Carla and I went to dinner at Burrata (Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese, made from mozzarella and cream) in Woodstock last night and it was sensational. The décor is stylish and minimalistic with touches of red and the vibe was great. Our waiter, Damian was professional, friendly, well informed and unobtrusive.

We started with Prosecco and then shared the pizza ficci: mozzarella, gorgonzola, fresh figs and prosciutto. I thought I died and ended up in foodie heaven. It was THE best pizza I have ever had. They explained that they import the flour and tomatoes from Napoli and the pizza has a blackened crust with a light crispness which is baked in an Italian oven in less than 90 seconds. This they said is the way they make pizza in Napoli – I am either going to Napoli very soon or I am going to join Weigh Less and follow a strict diet so that I can splurge on pizza at Burrata as often as possible. Even not being overly hungry after we devoured the first pizza, we had to order a 2nd pizza: prosciutto e arugula: fresh mozzarella, parmagiano reggiano, prosciutto and fresh rocket. Dessert was an indulgent surprise from Damian, lime zabaglione with fresh berries, panna cotta and chocolate mousse.

I eat out often and therefore it is great when an evening out is a special, sensational feast which leaves you craving for more. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately they are closed today (Sunday) and Mondays but they are Open Tuesday to Friday 12 noon-10pm (only pizza between 3.00pm-6.30pm)
Saturday 10.00am 3pm and 6:30pm-10pm.
For bookings and information:
Website: http://www.burrata.co.za
E-mail: info@burrata.co.za
Tel: 021 447 6505
Situated in the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.

The owner of Lion’s View villa and penthouse apartment has made his dream come true by releasing Skaap 40 – his own Sauvigon Blanc.

“The story of Schaap Wines is a story of turning a dream into reality. It was on my first holiday to South Africa in 2005 that I fell in love with the Cape and the Stellenbosch region. The natural surroundings, the Mediterranean climate, the people, the lifestyle, and the historic Dutch culture, I fell in love with it all. It felt like home away from home. South Africa became my second home that Autumn. And standing at that turning point in my life, a new dream and ambition was born.

A new life phase and a new professional dream. From banker to winemaker, time to enjoy life, family, friends and South Africa! And so Schaap Wines was born, personally owned and managed by my family and fondly known to friends as Skaap Wines (for those of you that don’t know, Schaap/Skaap means sheep in Dutch).

At Skaap we aim to make high quality, accessible wines. Personal care and attention is given to every aspect of winemaking; letting nature take its course, making our wines as naturally as possible. Vibrant, elegant, and expressive, produced in limited quantities; wines sure to give enjoyment.

Wines that make a difference. Wines that give back to the local community and to nature. After a visit to a children’s soup kitchen I knew I wanted to help the people I met and we set up Children’s Foodure, a charitable foundation which feeds, clothes and educates kids in our local village. We designed our labels to showcase the work of underprivileged local artists who receive income and exposure for their work. And as keen members of the WWF Biodiversity in Wine Initiative (BWI) we follow sustainable farming practices.

In 2011 we’re proud to have bottled 6,600 bottles of Skaap 40 – Sauvignon Blanc. A Shiraz and a Method Cap Classique will follow later in 2012.

Above all we hope that our wines will help bring people together.

Proost!”

The Easter Bunny or Easter Rabbit (sometimes Spring Bunny in the U.S.) is a character depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs, who sometimes is depicted with clothes. In legend, the creature brings baskets filled with colored eggs, candy and sometimes also toys to the homes of children. It was first mentioned in Georg Franck von Frankenau’s De ovis paschalibus referring to an Alsace tradition of an Easter Hare bringing Easter Eggs.

Eggs
The precise origin of the ancient custom of decorating eggs is not known, although evidently the blooming of many flowers in spring coincides with the use of the fertility symbol of eggs—and eggs boiled with some flowers change their color, bringing the spring into the homes. Many Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the blood of the sacrificed Christ (and, of the renewal of life in springtime). Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long dead time of winter.

German Protestants wanted to retain the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting. Eggs were forbidden to Catholics during the fast of Lent, which was the reason for the abundance of eggs at Easter time.

The idea of an egg-laying bunny came to the U.S. in the 18th century. German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about the “Osterhas”, sometimes spelled “Oschter Haws”. “Hase” means “hare”, not rabbit, and in Northwest European folklore the “Easter Bunny” indeed is a hare, not a rabbit. According to the legend, only good children received gifts of colored eggs in the nests that they made in their caps and bonnets before Easter. In 1835, Jakob Grimm wrote of long-standing similar myths in Germany itself. Grimm suggested that these derived from legends of the reconstructed continental Germanic goddess *Ostara.

