Ideas March/April 2022

💮 NEW SHOPS, DÉCOR AND CRAFT dala@ideasfactory.co.za 💮 FOOD AND RESTAURANTS ideasmagazinefood@gmail.com NEROLI LUXURY The 30th birthday of the iconic French dry oil NUXE is being celebrated with Huile Prodigieuse Néroli (R595), the first certified organic product in this botanical range of oils. The lovely scent is addictive and soothes the senses with notes of neroli (Seville orange blossom oil), bergamot and lavandin (in the lavender family). It also contains plum and organic sesame oil for a satin-smooth sensation on the skin. Use it on your face, body and hair. SEASON’S BOUNTY The season for juicy, delicious plums, peaches and nectarines is here, so be sure to get your share of nature’s ultra-versatile summer bounty that packs a nutritious punch. Stone fruits are at their most satisfying when enjoyed perfectly…

‘It was when I saw this view,’ says homeowner Francois Irvine, ‘that I knew I wanted to be in this space.’ He is opening a pair of white-painted industrial doors, dealing with old-fashioned full-length bolts – but these slide back with ease and in a moment the vista is revealed. His words immediately make perfect sense. The outlook is very much an urban one, but, like many in central Cape Town, also includes seductive slivers of the beautiful natural landscape. The view includes Kloof Nek, just to the right of the iconic Table Mountain, as well as part of Signal Hill, against the slopes of which lies the famous landmark area of the Bo-Kaap, where this home is located. All the signature elements of this lively, historically important part of…

TIP: If you want clean straight lines when using masking tape as a guide while you paint, remember to remove the tape while the paint is still wet. If you remove it when the paint is dry it will take some of the paint with it and leave a ragged edge.…

BISCUIT CAKE This cake ticks all the boxes – rich buttery flavour, sweet icing, tangy fruit, creamy and crunchy textures, plus it is beautifully suited for any occasion. ALMOND BISCUIT ♥ 150g butter♥ 150g castor sugar♥ 1 large egg♥ 5ml almond or vanilla extract (or 10ml vanilla essence)♥ 150g flour♥ 250g almond flour♥ 5ml baking powder CREAM CHEESE ICING ♥ 50g soft butter♥ 150g full fat cream cheese (brick)♥ 400g sifted icing sugar, plus extra for dusting♥ gel food colouring of your choice TO DECORATE ♥ small meringues, fresh raspberries, edible flowers and gold leaf 1 Print or draw an A4-size number and cut it out to use as your template. The number mustn’t be too narrow. 2 Biscuit: Cream the butter and sugar together well. Add the egg and…

LOADED CHEESEBURGERS There’s a surprise filling inside the patties of these burgers that makes them extra decadent and delicious. We recommend using a blend of beef and pork mince to make the best patties, but you can use 100% beef if you prefer. Provide a selection of topping ingredients for your guests to choose from so they can create their own winning flavour combinations. Serves: 6 Preparation time: 40 minutes, plus chilling time Cooking time: approximately 10 minutes ♥ 400g beef mince♥ 400g pork mince♥ 125ml fresh breadcrumbs♥ 10ml sweet paprika♥ 5ml ground cumin♥ 4 cloves garlic, crushed♥ 15ml tomato ketchup♥ 100ml cream cheese♥ 10ml snipped chives♥ 25ml canola oil♥ toppings of your choice (eg grilled streaky bacon, mashed avocado, lettuce, sliced tomato, sliced red onion, sliced gherkins, sliced piquant…

If provenance is the food world’s latest holy grail, then Roushanna Gray’s Veld and Sea classroom is a temple to the movement. While ‘veld’ translates from Afrikaans as field, a more accurate description is wild, untouched vegetation. This is especially true of Cape Point, the most southerly point of the Cape of Good Hope where Roushanna and her family live. Part of Table Mountain National Park and home to one of the most biodiverse plant kingdoms in the world, this protected reserve area is characterised by a rugged, treacherous coastline, a landscape carpeted in indigenous fynbos and wild, wild winds. One is truly at the mercy of the elements here. Whether you visit in winter or summer, rain or shine, it is a challenging environment. Some 400 years ago, when…