It’s Starting to Feel a Lot Like Summer @GourmetGrocerSA #TheGourmetGrocerSA

Hi Friends, 

The weather is warmer, Covid-19 cases are on the decline, and we are now at adjusted level 1 – able to see our friends and family. By all accounts, things are feeling a little lighter and brighter.

Buoyed by these positive milestones, The Gourmet Grocer will now be open until 19h30 from Thursday to Saturday evenings and we will be introducing a festive cocktail promo as we head into summer and the festive season.

“It’s been a hard few months for everyone. Being outdoors with family and friends is really what people need and want right now” says owner Larry Hodes. “Our new cocktails and dinners are designed to bring people together over good food, drinks and some much-needed laughs”

And while you and your friends are sipping on an ice-cold 1ltr carafe of Peach Prosecco Punch or Sangria, nibble on fresh and delicious items from the deli. We highly recommend everything, but don’t miss out on the grilled artichokes, pickles, dips and array of different styled olives.

Picture by RobynDaviePhotography

Need something a little more substantial as you move onto the Aperol Spritz? We have a delicious selection of small plates too. Try the spicy chicken livers with toasted pita, nutty baked spicy chicken wings with a honey & chilli soy dipping sauce or crispy halloumi fingers with a spicy cranberry sauce. Both our cheese and charcuterie boards also pair beautifully with our eclectic and rare collection of wines.

If you are too tired to cook after a long day at work, or you and the family are looking for an early al fresco style meal in one of Birdhaven’s most popular outdoor spots, then book a table with us. We have a wide menu. From our famous Reuben Pastrami, tacos, summer salads, burgers and even a 28-day dry-aged sirloin, we mean it when we say there really is something for everyone

Picture by RobynDaviePhotography

Come and join us for Cocktails and Dinner and don't miss the promo! We have a wide range of cocktails, and all of them, beers, and wine too by the glass will be 2 for 1 from 3pm to 19h30 until 15 November 2021.

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

40th Birthday @MontecasinoZA @ThavaIndian Dinner During Unlock #MissMonte

Hi Friends, 

Who would have predicted that 2020 will have so much in store for all of us? Getting out of houses has become not only difficult but you are taking enough care to protect yourselves and your loved ones too. South Africa has opened up the dine-in option at several restaurants around the country and I too made use of the same to celebrate my 40th birthday with my family. Here I am going to write about my experience of the whole experiment of dining-in as the lockdown relaxations are in place. My mind kept calculating all the risks related to the situation and thought of finally checking out the place. 

I was booked for early dinner at 6pm at Thava Restaurant in Montecasino which offers Indian Cuisine and that is my favorite and my family loves the same too. As we reached, the boom gates were already open in Montecasino and you could park anywhere. The parking was not fully fulled like on the weekends before Covid-19 but it had plenty of cars. The guards on the duty have installed the Sanitizer machine along with body temperature machines passing which he checks your belongings and lets you enter. Mask is a necessity whatever your age is and they won't allow you access if you don't have one. My younger one was not wearing so we had to make one out of the handkerchief so as to enter the establishment. Even in the washrooms, there is one host to spray sanitizer on your hands after and before entering inside Montecasino. 

At the Thave Restaurant too, the manager took the body temperature again and noted down all the necessary details to backtrace you in case of anything. The menus are now on a printed paper which gets recycled after every use and there are no alcoholic drinks available. Though the menu mentioned some of the items won't be available, I didn't find anything which I wanted to order in Vegetarian Menu not made available to me.

The waiter served the famous Boondi snack which you get at all Thava Restaurants as a welcome snack rather than the Papads which you get at all the other Indian restaurants. 

The table counts were extremely reduced and there was a lot of distance between all of the setup at the restaurant to meet the strict government guidelines to opening a restaurant. Many people were eating at the venue and taking away the ordered food too. The staff was wearing disposable masks and was taking all kinds of precautions for the safety of its customers. 

We ordered Chilli Panner and Spinach Chaat which is one of my favorite items on the menu and is only available at this restaurant in Johannesburg. After enjoying the starters and munching them to our heart's content we moved on to the main course and for the first time, I tried the Thava Kerala Parantha which was so soft and loved by everyone that we moved from Garlic Naan to ordering the Kerala Parantha in our second serving. The Vegetable Biryani was also one of the items which were not only tasty but was well prepared and this was the first time I tried it in this restaurant.

We ordered the regular Daal Makhani and Paneer Tikka Masala as our regular veggies which get served with Zeera Rice bowls. After not eating outside for more than 4 months, I loved every bite of the same. For all of these 4 months, we only ordered pizza twice and a food collection twice and totally stuck to our daily regular meals with experimentations in between. So it felt really change of taste and spices as we ate at one of the best restaurants in the city. 

