The Pot Luck Club

I've been waiting for ages to visit The Test Kitchen or The Pot Luck Club due to their excellent reputation. To get a reservation is not that easy and for The Test Kitchen the first open spot was only the 9th of January 2014. So luckily I got a spot at The Pot Luck Club the day before my birthday and was beyond excited!

With that excitement I was also a bit weary as top rated restaurants sometimes just don't measure up to what you pay for or expect.  Luckily this was not the case at The Pot Luck Club! It honestly was one of my best dining experiences this year.

The experience is not only about the food. First the location of The Pot Luck Club is on the 6th floor of The Silo at The Old Biscuitmill. You experience an unbelievable view of the beautiful Cape Town.

  
A tip is to take the first seating of the night that is from 18:00 - 20:30. By doing this you experience the magnificent view, see the sun set as well as admire all the beautiful city lights.

Our waiter Jason was excellent. The only negative part of our experience was that we arrived at 17:50 and were not allowed to wait at the bar or inside the restaurant until they opened at 18:00. We had to go down the elevator and wait downstairs. Made us feel a bit unwelcome but this was soon forgotten.
 

 

Now lets get to the food. The Pot Luck Club offers "small plates" of Asian inspired food. The concept is to order dishes and share them between everyone at your table. They recommend about 3 dishes per person which will be equivalent to a main meal.
 
You write down everything on an order-slip and then the waiter will determine in what order the dishes will be enjoyed.

 

The menu is organised in categories such as sour, sweet, umami, bitter and salty. The prices ranges from R30-R150. I can think that some people will feel that the dishes are overpriced, but for me the flavours surpassed the cost and there are some cheaper options where you will still eat delicious food without breaking the budget. I actually realised how often we "overeat" and love the concept of being able to taste a diverse group of dishes and still be "full" after it. Just take your time and determine carefully what you want to enjoy. You can also just start with a few dishes and later add on some more.

 

 



We enjoyed the following:

The best...

 
5 spiced glazed pork belly with a roasted apple,grated halva and crackling(R80) - All the ingredients complimented each other very well and I loved the sour taste the apple gave the sweet pork belly.

 

Crispy duck spring rolls(R35) - This was the first time I really enjoyed a spring roll. The outside was nice and crisp and I experienced a burst of flavour when I took my first bite. It was amazing how you could taste every ingredient that was in the springroll.

 

Moroccan lamb ribs(R85)- Tender and succulent...what more do you want??

 

Malted chocolate fondant with stem ginger ice cream(R60) - My love for chocolate fondants has been evident during my blogposts and The Pot Luck Club ensured that my love for them continue.

The good but I won't order it again...

 

Spring salad, sesame sushi rice ball tamarind and tahini dressing(R40) - I loved the soya infused tofu as well as admired the thinly sliced vegetables. It was good but did not blow my socks off.

 

The dish I did not enjoy (but the boyfriend did)...

Fish tacos(R50) -  I experienced nothing special but the boyfriend loved the seasoning.

 
Drink wise I heard that they have delicious cocktails so I tried the pineapple and basil daiquiri(R60) and the boyfriend had an apple and fennel mojito(R60). They were good but I expected more. The winner of the night however was the Pierre Jourdan champagne you can enjoy by the glass(R40). Next time I will only opt for the champers!

 

 

 

The Pot Luck Club leaves you wanting more and more. While we were there I was already speculating and planning our return visit. I also think that if you want to experience some of Luck Dale Roberts magic its good to first start at The Pot Luck Club and then "hope" for a reservation at The Test Kitchen. Hope I can treat you to a review there next year!
 
Have you been to The Pot Luck Club??? What were your favourite dishes???

p.s The lift ride is awesome, especially enjoyed it when we left the restaurant and enjoyed the great view of the lovely Cape Town!

 

Located at The Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town

Contact them at 021 447 0804 or reservation@thepotluckclub.co.za
Follow them on twitter @PLCandgallery
For more information visit their website

La Parada

There is a new Spanish wine and tapas place in Bree street.

I popped in there last night with my friend Kerry before we went out for dinner! The place was so vibey I wanted to stay longer!

I have read a few reviews about them and people were not impressed with most of the tapas. I did not try anything last night but will give them a go when I have another opportunity.

