It’s been a busy few weeks at the office, planning for the merge of Eat Out and Eat In, and we’ve also spent the last two weeks finalising commissioning for the panel of reviewers for the next issue of Eat Out magazine. There’ve been plenty of meetings to discuss the Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards, and my diary is packed with flights and restaurant reservations. I can’t wait to get started! ?

Our most recent brainstorm was held at a new Latin American restaurant next door to us, Orinoco. (What’s happening to Bree Street? Since New Media moved here there’s been a huge influx of restaurants open alongside us and around the block.) The entire team sat down to munch on traditional fried meat empanadas, baked brinjal, beef with homemade chimichuri sauce, a delicious sweetcorn milky baked pudding and a perfectly balanced, freshly squeezed juice of orange, mint, cucumber, pineapple and chilli. I can’t wait to go back on Friday for tapas and a pisco sour. ?

Today I am in the kitchen preparing for my hands-on dem at The Good Food and Wine Show, which is in Cape Town this weekend. I chose to dem three soufflés: an asparagus one with fennel, a decadent three-cheese soufflé and a mushroom twice-baked one. It’s quite a challenge, but if the ovens work, we will have some high risers, for sure – and hopefully some very chuffed contestants. ?

Last year I got to eat some great soufflé, all of which were sweet, actually. My three best so far were George Jardine’s chocolate one at Jordan (half-scoffed by my son), Bertus Basson’s coffee creation at Overture and the magnificent almond and apricot soufflé made by PJ Vadas and Eric Bulpitt at The Roundhouse. ?

Come say hi if you are at the show. I’m sure to be eating curry somewhere. ?

Happy eating!?
Abigail

Photographs: Jordan Restaurant