Winter is on it’s way and then it is a great time to go for a chocolate and wine tasting. Here are a list of great places to go:
Bilton: Tel. 021 881 3714 or visit www.biltonwines.co.za
Creation: Tel. 028 212 1107 or visit www.creationwines.com
Hidden Valley: Tel. 021 880 2646 or visit www.hiddenvalleywines.com
Lanzerac: Tel. 021 886 5641 or visit www.lanzeracwines.co.za
Lourensford: Tel. 021 847 2300 or visit www.lourensford.com
Stellekaya: Tel. 021 883 3873 or visit www.stellekaya.com
Waterford: Tel. 021 880 0496 or www.waterfordestate.co.za
KWV for chocolate and brandy pairing: Tel. 021 807 3911 or www.kwv.co.za

With over 8000 customers from over 72 countries, MASSAGE ON THE BEACH has developed
an international reputation for massage quality and service. For over 10 years we have
offered beach massage services on the golden sands of Africa’s most popular beaches.
You’ll find our distinct black gazebos on both sides of Camps Bay beach and at our new site
at 3rd Beach Clifton.

Weather permitting, we trade fulltime from October to April. In peak summer, we open at
9am and stay open till at least 6pm, or when the last customer leaves. For your convenience,
we offer credit card facilities.

Alternatively, you can book us for home, hotel, DMC & corporate massage services. Whether
it’s a conference, tour group, product launch, movie set, house party or massage at
corporate workstations, we can tailor our services to suit your needs.
Our clientele has included Heart 104.9, FIVB World Volleyball Tour, Heineken, Caprice and
the United Cricket Board to name but a few. Our adaptable service has been offered
everywhere from the Sol Kerzner residence, the hottest night spots and even at hen parties!
We are known for our understated quality, punctuality and professionalism, and were
chosen as a Sanlam 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. We are a member of Cape
Tourism.

You can follow our daily updates on twitter (follow ‘campsbaymassage’). Our website offers
the most comprehensive free information on Camps Bay. (see
www.massageonthebeach.co.za)

As a social enterprise MASSAGE ON THE BEACH wholly funds and facilitates the Hand-up
Hands-on Apprenticeship Program (HuHo), a not-for-profit personal and business skills
development program.

All staff partake in a 4-module program that includes weekly lessons, development and
presentation of a business plan, as well as working in South Africa’s first private social
entrepreneurship library.

We are currently in negotiations with the City to extend this program to other informal
beach traders in a ‘beach university’ program.

On the 21st of April 2012, roughly 100 intrepid Capetonians will attempt to see how many times they can summit Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge for Charity. Each lap is 5.5km in distance, 760 metres of climbing, and will take approximately 2 hours. The route up Platteklip Gorge includes 800 double size steps over a distance of 2.1km. Once at the top, the contestants need to run to the upper cable station, catch a lift down and then run back to the start.

Donations raised over the past 3 years by Argusx2, Charity Challenge and individual donors, funded the grassroots Masikulisane Crèche with running costs, building extensions, resources and capacity building. We are pleased to announce that by late 2009 the Creche met the requirements and became registered with Social Development as an Educare Centre and are now reaching a place of greater self-sustainability. See www.aidsresourcecentre.org.za for crèche details and photo gallery.

Last year we managed to raise R400 000.00 for the crèches in the area. This year we are raising money for the Sinenjongo High School.

We urge you to sponsor our contestants generously. In this ‘credit crunch’ year, corporate sponsors are hard to find, so we need individuals to give handsomely.

For more information visit: http://www.charitychallenge.co.za/

Several streets will be closed to traffic in the Cape Town city centre ahead of the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, authorities have warned.

President Jacob Zuma will deliver the annual speech during a joint seating of the National Assembly to be broadcast at 7pm.

There will also be parking restrictions around the Parliamentary precinct on Plein Street.

The closures, expected to last about 35 minutes, will begin shortly after 5pm on Thursday and the affected streets include:

• Klipper Road, Newlands: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue
• Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands: from Newlands Avenue to Union Avenue
• Newlands Avenue, Newlands: from Dean Street to Princess Anne Avenue
• Dean Street, Newlands, westbound: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue
• M3, Union Avenue, Rhodes Drive, De Waal Drive, City-bound carriageway: from Newlands Avenue to city centre
• Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, westbound: between Main Road (M4) and Rhodes Drive (M3)
• Anzio Road, Observatory: from Main Road (M4) to De Waal Drive (M3)
• N2, Settlers Way City-bound carriageway: from Main Road (M4) to city centre
• Nelson Mandela Boulevard (N2) City-bound: from Hospital Bend to Oswald Pirow (including the Melbourne Road, Roodebloem Road and Searle Street on-ramps)

