A rich mushroom and Taleggio cheese puff pastry tart- simple to make, wonderful to eat.

It can’t have been easy for el Capi over the last eight months. Injury, surgery, recuperation, slow start and most recently, a break-up! But don’t worry, do dry your tears. I’ve been busy in the Food and the Fabulous cocktail bar, experimenting with potions and vials, and after much testing *hic*, I’ve come up with this: Captain’s Brew.

Beetroots are in season here, and paired with grilled halloumi, spinach and pumpkin seeds, the salad makes a nutritious, healthy meal high in anti-oxidants. I made a zesty dressing to lift the ingredients, complimented by a scattering of mint leaves.

I find myself longing for the comfort of the Sunday meal on a weekday too and roasting a chicken isn’t any strenuous effort. Apart from mixing up a marinade to slather over it, and turning it over a few times, there isn’t much to be done.

Albert Camus once said, that life is a sum of all your choices. While you ponder that, I share an angelfish pie with double mash, crowned with the season’s beautiful asparagus

This Wednesday, after a few freak out sessions by my lonesome in the parking lot, I steadied myself and took my recycled Terra Plana heels into the 2 Oceansvibe Media Offices for my first slot on their lunch time show. Mexican food is often harshly and wrongly termed fattening, cheese-laden and calorific and I wanted to address this (confusion with Tex-Mex food, a cuisine that developed in Texas using American foodstuffs, such as yellow cheeses, combined with the food of Mexican-Americans) and to share some fresh ideas for Spring/Summer eating.

I was extremely fortunate to attend the Showcook event at Reuben’s at the One and Only, where young stars from the Cape Town Hotel School (second year students) were given the opportunity to showcase their talent by presenting their creations to a room of selected food and industry media.

The Sunday Times Food Awards 2011, the 5th one to date was held at the Food Corp Innovation Centre in Black River Park last Thursday the 6th of October, and hosted by the very fabulous Nathaniel. All the winners and drama of the night revealed.

Your ultimate guide to throwing a Halloween Party on any budget- with tips and ideas for decor, creating a vibe, food, drinks and dress, for adults and kids. Boo!

Boveli Cellars held a unique event recently that I attended.
Based on 6 classic hat styles, the cellar has created wines to suit each, using foreign varietals with a view to introducing them to the local market, at supremely affordable prices. I’m talking R39.99 (less than 4 euro!) a bottle.