Vovo Telo Bedfordview

Over the weekend, we were too lazy to cook food, or go and buy groceries. Also, I was a bit ill and didn't have an appetite, so we headed out to town in search for some grub and dropped in at quaint little bakery/coffeeshop Vovo Telo, only a few kilometres from our house.

I had a macchiato, in which I accidentally poured sweetener - it already had sugar in, while Flip had a humble old Coke. We both had poached eggs on a slice of rye toast. It was delicious. The shop also had freshly baked pastries that I would have eaten in an instant if I had not been ill. To sum it up, it was great! Enjoy a few photos from our visit, and if you ever see one, pop in! You'll be pleasantly surprised.

My favourite part about this Vovo Telo was all the bunnies. The shop manager told me that it wasn't just for Easter, but it was part of the shop's look and feel. I'm obsessed with bunnies! She also told me that the wire ones pictured below was bought from a street vendor close by. She lamented that wire art might disappear after a few years, but I think it's here to stay.

Philoméne likes the sound of the cat's bowl on the tiles. The cat likes overhearing children's stories.

On July 9, at exactly 3 pm, a man buys flowers for his wife who just gave birth to their 3.1 kg baby boy, with black curly hair and still blue eyes. At the same moment, a foreign exchange student blows out the sole candle on a cupcake for his birthday. Meanwhile, on a bench in a park, a beggar takes his last sip of his R19 Tassenberg and tosses the bottle in the paper bag aside. A stray dog slightly sniffs at the bottle then lifts his leg to urinate against the beggars leg.

::: At the same moment in front of a restaurant nearby, two girls meet. A friendship was born. :::

The two girls actually met a few months before. Through their blogs. The odd comment on each other's blogs led to longer, more elaborate e-mails and a mutual interest in travel, among other things, was discovered. They also added each other on facebook and eventually decided to meet in person, but their schedules kept them busy over weekends. And then finally, on the afternoon of the 9th, we met. Jenna and I.

We went to Fratelli's, a quaint little restaurant in the leafy suburb of Greenside, which main street is lined with little treasures, such as this one.

The vibe is very relaxed, packed with trendy people, even during the day. The drinks prices was also very reasonable and we helped ourselves to caiparinhas, mojito's and gin and tonics.

I was very nervous at first, I even admitted it to Jenna, who blogs over at Home Away from Home. In fact, I was so nervous that I wanted to smoke a cigarette. And I despise smoking. Well, when it suits me anyway.

I was scared that we might not have a lot of things in common. Or that there would be a lot of awkward silences, but there weren't any and we chatted like old friends. So much so, that the waitress at the second restaurant, The Office, which was just a skip and a jump away from Fratelli's, asked what the occasion was for us coming to the restaurant.

Well, actually, we were on our way to our cars when the waitress came outside and invited us in. She was quite shocked when she realised this was the first time Jenna and I had met. She was in total disbelief and asked if I was telling the truth. We just laughed.

We were surprised in turn, when the bill came after we drank our two fishbowls (the blue drink in the picture at the top). It was buy one, get one free! Score! And the waitress was super sweet, full of compliments and such a nice person. I would definitely go back to this 'hip' spot. But maybe again during the day. At night, this place is packed to the rafters! But still a lot of fun.

Everything turned out so good that we are going over to their place this weekend for a little braai. And for the boys to meet each other.

::I thought I would leave you with this piece of wisdom.:: 

That's my handwriting.

Phuza Thursday: Oh happy day!

This is happy happy Thursday for me. Not only is it Youth Day (yoof day) in South Africa, which means I get the whole entire day to myself, but it is also the 100th post of this here little hooha blog.

This morning was brilliant! I got to spend the whole morning in bed, which we dragged to the living room, in front of the tv. I loooove watching tv before actually getting up and getting ready for the day. It has contributed to the number of grey hairs my dear mom has these days. And right now, we are heading out to Pretoria, to have a great braai with my famy. I need sunshine. I don't need wind. Or cold. But there will be none of that.

To celebrate my 100th post, I thought of a drink that was crazy quilts crazy and remembered that a few years ago at my 21st birthday, my friends had a few of these nutty-as-a-fruitcake drinks round up for me. Even the name sounds dangerous. Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce to you ---

The Flaming Lamborghini

You will need

• 1 shot Kahlua coffee liqueur
• 1 shot Sambuca
• 1 shot Blue Curacao liqueur
• 1 shot Bailey’s Irish cream
• a straw
• matches or a lighter

Pour the Sambuca and Kahlua into a cocktail glass. Pour the baileys and blue curacao into two separate shot glasses either side of the cocktail glass. Light the mixture in the cocktail glass and start to drink through a straw (drink fast as the straw will melt). As the bottom of the glass is reached put out the fire by pouring the baileys and blue curacao into the cocktail glass and keep drinking till it’s all gone.

I found the recipe here. The guy says that you shouldn't use a cool glass as it might shatter or crack. Also, make this drink at night time, the special effects will be just soooo much cooler. and please be careful, I won't take any responsibility for injuries sustained.

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Now, for an even cooler part. I was so inspired by Michelle's link up party on Tuesday that I decided to make today's Phuza Thursday a link up as well. Yay! I know there are a lot of this type of posts out there, but none of them has a word that sounds so deliciously sinful as Phuza.

Basically, you should create a Phuza Thursday post, in which you write about your favourite drinks. Remember, it doesn't have to be alcoholic, it could be anything you like to drink.

Grab this picture button and link up below.

I have no idea how to create a button, and it will take me hella long to figure it out, and the day awaits. Hope to see a lot of faces on here!

Phuza Thursday: What are you doing Dave?

We don't drink pink drinks!

Well, luckily I'm not a guy, and neither are my friends. So we were allowed to drink some yummylicious pink drinks at my friend Tracy's Jambalaya and Jam Jar party this weekend.

And luckily Louis Gosset Jr wasn't around to hand me a Windhoek Light. I would have fought him for the pink drink. Even if he is 6 m tall! I might have told him to put the Windhoek next to my g&t, that stood patiently waiting for me to finish my pink drink. I might have drank the light beer. I might have.

How to make this deliciously delicious pink drink:

You will need:
2 shots of Captain Morgan Spiced Gold (light rum)
A squeeze of lime
Half a shot of grenadine or pomegranate cordial
Top off with equal parts granadilla and orange juice

Mix and drink! And enjoy! We did.

 

  

I'm watching you Dave. Keep it real.

I found Tom Collins!

Remember the other day I spoke about a Tom Collins? If you don't remember, or haven't read it, take a look here.

Being a journalist, I am naturally curious, to the frustration of a lot of people. But sometimes it can be quite beneficial. Some times includes: breaking a scandalous story that nearly gets you fired, and finding out who or what Tom Collins is.

I used an old friend, called Wikipedia. I'm sure you all know it by now. But this is what it said:

In 1874, people in New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the United States would start a conversation with "Have you seen Tom Collins?"

After the listener predictably reacts by explaining that they did not know a Tom Collins, the speaker would assert that Tom Collins was talking about the listener to others and that Tom Collins was "just around the corner", "in a [local] bar," or somewhere else near.

The conversation about the nonexistent Tom Collins was a proven hoax of exposure. In The 'Great Tom Collins hoax of 1874' as it became known, the speaker would encourage the listener to act foolishly by reacting to patent nonsense that the hoaxer deliberately presents as reality.

In particular, the speaker desired the listener to become agitated at the idea of someone talking about them to others such that the listener would rush off to find the purportedly nearby Tom Collins.

Similar to The New York Zoo hoax of 1874, several newspapers propagated the very successful practical joke by printing stories containing false sightings of Tom Collins. The 1874 hoax quickly gained such notoriety that several 1874 music hall songs memorialized the event (copies of which now are in the U.S. Library of Congress).

Did that make much sense to you? No? Me neither.

But if you would like to try the tasty drink that is Tom Collins, take a look at this recipe:

2 oz gin
1 oz lemon juice
1 tsp castor sugar
3 oz club soda
1 maraschino cherry &
1 slice orange

In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the gin, lemon juice, and sugar. Shake well. Strain into a collins glass almost filled with ice cubes. Add the club soda. Stir and garnish with the cherry and the orange slice.

 

Enjoy Phuza Thursday! I know I will!

Phuza Thursday: It's a hot one!

