Right now, we are all taking life one day at a time. But that shouldn’t stop us from doing the things we love, and for me that is travelling. When I say travelling that also includes little staycations in my city. Exploring hotels I wouldn’t normally explore and enjoying the sense of travel freedom that comes with it. So this past weekend, we packed our bags and headed to The Capital Melrose for a much needed staycation.
Location
The Capital Melrose is conveniently located in the Melrose Arch district. The hotel is directly across the road from the Melrose Arch Shopping Centre which means that you have high end fashion stores and some of Johannesburg’s best restaurants on your doorstep. Melrose Arch is one of my favourite hangouts in Johannesburg so for me, the location of the hotel is a winner!
Rooms
The hotel offers standard rooms, family studios, one bedroom apartments as well as two bedroom apartments. The apartments are fully equipped with a kitchen, a modern lounge as well as a dining area. We stayed in the one bedroom apartment and having all the amenities definitely made our stay feel like we were home away from home.
Dining
There is a restaurant in the hotel serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as 24 hour in room dining. During our stay, we wanted to maximise relaxing in our room to the most, so we opted with room service for dinner. The ordering process is done online which is very convenient! Within a short while our food was delivered to our room, and I must say, every mouthful was delicious.
Every year we take our annual family holiday to the Kruger Park. Last year, for some confusing reason, we never went so this year we were even more excited to make up for this lost year. Our trip this year was absolutely amazing as we saw some of the most incredible sightings. Our intentions weren’t to see animals and whatever we saw, we saw. Instead our intentions were to just relax and unwind after this terribly stressful year we have had. But luck was on our side, because the sightings were amazing!
Every so often I like to share a few of my favourite things. In this post I’ll be sharing a few of these things with a twist, it’s a few of my favourite PINK things. If you are a regular around here, you will know pink is my favourite colour!
pink latte at goddess cafe
There is a restaurant in Waterkloof Pretoria that has my name written all over it. It is pink, filled to the brim with flowers and serves up the most delicious drinks and decadent delights. If like me you love all things girly, you will love Goddess Cafe. They also make these signature luxury Spanish latte’s which are made with espresso, condensed milk and coloured froth milk. I had a rose pink pistachio latte and it was as delicious as it looks!
Obviously a pink nail polish has to feature in my five favourite things pink edition. This shade by Essie is called Mod Square and it is just the perfect pink. I love that it looks great on shorter nails and is perfect for spring/summer time. You can purchase this nail polish from Dischem.
pink and green plant
How can nature be this beautiful? I will never understand. I am absolutely in love with this pink and green plant and admire its beauty every day! This plant is called a Pink Polka Dot plant, or a Hypoestes (Hypoestes Sanguinolenta Pink Polka Dot) if you must. It makes for a perfect indoor plant and it really adds colour to any room!
I bought this plant from my local nursery.
pink office chair
Since the start of lockdown I have been working on making my home office extremely very cosy. I mean it is where all the magic happens so why not create the most magical working environment. This included getting a pink office chair! Waking up every morning and walking into my very pink office to do what I love most everyday is a dream. And sitting on a pink office chair is definitely dreamworthy too!
pink le creuset mug
I think you are sick of the colour pink but last but not least is this new Le Creuset U Mug which I just love. I love the pebble shape of it and the colour. Obviously. One can never have enough mugs especially now with this whole work from home life. Ha!
We’re missing the winelands. A lot! Not only are we missing the beautiful views and the gorgeous wine farms but we’re missing wine tasting experiences. I did a little research and thanks to @wellredwinemagazine on Instagram, I came across a virtual wine tasting experience by Creation Wines and just knew I had to order.
How it works:
Creation Wines is a beautiful winery in the Hemel an Aarde Valley. I have yet to visit this wine farm but it’s definitely on my to-visit list when I am in Cape Town again. This winery has created virtual experiences where you can enjoy a Creation wine tasting in the comfort of your own home. During these times, I love how innovative this concept is!
