Sophia Lindop - A Unique Food Experience

A visit from afar...

A few Fridays ago I had a surprise visit from cyber-friends...  It's amazing how well one can get to know people without ever having laid eyes on one another!  I had a call from Barbara and Rob, ex-Capetonians who reside on Vancouver Island in Canada, on their latest visit to see the family.  Barb is hooked on my Blog.  It felt as if we had known one another for many years, and we enjoyed tartlets and coffee beside a blazing fire in our home, while catching up on life like old friends would.  They arrived with a bottle of Canadian maple syrup, and I sent them home with quinoa and orders to report back...  In fact, Barb just sent a pic of my chocolate gateau that has become a regular on their table. 

Do you ever have a craving for something specific, and then, should you be so lucky to get just that, it is the most satisfying feeling!  Well, as I am sitting here, that feeling has washed over me and I feel satisfied having had my fish cakes and my asparagus creation.  On Saturday I was teaching the first of my three-week cookery course, and couldn't find Belgian endive for one of the starters - so I substituted asparagus, and am hooked!  I will share it with you tomorrow...  But now, this is me touching base.  Chat again tomorrow.

Broken promises...

I was invited to join Nancy Richards at SAfm last Friday on her show "Otherwise" - we chatted during lunch hour about food and the future...  But, at the end she asked what I would be Blogging about later, and I answered.  And then, with every good intention to come home and break my silence of the last few weeks, I had a function, a farewell party, and then, on Sunday the need to rest!  Monday started with a jolt, and here I sit, guilty as charged!

So, not wanting to be labelled "The One who Breaks Promises", here goes with my latest foodie fad - rather late than never, right?

I have recently rediscovered chicory.  Well, actually I have really and truly discovered it and have been having fun coming up with crazy dishes involving chicory.  You can read all about it in my latest newsletter.  But, here's my favourite... 

Foefie slides and joy rides

Those of you who know me will know that I am very bad with things that leave me feeling out of control!  Ask me to make a speech and I'm fine.  Ask me to bungee jump, and I refuse!  So you will understand that the last month has been a mad, rushed, exciting adventure, literally and figuratively speaking.  I never knew what I would find around the next corner...

Winemakers Choice, Sophia Lindop and Elephant Getaway are joining forces to bring an exciting offering to the tourist table.  The Cape Town contingent spent a couple of days in Knysna on business, with some pleasure woven into the deal.  On the left is me, 30 metres above the Tsitsikamma Forest, completely out of control.  That morning started with me on Harry the elephant's back - what an experience to watch the sun rise from up there!  After conquering the Tsitsikamma Forest and old Harry, I was ready to conquer any business hurdle!  Our meetings were inspired and inspiring, and soon we knew that we were all on the same page.  I promise to keep you posted as soon as I am allowed to spill the beans!

Furthermore, be sure to buy a copy of the latest Woolworths Taste magazine - I get a mention along with other great Bloggers...  Also, this week's Sunday Times should have a feature about me and what I am up to.  Paddy has been up at the crack of dawn these last two Sundays, filled with excitement, only to get home, freezing, and no article yet.  So, should you read about " the tall dentist that assaulted the newspaper salesman because there was STILL no article about his wife..." you'll know who that is!

Anyway, this was just to catch up with all of you!   Loads of news to follow, but right now I have to finish preparations for my Christmas in July Media Dinner tomorrow evening...  I'm outta here! 

What are you thinking!?

It makes me mad when food establishments under-deliver!  Like yesterday...I went to the Cellars Hohenort in Constantia to see my hairdresser.  Now, Cellars Hohenort is an established business with integrity, and it is run well by the McGrath family.  So I arrive there, famished, not having had time for breakfast, and I ask the hairdresser to order a sandwich for me from the hotel. 

Going to the hairdresser is kind of my only spoiling time at the moment, so I decide to make the most of it, and I order a avocado and prawn sandwich made with home-baked bread - sounds yummy, right?  The cost was R95, but I think, "What the heck..." and order.

