It’s been a good week. I had the opportunity to taste delicious olive oil, fantastic wine, and tasty food made by Marlene van der Westhuizen (of Delectable & Sumptuous cookbook fame) and Giorgio Nava (of restaurants 95 Keerom and Carne). Jealous?
First off was lunch at Marlene’s Food Studio in Green Point, where we had a tasting of Allee Bleue olive oils and balsamic vinegar. Mopping up loaves of bread with plenty of olive oil got our stomach ready for an olive oil-inspired lunch. Marlene did a very good job and her Olive and Leek Tarts were too die for, as was the Pistachio Cake — the recipe is in her cookbook Sumptuous and I may just have to make it for the family this weekend!
Next was a Morgenster wine tasting. We tasted both the Morgenster 2006 (nice spice and juicy fruit) and the Lourens River Valley 2006 (voluptuous with elegant tannins). Absolutely delicious. It’s such a pity I have to leave them on the wine rack for a couple more years. The LRV 2006 can be found at a reasonable R140 (cellar door), but you’ll have to save up for the Morgenster 2006, it’s selling at around R320.
The wine tasting was followed by lunch prepared by Giorgio. As usual the food was outstanding, I could have eaten at least three servings of the Lamb Ravioli with Sage Butter. And I almost stole a second dessert–of Fruit Salad with Mascarpone Ice Cream–from the setting across from me, while the journalist was in the bathroom.
After such a great week of indulgence, I fear the weekend can only hold disappointment on the tasting front. Unless of course that Pistachio cake is a hit. Hold thumbs.
–Shannon
Good Taste Buds 