Reyansh kept drinking a lot of water and made us take several trips to the washrooms leaving very little time to finish the dessert and eventually gulped down the plate of Gulab Jamuns I ordered for myself. The Thava restaurant closes at 8pm daily and the casino closes at 830pm daily. I didn't want to leave my share of Gulab Jamuns so I ordered a new plate but it was so hot that it took time meanwhile the staff started packing their stuff.

Overall, it was a full-fledged multi-meal course that I really loved at my birthday and I shall always remember the 40th one in 2020. Thanks to Montecasino and Thava Restaurant for making it possible. Check it out and book your lunch or dinner with Thava @ Montecasino and support all the local eateries around the place you live or work. 

Sawubona!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to send your products, launch event invites, and services to be consumed. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts and subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel too. Namaste!

#BloggersBrunch2020 to Remember @LaVieEnRose17 #KCCLaVieEnRose #TLWReviews

Hi Friends,

Being on International holidays means missing so much action in Johannesburg and I missed a lot of them during my time in India and Dubai. Some of the events which I really wanted to be part of and was waiting for the invites also got missed. But sooner than later, Universe serves you something to fulfill for all those things. I was invited to the Blogger's Brunch at La Vie En Rose Restaurant inside Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg, South Africa on 29th Feb 2020. 

I started off by clicking the photographs featured here and also on my Instagram page using the Canon 77D and Samsung Note 8 smartphone. 

Caramel Banana Flapjacks

I totally fell in love with the taste of this Caramel Banana Flapjacks and I love sweet things and this was divine. 

Fried Halloumi

I thought I will be able to finish 2 pieces of the cheese but I was stuffed after eating just one. You shall never fill your plate instead take one piece and then finish that and go pick another one if still hungry. Lesson learned!

French Toast

French Toast was special as it has some cheese and nuts filling inside which made it unique. 

Nutella Stuffed Pancakes

I didn't leave a single piece of Nutella stuffed pancake on my plate as I licked my fingers too after eating this one. 

I am not a big fan of spinach but my wife told me that it's a really nice one. 

Blueberry Scorns

Blueberry Scorns are healthy as well as less in sugar and really goes well with Tea or coffee. Do try out the Turkish Tea as the aroma of the same is divine. 

Cheese & Olive Bourekas

I don't like olives but my wife ate this special dish and totally loved the same. 

Yuan Martin from Alternative Media

Yuan Martin is the guy from Alternative Media which is the PR company for La Vie En Rose at Killarney Country Club and welcomed all the guests. He personally met and thanked everyone to come to the event. I am grateful that I was invited to the same.

Rony Muller - Co-Owner of La Vie En Rose KCC

Rony Muller is the co-owner of La Vie En Rose KCC and has been in the hospitality industry forever. She is one who chose many of us and sent the list to Alternative Media. I am pleased that I got selected to be part of this great morning brunch on a special date i.e. 29th Feb 2020 which once in a while. I wish the restaurant all the very best and looking forward to going and relax there with my family on some of the weekends.

Follow La Vie En Rose on Twitter; Instagram; Facebook.

Cheers!!!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to discuss your products, launch events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay #NoFreePosts. TheLife'sWay charges a blogging fee for the time and efforts to join a new campaign or an existing one based on your requirements. Namaste!

Arbour Café and Courtyard Opens for Dinner With New Menus @ArbourCafe #ArbourDelicious

Hi Friends,

Arbour Café and Courtyard has just released a series of new menus just in time for summer. The contents boast fresh, wholesome and seasonal ingredients that stay true to Arbour’s unique and popular style.

Chicken fillets with a light creamy white wine, sun dried tomato, spinach & feta sauce

Duck confit, orange, fennel, celery, lentils & pomegranate salad

The new dinner menu is now available every Wednesday to Saturday evening, to be enjoyed in the Parisian style courtyard that makes Arbour so well-loved. There are also brand new take home menus that customers can pre order and collect. They consist of canapés, starters, main courses and sumptuous desserts that are made fresh.

Cucumber Soup

Lamb cutlets with a minted roast tomato sauce & crumbled feta

The menus all focus on seasonal ingredients tailor-made to suit tastes, religious affiliations and numbers.

Fancy a crepe

The recipes are planned using only fresh, seasonal ingredients; nothing is made in bulk and there are no additives, processed sauces, or preservatives. The French-inspired food is honest and hearty and designed to bring the flavours of Arbour Café into your home.

Pan seared salmon with a citrus & black sesame seed crust with creamed avocado

It really is bespoke catering at its best.

Apple and salted caramel galette

The French-inspired café is dog friendly and is equipped with free Wi-Fi.

Duck with 5 spiced cherry sauce

The venue is available for functions and pop ups.

For bookings please call 011 788 4111 or email larry@arbourcafe.co.za

 

Cheers!!!

 

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to blog, share and influence about your products and services on all my Social Media channels #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra !