Ricks cafe Americain lunch specials

Who doesn't love to eat well and pay a little?

If your work colleagues are all looking at you in a funny way because your stomach makes some very concerning noises, head down to Ricks Cafe Americain for a well deserved, well cooked and well delicious lunch.
You can't go wrong with their R49 lunch specials changing everyday with a choice of 3-4 dishes to choose from.
I had the privilege to enjoy the home made pork goulash with German pretzels. These are like tiny fresh pasta with various little worm like shapes... but they feels homey even if you never had any before!!
My partner in crime enjoyed a beautiful yellow tail skewers with a spicy chickpeas & tomato salsa. Needless to say that our meals were both so tasty and cheap that we could afford to spend a bit more on our drinks tab!!
...and what better way to start the week end?
Ricks is open daily (but Sundays) and is situated at 2 park road in gardens.




Ricks is a great warm hang out spot for after work drinks. We love it for its friendly atmosphere, its warmth and chilled ambiance! It can easily become the place where everyone knows name :)
In summer, you can enjoy the large terrace upstairs with beautiful views of Table Mountain (with heating for the chilly evenings) and in winter, the fire places are smoking hot. For more info: www.rickscafe.co.za

Looking for The Man???

As a teen and young adult female, we all had some strict set standards about what we wanted in a boyfriend, right?
Personally, I liked them tall, blond with blue eyes.. and well, the rest, was not so much of a worry at that time. Range of specifics that evolved with time, experience and most importantly : AVAILABILITY.
And as time goes by, availability become scarce and we feel sometimes related to the cold war!

Cold war really seems to set in just after your 30th birthday for some reason, and you suddenly realise that the only type of men that you seem to find somewhat attractive are all MARRIED! (then again those were always picked first!!) - ALL are married!

Some married men love to flaunt their wedding ring in order to send a very clear message : Only looking for a mistress, so forget the long walks on long beach on Sunday afternoons.
The others, more cheeky, remove the ring, long enough to seduce you so that they can feel that they are still in the game, and at the end of the evening, very innocently between two sentences, as if nothing : "I play golf, I am married, I love jazz and am father of two kids, and used to play guitar, was quite good at it too!"

You are thinking of throwing your G&T in his face and turn back but suddenly realise that once again, he was the only good looking, somewhat interesting dude here and usually, you had already fallen under his charm and you are already willing to take him to your hut...

In all defense, these men come with very valid and plausible excuses that allows you for a time to have faith and to get naked in the bushes; as you wish :

- We are separated but not divorced yet as the kids are going shit and already have bullying issues at school
- We are separated but not divorced yet as it is financially not viable
- We are separated but not yet divorced cuz my ex is very vulnerable right now.. ( a few to name some)

So why would you care after all? This is F-buddy situation after all and no strings attached so WTF?
But lets be honest, as all women, totally incapable to keep -  for a period of time - seeing someone and sharing intimate moments without at some point developing some form of feeling or attach...

So weeks, months and maybe years go by and he never stays overnight, you never share breakfast, he is only available between 9am and 6pm, and is never reachable over the week end - But has a million reasons, shame.. while you wait...and wait...and wait.... UNTIL that Saturday afternoon, on Clifton, where you see him, hand in hand with his pregnant wife and his two kids - what a nice family they make!

Avoid the married men at all cost, they will never leave their wife.. I mean, they might have to do their own laundry if they do! crazy thought!

So what's left out there?
- Men who love men ; these can annoy me cuz one gay couple = 2 less men available for us women
- The psychos; ie those who iron their underwear, watch chick flicks, or have kept their VHS movies
- Those who compare you to their mothers all the time
- The Dicks on leg who would bone your best friend and the farm donkey too
- Those wearing dungarees

So what do we do? Well, let me put it this way, my convo with a mate the other day
- Cat, Your guy, he is a bit of an asshole, isn't he?
- Well, yeah, but not phased, at least he is straight
- Ok but he just kicked the cat
- Yeah I know, he will probably bring it home and try to bone the dead animal, but doesn't matter, at least he is not married
- You do know he has been seen selling tik to kids outside the school, right?
- Yes, doesn't matter, at least he doesn't wear dungarees

So you look at it differently and redefine your idea of happiness...

The only problem is when you actually do find the right guy:
- Hey babe, just look at this picture and tell me what you think, ok?
- ok but honey, this is a picture of a naked man
- so do you like? does it turn you on?
- come on, you are being silly now, of course not
- and do you love your mummy?
- Honey, she is passed
- Great news, and... are you married?
- No of course not, I would have told you
- and why not?
- I suppose I never met the one
- come on, what's the real reason huh?
- huh?
- Yes, you are 35, never been married, what"s wrong with you??
- ???

And you end up looking like a crazy 30 something desperate to get hitched!

Societi Bistro Orange Street - a treat on the street

While many seems to think that the clever thing to do on a public holiday is to close (and don't get me wrong, everyone deserves a break), some more clever and service aiming are "thankfully" open!
So if and when you get tired of waiting at your gran's old cat smelling flat and if you get sick of your 5 year old niece telling you that you are old, ugly and boring or listening to your cousin asking you when you are getting married, just grab your other by the hand and take him/her to this bistro nested on Orange street for some real Holiday chilling time.

Yes I love Societi Bistro not only on any given day of the week, but particularly on those days, when everyone else goes off to their families for some bitching and moaning around a family Sunday roast. So Easter week end, also my Bday week end, I treated myself to some heart warming comfy food!

One of my favorite but too rarely enough on the menu is the Salad Lyonaise - with crispy bacon bits, fresh green leafs and a poached egg to finish it off - just the ish!!! Unfortunately, only available on some summer days.

On that particular day, I treated my buds to a chicken liver parfait, served with fresh warm toast followed by the slow-cooked lamb shank. This casserole dish is just the comforting need for all. Nothing you couldn’t have left bubbling in your oven while you lazed around your house on a public holiday.  There is nothing more rewarding than the gentle opulence of a braising joint, stock, celery and onion filling the house. 
Here at Societi it tastes and looks as if a tea spoon of a magical ingredient has been added to..maybe some tomato paste?

I ended the meal with one of my old time favorite, the creme brulée! Oh so popular all over the world and many think they have nailed the perfect one, but let me tell you that many are mistaken! Yet I rarely got disappointed by the perfectly smooth texture of Society's bistro brulée and the perfectly balanced taste yet not too overpowering vanilla just finishes my late lunch beautifully!

I promise to come back for their most mushy, yet tasty Mushroom risotto! Definitely a must have for the Veg and not so veg ones - Rice might be somewhat a tad overcooked, so for those liking the Risotto crunchy on the edge, it might be a slight disappointment, but the strong flavours will make you forget the lack of crunchiness!

The French and Italian inspired specials menu changes frequently.  Staples from the main menu change with the season with many vegetarian options.  Starters include ox tongue with potato bake, parsley and caper cream (R38); and beetroot with horseradish mayo and feta (R32).  Mains: a South African take on a salsiccia (sausage) pasta with boerewors, tomato and cream (R48 large, R74 small); aubergine fettuccine with baked ricotta, fennel seed, chilli and cherry tomato (R56, R82); a vegan lentil curry with aubergine and roti (R47); and venison bourguignon with bacon, mushroom, pearl onion, red wine and mash (R118).

They offer a great Autumn warmer menu, so do yourself a favor, even if summer is behind us and their garden might be empty, their fireplace and their friendly staff will take you to a warming delight!
 
Check out their menu for this coming season
http://societi.co.za/bistromenu/

Societi Bistro
+27 (0)21 4242 100
info@societi.co.za
50 Orange St
Gardens
Cape Town