After placing an order online for the Creation Virtual Tasting Pack, I was then sent an email and had to choose a Creation personal shopper. The Creation personal shopper is a wine fundi who will guide you through the wine tasting via a Zoom call.
A virtual wine tasting is such a fun experience! A friend of mine ordered the kit also and we arranged to do the wine tasting together, over Zoom, with the same personal shopper on a Saturday afternoon. We both went all out and made cheese platters to accompany the wine tasting. It felt like we were definitely in the winelands, but without those magnificent views.
The Creation Virtual Tasting pack includes a collection of 6 x 50 ml samples from Creation Wine’s Estate Range. The wines included in this pack are Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noir and Syrah Grenache. All the wines were delicious but the stars of the show were definitely the Sauvignon Blanc and the Viognier.
To order a Virtual Wine Tasting Kit and do Creation Wines Virtual Wine Tasting Experience at home, visit Creation Wines
I remember the good old days when I would accompany my parents to our favourite Game. Whether it was to get a new washing machine, lilo’s for the swimming pool, or even stationery for school, it always felt like an exciting outing. I also always felt like a kid in a candy store. Fast forward a good few years later and times have changed. What I love though, is that Game is changing with these times. Game have recently launched their concept store in Mall of Africa. After a recent visit to the store, I’m excited to tell you what a fantastic shopping experience I had. This new concept store is making positive strides with new innovative ideas and is definitely future-ready!
This is what I found to be really exciting in the new Game concept store in Mall of Africa:
Various store categories which made it easier for me to navigate and locate a specific item in the category.
There are vending machines strategically placed around the store offering product samples.
A children’s play area so the children don’t get bored while the parents shop up a storm.
Interactive demonstration zones across the categories where I could test products – I even took a bicycle around the bicycle track which was great fun!
These interactive demonstration zones are even in the electronics section and pram section, so you can have a look at any of these items before buying. I cannot wait to return and put a few cameras to the test. And one day in the near future, test out a few prams.
There is free Wi-Fi in-store. For a millennial, like myself, this is definitely a winner!
I loved the price check booths and electronic shelf labels.
And lastly, the self-checkout counters offering a quick and easy checkout option.
Exciting, innovative and interactive shopping experiences are all the future right now. Experiences like this are definitely changing the shopping game. From my experience in this new concept store, it is evident that Game knows exactly what they doing. I felt like I was still a kid in a candy store, but one that is more intuitive, modern and future ready! For someone like me, who loves shopping, it’s a whole new experience. And for someone like my partner, who hates shopping, he loved every exciting. minute in the store.
We arrived at The Orient Hotel for the official launch of Chantel Dartnall’s spring menu and the re-opening of Restaurant Mosaic. Driving in through the Francolin Conservation area into the Moorish-style castle, definitely got us excited with our tastebuds frolicking. We knew we were in for a real five star fairytale experience.
Being in a world pandemic, the new normal on arrival to a restaurant is having your temperature checked. This was done in a not so out-of-the-ordinary way along with a pocket friendly bottle of sanitiser being handed over. These protocols definitely ensured a sense of ease.
We then took a walk through the Legacy Art Museum with a glass of Piper-Heidsick Champagne in hand. Admiring all the art while sipping on a glass of bubbles was a welcome change to being cooped up at home for several months in a national lockdown. Soon after we were guided to Restaurant Mosaic. It was finally time to enjoy the fairytale that is Chef Dartnall’s new spring menu “Nasturtium”.
“Nasturtium”
The new spring menu pays homage to Mother Nature. In true Chef Dartnall style, it is named after flowers. It just so happens that the menu is named after the nasturtium flower. This flower is known for having rejuvenating and healing properties. The leaves and petals of a nasturtium are extremely nutritious as they contain vitamin C, iron and have antibiotic properties. Chef Dartnall brought to our attention that the concept of this new menu was decided long before the pandemic started. What a coincidence!
