Penny Ndlela

SA talent rocks!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:04:56 GMT

I love the arts. Wherever my travels take me, I always try to sneak in a theatre experience. I think it is the best way to experience a culture, as it embodies the pulse of it unique expression: a window into their souls.

Locally, I enjoy the Market Theatre and so watched three amazing shows this past month. I was pleasantly surprised at the increased number of patrons supporting our local artists. The first show was Songs of Migration featuring Hugh Masekela and Sibongile Khumalo with an outstanding cast. What an awesome treat to experience the energy of these legends on stage: entertained by their nostalgic rendition of migration songs that mirrored the tapestry of our history: equally marvelled at how bra Hugh can still get down.

The second show was The Pen, starring Sello Maake Ka-Ncube. The clever author Monde Mayephu depicts the plight of the playwright beset by writer’s block. A truly outstanding performance!

Finally, it is the month of the FNB Dance Umbrella, celebrating its 12th year. Do yourself a favour and catch any one of the performances in one of the venues in Newtown. I was totally blown away by Neliswa Xaba’s choreography and performance of Black/White. I couldn’t help but feel immensely proud of how great our talent is.

Someone once said that we are drawn to art because it is a form of expression that articulates human genius. Local geniuses: now that is a refreshing experience...
Live well: till next time.

A French-inspired gem with a twist

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:44:13 GMT

The best hidden delights in Durban include an innovative restaurant and a decadent bar.

Harvey’s is a super cool spot in the bohemian suburb of Morningside. This obviously successful and fearless way of fusing various cuisines leaves your taste buds thoroughly awakened.

Durban is known for its Indian-inspired cuisine, so this out of the mould. The flamboyant, almost snobbish, décor sets the scene for a unique experience.

Not only does its menu change monthly, but its cleverest aspect is that all dishes – starters, mains and even sweets (but not, obviously, finger-food nibble-tisers) – are plated in quarters (four smaller portions). This facilitates sharing, which isn’t compulsory, but encourages shy palates to try unfamiliar things without gambling on a full course, which will spur you and your friends to broaden their culinary horizons.

When in Durbs, be sure to make a booking so you are not disappointed.

Finish off the day with sundowners at the newly refurbished Oyster Box. The Lighthouse Bar upstairs is decorated with overwhelming chandeliers, oversized barstools and weathered leather couches. It makes you feel like sinking into opulence while watching the tides recede. The view of the ever-imposing lighthouse adds to the glamour of it all. Try one of their exotic cocktails.

Off to discover more awesome experiences…

Live well till then.

A luxury experience at no cost…

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:43:34 GMT

A little indulgence goes a long way – and you don’t need pockets full of cash to spoil yourself.

“Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.”
– Coco Chanel

Now that we have dusted off the recession, the sobering effects got me thinking more about life’s pleasures that one would indulge at a whim, the deep satisfaction of the luxury purchase followed by the horror of that bank balance.

The recession was like a financial diet – and you know when you are on a diet, all you can think about is food… awful!

Well, I got creative and found harmless ways to curb the craving for luxury experiences while maintaining the financial diet.

Let me start off by defining what luxury is to me: a unique experience, presented in a ritualistic nature, complemented with impeccable service. Quality not quantity. Attention to detail, especially in packaging.

Jo Malone in Hyde Park, the purveyors of luxury scented candles, body butters, fragrant linen sprays and fragrance offers decadent free hand massages that are sure to leave you feeling like a million bucks. I love the ritual they perform on you hands. They start by cooling your hands with refrigerated hand towels. The aroma of amazing fragrant candles, body lotions and fragrances engulfs you. It’s like The Body Shop for rich people – you’re looking at being set back close to R900 for the body butter. Oh, back to the amazing hand wash. Spring water is used to cleanse your hands before the massage, to which they use your chosen scented body butter, followed by a complementing fragrance lightly sprayed over your hands. I love it.

Actually, I am bad at diets. I bought the tiniest candle for my home and light it to lift my mood and soothe my soul. As they say with dieting – if you can’t eat it, smell it.