Brrrrr! Ohmywhiskers! Johannesburg sure is freezing its tooshy off this morning!

My beau is on a business trip, driving down to Durban and as he passed the Gauteng border he phoned me. "It's -4 degrees!" he says. I cringe.

So today's Phuza Thursday will be one for the Saffas, a nice hot drink! I found the recipe here.

Hot Chocolate!

You will need:

2 teaspoons cornstarch
4 cups milk, divided
2 (3.5-oz.) dark chocolate bars (at least 70% cacao), chopped
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

and then

1. Whisk together cornstarch and 1/2 cup milk until smooth.
2. Cook remaining 3 1/2 cups milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until bubbles appear around edge of saucepan (about 4 minutes; do not boil). Whisk in chocolate, honey, vanilla extract, and salt until blended and smooth. Whisk in cornstarch mixture.
3. Bring milk mixture to a light boil, whisking frequently (about 4 minutes). Remove from heat. Let cool slightly. (Mixture will thicken as it cools.) Serve immediately with Marshmallow Whipped Cream, if desired.

This will make about 4 cups of steaming hot bliss! Enjoy!

On a sidenote, I though I would share something funny with you. This morning, as I was getting ready for work, I remembered that some of my clothes were rolling around in the tumble dryer. I found a pair of warm, fluffy tights in the bundle and as I put it on I shouted "This is effing legit!"

I have no idea who I was shouting it out for. I was alone at home.

Phuza Thursday: Something special

Hello lovely people who like to read my blog everyday! I have a special surprise for you today, a guest post! Yay! But before we cross over to the very pretty mommy Haley from Life is Sweet, I though that I would give you some insider information to Phuza Thursdays. 

Did you know that it doesn't necessarily have to be an alcoholic drink? And that it can be anything from goat's milk to coconut juice? Blegh. That doesn't sound very nice. What does sound nice is this yummylicious recipe Haley is dishing up today!

Get your blenders ready! Go!

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Hi there Second Floor Living readers!!

 Megan was so sweet to invite me to share with you a favourite drink of mine.
 I was inspired by this recipe...I love smoothies.
 They're a breakfast, an after workout snack, and a dessert! This one has healthy carbs, antioxydants, and some great protein too...
and and it tastes awesome.

Win-win :)

Very Berry Tropical Smoothie

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen fruit...I used mangos, blueberries, & strawberries

1 cup coconut milk (I get the Silk brand...you can also use almond milk)

1 cup greek yogurt (Greek Gods honey flavor is A-MAZING)

Optional: sweeten with Truvia or Splenda

Directions:

Toss fruit in blender, pour coconut milk and add yogurt on top...blend!! If it's too thick: add coconut milk (little additions). If it's too thin: add frozen fruit.

ENJOY!!!!

Then sip it with your sweetheart, or your girl friend.

What is it about sharing food with the people you love that makes it taste even better? :)

Thanks again for having me Megan!! Happy Thursday Eve everyone!

xo,

Haley
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Now go check out sweet, sweet Haley's blog.

Happy Phuza Thursday.

Oh, and when drinking something stronger than smoothies, please don't drive. Ever.

Phuza Thursday: Mojito

Yesterday was voting day in Saffa, and it saw millions of people flock to the ballots to cross their t's and dot their i's. Hopefully most of them made the right choice to save us from the derelict, corrupt and pathetic ruling party we have at the moment. But enough of the politics shmolitics, let's move on to Phuza Thursday.

I have decided to make it an official feature on my blog. So every Thursday, will now be known as Phuza Thursday! And I even designed a little banner. Do you like it?

Seeing as yesterday was a public holiday, we had a chance to chill midweek! Oh my, I wouldn't mind if every week had a middle-of-the-week-day-off! What an awesome world that would be!

Flip's parents came over, and we braaied a snoek. The word braai (plural braaie) is Afrikaans for barbecue or grill. And snoek is an edible fish that is native to South African, South American and Australian waters. It is a silvery and oily fish, traditional to the Cape. 

Snoek

&

Salad

Now that the formalities are over, I can move on to the fun stuff! We had such a good day off and got to enjoy a few drinks.


Although I had mostly g&t's and Blakes & Doyle, which is an apple cider drink, I thought I would give you guys the recipe to one of my favourite cocktails. I seem to like drinks that tastes more like cooldrink than alcohol.

