Yesterday was quite a day! I got officially spoiled rotten by my delightful, cousin, friend, confidant, fellow food and pampering enthusiast, Annika! She had arranged a belated birthday day of indulgence for me.
We started with a Bikram yoga class given by hers truly at Jai yoga studio – the facilities and environment are sublime and her teaching is world class.
Then we meandered off to Café Milano for lunch which is a new café at the top of kloof street and is a collaborative venture by Giorgio Nava and Vanessa Quellec. I have been a fan of Vanessa’s work since I first sunk my teeth into it at Roundhouse. Man, am I glad that she is baking for popular consumption again! I would easily say that she is the top pastry chef and baker in South Africa. You really haven’t tasted pastry until you have tasted Vanessa’s pastry! We ended up discussing strategies of how I could get Vanessa to let me work in their bakery for a few days to see how she does it. The cherry on top was Giorgio handing us both a complimentary packet of rolls as we left. It may have been their surplice but it still made us feel special!
I was then whisked off to the newly refurbished Equinox Spa at the Cape Royale Hotel where we have a ‘couples’ pedicure – so we could carry on with a steady flow of girly banter while getting our tootsies tended to. The setting is fresh and modern and the pedicures professional and thorough.
A cocktail at the ‘Sky bar’ of the Cape Royal seemed the logical next step - this is where the girl talk started to get a little naughty but I'm blaming the apple and cinnamon daiquiri's which were way yummier than I had expected.
Next we went back to Annika’s place to freshen up before dinner while sipping on chilled glasses of pinot noir. I was pretty excited by the wine as I have never heard of it. The Yardstick 2009 by Klein Contantia. It was perfect served straight from the fridge on such a scorcher of a day, and light yet full of flavour.
The evening concluded at La Mouette in Sea Point for six course tasting menu. It was fabulous, from the service to the bread. The food was perfectly presented and the flavours adventurous without being outrageous. Annika and I were both blow away by the sweet breads and I was all over the gin and tonic pre dessert. To top it all off the full six course menu was only R210, what’s not to love.
I was chauffeured home tipsy, full of deliciousness and pampered to the max – I am so blessed!
tadah! what a day :)
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