Treasure family moments

Out and About

Celebrations often centre around food, and preparations for a big wedding mean non-stop logistics on how to feed everyone in the run up. Doing my best to let go of non-essentials I have been checking out different catering options.Maasdorp Farmers Market — Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12 Maasdorp Road in Alexandra Park has grown immensely in the last year.  The garden bustles with all sorts of different stalls, most set up for the day but also  including the permanent flower boutique which produces some of the most imaginative cut flower arrangements in town. Many different food options tantalize the taste buds. Fresh organic vegetables, free range eggs, salad mixes, seedlings, macadamias and cashews vie for space with homemade goodies — wholegrain bread, Peter Piper’s pickles, sticky chocolate brownies, pates and preserves, Indian chutneys and ready made treats.  Homebrewed ginger beer was on sale for US$3 a bottle and bright pink juice — a healthy mix of beetroot, carrot and ginger was refreshing at US$2 a cup.  Many braai stands are fired up cooking sausages for sampling — chicken, pork and beef —  and Freshly Ground has set up a mobile coffee stand allowing the chance to drink very good cappuccions on sunny picnic tables in the midst of the market.
With relatives arriving on the evening Emirates flight I was looking for something light for a sit down snack. Ethiopian ready-mades were the answer.  I bought lovely sourdough, spongy flat bread — Injera  (US$2 for four large flatbreads). Apparently usually made with tef, a hardy Ethiopian grain, this talented cook had used wheat.  Paired with spicy lentil sauce (US$4) it was a great basis for a meal.  Huge avocadoes were plentiful so made guacamole and couldn’t resist the fresh shelled peas (US$1) and broad beans (US$2).  Simply steamed, then squashed with the addition of butter, salt and a little cream into a chunky puree with a hand blender — it was a fresh and tasty dip. Just the thing after many hours on an aeroplane.
Earlier in the week we enjoyed a more substantial family dinner at Picobellos on Glenara Avenue. Arriving first, I wondered around the restaurant at will struggling to find a member of staff to show me where to sit.  Lots of cars in the car park indicated a busy night, but other than a large party on the verandah with kids spilling happily into the childrens’ play area out front, the restaurant was quiet. Perhaps each person arrived in their own car! Service wasn’t the speediest and no drink or menu was offered until my menfolk turned up 15 mintues later.
Specialising in very good thin crust pizzas, Picobellos is a nice choice for family meals out. I chose mushroom risotto (US$13). Smooth, buttery and tangy with parmesan it was much more delicious than it’s bland appearance suggested. Same went for the four cheese gnocchi, also very white (too white for my camera in fact!) but a very tasty mixture of cheeses complementing the fluffy potato balls.
Sons went for pizza (large chicken and avocado — US$16) and ribs (US$17). Desserts are all a rather pricy US$7. Tiramisiu was good but chocolate mousse not as dark and thick as the cheaper Fishmonger version and the apple strudel did not fare favourably as compared to a recent taste at an Austrian restaurant in South Africa. Wine is a hefty US$4,50 a glass. I can’t understand why such a mark up is put on wine when there are plenty of drinkable options around at reasonable prices.
Pizza and pasta dishes are really good, atmosphere laid back and family friendly — but service needs attention.
– g.jeke@yahoo.com