Closures from 4pm to 8pm

• Nelson Mandela Boulevard: Strand Street off-ramp
Hertzog Boulevard inbound: from Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Heerengracht
• Strand Street: from Russel Street to Adderley Street
• Strand Street between Long Street and Adderley Street
• Adderley Street: from Hans Strijdom Avenue to Wale Street
• Heerengracht: between Coen Steytler and Hans Strijdom Avenues
• Wale Street outbound: between Queen Victoria Street and Adderley Street
• Bureau Street: between Adderley Street and Parliament Street
• Spin Street: between Corporation Street and Parliament Street
• Parliament Street from the gates of Parliament to approximately 35m before Longmarket Street (excluding the parking garage situated in Parliament Street)
• Plein Street between Barrack Street and Spin Street
• Closure of the Company Gardens

Parking will also be restricted in many parts of the city. This will be from midnight Wednesday, 8 February to midnight Thursday, 9 February. Affected roads include:

Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands
Church Square, corner of Spin Street and Parliament Street
Roeland Street: Between Plein Street and Buitenkant Street
Plein Street: Between Roeland Street and Spin Street
Spin Street: Between Parliament Street and Plein Street
Parliament Street: Between Longmarket Street and Bureau Street
Hatfield Street and St John’s Street: Between Roeland Street and Orange Street
Adderley Street: between Wale Street and Hertzog Boulevard
St Mary’s Cathedral Parking Area: Between Bouquet Street and Roeland Street
Gallery Lane
Queen Victoria Street
Commercial Street
Hertzog Boulevard: From Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Heerengracht

The Fringe Arts has lined up a series of workshops to rekindle the kid in you, as part of Freeworld Design Centre’s Kidult Exhibition.

Facilitated by well-known Cape Town creatives such as Lauren Fowler, Vincent Urbain and Keri Muller, the workshops will give you the op…portunity to create your very own work of art ranging from a cross stitched hoop to a ceramic carved heart and origami. Work created will form part of Kidult Exhibition and can be collected by workshop participants upon the closing of the exhibition on 23 March.

The workshops are for kidults 18+, unless specified otherwise. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Workshop fees include material costs. Don’t forget to bring your lunch box!

You can secure your seat by doing an EFT into the account below, and to send an email with proof of payment, the workshop you wish to attend and your name and number to hello@thefringearts.co.za.
Standard Bank – The Fringe
Account 070254621
Branch 020009

Venue: Freeworld Design Centre, 71 Waterkant Street, Cape Town

CROSS STITCHING
Who: Lauren Fowler is a illustrator, graphic designer and thing maker. With a love of all things old and forgotten, she enjoys bringing life to old crafts such as cross stitch, embroidery and knitting.
What: You’ll learn the basics of cross stitch and create our own wall hanging.
When: Wednesday 15 February, 12 to 1 pm
Costs: R95 per person

FELT SUGAR SKULL
Who: Miriam Anderson is in love with fabric and is a devoted yogini. She also loves Rihanna, tea and Simon and Garfunkel. And her cat and dog, in no particular order of preference. Combining her adoration of fabric, felt and Mexican sugar skulls, Miriam will be hosting a stitch and bitch session.
What: You will make a sugar skull inspired hoop and she will make tea.
When: Friday 17 February, 3 to 4 pm
Costs: R95 per person

GLASS DOMED PENDANT NECKLACE
Who: Hanici is one of the creative and business minds behind The Pendant Warehouse, a successful manufacturer of hand crafted pendants since 2004.
What: You will create your own unique design using vintage ephemera, photos, pen and ink; and then set it into a custom-made pendant topped with a crystal glass dome. All materials are supplied, but you are welcome to bring along a picture that you would like to use in your pendant (your image should fit into a 18x 25 mm rectangle).
When: Wednesday 22 February, 12 to 1 pm
Costs: R95 per person

CERAMIC CARVED HEART
Who: Daya Heller works in mediums of sculpture, drawing and painting. She has graduated in sculpture from the Michaelis School of Fine Art, designed the ‘open’ room in the Daddy long legs boutique art hotel, and has constructed many large interactive sculptures, creatures and giant puppets for festivals, carnivals, theatre and events.
What: You will learn how to press mold and carve/engrave into clay, producing ceramic hearts in a ‘white on white’ style, with your very own designs.
When: Friday 24 February, 3 to 4 pm
Costs: R120

PLAY WITH LEATHER
Who: Vincent Urbain loves leather. What started as a hobby in 2005 soon turned into Urban Africa, Vincent ‘s company. Today, Vincent’s elegant designs can be found in more than 70 boutiques worldwide.
What: Having just one hour to play with, in this workshop you’ll create small pieces out of leather, punch a few holes, work with punches, rivets, eyelets… Vincent will also teach hand stitching techniques.
When: Wednesday 29 February, 12 to 1 pm
Costs: R95

