Velvet cakes, mum’s Moyo 63rd and mum-in-law’s 65th at Steenberg Bistro 1982

I think every August blog post I’ve ever published has mentioned that it’s been a very birthday-filled month. Add my Loeries work coverage to the mix and it’s almost impossible to fit in everything we want or need to do. Despite the craziness we did still get to see both our moms for their birthdays in the past few days, as you’ll see below…

Sunday, 13 August 2017: Mum’s birthday lunch at Moyo

My mom usually cooks Sunday lupper for us, so we decided having her NOT cook would be one of her gifts, especially as her birthday fell on a Sunday this year. We went to Moyo for something different, and as we’d let them know it was Mum’s birthday, she was presented with a special dish of ice cream and berry sauce, was sung to, made to wear a hat AND fed the first spoonful.

To eat, we went with the sweet potato soup (me), the flame-grilled chermoula fish (Husband), the Maputo peri-peri chicken (Mum) and the oxtail with dumplings (Dad). We were all licking our fingers afterwards, so delicious!

We tried the ‘Independence’ shooters to end the meal in style. They’re yummy Pina Colada-y concoctions!

We took a photo of our Moyo-painted faces when we got home before the paint started flaking off.

Sunset from my parents’ house later that evening.

Tuesday, 15 August 2017: Velvet Cake Co sneak peek

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of some of the Velvet Cake Co’s new treats – my parents came along. Click here for all the words, this is just proof I was there in front of the lovely cake-painted walls.

Aren’t these the most gorgeous cakes? Really special.

Probably the prettiest slice of cake I’ve ever seen.

Little bites of all sorts of niceness. An enormous strawberry, caramel-popcorn-meringue topped cupcake, and red velvet cupcake.

Wednesday, 16 August 2017: Opening of CEM Africa Summit

Scenes from the first day of the CEM Africa Summit – gin stands, a packed panel session, interesting art work in the Century City Conference Centre and proof I was there covering it.

Saturday, 19 August 2017: Mum-in-law’s birthday breakfast at Steenberg’s Bistro 1682

My mum-in-law decided she wanted to host her 65th birthday breakfast at Steenberg’s Bistro 1682 all the way back when we first took her there in November last year, before they had officially moved down here from Johannesburg. The weather played along beautifully on the day.

If you’ve been to Bistro 1682 for breakfast you’ll know the wonder of this surprise – the warm, sweet rolls with toffee sauce to dip in that are served while waiting for your meals to arrive. Drool!

“Happy birthday to you!” Oysters were shucked, pork belly-bacon benedicts devoured, bubbly toasts were made and a special birthday plate of treats was presented to the birthday girl. All in all a lovely birthday experience.

The other side of the table – an almost-well-from-his-cold Husband, a just-starting-to-suffer-the-symptoms dad and a smiling-happily brother-in-law.

Bellies full, we trotted outside for some family photos. First up, Husband with his clan.

Then it was our turn.,, ❤

Now one with everyone, minus my father-in-law as photographer. On taking this pic we realised we had all dressed to a blue/green theme without realising. Stylish!

Husband whisked me away to our nearest Spur with a view of the sea much, much later for a quick Saturday afternoon treat between batches of work. We ended up with a Pina Colada, hazelnut latte and chicken-bacon-avo salad to share.

Sunday, 18 August 2017: Coffee tasting tray at The Daily

We popped in at Seaside Village’s Daily Cafe for a quick breakfast bite before more work rolled in. Here is Husband with his coffee, the new menus and my Nutella-banana pancakes. Always start your day with chocolate, where you can!

Of course I went for the coffee tasting tray when I saw it on the menu. It’s three tiny cups of plain espresso, espresso con panna (with cream) and their famous ‘tin cup’ with condensed milk. A must for coffee lovers like me. I’m trying their hot chocolate tasting tray next!

Apologies for the lack of doggy pics this week, kids – here’s a pic of our little angel Freckles to make up for it.