Drink wise I really enjoyed my lemongrass daiquiri(R45)! Kerry had a cosmopolitan with a coconut twist(R40)! They also serve some complimentary snacks during "post-work drink time" :)

The space is really beautiful! I first drove past it as it's situated below street level. There are dining tables as well as long "bar-type tables" where you can sit down and enjoy your meal and a drink. I loved al the pretty light fixtures in La Parada! To experience the majestic feel of this place I will recommend that you visit them during night time.

The place was packed which definitely contributed to the vibe!

 

 

I predict that La Parada will become a great contender for one of Cape Towns top drink spots! Go check it out and let me know what you think! 

 

Located at 107 Bree Street, Cape Town

Open Monday - Saturday 12:00 - 22:00 & Sunday 12:00 - 17:00

Contact them at 021 426 0330

Like them on Facebook

 

P.s Another great spot for drinks in that area is Alexander bar !

 

Isabella's

I am finally done with exams! Yay! I have a week holiday and then I am going to the Eastern Cape to do my elective in General surgery.

Now during my exams a friend introduced me to Isabella's and it soon became our post-exam stop-shop to unwind afterwards.

Isabella's opened in Durbanville in May. Its part of a franchise, that's very popular in Gauteng and there already are 9 shops with a new one opening soon in Pretoria.

They have a characteristic colour palette of white, pink and black. It's a very retro looking shop and a big emphasis is put on the small details. I especially loved that every time I visited my tea was served in a different pot such as  this beautifull Le Creuset pot below.

The staff and manager Maureen were also extremely friendly and very attentive every time I visited. Nothing seemed to be a hassle for them. Another awesome feature of the shop is the free Wi-Fi. I have a new iPhone and after being on a blackberry for so long I now know what "data" is! haha

 

They have a very extensive menu with numerous breakfast, sandwich, quiche, wraps, burgers ,boerie rolls and salad options. During lunch time there's also a harvest table where you can choose and weigh a plate of food.

I am especially looking forward to try their  double decadent french toast , which is their signature dish, consisting of bread drenched in whipped orange mascarpone served with bacon, maple syrup and berries.(R58)

During my first visit I enjoyed the biltong, fig, rocket, parmesan cheese and herbed mayo sandwich on home baked white bread(R46). Now beware their portion sizes are big. You truly get your money's worth when you dine with them so ladies I would recommend you go for the half portion sandwiches when you visit. I was not a fan of the home baked bread as it was sliced to thick for me but there was nothing wrong with how it tasted :)

My second visit I had the crumbed chicken breast, bacon , tomato, avocado, feta, rocket and herbed mayo on whole grain bread(R46) and once again they did not disappoint.

 

My friend enjoyed the smoked salmon, tomato, capers, avocado, rocket and herbed mayo on rye bread and was also very satisfied.

Now my favourite at Isabella's is their Turkish delight cupcakes but beware they are super sweet. I had to take away a cupcake after each visit and loved the individual cupcake packaging. Other cakes to try when you come for some cake and tea are their ferrero-rocher, lemon meringue, cookies and crème cheesecake, carrot cake, purple velvet, back velvet , nutella chocolate cake and many more.

Our frequent cupcake take-away stash...

Just some of the cakes on display

Turkish delight(R20), chocolate(R26) and red velvet(R26) cupcakes.

Look how cute the cupcake packaging is!

 

Oh and look at this awesome special the first Friday of every month...

 

 

Isabella's can also assist you if you are looking for a venue to host a high tea. Prices range from R75 - R120 per person depending on if you choose to include tea, gin&tonic or a glass of champagne for your guests.

 

They also have an extensive wine, bubbly and cocktail list and my next visit I want to plan strategically so that I can at least enjoy a cocktail.



Visit them Monday-Friday 07:00-17:00, Saturday 08:00-17:00 or Sunday 09:00-15:00
Located at Heritage Square, Vrede street, Durbanville
Contact them at 021 976 6037 or durbaville@isabellas.co.za
Follow them @CakeandFoodShop or like them on Facebook
For more information check out their website

Remember to not forget about Treat that is also in the Durbanville area :)


P.s I also saw a Slug and lettuce is opening or being revamped next to Isabella's!