Special mention must be made to the wine. Head Sommelier Moses Magwaza carefully selected each wine to complement each dish and without this the experience would not have been complete. It is no wonder the wine cellar at Restaurant Mosaic has won countless awards!
The magic of Mosaic is an experience like no other. It is the perfect culinary escape into a fairytale world.
A dining experience at the multi-award wining Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient Hotel in Pretoria has always been on my bucket list. So when I received an invitation to the official launch of Chef Chantel Dartnall’s spring menu and the re-opening of Restaurant Mosaic I was overjoyed to RSVP a very big fat Y E S. We are in the midst of a world pandemic, there is definitely no better time than now to enjoy life’s greatest pleasures.
The whole experience, from driving into the hotel, to walking through and arriving at Restaurant Mosaic, to indulging in a once in a lifetime culinary fairytale by the World’s Best Female Chef herself, is absolutely spectacular. Before I tell you about this whole experience in a separate post, I am going to tell you about the hotel and restaurant itself.
The Orient
The Orient Hotel is a Moorish-style castle set on a private estate. As you drive in through the windy roads, a whole new world of luxury welcomes you. From the architecture to the lush gardens and opulent decor. The estate is also home to some wildlife. If you’re lucky, you may even spot giraffe or buck on your drive in. Arriving to all of this definitely sets the tone for what will be a very exhilarating dining experience at Restaurant Mosaic.
Restaurant Mosaic
Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient Hotel is known as South Africa’s finest destination restaurant. The restaurant is decorated in the Bell Epoque style and has a very intimate and cozy feel to it. There are a limited amount of tables with both booth-type seats and two private dining rooms. The setting is absolutely beautiful. As you walk in it feels like a world class restaurant of a different era! It is definitely timeless!
Chef Chantel Dartnall
Known as World’s Best Female Chef, Chef Chantel Dartnall is a master in Restaurant Mosaic’s kitchen. She has twice been named South African Chef of the Year at the annual Eat Out Restaurant Awards. And Restaurant Mosaic has continuously been placed in the top ten eating establishments in the country. It is for these exact reasons, she is a force to be reckoned with. She cooks not only from the heart but from the soul. This is evident from every dish that comes out the kitchen.
Salted Caramel is the latest craze and I definitely approve of its deliciousness. I love the combination of sweet and salty and the way it’s an absolute flavour sensation! Everyones favourite Swiss chocolate and confectionary brand, Lindt have just launched a new LINDOR flavour. Let me tell you, it’s a real indulgence. This new flavour is Salted Caramel. If like me, you like this flavour combination, you will love this new sweet-and-salty chocolate treat.
This new LINDOR Salted Caramel flavour is made with the finest ingredients. Putting one in your mouth is an absolute melt in your mouth moment thanks to the signature smooth, velvety milk chocolate with a hint of salt and a sumptuously smooth melting caramel filling. It is definitely Salted Caramel like you have never experienced before!
I love how the sweetness and flavour of the caramel is enhanced by the subtle sprinkle of salt, making these truffles a morish delectable treat and creating an ultimate moment of bliss.
LINDOR Salted Caramel truffles are available at LINDT Chocolate Boutiques from August 2020 and in all other retailers stocking LINDT’s extensive range from September 2020. RRP is R119.99 for a 200g cornet.
Good news everyone! We can now travel locally. This is the best bit of news and the most exciting thing to happen all year. This definitely brings happiness, hope and a little sense of normality – with all the precautions in place, of course. We live in the most beautiful country and now more than ever, local establishments and small towns need all the support they can get.
SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH AFRICA YOU HAVE TO VISIT
Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
Dullstroom is a small town in the province of Mpumalanga. This little town is a halfway point between Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park and makes for a perfect stopover for a night or two. It is also the fly-fishing capital of South Africa. From cozy coffee shops, delicious eateries and even a whisky bar, this little town has so much to do. Don’t forget to add fly-fishing and a beautiful hike to that to do list.
