Peep. Peep. Chic.
Fantastic Voyage
Recently I took a trip to a place that some refer to as "the motherland". Now, personally, I'm from Chicago and thats the mutha' of all lands for me. But, the trip was both breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly educational. But for the purposes of Hostess Chick, I thought I would share with you an exerpt from one of the letters that I sent home....
For the life of me I cannot remember the name of the restaurant, but its right across the street from our hotel in Nelson Mandela Square. There they have a huge, larger than life bronze statue of Mandela and lots and lots of fine stores and restaurants...The restaurant has a beautiful glow of red lanterns and gold accents. Its dimly lit, and has many wicker and wood fixtures lending a very exotic feeling. The food itself wasn't too exotic, except for the antelope - yes, I ate antelope. It was really tasty, but I have to admit, since it was served "raw" (cured) the texture and consistency, while perfectly prepared, still gave me the willies. Needless to say I didn't finish that bit of the meal. But we also had lamb kabobs, skewered beef, and grilled chicken. There was a side of mealies (which is basically white corn meal ground and made into a porridge) with a yummy spicy sauce on top. The lamb neck was also a big hit. It tasted like ox tails really, and the spices were primarily cumin and cinnamon. It was exceptionally good. We topped of the meal with a great south african pinot noir, and for dessert, we had THE best chocolate ice cream ever and a bit of baklava.
Its amazing how a little food and ambiance can color an experience. Paying attention to details of presentation and environment is key to building a memorable dinning experience. We spent maybe 2 and a half hours at the restaurant and it was quite enjoyable. The romance and mystery of the wicker/stone/metal decor coupled with the firey glow of candlelight and wall sconces lent a exotic feel and made the dinner feel incredibly intimate. You can do this at home too...candlelight is easy and centerpieces are the key. Try bringing a bit of nature to the table and mixing with with industrials like iron or steel accessories. You'll be surprised how far a little ambiance can go!
For the life of me I cannot remember the name of the restaurant, but its right across the street from our hotel in Nelson Mandela Square. There they have a huge, larger than life bronze statue of Mandela and lots and lots of fine stores and restaurants...The restaurant has a beautiful glow of red lanterns and gold accents. Its dimly lit, and has many wicker and wood fixtures lending a very exotic feeling. The food itself wasn't too exotic, except for the antelope - yes, I ate antelope. It was really tasty, but I have to admit, since it was served "raw" (cured) the texture and consistency, while perfectly prepared, still gave me the willies. Needless to say I didn't finish that bit of the meal. But we also had lamb kabobs, skewered beef, and grilled chicken. There was a side of mealies (which is basically white corn meal ground and made into a porridge) with a yummy spicy sauce on top. The lamb neck was also a big hit. It tasted like ox tails really, and the spices were primarily cumin and cinnamon. It was exceptionally good. We topped of the meal with a great south african pinot noir, and for dessert, we had THE best chocolate ice cream ever and a bit of baklava.
Its amazing how a little food and ambiance can color an experience. Paying attention to details of presentation and environment is key to building a memorable dinning experience. We spent maybe 2 and a half hours at the restaurant and it was quite enjoyable. The romance and mystery of the wicker/stone/metal decor coupled with the firey glow of candlelight and wall sconces lent a exotic feel and made the dinner feel incredibly intimate. You can do this at home too...candlelight is easy and centerpieces are the key. Try bringing a bit of nature to the table and mixing with with industrials like iron or steel accessories. You'll be surprised how far a little ambiance can go!
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