Cape West Coast Wild Flowers

At last, its that time of the year when the Wild Flowers start to show their tiny little faces in vast carpets of colour throughout the West Coast.

The flowers are situated off the R27 just over an hours drive from the city centre and Glen Avon Lodge on a day trip up the West Coast or turnoff inland onto the R315 to Darling. From now until the third week in September, many South Africans and visitors from all over the world, come together to enjoy this spectacular array of wild flowers. This coming weekend 27th to 29th August heralds the start of celebrating this special time of the year with the ‘Flower Power’ festival at Shelly Point and the Hopefield Fynbos Show. There will be a food & wine fair, flower arranging competitions, with Michael Tibbs, the internationally acclaimed judge for the Chelsea Flower show in England, tours of the Wild flowers in Hopefield and Velddrif on Friday & Saturday and on Sunday 29th , a 60’s dance with a live band will be part of the festivities at Shelly Point. For the children, Rocky the penguin from Sancob will be there to greet you on Saturday and lots of competitions themed around our wonderful floral kingdom.

The flowers will, of course be displaying their natural beauty right throughout the season and can also be viewed in the Posberg Nature Reserve just outside Langebaan and lastly, probably when the flowers this year will be at their best, because of the very cold weather we have been experiencing and the late rains, the Darling Show should be spectacular. This will be from the 16th to the 18th September and entrance will be ZAR 25.00 to the hall. Darling boasts 1200 species, of which 80 are endemic to the area, which is especially known for its bulbous varieties.

So pack your day tripping picnic bags and head off for some fun filled days up the Cape Town West Coast- You won’t be disappointed.

Kirstenbosch Gardens Art Exhibition

Constantiaberg Art Society Exhibition – 25th August to 8th September 2011

Kirstenbosch Gardens Art Exhibition

One of Cape Towns top attractions, is Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens which is world renown for its rich displays of flora typically from the diverse regions of Southern Africa. These displays both outdoors, and indoors at the Botanical Society Conservatory, boast many plant species and spectacular views of Southern Africa’s flora including rare and threatened species. The Protea display is in full bloom in August and September, offering visitors to the gardens, breathtaking views of South Africa’s national flower. Garden walks and free guided garden tours, are offered daily and there is a ticketed shuttle car tour available for the elderly.

Kirstenbosch is well known for its displays of fine arts, and art exhibitions. There is a year long display of garden sculptures, Untamed, by Dylan Lewis, as well as many group exhibitions that are hosted in the function rooms. The Bonsai exhibition, local art exhibitions, craft markets and concert tours, to name a few.

Set amidst the scenic Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Constantiaberg Art Society is holding its 20th Anniversary celebration of local artists work, that will be displayed and are all for sale. The exhibition opens daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm from the 26th August to the 8th September 2011. Come and view some of the local Constantia talent and awaken your senses to experience life’s rare beauty, in the spectacular Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

These Gardens are situated a mere 10 minutes by car from Glen Avon Lodge, Constantia Bed and Breakfast Accommodation, so don’t miss the opportunity to view this exhibition of local talent.

Glen Avon Chef Recipe: Brandy Snap Cones

Head Chef - Emmanuel

Glen Avon Lodge is proud to present our head chef, Emmanuel Nyasvimbo. Emmanuel has a natural talent for serving up the most divine dishes to our privileged guests.

Creating recipes together with owner/chef Wendy, who has a Silwood Kitchen Grande Diploma in Cor don Bleu cooking and Tjaart Walveren, a chef from The Raymond Blanc Cookery school, who studied under the directorship of Stephan Bulmer.

Emmanuel continues to delight those who stay at ‘Glen Avon’ with his imaginative ‘food with flare’. Here he shares with you, one of his favourite deserts for a quick dinner party!

Brandy Snap Cones with Creme Patisserie

Brandy Snap Cones:

60g Butter
90g Golden Syrup
90g Castor Sugar
60g Cake Flour
5ml Ground Ginger
5ml Brandy

Melt the butter, syrup and sugar in a heavy saucepan. Sift the flour and the ginger into the syrup and add the brandy. Beat well. Grease a baking sheet and drop a teaspoonful of the mixture on the sheet. Repeat this process, leaving plenty of space between the mixture, so as it can spread. Bake for ten minutes at 180 degrees Celsius or until a golden brown colour all round.Take out of oven and when cool enough to touch, fold each one around the handle of a wooden spoon, or a cone shape. If they become too firm to roll, simply just place them back in the oven to soften. Store in an airtight container until required.

Brandy Snap Cones

Creme Patisserie:

500ml Milk
6 Egg Yolks
150g Sugar
50g Sifted Cake Flour
1 Vanilla pod, split lengthways

Whisk the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, then gradually add the flour. Scald the milk with the vanilla pod and then place in a glass bowl. Slowly whisk in the egg mixture. Place the glass bowl on top of a double boiler ( a pot of boiling water underneath) and continue to boil gently. Remove from heat, once it has thickened and sprinkle with a little Castor sugar, to prevent a thick skin from forming.

Assembly:

Place a little of the creme patisserie on a plate to stop the brandy snap from slipping. Fill the brandy cone with the creme patisserie and place in the middle of the serving plate.

Decorate and fill with fresh summer fruit and a sprig of mint. Remember to choose colourful fruit to set off the plate and make it attractive.

Cape Winelands Tour

With winter nearing an end (earlier than usual) we have some tantalising specials and tours you may be interested in. The first of our special tours is a half day tour of the Constantia Valley Wine Route. This is the oldest wine producing area of the Cape and the history and Cape Dutch architecture is a fascinating area to start your discovery of the Western Cape. On tour, you will visit and taste the wines of three of the five wine producing estates: Groot Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig, Klein Constantiaand Steenberg wine & golf estate.

Cape Winelands Constantia

Constantia is famous for exporting the first bottle of wine to Europe from South Africa and you can hear the stories of how Napoleon sought out the sweet wines of Constantia in the early days of wine production in this country. There is a museum at Groot Constantia and also the historical homestead of the first Governor to the Cape, Simon van der Stel. To end off your tour, why not linger on and have lunch at one of the much acclaimed café’s, restaurants and bistro’s situated on the wine farms within easy access of the Lodge.

Special Offer *: Stay for three nights for two people sharing in a Superior Bedroom on a Bed & Breakfast basis, with an all included tour of the Constantia Wine Route for the fully inclusive package price of R3660.00 per couple for three nights. Code: 03ABP1

* This offer is only valid for booking between the 1st August and 30th September 2011 and may not be combined with any other discounted or special rates.

Special Event: John Cleese Alimony Tour in Cape Town

John Cleese Alimony Tour in Cape Town

John Cleese Cape Town Tour

Don’t miss an evening of well-honed anecdotes, psychoanalytical tit-bits, details of recent surgical procedures, and unprovoked attacks on former colleagues, as only John Cleese can describe in his special, entertaining way.

For the first time ever, lovers of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and the South African film ‘Spud’ will enjoy John Cleese’s unique intimate comedic perspective. From writing to starring in plays, musicals, theatrical and comedy productions, to films such as a ‘Fish Called Wanda” and sitcoms, Cleese has done it all, and now it’s time for him to tell you about his jam-packed life. BIG Concerts, South African promoters of the John Cleese Alimony Tour
announced that owing to popular demand, a third performance has been added to the tour

Presented by 567Cape Talk and SABC3, the Alimony Tour, opens in Cape Town on the 21st Oct to 23rd Oct 2011

Catch this once in a lifetime show – Very limited availability – Contact Glen Avon to book your accommodation and tickets.