Monthly Archives: August 2017

…and the Best Main Course this years DISTELL INTER HOTEL CHALLENGE!

Marcus being presented with best main course prize

Marcus being presented with best main course prize

In its 5th year the awards evening was held at the Southern Sun Cape Sun.
With a room filled with hoteliers, chefs and sommeliers from the Hotel industry.
We are proud to announce to – Best Main Course: Marcas Hendry from “Belmond Mount Nelson”

Marcas Hendry is of Scottish and Irish decent. He is only just starting his career in the culinary industry at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. He grew up traveling South East Asia with his mother and it was there that he fell in love with food and the emotions it evokes and inspires. He says “Every time I cook, I seek to recreate the sensory enlightenment once experienced as a child with no love for anything other than pasta and Heinz tomato sauce. I hope one day to be able to open the minds of others to the awe-inspiring nature of good food in my own way.”

He did it again! At the DISTELL INTER HOTEL CHALLENGE!

Rudi with Togara (The Master) presented again with kitchen aid mixers

Rudi with Togara (The Master) presented again with kitchen aid mixers

Togara Mabharani knows no end. This is the fourth time Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel has won the “Best Bread” category .
Togara has magic hands. Congratulations once again.
This year he impressed with a both traditional selection but also a display of sour dough gluten free breads.
Simply unbelievable.

Thank you once again to the kind sponsors – Kitchen Aid for recognising our baker and our beautiful bread.

CURRIED DUCK EGG #From The Pass

Curried Duck Egg

Curried Duck Egg

We have always featured egg in some form or the other, it is after all the perfect meal. Recently I discovered a wonderful new supplier (Feed Me Free Range Products) situated just below Sir Lowry’s Pass with beautiful chickens, ducks and goose lying in the fields basking in the sun. Lou passed on some duck eggs to try, so I could not resist one of my favourites.

As curry and egg belong together, we decided to cook the duck egg at a low temperature, 63.3 C for one hour, at the base we placed a lentil dhall. Accompanied by a sweet and sour curry sauce, mango atchar, poppadoms and charred potatoes.

Photo credit – www.crushmag-online.com 

Roasted Red Pepper & Brie Soup

red pepper soup

Photo credit www.crushmag-online.com

 

Roasted Red Pepper Soup & Brie Soup

I featured this before, but after doing a shoot with crush I thought I would show it again, because it is so delicious. This time we added some whipped brie. This soup is one my all time favourite soups, I must confess that I am not a fan of raw red peppers but roasted and peeled seasoned with just salt and pepper is just amazing. Add some Le petit France Brie from Howick, in the KZN Midlands. I would suggest buying extra to ensure that you have some left for the soup. A couple of years ago I worked at the Hyatt and had to make this soup for the first time, I under estimated the amount of peppers needed and making this soup for 200 people…it is not funny. Peeling roasted red peppers can turn into a tedious long task, but peeling 6 peppers  is easy stuff. For something extra add a some sun-dried tomatoes which gives it a nice lift.

Ingredients
  

  • 00 g -500g Brie cheese chopped with rind (try a more mature brie for a stronger taste or add some blue cheese)
  • 12 large red peppers
  • 800 ml Chicken or Vegetable stock
  • 100 ml white wine
  • 300 ml cream optional
  • 1 onion large chopped
  • 2 clove garlic peeled and finely chopped
  • ¼ tsp Lemon Zest
  • fresh thyme to taste
  • olive oil
  • fresh basil chiffonade to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • salt
  • 150 g whipped brie
  • Fresh bread or croutes

Instructions
 

  • Char the peppers under a heated grill, turning them over a couple of times. Or roast in hot oven.
  • Remove and place in a plastic bag to sweat, so that the skins loosen. Peel and discard the skins and pips set flesh aside (Juices can be used but I often find them to be bitter)
  • Sauté the onions, thyme and garlic lightly in olive oil till they change colour; add the peppers.
  • Add the white wine and then the stock with lemon zest and bring to a simmer.
  • Add cream, season to taste and add the Brie pieces; continue cooking until the cheese melts fully into the soup. Liquidize and strain if needed.
  • Bring back to the boil Add basil
  • Serve with fresh bread or charred croutes or some bread sticks with whipped brie.
  • If you like a cheesier soup add more brie or a little blue.