We'll catch up again after the weekend...

My life is like a rollercoaster ride right now, and considering how petrified I am of rollercoasters, I can honestly say that currently life is an adventure!  Sometimes it's upside down, other times right side up, sometimes I'm going so fast I just have to close my eyes and let out a loud scream, and other times I have moments where I can sit back and enjoy the vantage point...but it's fun, exhilarating, exciting, wild, challenging and I know that I have embarked on a ride that has changed the course of my life.  I promise to share more along the way...

Right now, however, I have to move 'cause Paddy and Bill are waiting for me in our double cab and we're off to the Karoo to rest, read, eat, enjoy good wine, and nothing much else.  Why?  Well, 'cause I am not capable of doing much else - bottom line, I need to rest!  So this is me saying, "Ciao for now.  Let's catch up on Tuesday.  Have a great long weekend (that's if you're in South Africa), and be warned, I'll be back!" (as Mr. Swazzenegger says...)

Pears, pears and more pears!

You might have noticed that I have a 'thing' for pears lately.  Hope it's contagious...

Here are a few tips regarding pears:

• Pears will ripen faster if placed next to bananas in a fruit bowl.
• They stay fresh for longer if kept in a fridge.
• Pears are the least allergenic of all fruits.

But, I am saving the best for last...  Pam made this dessert on Sunday - it was divine!!!

 

Tickle me pink!

I had such a fabulous day!  And besides, what a beautiful day it was!  So, after my last meeting in town, I decided to take the scenic route home while singing along with ABBA (when am I going to progress past this phase?) and at one point I had to pull over to absorb this sight...  (If you are not in the fortunate position to call Cape Town home, or if you take a different route home, I will ease your suffering by sharing the sight with you.)

My, we live in a beautiful place!

My day was filled with both pretty things and pretty exciting things!  I baked a cake for my wonderful new PR family at Total Media, and, I must say, I really enjoyed dressing it up!  Feedback was that it was devoured, which is always a good sign!

Pink cakes, pink flowers, pink ribbons, and peachy pink sunsets made me think of Paddy's favourite thing - pink Norwegian salmon...

I lived to tell the tale!

OK, so in my latest newsletter I promised to report back on my ABBA moment...(read more on my newsletter.)  All I can say is that, in the end I bribed a couple of people to act as background singers, and we were an absolute hit!  Move over Agnetha, Frida, Bjorn and Benny, 'cause Sophia's in the house!

In the meanwhile, I thought I'd share this very easy dessert recipe with you...

At the end of a rainbow...

I was driving home from my dental appointment earlier (yes, even dentist's wives have decay and need fillings!) when I saw the most beautiful sight.  There before me was a full rainbow framing my suburb, and as I got closer to home, I found myself wishing that it would end on my roof...  I turned one corner and drove into a mist of colours as I drove along home and parked my car.

Talking about colours - my new PR 'angel' asked me to do some research on table-setting trends, so here are 2008’s table-setting trends according to Sophia Lindop…

Great things come in small packages!

Some days it's really hard not to use this blog as a platform to bitch and moan about people's behaviour!  Gosh!  Where do people get off?  I mean, why have the words "excuse me / pardon me / would you mind / may I" and more, disappeared from the list of essential vocabulary required to ensure normal, healthy interaction between human beings?  Beats me!

As you can tell, yesterday was one of those days where I had to get out the way before some 'lady' (yeah, right!) bumped me to the side with her stainless steel trolley, or drove right over me with her SUV.  Coming from the platteland where we were taught manners and to respect others, this remains a shock to the system!  You'd think I'd be getting used to it by now...  All I can say is that I am having a T-shirt printed that reads, "I survive shopping at Cape Town's BIG FIVE daily!"  In case you're wondering, the Big Five are: Constantia Village / Cavendish Square / Tygervalley Centre / Canal Walk and the Garden Centre (although the last three are actually much more "user friendly!")  Needless to say, I prefer to buy my produce from smaller companies that stock brilliant produce and who remember my name - it keeps me out of the line of fire!