Luxury is a state of mind…

A birthday party guide

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:05:04 GMT

Throw a killer birthday party with limos and champagne

A dear friend of mine celebrated her birthday recently and SMSed me for some ideas. It got me thinking that perhaps many people encounter this dilemma (how to entertain friends at your birthday party) as we are all tired of the same old, same old and so in the spirit of sharing: Here is the transcript of the SMS instruction.

GIRLFRIEND:
Girl, I want to have a dinner for my birtday on Saturday. Any restaurant suggestions? Somewhere funky, fun and vibey for about 10 people. Also, what activity can we do prior to dinner? Something fun and interactive.

MY RESPONSE:
Good gosh, this sounds like a whole event brief! Ok, fortunately for you I am on the bus to Florence, Italy [I was on a Contiki for under 90s, but that’s another blog] and bored. I recommend meeting at Melrose Arch for pre-drinks at Mangiare (very Sex in the City vibe). Hire a limo to pick you all up from there. Get a DVD concert (like Usher or Beyoncé) to play in the limo while you drive (about 45 minutes) to Kream Restaurant in Brooklyn, Pretoria. Get the private dining room for 10 – it’s decadent and stunning. Have lots of bottles of Veuve Clicquot on hand! After the great meal, head back to Melrose Arch (where the cars are parked) and go clubbing at The Venue or join another party. Go big or go home! Call me so I can feel as if I was there. Kisses.

GIRLFRIEND:
I’ve never! Love it. You will get full debrief.

Apparently great fun was had by all. This combination or sequence of events can be applied to any area. Go on use it! It’s my gift to you. Let me know what you did!

Head to Zuma's restaurant in London

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:44:24 GMT

You are assured a great time at ZUMA – just look past the name!

I returned from London last weekend in high spirits having had a great time in this exciting global city.

Heathrow’s super chic Terminal 5 now boasts Gordon Ramsay Plane Food in their stable. Fine dining at the airport? I’m not sure who has time for fine dining after your have gone through all those security checks and a near strip search. But hey, the idea is nice if you have £50 to burn for lunch before take off. I did not get time to eat there, but apparently it is amazing and definitely the hotspot at Terminal 5.

Walking the streets of London is an experience like no other. Not only is English surprising not spoken, but this is one place where you will see all sorts of people from all over the world. If people watching is your thing, then grab a spot at Piccadilly Circus and literally watch the world go by. A real circus!

When I heard that the dinner arrangements were at ZUMA restaurant, you can imagine how I almost gagged. Is it true… could it be his? Expense claim scandal in the UK and expensive lunch scandals in SA? Noooo… couldn’t possible be.

ZUMA is, in fact, a Japanese word meaning “running horse” (how apt) and this restaurant is like one of those featured in Sex in the City: queues outside and fabulous looking people, dressed to kill, including famous footballers on the prowl. Amazing.

The food is Japanese traditional izakaya style (even that sounds Zulu) which is contemporary cuisine. Exquisite! Mouth-watering starters and the best lamb chops on earth. I don’t like lamb chops but they were beautifully prepared and presented. Dessert was homemade sorbet that simply lingers in your mouth.

And the reference to our President: none. He has been there for lunch and apparently really enjoyed his visit.

Melrose Arch piazza is so HOT right now!

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:40:33 GMT

Get to Melrose Arch for delicious food, gorgeous shopping and a funky vibe

The new section of Melrose Arch is the place to be and be seen right now. A weekly Mediterranean market, cobblestone pathways and a piazza with street cafes with cute Vespas parked in front of them, make Melrose Arch the new Europe – right on your doorstep!

I have already tried a few restaurants, so I will comment and recommend a few – the vibe is very festive, so go out and discover your favourites!

I really love Tasha’s, as it’s homely, yet elegant. Tasha, the owner, has an infectious personality and somehow all her restaurants have this great energy while still maintaining a very relaxed feel about them. People are prepared to queue for almost an hour to get in, even though Tasha’s doesn’t have a liquor licence. Imagine that! My favourite on the menu is “pimp my toast” – great comfort food.

Mangiare, with its gorgeous red staircase, is divine for dinner. Great Italian-inspired food with a fantastic wine selection. Whether you are having a dinner for two or hosting a rowdy bunch, this is a real classy hang out.