Robertson is a small town in the Western Cape that is known for producing some of South Africa’s best wines. At the top of your to do list in Robertson is obviously wine tasting but be sure to also do an olive oil tasting at Olive Garden Country Lodge. There’s also a great selection of restaurants to wine and dine at and a few shops in the main road worth visiting.
Clarens is a small town situated in the foothills of the breathingly beautiful Maluti Mountains in the Free State. When I think of Clarens, I picture spectacular sandstone mountains, snow in winter and cherries in summer. It is the most picturesque little towns in South Africa and definitely worth visiting!
The Midlands is one of the most beautiful areas of Natal, South Africa and is guaranteed to take your breath away, like it does mine. I love all the attractions this area has to offer. From waterfalls to misty mountains and indigenous forests to farmland. There is so much to do and discover that you will keep returning every year. Like me!
The small town of Knysna is one of the must visit towns along the Garden Route, along with Plettenberg Bay of course. There is so much to do in this town with one of the main attractions being the Knysna Lagoon. A boat trip on the lagoon is the best way to admire the beauty of Knysna from the water and see this little town in all her glory. Don’t forget to also indulge in Knysna Oysters.
That’s the question on everyones mind in this new lockdown life. So before you head to Google, here is my list of ideas and recommendations on what you can do in Johannesburg this weekend. Most ideas include walking, so dust off your walking shoes and get your sunblock ready, especially now that Spring is around the corner.
1. Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens
This is one of South Africa’s nine National Botanical Gardens. It is beautifully well-maintained and is home to an abundance of wildlife, over 220 bird species, a number of reptiles, antelopes and jackals. As of 3 August 2020, the gardens are open for walking, hiking and running. Unfortunately no picnics nor social orientated activities are allowed.
For more information and regular updates click here.
2. The Zoo Lake
The Zoo Lake is a beautiful area to go for a walk, especially if you have a little cabin fever but don’t want to head out too far. Take some food to feed the ducks and some snacks to feed yourself while you get fresh air and walk about this area.
3. Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve
Take a drive to the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. The Reserve is a quick 45 minutes drive from Johannesburg and is located in the Cradle of Human Kind. What is nice about this Reserve is that you don’t have to get out the car! So you drive through and spot the animals without going anywhere near people. So if you’re neurotic about this whole Covid pandemic, like me, this little outing is perfect for you. There is a picnic area though if you choose to eat out the car.
Do something creative this weekend and get busy with some arts and crafts at home. Order something fun and exciting off www.smartcrafts.co.za and set up a work space in the garden. Treat it like a fun date for you and your partner. Or even a fun a fun task for the kids. Smart Crafts has an endless supply of craft tools so be sure to check them out.
Support your favourite restaurant (especially in these times!) and grab a takeaway and go for a picnic in the park. Don’t forget to pack a blanket in the car so you don’t end up sitting on the grass. We recently did this with takeaways from Mr Souvlaki and loved it! There are so many parks to head to but our favourite is James & Ethel Gray near Melrose Arch. The views are breathtaking from here and I love that you can spot nearly every breed of dog roaming here! I am a real dog lover and this makes me happy! After your picnic, take a walk around the walk. Its beautiful!
I’m on a mission to do more things in Johannesburg so I can add more to this list. Stay tuned for a weekly update on this blog post!
Staying at home all day every day, except for heading out to get the essentials, has its perks. One of the perks is a new found love for things I didn’t acknowledge before. All of this uncertainty has forced me to take a step back and appreciate the very little things. Like taking a moment out of my day to paint my own nails, or sitting down to a cup of coffee outside at the end of a work day, or even appreciating the beauty of an indoor plant. So here is a round up of my five favourite things that is make me love staying at home a whole lot more.
