Keeping it real...
The weather around most of the country is perfect for cuddling up and eating in - so make the most of abundant cheap and cheerful root vegetables and slow cooking meat cuts to whip up hearty soups and stews. It’s a good idea to make a lot of extras for cold lazy mid-week evenings when cooking is the last thing you feel like.
Check out our recipe section and newsletter archive on eat-in.co.za for great comfort food dishes that are big on effect but low on effort.
I recently returned from a very grey and rainy London (and they told me it was summer!). Anyway, I did a lot of eating-on-the-run (so many shops, so little time) and as such ate more than my fair share of ready-to-go sandwiches. Normally I would turn my nose up at such an idea but I was blown away by the variety and quality of these items from chain sandwich stores like Prêt à manger and EAT, and even supermarkets (the latter weren’t quite as good but nevertheless a lot better than anything we have on offer).
The reason is less to do with variety and inspired combinations and more to do with care in production and quality ingredients. A simple cheese, tomato and lettuce roll was made up of a chewy, crusty baguette with good, mature cheddar, crisp lettuce and ripe, juicy tomatoes - not some insipid after-thought of tasteless bread, ‘plastic’ cheese and green and red bits masquerading as the vegetables we know and love.
The more I think about it all and the more products I try in Eat In’s search for the very best produce SA has to offer, the more I realise that while our food industry is coming along in leaps and bounds, we so fall short when it comes to the basics. We are so busy trying to be creative and inspired, and copying the 'other' folk that we don't spend enough time on the fundamentals.
After all, a fabulous chunk of beautifully made, full-flavoured mature cheddar is a culinary delight and far superior to a not-so-great-cheese classified as 'gourmet' due to it being flavoured with garlic, herbs and chilli or flavourings of that ilk. Less is invariably more and this is as true in the realm of food as anywhere else.
Keep it real, keep it simple and have a warm and cosy month.
Justine
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Mediterranean tortilla stacks
We are officially halfway through winter but it's still cold out there, so curl up on the couch and get cosy with these oozy and delicious tortilla stacks - perfect for a Saturday afternoon on the couch with sport or a girl's night in with a soppy DVD.
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4 store bought tortillas
Filling:
200 g buffalo-style mozzarella, sliced*
8 – 10 basil leaves, torn
2 firm, ripe tomatoes, sliced about 4 good quality anchovies, chopped, optional
olive oil
sea salt and milled pepper
Serves 2
Lay two tortillas on a flat surface. Layer cheese, basil, tomato and anchovies as you would for a toasted sandwich. Season well and drizzle with olive oil. Top with tortillas. Heat a little olive oil in a large non-stick pan. When hot, add tortilla sandwich and cook for 2 - 3 minutes till golden and cheese has started to melt. Use two egg lifters and a lot of confidence.
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Cooking the books
We asked some local foodies to choose their favourite cookbook recipes – here are the first three:
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Sumien Brink , Editor Woolworths Taste and VISI magazine shares her favourite Cognac truffles recipe from The Cosmopolitan Cookbook. Read more… |
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Food is Dumi Ndlovu's life – he cannot do without this scrummy Salmon with crisp chilli salad recipe. Read more… |
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Pete Goffe-Wood has a gift for making magic in the kitchen – His Japanese-style pork belly with dancing bonito is earthy and flavoursome. Read more…
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Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival: Johannesburg
Standard Bank displays their Inspired, Motivated and Involved philosophy through their sponsorship of The Juliet Cullinan Wine Festivals. This year's Johannesburg event takes place on the 25th and 26th of July. More >>>
Festival time in South Africa's wine capital
Wine lovers from all over South Africa and international visitors are expected to descend on Stellenbosch for the 4th Stellenbosch Wine Festival to be held from 2 to 5 August at the Paul Roos Gymnasium in the heart of Stellenbosch. More >>>
Fabulous Food Fest on Women's Day: 9 August 2007
The Bryanston Organic Market is celebrating food! Come and enjoy the foods that the Market does so well. More >>>
Roberson Slow - Robertson Wine Valley
From 9 – 12 August 2007 time will go by exceptionally slowly in the beautiful Robertson Wine Valley when the inaugural Robertson Slow will take place. More >>>
The 2007 Michael Fridjhon wine experience - Wines at the edge
The Michael Fridjhon WINE Experience, co-hosted by WINE magazine, is the most prestigious food and wine event on the South African calendar and takes place on 25 & 26 August 2007 in Johannesburg .
More >>>
Keep watching our calendar for food and wine related events nationwide - go to www.eat-in.co.za
Please email us at eatin.web@newmediapub if you know of any event that is not listed. |
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Eat In RMB Private Bank Produce Awards update
The judging day of the Eat In RMB Private Bank South African Produce Awards on Monday 2nd July, came and went in a flurry of excitement, laughter and serious tasting. Over the last few months nominations have poured in and the 4 judges, Pete Goffe -Wood, Hilary Biller, Michelle Barry, Justine Drake as well as RMB Private Bank representatives Brandon Gouws and Nici Beneke had the difficult task tasting their way through all produce. Sadly nominations from the central region (Free State, Northern Cape and North West) were very thin on the ground and some of the categories, like seafood, small producers were also lacking. So come on, we know you’re out there growing and farming bountiful, gorgeous produce- lets see what we can do for next year!!! |
Gear up with funky chef accessories
If cooking is your passion and you're tired of carrying knives wrapped in dishtowels and dragging out the old apron, the new “i love to cook” range of chef gear is for you. To gear up read further
Winning the ice cream machine
Romy Mathews is not the only one who is delighted to have won the Gelato Chef 2200 Ice Cream Machine in the Eat In RMB Produce Awards Competition (sponsored by the Culinary Equipment Company). Read why |
Is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable?
Truly one of the most different looking pieces of fruit or vegetable I have seen all year, and definitely a conversation piece. Read more
The microwave oven turns 60!
The microwave oven turns 60! One of the handiest gadgets in the kitchen celebrates 6 decades this year. It all started by chance, as most discoveries do… Read more |
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