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The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days Of Christmas opening line: What is the worst present you have ever received for Christmas? My blurb: What would you do if the twelve days of Christmas were sent to you? I mean, what could one possibly do with ten lords-a-leaping if they do not speak English? And what … Continue reading The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas
Dark Vector opening line: Jun Chu stood on the deck of a three-masted junk given the auspicious name Silken Dragon. My blurb: Yan has been coerced into completing her ex-husbands’ mission. She wanted nothing to do with the criminal life he led, but now she has no choice. Her mother and child are being held … Continue reading Dark Vector, Graham Brown
Dave and I had an amazing dinner at Chorus two months ago. The Restaurant at Waterkloof holds many special memories for us, and I am so glad that we will be able to continue making them at the restaurant in the sky. Now run by Bertus Basson, the focus is on seasonal cooking, where the … Continue reading Chorus At Waterkloof, Somerset West
When looking for suitable accommodation for our December break, I stumbled upon Vleidam Guest Farm. Close to Piketberg in the Western Cape, this seemed like the ideal place for us to get away from it all and just relax. Making our booking at Vleidam Guest Farm Using booking.com and the free cancellation option, I made … Continue reading Vleidam Guest Farm
In Simply Seven Colours, Zola mentions that she is now selling her own spice mixes. She has both a fragrant curry powder and a flavourbomb spice mix. I appreciated that she offered alternatives as at this stage I cannot see myself adding anything new to my collection. Chapters are divided into: Green Orange Yellow White … Continue reading Simply Seven Colours, Zola Nene
My family owned an apartment across from The Brass Bell and I experienced many happy meals there when I was old enough to be left to my own devices. Back in the day it was quite small. But the establishment has grown to encapsulate the tidal pool. Brass Bell The 1939 tea room has grown … Continue reading Brass Bell, Kalk Bay
The Kind Kitchen is subtitled, vegan now what? and includes resources and tips for people who have just changed their dietary plan. The Kind Kitchen is not just the title of a cookbook, or the name of a restaurant, it embodies a way of living for Jay Mac. As he says: “We don’t have a Planet … Continue reading The Kind Kitchen, Jason McNamara
When we spent time in Sedgefield earlier this year, Dave and I went to have dinner at The Oysters Edge. Situated right next door to where we were staying, we chose it not only for their location, but for their ethos. They serve locally sourced and ethically farmed ingredients. The meal and our wine We … Continue reading The Oysters Edge, Sedgefield South Africa
Lucy Tweed took her instagram account into this recipe book, Every. Night. Of. The. Week. to show us that great meals can be cooked all the time. A wildly entertaining and practical cookbook filled with shortcuts and permission to do it your own way, by Donna Hay’s right-hand woman. As Donna herself says: ‘Lucy has a … Continue reading Every. Night. Of. The. Week. Lucy Tweed
No Plan B opening lines: The meeting was held in a room with no windows. The room was rectangular and it had no windows because it had no external walls. My blurb: Jed Starmer is not a thief. But he is a teenager caught between a rock and a hard place. Does he take the … Continue reading No Plan B, Lee Child
Our last meal out in England was at The Greyhound, a 17th Century Cotswold Stone pub. This is a real treasure of a find, with antique decor and an olde worlde feel. Alfred White, the founder of Whites of Appleton, lived and worked there from 1850 to 1876. The Greyhound The menu, which changes often, … Continue reading The Greyhound, Wootton, England
Triple Cross opening line: Suzanne Liu lived for days like this, days when her world seemed like a great game and the sweet smell of opportunity and cash hung in the air like lavender and sage. My blurb: Alex Cross and John Sampson are trying to hunt down 'the Family Man. A killer who targets … Continue reading Triple Cross, James Patterson
Oink! is subtitled the perfect pork cookbook, and I think it is. There is a flavour wheel in the recipe book which is a great resource when looking for inspiration. It’s about bacon sizzling in the pan for breakfast, epic Sunday roasts, potjies and braais. It’s about great, easy-to-follow recipes with the most versatile meat product in the … Continue reading Oink! Billy Forssman
The Bullet That Missed opening lines: Bethany Waites understands there is no going back now. Time to be brave, and to see how this all plays out. My blurb: Bethany Waites is dead, as far as the police are concerned. But, they have never found her body, and the case has been left to go … Continue reading The Bullet That Missed, Richard Osman
Described as Oxford's Unique Riverside Restaurant, The Folly is worth visiting if you are celebrating anything. Cruising the River Thames In June of this year we went to England for a belated celebration of my Aunt's 80th birthday. The party started off with us sitting on the floating terrace of The Folly, enjoying drinks. From … Continue reading The Folly, Oxford
Blowback opening line: It is a brisk autumn day in June in one of South Africa's largest cities, and thirty-year-old Benjamin Lucas is enjoying an off day from his South African Diamond Tour. My blurb: The President has a hit list, and a hit squad at his beck and call. He will do anything and … Continue reading Blowback, James Patterson
The Retreat opening line: Thea's scream rips through the clearing, startling the birds from the trees in a flurry of flapping wings. My blurb: DS Elin Warner has been called to a murder scene on an island retreat her partner designed. Will's sister Farrah is the resort manager and she has a long history with … Continue reading The Retreat, Sarah Pearse
From farm child to ballet dancer to chef, Mynhardt invites people to step into his kitchen and make themselves at home. Not only in his actual My Station Street Kitchen, where you can dine, but also through his recipes. Chef Mynhardt Joubert has been cooking from his Station Street Kitchen in Paarl in the Western Cape … Continue reading My Station Street Kitchen, Mynhardt Joubert
The Apartment Upstairs opening lines: The bus idled in traffic. Scarlett rubbed a circle in the steamed-up window. My blurb: Scarlett's Aunt Rebecca was brutally murdered in the apartment upstairs from hers. It has been a month since she was last in the converted house, but now she has returned to carry on with her … Continue reading The Apartment Upstairs, Lesley Kara
On our last evening in The Cotswolds, Dave and I went to The Frog for supper. This quaint pub situated on the Avon should have been the perfect ending to our midweek break. Sadly, our food choices did not match the ambiance of the place. The Frog Dave chose this pub because he thought that … Continue reading The Frog, Bidford