Miserably Morose on a Monday

It’s no use; no one can dodge this bullet any longer. It’s back to the Spinning Class this afternoon. The scales don’t lie. We can count calories until the cows come home. Nope, it’s time to add some strenuous exercises to the game plan! I wonder if jaw wiring is still an option?

I still see those huge barrel waves crashing onto the rocks as the Terns circle before coming in to land; one can almost feel their anxiety as they wait for the waves to recede. There are two black Oystercatchers, too; that’s one for the books and so thrilling to know they’re back. There are more homes with shutters closed and curtains drawn; the colorful lights are fewer, too; only the blue and red security lights illuminate the deserted streets. It’s time for us locals to show our faces again, walk our dogs, dust off our vintage picnic baskets, and have sundowners on checked blankets on the seawall. It was champagne cocktail time for us on Friday evening, celebrating a friend’s recent marriage. Canapés to wow a crowd remind me once again to bring out the blender for a perfect Gazpacho; maybe this time it’s going to be green.

My fading tan is a reminder of how quickly the weeks pass. While we enjoyed fabulous, fresh, whole Norwegian salmon on Saturday evening, cooked to perfection by my Precious, I recalled our dining experiences in Onrus and Hermanus. Some were excellent; others were disappointing.

If this were a headline, it would read as follows:

"Disappointed dikbek (sulky) diner slumped over a greasy spoon at Milkwood Restaurant in Onrus."

Confident we were going to have a gorgeous evening, I even took the celebratory bottle of red wine from the Luberon Valley, though I had trouble finding it in its "safe" place. This would be our special evening under the stars, with the phosphorescent waves crashing on the shore, a celebration of a wonderful summer holiday with my children.

Sometimes all the ingredients for success are in place, yet disappointment still looms. I should’ve known when I made the reservation at The Milkwood Restaurant, inspired by the view and our local status. The afternoon waiter took our details but wrote them on his personal pad-first mistake-probably forgot to log them in the reservation book or knew the place was full.

On arrival at our appointed hour, we stepped in, and that’s when I knew this wasn’t going to go well. The charming owner had no clue about our reservation and had to “check” with the Maître D. Eventually, we were seated.  

With a grand flourish, the waiter arrived, told us not to waste time, gave us and the kitchen a once-over, and rolled his eyes to suggest a very busy kitchen. We were neither shown the blackboard menu nor talked about it.

Overall, it was a rather unpleasant evening; the dry, unappealing quiche my daughter-in-law had was disappointing. I always enjoy pork belly, but I was served fatty meat without the suggested sauce, likely the last portion of the night. We ordered desserts-Crème Brûlée for the kids, which was a far cry from the prize-winning delights of two years ago, and my panna cotta was forgettable. Highlighting these details entertains and informs readers about the meal's quality.

It’s always sad to have a bad experience, especially with someone who had potential. Will we go back? Hmm, never is a long time; we'll have to see.  

It was like throwing pearls to swine to open that gorgeous red wine; we might as well have had any old plonk. Shows you, I must never rise above my station, you might say. To add insult to injury, greasy fingers smudged our wine glasses. When we pointed this out to the waiter, he shrugged it off and didn't even have the nerve to apologise!

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Eating Humble Pie

Whenever things didn’t turn out quite as I’d expected, my father would say, “The best thing to do would be to eat humble pie.” Apologizing isn’t easy; neither is eating humble pie, which is like eating dry bread; it gets stuck in one's throat.

Last weekend, we decided to have supper at Lizette’s, that very well-situated restaurant in Hermanus, at the circle going to Voëlklip, arguably one of the best locations in town; here, not feet but all the vehicles going to Voëlklip, Stanford, Gansbaai, Kleinbaai, and onward. 

This urban-chic restaurant was buzzing on a Sunday night; it was a perfect evening, with many diners seated on the wide veranda, enjoying their sundowners and dinner.

One of the reasons for our visit was to try the Vietnamese options. Because a friend was posting mouth-watering Hanoi street food photographs on The Book, we were salivating and very envious.

Lizette was on hand to explain the various options to us, offering suggestions, describing the dishes, and showing how to assemble them with condiments to flavour our selections to our tastes. This is a great way to introduce clients to foreign cuisines so they can make informed choices.

We ordered Dim Sum and Spring Rolls as starters, which we shared. Our main course was delicious, and I found it hard to share my Bun Cha. Desserts are always the highlight of my meal, and I loved the Asian Sago Pudding, which was not too rich, fruity, smooth, and velvety!

Lizette, we truly appreciated your warm hospitality and the time you took to explain the dishes, which made our experience special. We really enjoyed our visit; we loved how you set down your tools in a very busy kitchen to spend time with us, and we’ll be back!  

My craving for a Vietnamese-style supper was satisfied. I feel a bit less green, too, knowing my friend is back from Vietnam, sitting in a cold London office—how the worm turns.

There's a very nice takeaway menu too!

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Shack-rattle-and-roll

Of course, there’s a bright side to all this. The Beach Shack on the Lagoon in Onrus has also changed hands, and I can confidently say it’s a success story. The overall atmosphere is upbeat, clean, and fresh, and the menu is great. Fish and chips are still served on grease-proof paper. The American Pancake stack with blueberries and Mascarpone is to die for, and I indulged twice! This is a favourite spot for young and old; kids can buy lollipops, ice, and ice cream all day while Mums lie on the beach, sunning themselves like lizards. Do not change your winning recipe; it’s a delight to sit on your deck, watching children and parents frolicking in the lagoon.

Lunch with my favourite girl

Sweetening the blow, as far as culinary misadventures go, we had a very enjoyable return to The Burgundy Restaurant in Hermanus; they certainly know how to consistently please their diners. On a fine day, dining under the huge cork tree is a pleasure; our favourite girl, Sophie T’blanche, never disappoints either. For those few who are uninformed, she’s the most willing, unpretentious, and popular girl in South Africa; in the Western Cape, she’s a legend. Crisp, dry, and slightly complex, it’s the perfect companion on a summer's day. My favourite Sauvignon Blanc. We all opted for the calamari, which was delicious, crispy, and a crowd-pleaser. Desserts are delectable, and any one will do. Here, one can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner if one is into people-watching and long visits. The menu is comprehensive, the food delicious, and the new management excellent. I’m sure many summer visitors are slightly mad they’re missing out!

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