Pie try

Ok I my first attempt in class at the traditional English hot water crust pie, didn't go was well as planned. It was just missing the gelatin which takes to long.

Samosas and spring rolls

So we did samosas and spring rolls in class I need more practice but good start.

Oh sweet macha

                                  

So this weird looking tea, yes tea, is called sweet macha, from the extensive contessa tea menu, it consists of a green tea powder and milk. Never had a powdered tea but it is a completely new experience for me, and a new taste sensation, strange but nice, it kind of leaves u not unsure as to what it is, but takes the great thing about trying new things, very interesting tastes.

My weekly date with Contessa

So every week my best friend and I go to tea and lunch at contessa, a beautiful side street tea parlor, at 2, 11^th Ave, Rivonia . They have an astonishing variety of teas, with wonderful and weird names like coconut snow, winter mist and sour soup. We challenge ourselves to never have the same tea twice, allowing us to taste every flavor or type of tea they have, which is going to take a long while it's a good thing I have great company to enjoy it all. Along with a huge variety of delicious teas they have a great breakfast and lunch menu, the only down side is that they close at 4:30pm, I'm sure if they served dinner it would as be absolutely delicious as well. Now I can't wait for Monday where I can sit down with my bestie, sip on a good cup of tea, eat some great lunch from the menu and talk about all the problems and funny stories in our life. Makes me feels so grown up and  sophisticated, thanks for a great time and probably more great memories, Contessa tea connoisseur.

A little but of master chef in the kitchen

So we had had a misery basket challenge in class. We had to use all the ingredients to make two dishes, chickens breasts, shrimp, sole and pineapple. Along with some veg and other supplies from the pantry, I decided to make sweet and sour chicken with aromatic couscous and grilled zucchini. As well as fish cakes with a basil pesto. Not that as great as I wanted.

Class pics

So here's the stuff we've don so far including my favorite class hand made paste and gnocchi.

Home made vs KFC

So we made garlic and parsley stuffed crumbed chicken the other day and and oh my word I will never go back to KFC for there fatty chicken pieces. It was so moist and tasty it wasn't even in deep fried, there's something about putting it in the oven that makes it magic. So KFC eat your heart out cause home made is so much better.

Getting better I think

This I think is some of my best plating so far, hopefully will get much better.

Plating so far

So been it's been a few practical classes and it's been so much fun, so I thought I should show you some of the stuff I've done

Kio

Went to dinner with the girlfriends and they took me to kio, really nice up market ,relaxing atmosphere ,great decor and good service. I like the place so much I took my boyfriend their that weekend. My first meal I ordered was egg noodles with pawns and soya sauce, was ok to much veggies not enough pawn. The dim sum variety and flavors combinations where delicious. The tea menu is very impressive and tasty. I liked this place so much I went back with my boyfriend and just had tea and my new favorite dessert, green tea panna cotta, that was really awesome.

JB's Corner

The boyfriend took me to a a wonderful restaurant in sandton, called JB's Corner. Good food great atmosphere, very well set up. One of many things I found good is that they cater for the healthy gym going crowd, as well as the normal "I just want good food" people. Good looking plating and delicious flavor combinations. All in all just a great place to go and eat.

My attempt

Here's my attempt at potato cuts, needs more practice. Damn turn potatoes