Dining in & out Archives - Food Wine Garden

Entertaining our friends and family at home is very special. This is where I will share many of these moments with you, including hints on menu planning, my ‘party book’, table settings and of course the recipes.

Enjoying food prepared by others is part of our pleasurable indulgences! We are privileged to be surrounded by some of the best restaurants in South Africa, but we don’t only dine out at so-called fine dining establishments. I am always seeking the best we can find, be it a burger, fish and chips or a hearty curry. I am not an enthusiastic baker, but a cozy coffee shop with unusual pastries and delicious cakes attracts my attention.

This is not a forum for reviewing occasions or restaurants, but it is one for sharing new experiences, flavours, textures and environments that inspire.

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Robyn Wallace2021-08-29T11:25:17+02:00August 29th, 2021|Dining in & out, Uncategorized|

I have to serve this decadently delicious, rich, cheesy concoction at least once a year! It is almost fondue-like but it contains spinach and artichokes, so that makes it healthy, doesn’t it? I can’t trace its origins but somewhere I read that a similar dish was served in Mediterranean countries centuries ago. If you have [...]

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Gravalax update – Summer 2019 & 20!

Robyn Wallace2020-01-10T15:03:17+02:00January 10th, 2020|Dining in & out, From the Kitchen, Uncategorized|

I can’t do the summer or the Festive Season without preparing a batch of Gravalax! I am not partial to smoked foods so this is my alternative to smoked salmon. The texture and the uses are similar to smoked salmon, but the flavour is more delicious! Last year I brought you my Traditional Gravalax recipe (here) [...]

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Melanzane alla parmigiana

Robyn Wallace2019-04-13T13:48:32+02:00April 13th, 2019|Dining in & out, From the Kitchen|

This week I realised I have not really posted much on my blog about our holiday to the US last October. We returned home to the Christmas rush and now it’s already autumn! When we were in New York we did a lovely walking tour of SoHo, Little Italy and China Town. We returned to [...]

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Asian summer meal, including Vietnamese Fish in Caramel Sauce

Robyn Wallace2018-02-15T13:28:58+02:00February 10th, 2018|Dining in & out, From the Kitchen|

After the traditional foods of the Festive Season I tend to crave Asian flavours. An obvious one, with most Asian cuisines being my favourite! We invited a few friends for supper and I created a rather multicultural Asian meal. I hope this inspires you to also think out of the box and do something similar. [...]

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watermelon and red fruit cheese platter

Robyn Wallace2017-11-06T16:12:14+02:00November 6th, 2017|Dining in & out, From the Kitchen|

An indication that summer is truly here is the availability of melons. Watermelon is one of the most versatile fruits. I love it in savoury dishes and a salad of watermelon, feta, black olives and toasted pumpkin or watermelon seeds laced with a light balsamic dressing is one of my favourites. Last week we enjoyed [...]

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Dining with a forager at Wolfgat, Paternoster

Robyn Wallace2017-11-05T18:55:27+02:00November 5th, 2017|Dining in & out, Travel & Adventures, Uncategorized|

Every since Kobus van der Merwe cooked a meal for us at an International Wine and Food Society function in Cape Town a few years ago, visiting his restaurant in the picturesque seaside village Paternoster has been on my ‘to do list’! Until recently Kobus worked out of the family owned café Oep [...]

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Newton Johnson Wines & Restaurant

Robyn Wallace2017-10-25T13:05:52+02:00November 1st, 2017|Dining in & out, Uncategorized, Wine Experiences & Accessories|

With stunning views this family owned vineyard boasts a beautiful restaurant and amazing wines. Their wines are truly world class. A few years ago their Pinot Noir featured on the cover of decanter magazine as one of the top 3 Pinot Noirs outside Burgundy! We were welcomed with a glass of NJ Sauvignon Blanc 2017. [...]

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Creation wines – creative food & wine pairing

Robyn Wallace2017-10-25T13:56:30+02:00October 26th, 2017|Dining in & out, Wine Experiences & Accessories|

Creation Wines is situated near the top of the Hemel en Aarde Valley and is owned by Swiss born JC (Jean Claude) and his wife Carolyn Martin. This is one of our favourite places to visit to enjoy their food and wine pairing. The glasses are Riedel, the team welcoming and serving [...]

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La Vierge Wines

Robyn Wallace2017-10-25T12:37:47+02:00October 25th, 2017|Dining in & out, Wine Experiences & Accessories|

As you drive up the Hemel en Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley you cannot miss the bright pink doors of La Vierge Private Cellar. The unusual appearance prepares you for just that ..... the unusual! You enter the tasting room and the restaurant over a bridge overlooking the huge stainless steel tanks of the winery. [...]

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A wine and food week-end in the Hemel and Aarde Valley

Robyn Wallace2017-10-25T11:02:39+02:00October 25th, 2017|Dining in & out, Travel & Adventures, Wine Experiences & Accessories|

We were part of a group of 40 wine & food enthusiasts who invaded the Hemel & Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley near Hermanus just over one hour drive from our home, or 90 minutes from Cape Town, for a week-end of decadence! The valley is situated in the Overberg Region and is [...]

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