.....................................................................we hugged and promised to meet up soon.....and walked out into the cold......................click, clack,..........................on the cobbled streets............................................................down the Bahnhofstrasse.........................................................................................................





" Breakfast at Tiffany's ''




" Breakfast at Tiffany's "





" Breakfast at Tiffany's "


                                                            Audrey Hepburn .. as Holly Golightly .. in .. 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'  ........... "That's right. i'm just CRAZY about Tiffany's!" .................










Wednesday, 13 July 2011

.................a HOT night in Bangkok ..............................

........chan-hew-khao.........""im hungry""

keedos have been pestering me for weeks now to make one of their all time favourites............Thai Green Curry.......this is a dish that was not in my repertoire........not an authentic traditional dish that i had grown up with,,,,rather,,,one that i had developed a penchant for,,,,when dining out in Asian restaurants.........my bestie,,,,from childhood Aneesa , shared her recipe with me a few years ago,,,,and...its been a favourite in our home since............easy peasy.......to put together,,,,,,,,not a very elaborate cooking process....the success of the dish lies in the utilization of the unique ingredients that are used for taste,colour as well as for the distinct fragrance,,,that this particular dish , emanates.................

                     
 i had to make a trip to the local supermarket for these special ingredients,,,,they are not your usual store cupboard essentials............Jasmine Thai rice,,,,very similar to the usual basmati that i use, the exception being that it is a sticky, clingy rice and the curry somehow  tastes better with this particular union...the jasmine fragrance is complementary to the curry itself.........                                               coconut milk or cream......this forms the base of the curry,                                   
veges that i use, and keedos love,, yip,, they actually love these........mange toute as well as mini corn spears...this gives the dish beautiful visual appeal,,,,,you eat with your eyes as well...........


                                                                                                                  .......... without a thai green curry paste....well...lets just say......it would not be,,",thai green curry.".....this melange of particular ingredients are essential to its success....one could make it from scratch.........i dont .........i cheat......a woman's got to have her cheats right?......in the kitchen....im talking about............................................it makes life easier..........for those of you that are on the straight and narrow .......take out your pestle and mortar,,,,and get pounding away....you will need lemongrass, green chillis, galangal or ginger, coriander  (dhania) , basil, fish sauce, lime juice, ...............it really is best...made from scratch.........



i have a confession....not serious in the Richter scale of scandalous skinner now..........i dont like baking....its too precise an activity for me,,,,,,from the measurements to the methods.......one deviation ......and there you have a sunken cake........thats why cooking is so liberating for me.......no hard and fast rules,,,,,,,,,i cook with my senses,,,,,,,i really cant follow a recipe too precisely........i will read it through for inspiration and in certain dishes,,,,,,,,,where there is a definitive methodology,,,,,,,follow it through..........


                                    and so the fun began................................................................................................
......sauteed some of the green curry paste in sunflower oil to release the most captivating aromas
......ground fresh green chillis into the oil and curry paste mixture
......added stripped chicken fillets to the sizzling mixture...braised for a while
......added remaining green curry paste,,,ground more green chillis,,,ground in fresh coriander
......let it all simmer for a while


......added  veges
......stirfry ,,for a short period of time so that veges still retain some crunch
......when chicken fillets are cooked through, add coconut milk and simmer for a while,,,,,,,,

                    garnish with some torn basil leaves..........an authentic  ' Thai Green Curry '............



boil jasmine thai rice ......and lightly steam to loosen the grains

                                                 best served in a bowl ,,,,,,,,,,,,





                                                        kin-khao-hai-a-roi-na.........""enjoy,,,,,,,your meal""