Li-Belicious

I was fortunate to spend time here twice this week. One of my top Pretoria haunts, Li-Bel offers delectable dishes, fabulous coffee and a chilled out ambience. On Thursday and Friday nights they host a five-course tasting menu. I experienced this delight just short of a month ago with three other ladies. We all agreed that it was a rewarding evening of palatal fervor.

The restaurant is owned and managed by renowned locals Lientjie Wessels  Denton and Robert Denton. The interior is fresh and inviting and the seating outside has made for many a pleasant session over the years. I frequently retreat to Li-Bel to escape the intensity of the hospitals where I study – whereafter I find myself inspired and relaxed. 


An assortment of dreamy ceramics, glassware and ornaments adorn the walls and shelving inside (they are also available to purchase).  There is always something new to glaze over whilst savoring your meal. The menu, which is changes every day, is written up on a  quirky blackboard. Deciding what to settle for is a toughie – and you need to make sure everyone orders something different so that you can all have ‘tastes’.


I look forward to my next visit.

Read more about Li-Bel here

Check out Lientjie and Robert’s gorgeous apartment here 

Sunset stimulus

Nuwe Hoop Str = New Hope Street 
Just on the corner of my road - about 2 minutes ago.

Nice message for the week



Seasonable spray

Yay - it's Cosmos time again. Spotted these on Lynnwood Road and had to pick them. They have found a new home in my room.








The eclectic mix

Four whole hours of auditory gratification on Tuks Fm. Every Sunday. Listen here

My saturday cupcake

2. Breakfast at Li-Bel
3. Ribbons from Middestadt Fabric
4. Good studying session
5. Success with an IV line on a foot
6. Candlelight sushi and chinese with parents celebrating Earth Hour
7. Early night in

* only one thing missing - bonny over the ocean

Lovin' Local

Style Guide Cape Town celebrated one year of blogging on 26th March. Why this blog was not nominated for the SA Blog Awards, I'll never understand. Read more about it here.


Busi - the girl who inspired it all.

To market, to market

I made it to the Hazel Food Market! It was everything I was looking forward to, and more.
 
My mother accompanied me – it was her first visit there. We arrived at around 8.30 am with the sun shining and the hum of market-goers greeting us. The layout is uncomplicated and inviting. At our first stop we were delighted to find homemade organic yoghurt that we have been purchasing from a local deli for some time now. Mango – Peach and Strawberry flavours grabbed us. We also bought two containers of peppadews, which are destined for salad and to be baked in a sourdough loaf. The stall next door, Green Market, invited us to browse with their array of fresh produce. There we settled on a bright green, crunchy cos lettuce, bushy beetroot and pears. Cascade Manor in Paarl produces Extra Virgin Olive Oil and as we need another bottle I’m more than willing to give it a try. 

We browsed a number of other stalls such as Elbows Up, Cupcake and novelty cakes and Devines before being absorbed into delights at The Pickled Italian. We managed to tear ourselves away with a mild pecorino cheese of delectable flavour, fat olives and choice grilled aubergines. 

Lastly, the white chocolate blondies and milk chocolate brownies sold at Burnt Chocolate, fancied our interest. The stall is owned by the lovely Retha van Hooven. Retha is also the mastermind of the Hazel Food Market. I remember visiting the market for the first time in early January when just four stalls occupied the pavement up the road from the current venue. Excited by the growing success of the market, she is planning to create another row of stalls. A ‘chocolate and coffee’ market day is planned for one Saturday in May. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Not only am I impressed by the quality of food and the great vibe at the market, I also feel privileged to support a star venture in my very own neighborhood. I’m aiming to spread the word and make visits a weekly affair. More pics to follow. 

Hazel Food Market open every Saturday 7am – 12 am, Pinaster Street, Hazelwood

Find it here

Become a vendor

Pretoria Millionaire

Going to this extraordinary event on campus later tonight. The man himself, in Pretoria, nogal!




The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, Prof Calie Pistorius, cordially invites you to a 

public lecture, “Q&A with Vikas Swarup”, of Slumdog Millionaire fame. 

Date: Friday 27 March 2009 

Time: 18:00 

Venue: Musaion, University of Pretoria, Hatfield campus 

Vikas Swarup, was born in Allahabad, India, into a family of lawyers. After graduating with distinction, he joined the Indian Foreign 

Service in 1986. Presently he is India’s Deputy High Commissioner in South Africa. 

Q&A is his first novel. The book’s translation rights have been sold in 40 languages, it was short-listed for the Best First Book for 

the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize and South Africa’s Exclusive Books Boeke Prize in 2006. The film version of Q&A, with the title 

Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, has taken the world by storm and has won more than 70 awards, including four 

Golden Globes, two BAFTA awards and a staggering eight Oscars. 

Swarup’s second book, Six Suspects, a complicated tale of murder and corruption, is currently being considered for a film version. 




Her hairdo was her chaperone





Call for artists


I read this today on JHB live and thought I would help spread the word ... straight from the source ...

Public call for artists to paint buildings in Jo'burg has been voiced. The buildings are on De Beer Street in Braamfontein, and the City Bakery building in the CBD, with the other being opposite this one, across the street. Interested artists should contact the Alexander Theatre's Carla Hall on 084-525-8891 or carla@thealex.co.za

Thursday joe

Bean There Coffee Roastery just launched their new and updated website. Purveyors of the 'optimal roast' is their game. They sell freshly roasted Fair Trade African coffee beans, a range of plush coffee machines and accessories from their spot at the modish 44 Stanley Complex in Milpark, Johannesburg. Fans further afield can delight in the pleasures of their beans delivered to their door, as ordering online (with secure payment methods) is now possible. To celebrate the launch, all online orders received before 10 April 2009 will revel in a free 250g bag of exclusive Ethopian Harrar organic coffee (Valued at R67,50)

Having bean there recently myself, I can vouch for their vote as no 1. espresso in the City of Gold. I am yet to participate in the Coffee Cupping, held every other Thursday. Its high up on 'to do' list. The next one is to be held on the 16th April. Super keen. 

Another Antler

Already featured on umpteen blogs, I feel as if I can not let this one slip by without mentioning it. Pouring over the pages as I scrawl this. Sublime.






Coveted java

Courtesy of Li-Bel. More on this glorious spot to follow soon...
 

Gonna eat a lot of peaches

I received Country Road's Autumn/Winter 2009 collection brochure in the mail today. I also recently heard that they are opening instore at Woolworths in Menlyn Park. Ambiguous feelings about this - happy that I don't have to mission to Joburg for my fix but slightly peeved that the masses in Pretoria will now have access too. Selfish, I know.

 

On the mend








I love it here


I went to drop off some clothes that deserve new homes and found myself (as always) on a serious browse. The complex consists of a bookstore, craft shop, coffee shop, clothing outlet and a general miscellaneous source. I'm working on a collage of photographs I took there, but for now - see what I thrifted .... stoked.





PHSOB bowling jersey + nautical rope scarf / close up of PHSOB emblem / evian glass water flask

Looking forward to April