After having one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had, and writing a review that got people talking, I was thrilled to be invited to The Woodlands Eatery Food and Wine Pairing Evening. Full disclosure, I was quite ashamed of the comments my previous post got. I really wanted the focus to be on the delicious food and the restaurant itself, but that wasn’t the case. I thought I’d blown it, and it left me feeling embarrassed to go back, which would have been a great shame because the food is absolutely amazing. To my surprise, I got a message from Woodlands thanking me for the positive feedback, asking if I’d like to be a part of their event. I don’t know if I was more relieved or excited, but it was a big yes for me!
This past weekend I had the privilege of staying at the sleek and sophisticated Century City Urban Square Hotel. This stylish hotel is home to the restaurant Urban Umami, which perfectly matches the unapologetically polished vibe. On Saturday afternoon, I was personally hosted by their incredibly talented chef, Chef Naseer. I didn’t quite know what I was walking into, but let me just say I left feeling like I was just taken on a flavour journey through space and time, and of course, utterly stuffed. Urban Umami is all about unique flavours inspired by Asia, and something I love is that they focus on using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. You can definitely taste the quality. It is the perfect blend of local ingredients and oriental flavours. We have a lot of food to cover, so let’s get into it! Disclosure, this is going to be a long read.
If you’re craving bold flavours, cocktails that pack a punch, and an experience that feels as authentic as it does stylish, then look no further than Florentine. This Middle Eastern–Mediterranean spot is located in the heart of the CBD, in lively Loop Street. Let me just say that the vibe of the restaurant matches the buzzing energy of the city, minus the chaos. Upon arrival, we were met with a statement sign that almost glowed, you couldn’t miss it. I am grateful for that since I always find it a bit tricky to look at my GPS and figure out exactly where I am going at the same time. That makes sense, right? Anyway, in true town fashion, I parked a couple of streets down the road. I have my lack of ability to parallel park to thank for that. We then began our quest to an authentic escape. And the best part? No passports or visas needed. Once again, we had the burnt orange sign within our view. It gave off an urban edge that was met with Mediterranean sunshine. A very Instagramable street shot moment, which naturally I became a victim of. After a couple of awkward snaps of me pointing at the cool signage overhead, we made our way inside. Walking in, my first impression was that the space was sleek and polished. Very much Middle Eastern–Mediterranean charm woven into a contemporary shell. I loved how open and airy it was but at the same time, it was incredibly warm and grounding. The golden lighting was an instant mood lift, casting a flattering glow. It caught onto the warm terracotta walls beautifully, and enhanced the natural tones of the wooden tables and chairs. The subtle greenery added life without being overdone. Everything felt intentional, but not over styled. The kind of place where you can sip on cocktails, nibble on some delicious eats, and accidentally stay for three hours. Talking about three hours, let’s get into it!
If you haven’t already heard, there is a new kid on the block, and by block, I mean Bree Street. I know, I know, this street has been absolute chaos when it comes to construction and trying to find parking. But let me just tell you, Tannin makes it all worth it. This three storey wine bar specialises in small plates, and of course, wine. They have 430 labels (according to their website) and counting. Whoa! Each floor has its own personality. The ground floor is where you will find the moody, sophisticated bar. It has a vintage meets modern look, and has a floor to ceiling wine rack, like a library of indulgence. The first floor is where you’ll find a polished yet relaxed restaurant. It has the view of the hustling street on one side, and the bustling kitchen on the other. Lastly, the second floor is dedicated to events and tasting experiences. I didn’t get a chance to snoop around on that floor, but I believe there is a cellar up there. Sounds like a reason to go back, yay!
With the warmer months approaching, I am coming to realise it’s much too late to attempt starting the “summer bod” challenge. To be fair, it normally ends in failure, or so I have heard anyway. I love food way too much to try it for myself, and I have the fear of suffering from separation anxiety. So, instead of making my life and everyone else’s life around me miserable, I decided that this winter I am going to stay fed and happy rather than hangry. How better to give a diet the middle finger than with an indulgent Italian meal. Not half arsing it either, might I add, but the full experience. Starters, mains, dessert and of course, some red, red wine. I did some research into an authentic Italian restaurant, with the filter on finding a spot that does a traditional ragu. Personally, I am a ragu over a bolognese type of girl. This is when I stumbled across The Woodlands Eatery. Oh my word, their menu looked absolutely divine. If you enjoy reading menus as much as I do, I can highly recommend adding this one to your reading list. Not only did they have ragu, but slow cooked lamb ragu. I will get into the review in just a moment but I just have to tell you that you can get this beautiful meat sauce with fresh homemade pasta or risotto. Stunning, I know. It was at this moment I made the booking. It was like it was made for us. Why? Well, I just so happen to be a pasta slut, and Tumi is obsessed with risotto. We share the same amount of love for lamb, it is definitely the superior meat, in our opinion anyway. Thursday was approaching and I was getting a tad worried. It is the first year I can remember that it didn’t rain on the 1st of September. Could it be true? Was it possible that I could have made a mistake? Choosing a hearty meal on a Spring kind of day? Thankfully, I am never wrong and I never make mistakes. The clouds were low and there was a chill in the air Thursday morning. What a relief! I even had to cancel my walk before lunch because it was too cold. Oh well. We hopped in the car in Muizenberg, with a dream and my cardigan… If you know the song, you know. If you don’t, let’s just say our afternoon wasn’t quite like a party in the USA, but it came very close, if you’re a foodie like me.