Dine in Style at the Hussar Grill

I never pass up the opportunity to dine in style and when you add award winning speciality steaks and delicious wine to the mix, it is a match made in foodie heaven. We recently enjoyed a night of glorious food at The Hussar Grill at The Grove, and if you haven’t been yet, be sure to add this spot to your list of places to dine out. Beautiful decor; mirrored walls lined with wine racks and stacked with a collection of old Reader’s Digest books. It’s elegant and chic with plush, quilted chair backs and tables draped in crisp white linen. While you definitely go to The Hussar Grill for the food (and top notch service for that matter), I love the ambiance and the decor. It’s a grander version of traditional chain steak houses, but it’s also cozy and welcoming and has that old school, quality charm. We had the most magnificent meal. Seriously, I kid you not, I could hardly stand up straight, but in a good way. It might have been the delicious 50th Anniversary wine we enjoyed *wink* , but more likely that my tastebuds were experiencing euphoria. On arrival, we were greeted by the smartly dressed…

Breakfast in “Italy”

One of the downsides of living in South Africa (as apposed to Europe) is that we can’t jump in our Fiat 500 or take short plane ride to have breakfast in Italy. But, we can still get a taste of the Italiano Felicità and Mama Mia of authentic Italian style dining right here in South Africa. Of course I’m talking about Old Town Italy. With branches at Menlyn Maine and Umhlanga, this my friends is as close to Italy as we can get without leaving South African soil – and if you haven’t been, you’re missing out! Hubby and I visited the Menlyn branch for a quick brunch and it was amazing! The only that was missing was arriving in our Vespa! It’s beautifully decorated to make you feel like you’ve stepped into a true Italian market; complete with an Italian deli, meat “market” and even a Gellateria. It all feels very authentic and I loved being able to pick up some Italian cheeses and artisan breads on our way home after brunch. Shopping the market was a great way to work off our full bellies and to discover some delightful foodie treats you don’t see every day. The food, and…

Good Food, Great Friends at Culture Club

Pretoria friends of ours suggested we go for lunch “in their hood” to the vibey Culture Club Tapas Bar this past Sunday, and I felt like I had discovered a whole new world of awesome dining experiences! Nestled in a really cool restaurant strip called “The Villiage” in Hazelwood, this spot was such a great find! We had the best food, the best service and honestly, such a chilled and relaxed noon-into-dusk Sunday, it made me feel like I was back in Europe! If you haven’t heard of Culture Club before and you’re close to Pretoria, then be sure to add this spot to your list of amazing dining experiences. I plan to make my way through the whole “Village” because it’s such a great place to spend winding down your weekend – with good food, great friends, great ambiance and of course, great cocktails in hand! As for my photos, these are the best I could do for this little outing. Sorry, but when you have six people all eagerly diving into all the colourful and interesting Tapas as they arrive at your table, it makes “getting the perfect food shot” quite challenging. I too was amongst those diving into the delights, and only…

Pizza With A View at Harties

People often complain that Jozi is the concrete jungle and besides going out to dinner, there isn’t much to do in Gauteng. Sure we’re not blessed with sandy beaches, but blue skies, wonderful waters and outdoor adventures are all around us! You just have to step out of your suit and tie every once in a while to experience all the glory that Gauteng has to offer! If you’ve never made the trip up the Hartbeespoort Cableway, do yourself a favour and tick this mesmerizing must-see adventure off your bucket list! I promise you, you will not regret it!

Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas without Woolies

The countdown to the festive season has begun! YIKES! If you haven’t started your festive shopping, then you better get cracking! Nobody wants to spend their year end leave trawling around shopping centres hunting down their holiday find. I know that’s the last place I want to be! I’d rather be sipping on cocktails by the pool, catching a tan. After all, isn’t that what Christmas in South Africa is all about?

Bonjour from “Paris”

A Festive Feast with Woolies

The festive season has crept up on us once again! Are you ready? Have you planned and planned for months? Have you got everything you need? Don’t stress if you haven’t gone into major planning mode for Christmas, because Woolies has your back! Back in August, I attended their Christmas media day, and let me just tell you, that besides the fab gifting options, the food is out of this world!!! Serve it up in your most stylish dinnerware, and your guests will think you’re a rock star, gourmet cook! We were treated to a delightful menu of fabulous food cooked up, prepared and presented by the talented Woolies food team… For starters, I had the Norwegian Salmon, cured and marinated in lemon and pink peppercorn. Salmon and Trout canape with gold spray and salmon and prawn terrine with salmon row. Is your tummy rumbling yet? Mine sure is! For mains I had the free range leg of lamb with cranberry sauce, served with ready to eat de-boned gammon, (smoked in beach wood) and served with toppings of crispy bacon, finished with delicious veggies and potatoes. Oh yum! And for dessert, which is always my favourite part of the meal,…

Savanna Bottle – New on the Outside, Still DRY on the inside

It’s Friday, which means time to get ready for the weekend! Woohoo! I’ll be starting my weekend, kicking back with a Savanna, in it’s all new, sexy bottle – but only after 5pm what do you take me for?! A bold new look, without touching the yumminess on the inside! The new Savanna bottle has had a total makeover that includes; A bold, new shape That’s up to its neck in style! Savanna is on trend with a longer and slimmer neck and it’s workout has certainly paid off big time! Check those strong and defined shoulders… Embossed Glass Which lets your fingers find the savvy Savanna name with every letter boldly engraved to add “grippability”. Yes that’s a word now! And a new bottle cap… Because cider royalty deserves a crown! So “caps off” to the new bold crown design, which is guaranteed to turn a few heads. Don’t keep your excitement bottled up! Experience the “before” and “after” transition and be part of the new pack reveal one change at a time on Savanna’s brand new mobile-first website. Loyal fans can look forward to epic Before and After parties taking place around the country, which are sure to…

To Do This Weekend… Mexican Food

On the weekend, the hubs and I headed out to explore Jozi, and more specifically, Jozi’s hottest Mexican restaurant, Perron. Based in Illovo, this Mexican gem is a hot spot for fabulous food and a must visit if you’re in the area. Bright and colourful, it’s feisty and funky and once you’ve experienced their Churros (aka Mexican doughnuts) you’ll save the location to your Waze account, and keep going back for more. The style of dining at Perron is just up my alley. You can either order a “meal” or snack on a bunch of tasty (not-so) little tappas (alone or with your entourage). So if you’re unsure about what to order, these offer a great way for you to get the whole Mexican experience in bite sized options. Their cocktail menu is also pretty interesting, with a different offering to the traditional fun drinks. Border Crossing, Chico, Negroni, Lime Mojito and Smoked Mexican Old Fashioned are some of the choices, but I went for the Delicias de Fruta. A raspberry vodka cocktail with orange liqueur, melon liqueur, pineapple juice and cranberry juice. It was perfect for a hot summer’s day in the city! For our meals, hubby went for a “real meal” – Sizzling Steak which…

Pink Bubbly La Fleurette

My Outfit: Sunglasses: Prada, Denim Shirt: Edgars, Floral Pants: Forever New, Black Tee: Cotton On J.C Le Roux sent me a bottle of their new Non-Alcoholic bubbly, La Fleurette, just in time for spring! Together with a fun press pack, they challenged me to create a post that would express the floral and fabulous tones of La Fleurette Non-Alcoholic. The stakes are high! As in Louboutin heels high! After popping the cork, I poured myself a glass of La Fleurette Non-Alcoholic. Sitting in my kitchen, I tried to come up with something exciting. Something unique and fun that would not only excite me and the peeps at J.C Le Roux, but also my fabulous StyleScoop readers too. I found myself staring right at the answer… my mixer! September also marks the month of StyleScoop’s fifth Blogoversary and I had been wanting to bake a birthday cake. What better opportunity? So I went with a rose inspired cake and used La Fleurette Non-Alcoholic in the ingredients. After doing some research, I discovered that “Fleurette” means “an ornament resembling a flower”, so my cake idea blossomed into a cupcake bouquet. This was really fun and easy to do. I got some tips on how to make a cupcake bouquet…

Salt Keeper

I’m on a mission! A mission to add some colour and functionality to my kitchen. When hubby bought me a Le Creuset Whistling kettle, I spotted the Salt Croc (or salt pig as some call it) at the boutique store and was like, “no ways this thing will work in Durban”. As it is, my salt already clumps up in the standard plastic bottle. Then, a couple of days later, I saw it again at another store. The shop owner – who also manages his store (don’t you just love that!) told me that he had a Le Creuset Salt Croc in his kitchen. He said that it really worked and that it didn’t make the salt sticky. “Even in Durban” I asked? His response – “not at all”. So, I bought myself one. Not much to lose, since it was under R200. Now that I have used it, I am really impressed! So impressed, that I just had to share! I keep my lil’ pig on my kitchen counter, right next to the stove, and I have a “pinch of salt” an arms-length away. Best of all, the salt doesn’t get all clumpy and for some reason, it really…

Nougat & Wine Pairing at The House of JC Le Roux

Forget good food and wine, nougat and wine is so much better! When you just happen to be in Cape Town, whether you live there or you’re just visiting, you absolutely have to take a drive to Stellenbosch and visit the House of J.C. Le Roux to indulge in their Nougat & Wine pairing. I’ve been “wine tasting” before in Cape Town, but this was a completely different atmosphere. The set up is uber luxe and indulgent from the moment you walk in. Beautiful decor, a quick 5 minute tour through the winery (to see how it’s made without the boring tour guide shpiel) and then onto the wine tasting! Bring on the bubbly! You get your own table that’s set up with five fabulous wines and a guide (ours was the very knowledgeable Simon Dicks) who explains the different wines to you. It’s not so much a lesson, but rather of an interesting story behind the bottle and how it’s made. With the Nougat & Wine pairing, you get to sample five wines, each one matched to compliment a type of Nougat. First up; Pinoit Noir, Pinot Noir Rosé  and La Vallée Rosé. These three wines are Méthode Cap Classique wines, which means…

Kenwood Titanium Major vs KitchenAid Artisan

I’ve been wanting to do this post for some time, since I’ve had the opportunity to experience both brands of mixers. This is not a review. Neither one of these brands sent me their mixers to try. It’s simply my opinion on both of these machines and something you should definitely consider if you’re in the market for a mixer, and weighing your options between the KitchenAid Artisan and the Kenwood Major. I loved the look of KitchenAid mixers and had been wanting one for the longest time. For Christmas last year, the hubz spoilt me with a brand, spanking new red KitchenAid Artisan Mixer. I was over the moon. It even came (as a special Christmas promo) with the pasta attachment. How cool! I sang its praises and couldn’t wait stop faking it and start baking it! Both the hubz and I were super excited to try our hand at making pasta, so on its first use, that’s what we did! We checked out at least five videos on YouTube to get a feel for it, then read the manual for instructions, blah blah. While the KitchenAid went to work, it sounded as though it was going to eat…

Picnic in the Park – Places to go in Durban

Today’s post is a little different to the usual fashion and beauty posts, but at the end of the day, we’re all about sharing tips and inspiring you to live a more fabulous Life in Style. Since getting my new “adventurous” beast, the hubz and I have decided to be a bit more outgoing and have fun! Not really sky diving or bungee jumping (I’m far too scared for that although he’d love it), but “exploring” our beautiful country – and our own back yard, Durban a little more, instead of going to the same old shopping malls – booooring! On Valentines Day, we went with some friends to the Durban Botanical Gardens to watch a live concert by Ard Matthews and the Durban City Orchestra, while having a picnic in the park. It was a beautiful setting, in a beautiful park, listening to beautiful music by the orchestra, and of course Ard’s amazing voice. The DBG hold events all the time, so be sure to check out their website for deets on the next event. Then on Sunday, we took “the beast” out for another picnic/ braai in the park. This time we ventured off to Shongweni Dam. I’ve lived in Durbs for…

Colour Code Your Kitchen

I find myself popping into the Le Creuset boutique store more and more these days! I’ve only bought myself the Rectangular Grill, but next on my lust list, is the beautiful Marmitout Sauce pan! It’s such a cool item, because you can use it as a saucepan with or without a lid, and the lid can also be used on it’s own as a smaller sized frying pan! Genius! The Rectangular Heritage Casserole with Lid, Salt Keeper and a cute little Jam Jar and Honey Pot would make it all complete :). I also really want a Le Creuset traditional stove top kettle (and how fitting, it’s called the Demi Kettle)! My hubz thinks I’m crazy to want a stove top kettle when we live in 2013 with electricity, but nothing beats the sound of a whistling kettle! Am I right? I’m very much into retro and colourful kitchen accessories, but not in an OTT kind of way. I mean, I love pops of colour here and there, but I’d still want the stuff I buy for my kitchen to look stylish forever, especially if I’m spending a good fortune on it – like another Le Creuset investment! I can’t…

Le Creuset Love

I’ve always loved the look of Le Creuset cast iron pots and their saucepans! When we moved into our new place (almost two years ago),  I really started to lust for Le Creuset in my kitchen! Being very country/ gourment style, Le Creuset really suits the look of my kitchen. Plus it is awesome to cook with! Last week, I bought my very first piece of this fabulously French brand – A gorgeous Le Creuset Rectangular Grill in cobalt blue. It was a toss up between the grill and the very versatile Marmitout sauce pan, but considering that I make steak like every single day of the week, I went for the grill. It makes the most amazing steak and pork fillets! Yep, I used it twice this weekend :). I love how it gives meat that lovely char-grilled burn, and how you can take it from stove-top to table-top, and enjoy watching your food sizzle before you tuck in! Another thing that sold me on the rectangular grill is that the size and shape is also perfect for fish. I attempted the recipe in that Le Creuset had for this piece, Chargrilled Steak With A Fresh Herb Salsa, Roast Potatoes and Grilled Asparagus, using lean pork fillets instead of beef steak. Sadly I couldn’t find  fresh asparagus…