That’s all, folks! Have a happy, sunny weekend and click here for more of our Velvet Cake Co experience.

Jumbo hotdogs, Intaka Island walks and teatime treats at The Vineyard

I said we’d have lots of pics of the in-laws in my last update, and lots of pics we have! They’ll be in town for a few more weeks so expect them to feature in the next few updates. 🙂 We had lots of food balanced out by lots of walks, as you’ll see below…

Saturday, 12, November 2016: Big Bay brekkie, Intaka Island and doggy walks

We started our Saturday with breakfast at the Eden Cafe at Eden on the Bay in Big Bay. That’s my latte on the left and banana-marscapone flapjacks on the right.

There’s Husband and his mum, both tucking into their Surfer’s breakfasts (salmon-and-scrambled-egg panini), with his dad’s English breakfast on the right.

Here are Husband and his parents, mountain-gazing from a chilly Big Bay after breakfast at the Eden Cafe.

We popped into Canal Walk briefly after that as we were in the area for our afternoon at Intaka Island while Dad-in-law met up with a friend. Just look at this enormous hotdog we shared! Tis a jumbo cheese griller.

Intaka Island is a real hidden gem in the heart of all those fancy buildings. Here is Mother, making her way through the walkway.

Lots of little weaver nests are dotted in the rushes at the water’s edge.

These are the floating heronries at Intaka Island. We joked they should be renamed ‘ibiseries’ as we saw just one grey heron on the day.

We stopped at the viewing hut mid-way to gaze across at the pretty view…

Such a photogenic spot in Century City, but those construction cranes framing the mountain mar the beauty.

Husband and his mum taking a break from all the walking.

We stopped at Sunset Beach on our way home. This is the view of Table Mountain from the walkway between parking lot and beach.

Blouberg looks tiny and so far away from Sunset Beach, but it’s the next stop on the bus route along the coast. Look at those tiny kites in the distance!

There were quite a few ships on the horizon and the water was freezing.

Despite having had quite extensive walkies ourselves already, we treated the doggies to an amble around the neighbourhood that evening. See how happy we all are here.

But the doggies soon changed expressions. These doggy faces are just the funniest!

That evening we dined at the Driftwood Cafe. That’s Mother-in-law and Husband with their food on the left, with Dad-in-law and me on the right. Don’t worry, close-ups of the food to follow…

Our four full plates from the Driftwood Cafe. I had the blooming onion, top left, Husband had the eisbein and mash, bottom left, Mother-in-law had the mussel pot and Dad-in-law had hake and chips.

Sunday, 13 November 2016: Primi beachfront breakfast and full family braai

We wanted a view of the sea for Sunday breakfast – and delicious food, of course, so Primi is where we ended up. I had the super-sized cappuccino (just look at that mug bottom left!) I also ate the freshest croissant with a side of bacon (top left), with Husband going for the salmon eggs benedict you can see bottom right, and the parents sharing a portion of eggs Florentine between them, top right.

When last did we have a full family braai, with both sets of parents in attendance? Probably a good four years ago, before we moved to Cape Town. Top left is all the meat on the braai, bottom left is Husband and his dad getting the fire going, me with a Strongbow berry cider and all the menfolk watching/playing/laughing at cricket on the right.

Much later that evening it was just Bassie and me on the couch with my book. She refused to look at the camera though.

Monday, 14 and Tuesday, 15 November 2016: INMA Conference at The Vineyard Hotel

I spend Monday and Tuesday this week networking and note-taking at The Vineyard Hotel at the Interntational News Media Association (INMA) global summit. The tea time treats were amazing – here are my four mini-plates over the two days. Read up on my conference coverage here and here and here and here.

Just so you know, this was the distracting view from my seat in the Vineyard Hotel ballroom at the INMA conference. It’s a wonder I got anything done.

That’s all, folks! Happy weekend 🙂

Pina Colada shakes and exploring Intaka island

This week’s update is a bit more picture-packed than usual as we took so many snaps last weekend that I just couldn’t decide which to use. All the better for you to scroll through below…

Saturday, 29 October 2016: Squirrel-greeting at Company’s Garden, Intaka Island tour

We were up very early on Saturday to stand in the collections queue at Home Affairs for our new IDs (only the first 100 in queue get to collect). Here is Husband outside a lovely tiger sprayed in the CBD.

Mission complete, we were hungry and decided on Company’s Garden. The eating area is set among such pretty greenery and we were there early enough to have a choice of tables.

I started off with a flat white, and sliver of perfectly dunkable biscotti.

The banana bread French toast, served with bacon, marscapone cheese and strawberries is always a win, as is the Eggs benedict served with salmon and spinach that Husband opted for.

These very tall trees make you feel very small, but not quite as small as the squirrels that scamper about…

Like this curious little squirrel! We named him Nutmeg. He came over to nibble our fingers.

There were lots of inquisitive pigeons around, too.

We had more birds on the brain that day as our next stop was here: Our vessel for the early afternoon, in which we explored Intaka Island, in the heart of Century City. Intaka means bird in Xhosa and we sure did see a lot of them, even the elusive Peregrine Falcon.

Look at these three feathered friends, for example – we weren’t sure if they were going to hop onboard with us or back in the water for a swim. They chose the latter option.

Just one of the intriguing displays at Intaka Island – this is a wall of ‘air plants’ – their roots grow out of soil.

Of course Dad and Husband explored some of the steam engines before we set off across the canal.

Mum and me on the boardwalk through the marshes and reeds – you can see some of the Century City skyscrapers behind us.

The weather was just right, with a light breeze and lots of sunshine to keep us warm and happy.

Only Husband was paying such attention to the guided tour that he didn’t turn for this shot.

Group shot from the other side – see how ‘Intaka’ reflects from the outside onto Dad’s shirt.

The view of Canal Walk from the other end of Century City, with a birdie flying by.

We’d worked up quite an appetite by then so decided to meet up again at Jerry’s Burger Bar in Blouberg, close to home. Look at that amazing view – half the reason it’s always packed.

I had to try the pina colada shake. Was just as creamy/coconutty/pineapple-y as you’d expect, with no alcohol.

Mom and me, with the Jerry and the Sloth. Both delicious. Unfortunately the scary Halloween decorations are out of shot.

Beers’ cheers from the boys’ side of the table.

Husband went for the junkyard dog, wrapped in bacon and topped with avo and cheese.

Dad ordered a side of onion rings that we all shared and still couldn’t finish between us – that’s a huge side order!

Bassie in pensive mode, later that evening.

Bertie Andrews. Such a handsome boy. You can see why we tell him he’s a white doggie with brown mask and superhero cape.

Different faces entirely when it comes to waiting for their dins. Such sweethearts.

Sunday, 30 October 2016: Sampling Wimpy’s new sweetie-topped milkshakes

Husband felt like the Bullseye breakfast from Cafe Lacomia on Sunday morning, so that’s just what he had. You can see my cappuccino with two tiny biscuits in the saucer. Also ate a toasted sammidge, no pics of it alas.

Sunday afternoon was the perfect time to try out Wimpy’s new ‘topped with sweeties’ milkshake. I went for the coffee option, Husband had banana.

Monday, 31 October 2016: First day of BrandLove’s Customer Design experience course at 360 Business Parks, Paarden Eiland

Just loved this wall art in the entrance to 360 Business Parks, on Wessex Road in Paarden Eiland.

Two of my favourite workshop sights – coffee cups and boxes of Lego!

One of the Lego scenes I created. It looks like fun and games – and is – but also requires quite a bit of deep thinking and even a certificate of attendance for completing the course.

My little ones came to fetch me from the bus! Bassie seems to have an urgent message to share here, along the lines of “Mom, that other dog is shouting out the window. Help.”

That’s all, folks! Next week’s post will also be packed as we’ve had a busy few days…