2 Big Foodie Events For The Oyster Box

OYSTER BOX Hosts Two Big Foodie Events In November

November at The Oyster Box promises to be a ‘foodie frenzy’ for lovers of fine food and wine, when it hosts two top quality guest Chefs from the Cape.  First off Christo Pretorious, Executive Chef at sister hotel, the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town, is the guest chef in the Grill Room on 5 November and well-known Chef and author of numerous cookbooks, Marlene van der Westhuizen, will launch her new book, Secrets of a French Cooking Class, with a celebratory dinner in The Pearl Room on 25 November 2014.

Christo’s five-course food and wine paired evening will showcase Cape Malay spices and flavours, using KZN’s local ingredients.  On the Menu, chilled garden pea and mint Soup;  Prawn Dhal creamed cauliflower, cumin yoghurt, pineapple chutney, hydrated sultanas and verjuice and Barn Raised Quail confit leg lollipop, mushroom agnolotti, shallot puree and hazelnuts with coffee sauce.  For mains, Graaf Reinet Blesbok pearl barley, celery root, apple, shimeji mushrooms, cashew nut cream and juniper berry jus; to end Roast Peach  panna cotta, madagascan vanilla, coconut sponge, sour cream and caramelized white chocolate.  The five-course menu is R550 per person.

Marlene van der Westhuizen, divides her time between her home in Greenpoint in Cape Town and Charroux in France where she runs popular cooking classes.  With other popular titles behind her name - Abundance, Delectable and Sumptuous being the best known, her new book takes the reader-cook behind the scenes, for the inner workings of her 50^th cooking class in France.

This is Marlene’s first culinary visit to KZN and diners will get the chance to savour a

five-course menu of dishes from the new book, prepared by Oyster Box Executive Chef, Kevin Joseph and his Team, under Marlene’s watchful eye. The French-inspired menu includes her popular Gruyere & Onion Tart, Roast Beef Fillet with Potato Dauphinoise, haricot vet and creamed leeks and for dessert, Apricot & Almond Gratin.   The cost of the dinner is R 490 per person.  Marlene will introduce her menu and offer commentary throughout the evening about her experiences and food philosophy, as well as sign copies of her new book, which will be available to diners at a special price.

To book or for further information on any of the events at The Oyster Box contact (031) 514 5000 or restaurants@oysterbox.co.za


Gig Guide - Durban 

Critically Acclaimed guitar virtuoso Gary Thomas returns to Durban for
one show only. Having just completed a 6 show run at the Cape Town
Fringe Festival, he is on a short tour of Durban, Pretoria and
Johannesburg.

GARY THOMAS LIVE AT ST CLEMENTS

St Clements Restaurant
191 Musgrave Road, Durban
Fri 24th October
8pm
Door R60
Albums on sale R100 CDs or R200 for all 4 albums Digital Download
Call 031 202 2511 for bookings or email foodsmart@durbs.com


This edition by +Fred Felton

Taste of Durban cares for the environment and we have a surprise for you dear reader

Caring Initiatives An Integral Part of Taste of Durban

This year’s Pick n Pay Taste of Durban is back at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World (Suncoast) from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 July.  Chefs from a selection of Durban’s top restaurants will be creating special menus of starter-sized dishes, designed to reflect their individual philosophies, whilst showcasing seasonal and regional ingredients.  In addition to the exceptional food experience, this year’s show is embracing two initiatives,  as a contribution to a greener, more caring society.

“We are proud to be ‘green’ in so many areas of the show together with our environmentally aware sponsors, partners and exhibitors,” says festival director, Justine Drake.  “Taking the environment into account and ensuring best practice in terms of sustainability can only add to the  flavour experience that epitomises the Taste philosophy.”

Naming sponsor Pick n Pay places great priority on environmental issues and actively promotes and operationalise sustainability in their core activities.  Pick n Pay  is considered to be South Africa’s “greenest” retailer with multiple green awards to its name. Pick n Pay continues to research, innovate and apply its findings to business practises and ultimately share their journey with their customers, in order to assist them in reducing their own impact on the environment through adopting more sustainable lives.

The Pick n Pay Taste of Durban has also partnered with green companies such as Interwaste and Green Home in order to ensure a more sustainable event.  Interwaste provides the environmental management solutions for Taste Festivals by providing recycling facilities on site at the event and doing a carbon footprint assesment to ensure that the event’s carbon footprint is kept neutral. 

Green Home Products is South Africa’s leading biodegradable food packaging supplier and all plates, bowls, knifes, forks, and spoons are environmentally-friendly and made from natural and renewable resources that are 100% biodegradable after use.              

               

From a social and community perspective, The CTA Benefit Stage, a social responsibility initiative, Cape Town Angels, has teamed up with the organisers of Taste Festivals South Africa to bring a coast-to-coast charity challenge to Durbanites. They will host the all-new Call to Action (CTA) Benefit Stage, where a line-up of local artists will provide entertainment, donating their time and talent for free, as an act of active volunteerism.

In doing so, they will call foodies to do the same, by challenging them to support local charities showcased at the event with their own time and talent donations. One such organisation will be the KZN Branch of ASSITEJ SA, a NPO aimed at transforming society through children's theatre and so ‘changing the world one child at a time’.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

TASTE OF DURBAN 2014 – FAST FACTS

What, Where, When, How…

Festival times:

-           Friday 25 July: 18h00 - 22h00

-           Saturday 26 July: 12h30 – 16h30; 18h00- 22h00

-           Sunday 27 July: 12h30 – 17h30

Taste of Durban Festival SCOINS

The South African Gold Coin Exchange is the official sponsor of the festival currency, Scoins. Scoins can be purchased at the festival from the Taste Bank or Scoin Sellers walking around the festival grounds.  Visitors use Scoins to purchase sample dishes and drinks from the various exhibiting restaurants, bars and exhibitors.  Each Scoin is worth R5.  Change is offered in Scoins only.

Tickets:

Tickets are limited and booking is recommended – for further information and bookings visit ITickets on www.itickets.co.za or Pick n Pay tickets on www.pnptickets.co.za

-           Standard Ticket – *R80 - Entrance to the festival including a glass

 -          Premium Ticket – *R180 - Entrance to the festival including a

            tasting glass plus R100 worth of Scoins (the official currency)


-          Taste Clubhouse Presented by DStv Ticket - R685 - entry to the festival, a free tasting glass, R150 Scoins, a private clubhouse to use as a base for the show with a complimentary bar service (wine, malt and soft drinks) plus a Taste of Durban Gift.

 The Umhlanga Life / Taste of Durban Giveaway

The good folks from Taste of Durban have given us 3 x double tickets to pass on to our readers.

Question: Where is Taste of Durban being held this year?

Send your answer, name and contact number and email to Fred

at falconscove@gmail.com 

Update: This giveaway is now closed.