Schoon De Companje

Last year my favourite place was Emily Moon and this year I have to reward it to Schoon De Companje. They were known as "De oude bakerij" before they revamped and enlarged the space that now is Schoon De Companje. Underneath one roof you will find numerous culinary artist that will produce only top quality ingredients.

I have been tracking them for a while now through Instagram and Facebook post made by friends and just could not find a time to pop through to Stellenbosch. A few weekends ago I decided that there are no more excuses and myself with the boyfriend paid them a visit.

The entrance

View from upstairs

View from the exit

Detail around every nook and corner

 

The place was very busy and we had to wait 15 minutes  to be seated but there are many "facets" to Schoon De Companje that will keep you busy so the waiting time flew by for us.

At Schoon De Companje you will find the following corners scattered throughout the space...

• De Brasserij : Here you can enjoy local brews on tap and they are also the host of the live entertainment every Saturday night. Click here to check out the line-up and acquire tickets.

Beer on tap...

...or in the bottle

• Het roosterij: Here you can sit down and see how they roast your coffee and serve it to you. This is a great part of the space where you can sit down for a quick coffee and enjoy a pastry from the stall next to it without going through the whole "restaurant routine".

• Fanny Chanel: Artisian Ice-cream can be enjoyed here. A flavour I can't wait to go and try is the salted caramel.

• Nice to meat you: All chacuterie needs will be satisfied here. Top quality meat and poultry will be  at your disposal. What's  great about the set-up is that all the "artists" are at their stalls and ready to give you all the information you want about their produce.

• Het Wijnwinkeltjie: Here a small selection but of top quality wine can be found . They do not only stock wines from the Stellenbosch region but I also spotted some bottles from Hermanus such as Hamilton-Russel. They also host wine-tasting evenings. Their Facebook-page usually gives all the details.

• De Oude Bank Bakkerij: Fresh, moist quality baked breads will result in you not ever enjoying that shop-bought plastic loaf.
• There also is a pastry section where you can enjoy treats such as the cronut that has become famous this year as well as tarts and cookies. After our meal I still wanted to buy some treats but almost everything was sold out!

This whole arrangement  is great if you can't sit down but want to indulge or provide some treats for later in the day. I am already planning a trip to them to stock up on some goods for when I finish my exams.

We however did decide to sit down and were seated in the space at the back of the restaurant near the window. It was a cold but sunny day so the warmth of the sun shining through the windows added a very homey feel to the space. There's also space upstairs where you can sit.

The place was packed

Original décor items contribute to the old-age feel

Upstairs area

For drinks I had the home-made ice tea(R22). It really did taste home-made but I did not enjoy the cinnamon they added to it so I won't order that again. The boyfriend enjoyed a mocha java. It had the perfect balance between coffee and quality dark chocolate. One thing you can be sure of at Schoon De Companje is that nothing artificial will touch your lips. Here everything is mdae on the premises or imported from somewhere where it was home-made.

Part of their Menu

 Due to all the great products we observed when we entered Schoon De Companje we decided to enjoy the local produce platter. For two people it's R110 and for four people it's R220. This was very reasonable priced and we barely finished it. There were five different types of bread, two cheeses, three types of chacuterie, butter, olive oil, balsamic reduction, strawberry marmalade and some other pesto's. Everything was delicious but the highlight of the platter was the bread. It honestly was the best bread I have ever tasted.

The rest of their menu is also very reasonable priced. Breakfast ranges from R25 to R55 and lunch from R49 to R60. I have heard that their burger is a must-try.

Service can be better as we did have some long waiting periods but the place was packed to full capacity and there were loads of staff on the floor so I am sure it will be better when there are less people.

We are almost at the end of the year. I am currently busy with my MBChB 4 final exams so I am taking a sneaky studybreak to write this. Schoon De Companje is a bucket-list item for all before this year ends. You won't be disappointed.
 

Visit them at the corner of Bird and Church Street in Stellenbosch
Follow them @oudebankbakkery
Like them on Facebook
For more information check out their website
Open Tuesday - Friday 07:00 - 18:00, Saturday 08:00 - 18:00 and Sunday 08:00 - 15:00