8.00pm Saturday night: We’re not the kind of couple that rush out for a romantic Valentine’s dinner, but hey – we had forgotten it was the 14th and had booked a baby sitter. I made a reservation at Nova where Richard Carstens dazzles in the kitchen. I was in a fab new black outfit but noticed that most of the females were in shades of red and pink. Best I embellish my table with something scarlet! I ordered the pinkest cocktails on the menu, one a gorgeous watermelon Martini and the other a gin rose – yum! Richard prepared a menu full of fruity and exotic tastes, some with a magical playfulness but incredibly moreish; like the chilled, large oyster with a pearl of pineapple sorbet and topped with a mouthful of fennel air that mingled and then gently disappeared. It was the perfect summer starter but I wanted 11 more… The sliced rib eye was full of texture and taste and we mopped up every bit with greens and a peach and chilli salsa. We finished with the most beautiful, delicious plated dessert – a slab of vanilla panna cotta with a smear of rose gel, a romantic ice cream packed with litchi and, just to add a twist, a dusting of salted pistachio dust.

12 noon Thursday: It’s 45°C in Cape Town – a perfect time to try a new beer salon. I rounded up the Taste magazine team and headed to & Union. Nestled in St Stephen’s Church, & Union is über-cool and decked out in slick marble and tiles. Of course we had to try everything, so we shared boards packed with charcuterie, creamy lavender cheese, a really good coarse meat paté with preserves and some of the juiciest grilled salametti sausages, served with cute little bowls of mustard. We drank ice-cold Gabriel pilsners and silky Rafael ales and returned to the office, hot but happy.

So that was my week. I’d love to hear about your eating-out experiences – let’s share food notes! I am planning a Joburg trip soon, so please let me know of any hidden gems.

Happy eating!
Abigail