The following talk has been designed for those who find the idea of R1000 wines depressingly out of reach:
• Some people object on moral grounds to über-expensive food.
• Some people just can't afford it.
• It doesn't really matter which category you fit into - if million dollar bottles of booze are not going to happen for you it's good to know that there are deliciously attainable epicurean alternatives.
Defining our terms and then eating them...
• I think the concepts of simple abundance and affordable luxury are distinctly different.
• Simple abundance is about finding plenty and recognising the good fortune of having access to uncomplicated, everyday edibles.
• Affordable luxury is for those who have had to cut down on super expensive items (electronics and overseas holidays, R1000 bottles of wine etc) because of the recession but who still treat themselves with smaller nice things - for example, you might not be taking a trip to Paris this year but you can still buy really good local artisan produced breads or a seriously sexy sliver of Camembert.
So where to go for Gauteng simple abundance? The very cheep to the totally free fabulous...
Pea shoots in Cyrildene Chinatown - R10
Pea shoots are this season's sexy ingredient as used by all the most fashionable chefs. They taste delicious, they could not be more slimming and they make every salad you make look like a food stylist snuck into your house and made pretty on your dinner table.
If you go to the new Cyrildene Chinatown in Derick Avenue you will see that there are fruit and vegetable stalls in front of nearly all the restaurants. They have all manner of lovely things at the moment. On Tuesday I bought a huge Checkers packet full of pea shoots for R10. I pointed and made a gesture as to how many I wanted and a very nice old lady weighed out my purchase on her scale.
When I got home I made a copy of a dish I ate at the Bistro at Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek in December: Pea shoots, walnuts, feta with a vinaigrette. Completely fabulous and absurdly cheap.
Pumpkin flowers at the Bara Taxi Rank in Soweto: R6
Pumpkin flowers are nowhere to be found in northern suburbs markets. Posh nosh chefs lament that they can't get them because they want to use them in smart Italian dishes. Italians tend to stuff them and deep fry them in batter.
Italians call these fried flowers fiori di zucchini ripeni. All you do is make a batter of eggs, flour and water (2 eggs, 1/2 cup flour, 4 tablespoons cold water), wash the flowers inside and out to get out any soil or insects and make a filling of ricotta, chives, nutmeg, parmesan and an egg spoon it into the flowers, dip them in batter and fry them in hot oil until the batter is golden, drain on kitchen paper.
There are no pumpkin or courgette flowers to be had in poshville but there are lots at the Bara Taxi Rank. They cost R6 for a huge bunch from the Venda ladies who if you stop and chat will also tell you lovely foodie folk law - they say Venda bridegrooms eat a stew made of these flowers and that to do so promises a life time of happiness. A lifetime of happiness for R6 is a serious score.
If you are a woes and you don't want to go into Soweto on your own why not call Zandile Dhlamini of Aahhaah tours who does fabulous food tours of Soweto and will supervise your playing with the pumpkin flower ladies. Zandile 072 584 4673 or zandi.aahaah@gmail.com
Num nums for free!!!
All over Gauteng at the moment the num nums are in fruit. A num num is an indigenous Southern African bush/ small tree with white star shaped flowers and delicious strawberry sized and coloured fruit. They are curious in that they appear to have no pips or seeds - so nothing gets stuck in your teeth. They are of the genus Carissa for people who know about such things. They are very high in vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. They are powerful antioxidants. And they are all over our gardens. Dont let the birds have them all. Eat some yourself.
Whether you serve them on cakes as garnish or as a side dish snacky thing with cocktails they are delicious and totally free.
Where to go for affordable Luxury? None of these items are cheap but they are so little that they won't make a huge dent in the finances and you will feel better...
Good bread makes all the difference to a tough day
• Those in the North West province should call in on Penny Zeffert’s Oliveberry Kitchen 074 197 9051 where sensational sour-doughs and mouth-wateringly wonderful cranberry and cardamom loaves cause loyal fans to drive out to this tiny farmhouse bakery situated on the slopes of the Magaliesburg mountains.
• And once again Carlton Cafe in Pretoria is the only place to go for brioche that will not only cure a broken heart but make you forget you ever knew the erstwhile object of your affections 012 4607996.
White truffle mustard works well too...
La Marina - 011 997 0500 in the Long Meadow Business estate sell a white truffle mustard that is extremely cheering.
Once you have the mustard you need a decent sausage
• Pretoria fleishmaster Alois Fogenzutter at Alma Butchery 012 803 3335 makes a pork knackwurst (so called because it makes a ‘knack’noise when you bite into it) that will have knack-knacking with delight.
If all else fails remember that you just have to make it through to cocktail hour...
• The Lemon Story Lemon Cordial; 082 566 4026/ 011 728 5152 Peta’s Hunter’s organic citrus syrup makes seriously sinful sundowners if it is mixed 1 part syrup: 1 part vodka over ice. Available at selected organic and health food markets around Gauteng or directly from the chef.
• Wild Hibiscus flowers in syrup put at the bottom of a champagne glass and topped up with a good dry sparkling wine. The flower opens up as you pour the wine on - seriously fab. La Marina keep them.
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