Foodie delights and whale tales

What you want to know this week

Shoe talk

If you need to invest in a pair of shoes this winter, look no further than the Adidas Samba.

These shoes can be traced back to the 1950s when they were worn by a German soccer team needing durable footwear for icy conditions. Modernised and available in many colours, they can be worn with everything.

They are not cheap — prices range from R1,899 to more than R5,000 — but you can get Adidas originals at Superbalist for as little as R1,399.

Crocs' Juniper sneakers, the brand’s first true fashion sneakers, will be launched on May 30. Reimagined ventilation holes and meshy details ensure the shoes are marginally breathable with excellent sole grip and plenty of Crocs comfort. The Fomolistas love them. 

It's whale time again!

It's almost whale season again on the Overberg coast (from early June to November). Book early in Hermanus, the world's “whale-watching capital".

It's about much more than just tracking the “big two" (southern rights and humpbacks). Expert guides provide fascinating information about, for instance, the complex reproductive process of southern rights, with up to 20 bulls competing for the attention of a single cow.

Boats depart from Hermanus, Kleinbaai and Gansbaai. If you choose a company like Marine Dynamics in Kleinbaai, the chances are good that you will see the ocean's Big Five (sharks, whales, seals, penguins and dolphins), as their boats visit Dyer Island where there is a penguin colony. The African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Kleinbaai, where penguins are rehabilitated, is worth a visit.

The popular Hermanus Whale Festival, the only eco-marine festival in the world, is on September 27-29.

Orcas on a rampage

Orcas have been wreaking havoc in the last four years, especially in the Strait of Gibraltar, where they sank three yachts and damaged many more. Read more about this phenomenon and what experts have to say about it in The Guardian article “The orca uprising". 

Also listen to New Scientist's post on possible reasons for the “attacks" on X. 

Finds

The Alva 3-panel luxurious infrared radiant indoor gas heater — in red! Finally a gas heater that is beautiful, effective and economical. We bought one and can't recommend it enough. Currently available at Takealot for R1,699, a discount of almost 28%.

Five  brilliant foodie destinations in Joburg

#1 Super Sconto in Orange Grove

It remains one of our favourite food haunts. Anneliese likes to stock up on little tins of anchovies and other canned fish, but there is also an extensive selection of everything from speciality tomatoes to meats, cheeses, the best pasta, fabulous olive oils, biscuits and pastries, pickled vegetables and tinned tuna. The restaurant upstairs serves delicious meals.

# 2 The Mediterranean in Malvern

This supermarket sells a wide range of Portuguese and continental foodstuffs — from salt cod to pasta — and has a great fish counter and butchery.

# 3 Cremalat in Germiston

A high-end Italian deli. The products are imported from various regions in Italy, including wines from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, prosecco from Valdobbiadene, prosciutto crudo from Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, limoncello, panettone, olive oil, pasta, biscotti, cioccolato, torrone and colomba pasquale. It is particularly well-known for its incredible selection of freshly sliced cold meats and 80 gourmet cheeses, imported and locally produced. We love the famous gorgonzola, drunken pecorino and fior de latte. There are smaller branches in Hyde Park and Groenkloof in Pretoria.

#4 The Global Cheese Company in Linksfield

This place is a real find! It is stuffed with imported packaged goods —mostly from Greece but a few from Italy as well. There are also tons of locally made Greek products and lots of cheeses from all over the world. We particularly like the Greek sheep milk cheese. It also has a great little coffee shop and a food truck.

# Cheese Gourmet in Linden

Cheese Gourmet stocks more than 140 boutique farm cheeses. The Kokerboom Black Winged Stilt from the West Coast will blow your mind. And the cheddars are great, too. The smoked cheddar is one of our favourites.

They say

Water with benefits: cucumber magic

One way to get your daily water intake is to eat more cucumbers. Cucumbers are 90% water but have added benefits: they assist in dissolving kidney stones, help heal stomach ulcers, regulate blood pressure, rehydrate the body, relieve headaches and promote healthy skin.

This is our favourite 10-minute Japanese cucumber salad. For the dressing, we prefer maple syrup to sugar.

Never put these six foods in the fridge

1.      Ginger
2.      Cucumber
3.      Garlic
4.      Onions
5.      Coffee
6.      Coloured peppers

How to revive your pot plants

You don’t have to replace your soil. Mix 1 l of water with 20 ml vinegar, 20 ml beer and 5 grams of baking soda. Water your plants every seven to 10 days with this mixture. Your soil will become loose and fluffy and your plants will bloom beautifully.

Last Word

Quote of the week

Famous Shakespearian insults

#1 “Away, you three-inch fool!” — The Taming of the Shrew

#2 “I must tell you, friendly in your ear, sell when you can, you are not for all markets.” — As You Like It

#3 “If thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them.”— Hamlet

#4 “You have such a February face, so full of frost, of storm and cloudiness.” — Much Ado About Nothing

#5 “She speaks, yet she says nothing.” — Romeo and Juliet

#6 “I do desire we may be better strangers.” — As You Like It

#7 “What, you egg! Young fry of treachery!” — Macbeth

#8 “I so wish thou wert a dog, that I might love thee something.” — Timon of Athens

Song of the week

There is a buzz about Frieda van den Heever's new album, Spoorsny.

Our favourite is Branders ken strande.

♦ VWB ♦