ORIGAMI FLOWERS & HORSES
Who: Keri is a maker of stuff. She folds, glues and cuts paper and old books into artworks, traditional origami shapes and more abstract pieces. Collecting and hoarding abandoned objects and books and giving them another life through artworks forms the basis of much of her work.
What: Origami has been around for centuries and Keri Muller has become a big fan of folding over the past year. Flowers and Horses are easy to make and look great when finished. The class will include step by step instructions on how to fold these 2 items as well as a copy of the instructions to take home with you.
When: Wednesday 7 March, 12 to 1 pm
Costs: R85

YARN BOMBING: FORK KNITTING (kids & kidults)
Who: Isabeau Joubert is a craft entrepreneur and yarn bomber, passionate about unusual materials, techniques and the magic of hand-made. Yarn bombing or yarn graffiti is a growing trend where knitters & crocheters take their craft to the streets to express themselves and beautify their urban environments much like graffiti artists.
What: You will be making crafty cord by simply using a fork. Yes, that’s right, a fork! Everyday objects can be transformed into your very own craft tools with just a little imagination. Beginners will be able to enjoy the very basics of knitting & hand craft while using this very unusual knitting tool. PS. Suitable for age 7+ or any child that can safely handle a prickly fork and a pointy needle.
When: Friday 9 March, 3 to 4 pm
Costs: R95 kidults, R65 kids

YARN BOMBING: CROCHET PLANTER
Who: Isabeau Joubert is a craft entrepreneur and yarn bomber, passionate about unusual materials, techniques and the magic of hand-made. Yarn bombing or yarn graffiti is a growing trend where knitters & crocheters take their craft to the streets to express themselves and beautify their urban environments much like graffiti artists. this summer by learning how to crochet a colourful vertical planter to hang in your favourite public space!
What: You will learn how to do (1) basic crochet stitch with multiple yarn thread, (2) a little gardening and (3) craft without boundaries, resulting in a colourful vertical planter to hang in your favourite public space. PS. Some knowledge of handwork would be great but not necessary. If you dabbled with knitting/crochet in school it would be perfect.
When: Monday 12 March, 12 to 1 pm
Costs: R95

WEAVING WITH BEADS
Who: Anna Richerby is the proud owner of Beloved Beadwork, where tiny perfect spheres of glass are woven into beautiful items of adornment. She caught the bead addiction early, aged 11, and surprised even herself when the addiction became a career!
What: This introductory workshop will help you taking your first steps into the intoxicating world of weaving with beads.
When: Wednesday 14 March, 12 to 1 pm
Costs: R95

FIBRE COLLAGE (kids & kidults)
Who: Bridget Henderson is a crafter, artist/designer and businesswoman. Under the cowgirlblues label she designs and makes contemporary, handcrafted knitwear, accessories and decor from hand-dyed South African wool and mohair. Bridget is also a trained life coach and particularly enjoys creative play and exploration with children.
What: Each child/adult pair will get to make their own collage, using strands of thread instead of paper, paint, crayons or traditional materials. We will be exploring our local natural environment as a theme, using objects found on and around the mountain for inspiration – think feathers, seed pods, wood, leaves, flowers, etc. At the end of the workshop the individual pieces will be combined into a bigger collage to make one complete artwork.
When: Friday 16 March, 3 to 4 pm
Costs: R95 kidults, R65 kids

-Theatre on the Bay in Link Street, Camps Bay has a special Valentine’s package for R365 for Menopause – the Musical. www.thetheatreonthebay.co.za
-Darling Railway Station. For the weekend before and after Valentine’s day, the choice of Icons And Aikonas and Desperate First Ladies @ R225 for a meal and a show. www.evita.co.za
-Enjoy a romantic picnic on Camps Bay, Clifton or Bakoven beach and while watching the sun set.
-For ideas of restaurants in Camps Bay visit http://www.campsbayapartments.com/restaurants.htm
-For a list of restaurants in Cape Town visit http://www.capeinternetaccommodation.com/CapeTown_restaurants.htm
-Book for the Comedy of Errors in Maynardville. http://www.maynardville.co.za/www/pages/productions.php
-Stay at the luxurious Ebb Tide, situated opposite the sea on the Beach Road in Camps Bay. www.ebb-tide.co.za
-Take the cable car up Table Mountain and enjoy a picnic with a fantastic view.

The Helderberg Nature Reserve Concerts

The programme for the 2012 concert season.

22 January 2012 Shiraz
5 February 2012 Virtual Jazz Reality
19 February 2012 The SA Navy Staff Band
11 March 2012 Banned in Evolution

All concerts start at 17:30
Tickets at the gate: R40 Adults, R10 Scholars, Free for children under the age of five
Enquiries: Information Centre: (021) 851-4060
(open daily from 10:00-16:30)