Mason Jar Love

Mason Jars are a great way to pretty up your home.  I love how they can easily be turned into cute decor and functional pieces, adding classic beauty to just about everything. Here are some lovely ideas you can do, using mason jars… Mason Jars can make great, vintage-style soap dispensers. You could make this yourself, or if you’re not much of a DIYer, then you can buy this one from Postroadvingate on Etsy! This idea is great for a summer garden party! Make your own lemonade and serve it in style through a mason jar! This idea came from Brides.com. Now, if you don’t have a fancy cutter to create your own design, just punch a hole through the lid and stick a straw in it, then put a pretty fabric ribbon on the straw to hide the punch hole! I love this idea! Using mason jars as dining table centerpieces or to store flowers around your home. Wish I could get my hands on this classic vintage style mason jar. {image source} Mason Jars make cute and personalised gifts for Christmas and house warming parties. Make your own jam or cookies and put them in a pretty mason…

Style your Starches in Apothecary Jars

I have always loved beautiful Apothecary Jars. I don’t know what it is about them, but they are just so pretty. I never knew what to store in them until I watched an episode of Brothers & Sisters that featured Nora’s amazing kitchen and her beautiful display of Apothecary Jars by her window. Since I found a purpose for them, I had been hunting for these jars everywhere and just recently I managed to find two beautiful glass Apothecary Jars. I use one of the jars to store pasta and the smaller one store rice, and they both sit beautifully on my kitchen counter. The only problem is that I have to keep them fairly full to look pretty, but at least I’ll never run out of rice or pasta! Image Credit: apartmenttherapy.com These gorgeous jars can be used to store more than just pasta and rice. For example you could store sweets in them too – although this would not work well in my house, and they would most defintely look empty far too quickly! Not to mention, I’d need a whole new wardrobe, a size up! If you have space in your bathroom, Apothecary Jars also make great containers to store your…

Make a Perfect Mediterranean Frappé with This Awesome Gadget

I’ve been dreaming about Frappé since we got back from our summer holiday in Greece this August. We literally drank these 24/7, day and night! Since being back in SA, I have yet to find a restaurant or coffee shop that offers Frappé on their menu, so when I found this little Gadget at the Homemakers Expo last weekend, I was a happy Scoopie once again! It’s called the Aerolatte and it’s the first-ever invented steam milk frother that opperates using batteries. It’s perfect for frothing up milk for you cappuccino, but it’s the ideal tool to whip up your very own Mediteranean-style Frappé. Now, for those of you that don’t know what Frappé is, it’s pretty much a cold coffee drink that is made by whipping instant coffee, sugar and a small amount of water into a froth, then throwing in some ice cubes and topping it up with ice cold water. Then, enjoyed through a straw. It’s not difficult to make, but can be a mission getting it right if you don’t have the right tools! In Greece, of course, they have hundreds of Frappé making tools and Nescafe has even come up with their own version of Frappé instant coffee granules.  The Aerolatte baby works like a dream in whipping up the perfect Frappé, the only…

The Best Eggs Benedict in Durbs – Arts Café

If you’re in Durban and looking for a great place to have brunch on a lazy Sunday morning, look no further than the Arts Café in Glenwood, Durban. A fabulous venue with a fabulous menu! They make the most amazing Eggs Benedict you’ve ever tasted! A perfect recipe, made with just the right amount of Hollandaise sauce, so that you can still taste the other ingredients. I’m all about fabulous food that looks and tastes good, but I also like to taste the different flavours and textures of the meal. Their Eggs Benedict is definitely a winner. I tried the spinach, while my other (and better) half, had the salmon on Sunday and we both agree, they are the best we’ve had! Cooked to perfection, so that when you “dig in” and cut the egg, the yolk pours out, while the egg whites stay firm and properly cooked. While you’re there you simply have to try their Spanish coffee. It’s coffee served in a glass (as apposed to a cup or mug) and flavoured with citrus and cinnamon! Mmmm! Totally unique and a must for all coffee lovers. The Arts Café is trendy and has a lovely atmosphere. Whenever we’ve…