Painting my own nails
Every week I take a moment to sit down, listen to music and paint my nails. I find this so therapeutic and I look forward to this little bit of me time every week. Before all of this, I would rush to the salon, have my nails done, then rush to the next thing. Don’t get me wrong though, I definitely do miss the pamper session and the spoil of a salon treatment. But at the same time, I am loving doing my own nails in the extra time I have. My favourite shade at the moment is It’s Lit! by Morgan Taylor. It is a beautiful lilac holographic and my goodness, it has the most magical sparkle in the sun! It just makes me happy!
My To Be Read pile of books is growing at a rampant speed because I keep adding more and more books. This is all thanks to finally having more time on my side to enjoy what I love most which is reading! Some of the books included on my TBR pile are these latest releases by www.panmacmilan.co.za which I cannot wait to dive into very soon! I’m just waiting for a cold front so I can get extra cozy when I snuggle up with my book and a cup of coffee.
Coffee breaks in the sun
My favourite time of the day is the afternoon when I take a moment to go sit outside in the sun with my delicious Nespresso. Before this whole pandemic, I didn’t even step outside to soak up a few minutes of fresh air and sunshine, nor would I savour every sip of coffee. Now it’s these little moments which bring such happiness. I also find these new mugs I ordered from @home take this coffee drinking to a whole new level because I like to think I am at a cafe.
Indoor plants
I am now a very proud mom of a few indoor plants including this absolute beauty. I ordered this LIV from Atrium Plants which is an online store that delivers plants fresh from the greenhouse straight to your front door. For a first time plant mom like myself, they also provide all the necessary information you ned to care for your plants, which is fantastic! I love walking into the lounge and seeing this little bit of greenery. And there’s something about this plant that transports me to a tropical island!
Wine
On weekends we like to cook up something delicious and open a bottle of wine to accompany our meal. Its a little thing we look forward to all week which we like to call “date night”. We recently opened this bottle of Barrel Selection Merlot by Vondeling and it went down such a treat. We enjoyed it with lamb chops on the braai and a side of pap with tomato and onion gravy. It is a round, bold and full bodied with aromas of juicy red berries and sweet licorice.
With the alcohol ban still in place, I urge you to continue supporting your favourite wine farms by buying online and having your wine delivered as soon as this alcohol ban is lifted.
I’ve eaten a lot of pizza in my life! I’ve even eaten pizza in Italy. But in this blog post I am going to tell you about the best pizza I have ever eaten and it’s from a newish restaurant that opened up earlier this year. The restaurant is called Modena and is located in Parkhurst Johannesburg.
This is not a sponsored post at all, I am just sharing the love for a very delicious pizza with fellow pizza lovers that read Minkys. And yes, I know there is a lot of you!
So where is this pizza from?
There is a modern Italian eatery in the heart of Parkhurst Johannesburg called Modena that opened up at the beginning of this year. Modena fast became my new favourite spot. So much so that we’ve eaten here almost every week since they opened their doors (before lockdown!). Obviously I love that it is Italian because you know how much I love Italian food. And secondly the food is superb! Everything on the menu is just amazing. I have tasted their salads, their pastas, their risottos and their pizzas. I love everything but their pizza is my absolute favourite!
The pizza …
What makes the pizza at Modena so good is that they are made the Neapolitan way. If you’re not sure what this is, you can read all about Neapolitan style pizza in this blog post – click here. The pizza dough is left to rise for 48 hours being hand rolled and baked in a wood-fired oven.
The famous pizza from Modena that is currently the most delicious thing I have consumed lately (lol!) is the Burratta pizza. It is a simple pizza but with so much flavour. It is made with pesto, sun-dried tomato, roasted garlic, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, basic and of course a ball of burratta. I think all the flavour comes from using roasted garlic and the pizza being made in a proper wood-fired oven! It is absolutely delicious.
What else do I recommend at Modena in Parkhurst?
I have definitely eaten my way through the menu at Modena and can definitely recommend the following:
