Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

La Colombe: The Greatest Meal of My Life

On Friday, we headed to Constantia (which I believe is the beginning part of the winelands) for lunch at La Colombe.

Known as "The French Laundry of South Africa", it was named the 12th Best Restaurant in the World by San Pellegrino.

We arrived to find ourselves in a beautiful private room. Our table was decorated with beautiful flowers.


Clearly they knew the happy couple was coming and that this was to be a verrrrry special meal.


Even the bread was fantastic.


The service was impeccable. At any one time there would 3 or 4 different waiters attending to us, and yet it wasn't as invasive as a lot of those superfoodie restaurants. (I went to Daniel a few months back and you could barely have a conversation because the waiter would interrupt every 5 minutes to tell you about the next course or describe what wine pairing you were now having etc. SO annoying. #firstclassproblems)


But no, here...everything was PERFECT.


We had an amuse bouche of Ostrich Tartare. It looks like guacomole, and it is...but under that guac was a pile of delicate DELICIOUS raw ostrich.


I'm pretty sure we all let out audible moans upon tasting it.

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Next up was ordering our apps and main courses...

As you will see, or if you do a little calculating, the prices are REALLY cheap considering you're at one of the best restaurants in the world.


The Chalmar Beef Fillet - the BEST beef I've EVER had in my entire life - costs 175 Rand = $19.29 USD at today's currency rate.

Less than $20 for THE BEST BEEF IN THE WORLD.



I'm SO SERIOUS. Book your trip and book your reservation at La Colombe NOW.

DO IT.

I'll wait...

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It was SO GOOD.

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We all started with a Poached Oyster appetizer. It was an oyster poached in cream and champagne. If you are an oyster lover, you will have an orgasm. 


Then there was a Scallop and Duck appetizer.


Matt nearly had a heart attack when he saw the next course...


Quail and Langoustine (which I think is baby lobster) with a Foie Gras Tortellini...


There was Seared Ostrich Tataki. It was heavenly...


Foie Gras with Rhubarb and Lavender...


Lychee and Pina Colada Palate Cleanser...


Green Pea Risotto...


Lamb "La Colombe"...


Did I mention how AMAZING the beef fillet was? It came already looking delicious...and then they poured black peppercorn truffle sauce on it.

I squealed.


And then for desert we had a chocolatey caramel sampler...


And Apple Crisp...


And assortment of caramel bars and meringues and tasty cake-y things...


The meal lasted 4 hours.

And it was SO DELICIOUS and SO FUN.

Literally we were just giggling and squealing in delight and telling hilarious stories. 




Sophie is a GREAT story-teller. Ask her to tell you about Jimmy.



We were literally CRYING.


BEST MEAL OF MY LIFE.

(With a Beast Feast coming in second. Obvi.)


And then driving back to Camps Bay, we encountered the most beautiful scenery along Chapman's Peak Drive.

It was a bright sunny day...but the top of Table Mountain was covered in clouds. Sucky for people trying to hike it I'm sure (sorry Megoon!) but quite breathtaking for all of us all down below.


AFRICAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

FEAST @ Little Beast Bangkok

SOOOoooooo....after Phuket, I hopped on a flight to Bangkok to visit Tee and try out her new restaurant, Little Beast.

First though, she picked me up at the airport and told me she had a surprise for me...she had booked me a suite at the Four Seasons (because she knows how we HATE the mosquitoes in her house)!!!

EEEEEeeee!!! Best surprise ever!!!!

We checked into the hotel and had some bloody marys and lambsticks...




And then we headed over to THE BEAST.

It's the hottest new gastropub in Thailand right now. Lots of great reviews and local celebrities. SO EXCITED.



I convinced Tee we should order every single drink and food item on the menu so that I could take pretty pictures of each of them for her press materials. Win-win-win for everyone!

We started with some the New Zealand Welt. Smirnoff Black No. 55 - Fresh New Zealand Kiwi – Citrus - Granny Smith Apples crushed & whispered with notes of Japanese Cucumber.


Then we had some Chicken Liver Mousse Puffs with Onion Jam.


Tuna Tartare, Soy Caviar, Ginger Mayonnaise...one of my faves...


Made in Kentucky. Jim Beam Bourbon – Cinnamon – Citrus – Aromatic Bitters...


STEAK...


Smokey Morning. Havana Club Gold Rum – Blueberries – Lemon - Apples dashed with Buttered Maple shaken to a smooth crown served with Maple Smoke!


Bacon-Fat Roasted Shishito Peppers...


Asparagus and Watercress Salad w/ shaved parmesan and lemon dressing...


Black Truffle & Pork Cheek Penne, mushrooms, red wine cream sauce THE MOST DELICIOUS THING IN THE WORLD...


Snap Peas and Chicken Skin Salad...


Crispy Egg and Corned Beef Hash w/ spicy hollandaise...


Redolent. Pimms No.1 - Italian Bitters – Blood Orange - Sparkling Ginger Ale...


A Bitter-Sweet Thyme. Tanqueray Gin – Ruby Red Grapefruit – Citrus – Aromatic Lemon Thyme with sexy whispers of Vanilla Essence...


Lamb Meatballs w/ cucumber salad...


Jerk Chicken Hearts w/ pineapple salsa YUCK...


Fish Fries!


Truffle Steak Fries...


Seared Duck w/ Bacon...


Cheeseburger Sliders w/ sharp cheddar and bacon jam...


Crispy Maple Butter Pork Belly w/ fresh corn polenta...


Corned Beef Tongue...(vomit)


Orchard Sangria. Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine – Pampero Blanco Rum – Fresh Rasberries - Pink Grapefruit – Green Apples...


Rigatoni w/ Foie Gras Sauce...


Femme Fatale. Smirnoff Black No.55 – Snow Pears – Fragrant Rosemary - Citrus - Granny Apples adorned with an Elderflower & White Apple Wine Foam...


Squid Linguini w/ butter-poached shrimps, clams, and cauliflower coulis...


Risky Bee’s Nest. El Jimador Tequila – Passion Fruit & Orange Tea – Fresh Mango – Honey Citrus Water & Angostura Bitters...


So I know the pics look nice...but they literally took less than 1 minute each to shoot. The rest of the time we were FEASTING. It was the best feast EVERRRR...

Even Executive Chef Nan doesn't tire of her own food.



One of Tee's partners wanted to pose on the bar. I was game. Yay.


BEAST FEAST!!!!

Little Beast is going to take over the world!!!!