Sophia Lindop - A Unique Food Experience

April Fool's Day...

I spent April Fool's Day safely in my garden, picking aubergines and tomatoes, and, basically hiding from anyone who might have planned to take revenge on me this year...  I have played a couple of pranks on unsuspecting friends in the past, and I am hoping that, after escaping unscathed yesterday, they have either forgotten or forgiven!  Today, I'm back!  And it's Easter, so...

HAPPY EASTER to you and yours! 

I hope that the Lindt Easter bunny (yes, we have to be specific!) will be dropping a few goodies in your garden, and I hope that all grown-ups will join the kids on the Easter egg hunt, laughing and having fun, and making memories!

As a child, my Lebanese granny made a huge fuss of Easter, and we used to paint eggs that she would hide, along with chocolate eggs, in the garden and let us loose on Easter Sunday - a memory I will never forget!  This year I bought ones that glow in the dark to add another dimension to hunting Easter eggs in the Karoo.  We will spend the rest of this weekend on our farm there, so, with the jackal howling in the background, the owls silently flying above, and the moon winking down at us, Paddy and I will be running around, looking for dessert amongst the shrubbery...  Let's hope the riverine rabbit doesn't get to them before we do!

Have a great weekend!

 

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, take care and have a fabulous weekend!

Greetings!

It's been 69 days since my last...POST!  (What were you thinking!?)  I decided that today was the day that I pick up my keyboard and start moving these fingers! 

I appeared on TV yesterday and the family was watching in Douglas...  Natalie, my brother's three year old, turned to my step-mom and said, "Granny, do you remember Sophia?"  So my mom said, "Yes I do."  To which Natalie replied, "Come see, Granny, there's a lady in the TV who looks just like Sophia!"  Innocence!

Paddy and I are off to the launch of a friend's new restaurant this evening, after which we are going to see Sir Anthony Sher and John Kani in The Tempest.  Can't wait! 

Anyway, this is my attempt to ease myself back into the habit of daily writing...  Bear with me!  We'll chat again soon...

The weekend's here

I am so glad the weekend finally arrived!  This past week was wild, and I am afraid, next week will be even wilder! 

My aim today is to post a recipe converter on my Blog so that all of you who are reading this, and really want to use my recipes, can do so, wherever you are...  Wish me luck!

So, here's a beautiful picture of a flower from my succulent garden, and a wish that your weekend will be restful, special and filled with happiness!

Ciao...

  

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.

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! 

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...)

Gift day!

I feel so special today!  Firstly, Paddy bought me my first bunch of tulips for the season - I love tulips!  They're beautiful - purple and orange and yellow - and I have placed them in my favourite vase and left them where I can see them all the time.

Then, a notification slip arrived yesterday alerting me to the fact that there was a parcel waiting for me at the post office...  It was from a town in South Africa where I had never been, so I assumed that it was something from a producer that they wanted me to look at.  This morning I popped in at the post office to collect the parcel, opened it, and there was a beautiful recipe book with a note inside from "Gail", along with some of her favourite recipes, handwritten.  I feel so special - who still takes the time out to write a letter?  But sadly, I am struggling to remember this person, and it seems as if we have never met before.  I am sure I must have given her my address, or where else would she have gotten my address?  And, with my mind as full and tired as it is, I cannot remember this lady.  There is no return address, so this is my reply to Gail:

"Dear Gail,
Thank you so much for the surprise gift!  The book is beautiful, as are the illustrations, and I cannot wait to try some of the recipes!  What a gracious gift, and I sincerely hope that someone brightened your day today by handing you a bright bunch of your favourite flowers, or by bringing you a freshly baked, warm loaf of bread...  You made my day, and whether I remember who you are, or whether I even know you, I will treasure this day of mystery and joy!
Once again, a big THANK YOU from me in Cape Town to you in Aliwal North!
Wishing you an amazing weekend!
Warm regards,
Sophia"

And so my "Gift Day" is coming to an end...  I will pour a glass of good wine, make a fire in the fireplace, put on beautiful music and sit down for dinner with my wonderful husband soon, and I will go to bed with a smile!

Mother's Day

I think it's a brilliant idea to have an entire day dedicated to mothers!  Today I honoured two mothers that were with us for lunch - one my own (step)mother, and the other, an old family friend whom I have known since birth.  Paddy and I went out our way to make them feel spoilt and appreciated!  My mind often pulled out files filled with incredibly happy memories of my own beloved mother!  How amazing it would have been to have had her at my table today!

Lunch consisted of waterblommetjie soup (something most of our guests had never tasted) with a freshly baked, piping hot seed loaf - my late mother-in-law's recipe...  Then I prepared a beef neck curry in coconut milk, and served it with sweet potato and basmati rice.  For dessert I quickly baked a tarte tatin and our guests left here filled with the finer things in life - a little Mother's Day gift for the moms, amazing wines, good food, and mostly good cheer!   

Life's a beach!

Our lives have been crazy!  At times I feel a pang of guilt about my neglected space in blogosphere - and other times I want to write but can't find the time...  But, although this continuous spell of long weekends can be a pain, the last two have done wonders for my stress levels!  The first one (last weekend) we spent away with Mark, Kim, Pieter, Clara and Andre - we spent time together on our Karoo farm and returned home quite relaxed when the next one hit!  Glorious!  This weekend we are spending precious time with Dave, Michelle and Sheldon who are visiting from Johannesburg.

So, this morning, after an early rise and breakfast at the Neighbourhood Goods Market, we had ice-cream at the Waterfront, and then headed home via the scenic route - thought I'd reward Sheldon for being an absolute star while the grownups enjoyed the market.  We stopped at the beach in Camps Bay when my eye caught this sign: 

Hello!  Are you kidding?!  Well, to cut a long story short, while the gang were running around on the beach, I had a head, neck and back massage while breathing in the fresh sea air, with a cool breeze caressing my body, and the warm sunshine warming my feet...  Sound good?  Trust me, it was!