What's this drink you may ask? A mojito! It sounds so sinful. And partyish. Ole! 

I'm sure everyone knows the basic ingredients to make this delicious drink, but you might as well now know how to make it. So here's a recipe:


Ingredients for Mojito cocktail recipe:

2 tsp brown sugar
6-8 mint leaves
club soda
1 lime, halved
2 oz light rum
mint sprig for garnish

In a cocktail glass, crush mint leaves with simple syrup. Add ice and rum, finally on top spill carbonated water. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. And you're done! Enjoy your cocktail!

Enjoy Phuza Thursday!

Phuza Thursday

It's Friday right, so why am I posting about Thursday? Because Friday is the day after Phuza Thursday.

And unbeknownst to myself, until this moment right here, I have celebrated each Thursday in the year that is 2011. And some of the Thursdays in 2010. And I only realised now that I have spent so many Thursday phuzaing.

What am I going on about? Well, this is how urban dictionary puts it:

Said (poo-zah)
As 'phuza' is the traditional Zulu term for drink, it follows that 'Phuza Thursday' is the act of drinking (most commonly binge drinking) on a Thursday night. This has become a burgeoning tradition among South African youth, with Thursday nights almost replacing Friday nights as occasions for heavy drinking.

Good ol' G&T

So, in celebration, here are a few facts about an average Phuza Thursday (or more so G&T):

• It is usually spent with the beau and when I can convince my friends to join us, after we have already had a few drinks, them too.
• I always drink a G&T. Last year, I hated it. Couldn't stand the taste. But then we went to Phuket and Flip was going on about how I should order a Tom Collins, neither of us really knowing what that is. Long story short, I have only ever had one TC, because we don't know what it is, and no one else does, but it taste pretty much like a G&T and that got me to drink an old lady's drink.
• Flip once tried gin & tonic, not knowing that it had quite a frank taste. He claims that he still can't get the taste out of his mouth and that he would never touch it again.

I perfected the fish face me thinks! Flip on the other hand...he has a flash in his eye

Defrosting doves and such

This morning I overslept completely, woke up at 07:40.
I have to be at work by 08:00.

But I found something to blame.
Yesterday's Lusito Land. It's a Portuguese fest, held in Wemmerpan. And it involved an alcoholic beverage called Caipirinha (maybe that's why I'm sitting with this headache now), a couple of beers, candyfloss, my parents, prawns, espatadas, Portuguese chicken and those typical carnival type rides that had me screaming my head off! So that's reason numero uno.

Just quietly crapping myself...

And eating candyfloss in a sexy way

The second scapegoat is BridalPlasty. It comes up late at night, and I wouldn't miss it for the world! Next week is the finale, finally! And can I just add, I hate Jenessa. Dislike is too nice a word.

And the defrosting doves you ask? This morning, as I was driving into our work's parking lot, I saw this big bundle of something next to the entrance. After parking, and closer inspection, I found a half-frozen dove, with an injured wing. SO, I tucked him under my hoodie and brought him into the office. He is still residing here, in a box with shredded newspaper, and will be taken to a bird rehabilitation centre tonight by one of my colleagues.

But then the beau tells me that I should watch out for lice and fleas. And I can't stop itching or scratching. I dislike my brain right now.

Oh, and in case you are curious about a Caipirinha, here's a recipe for you to try at home.

You will need:

• 1 oz (30 mL) cachaça, vodka, or wine
• 2 lemon or lime wedges (from a ripe fruit of medium size)
• 5 ice cubes
• 2 teaspoons (8 grams) sugar.

1. Cut the lemons or limes into several pieces.
2. Put the lemons or limes into a cocktail shaker.
3. Add sugar and mash it into the lemon wedges making a little juice.
4. Fill the glass with ice. Crushed ice melts faster and dilutes the drink more quickly than cubes. 
5. Add the cachaça, vodka, or wine, mix well, and serve.

Et Voila! You have a drink that tastes like cooldrink, but isn't.

Update: the dove was picked up during our lunch hour by my colleagues beau and he took her (yes, it's a girl!) to a rehab centre in Springs. Apparently it was bitten by a dog, but will survive. Happy days!