A nice surprise is Grand Central, whose decor is a nostalgic rendition of New York’s Grand Central station. It has great steaks and burgers and is a perfect guys’ hang out. I love the cigar bar upstairs and the bathrooms are a must-see.

And for us girls there’s the ultra fantastic shoe shop Freequency Footwear is finally in the north! Spanish, Italian and Brazillian shoes to die for! I suggest you venture to Melrose Arch armed with a sufficient list of justifications as to why you bought more than one pair, when you swore you couldn’t even afford one. Or you can use my excuse: it’s cheaper to go to Melrose Arch than to go to Europe, so what you save on the ticket you can spend on a fantastic meal and a beautiful pair of shoes.

The best Valentine's day ever

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:34:47 GMT

You have six months till Valentine’s Day – you better start planning if you want to make it spectacular!

A few years ago, I experienced the most romantic Valentine’s weekend of my life! My very handsome partner arranged a flawless weekend surprise sans my input that left me – Miss Know-it-all-control-freak) speechless!

An email invitation arrived on the preceding Wednesday with the following instructions (I love instructions!):

“You will be required to prepare the following for a Valentine’s weekend away. I will pick you up Friday 17:30. More info to follow.
- A passport
- Warm clothing
- Summer clothing
- A sense of adventure”

Now I was intrigued! We arrived at OR Tambo and yep… We were off to London! For the weekend? Oh my gosh! I couldn’t contain my excitement. We landed on a typically chilly London morning and found our way through the terminals to get on to the infamous tube. We got off at the station closest to Big Ben and took a brisk walk to Southwark Hotel, where a dayroom had been booked for us to freshen up and rest (or not!). Southwark Hotel is a real gem in the centre of London.

Our first excursion was a ride on the London Eye’s special Valentine’s Day voyage. Couples who booked in advance were given special treatment, with roses for the women, a fast-tracked queue and champagne and chocolates during the ride. As we sipped champagne and let the chocolate melt in our mouths, floating high in the sky, the euphoria was palpable. A true visual and sensory pleasure.

Just when I thought I couldn’t contain myself any longer, my man whisked me to one of my favourite museums – the Tate Modern. We had lunch at the restaurant on level seven, which has the best views in London. Afterwards, we strolled through the museum taking in some of the great art and exhibitions on display. After a whirlwind morning, a nap in our dayroom was definitely the next exciting prospect. By the time we checked out and got on to the tube back to Heathrow, we were energised by our sense of adventure. We flew overnight – this time to Cape Town.

A whiff of summer splashed across our faces as we exited the airport with our Avis chauffeur driver. He whisked us off to the Marina at the Waterfront – my favourite place for accommodation in Cape Town, as I find hotels claustrophobic sometimes. We freshened up and changed into comfortable clothes. I walked out on to the patio, amazed at all the splendour and beauty that surrounded me, and I felt truly lucky to be alive. Choked up by emotion, I quickly gathered myself as the chauffeur had returned to collect us for a picnic on Table Mountain. Simply breathtaking!

I still savour that moment of pure decadence and indulgence; a time when I truly surrendered to life and to another and let myself receive. Love. Life. That’s what it’s all about – to surrender.

So HOW did we do it?

The itinerary was as follows:

FRI 22:00 Flight departs from OR Tambo to Heathrow

SAT  06:55 Arrival at Heathrow
         07:30 Tube to London – yes, we minded the gap!
          08:30 Checked in for a day at Southwark Hotel, followed by a well-deserved nap
        10:30 A brisk walk to the London Eye for a Valentine’s Day special     voyage
          11: 45 A hop across to the Tate Modern Museum for lunch and time to view some exhibitions
          15:00 Stroll back to the hotel in time for another nap and checkout
          17:00 Airport pick-up
         21:30 Depart for Cape Town

SUN  07:30 Arrive in sunny Cape Town
           08:30 Airport pick-up
           09:30 Check-in at the Marina
          12:00 Chauffer pick-up for picnic on Table Mountain

MON 06:00 Flight to Jo’burg
09:00 Back in the office! Whew!

So next Valentine’s Day, indulge in all things spectacular. I insist.

Toasting Tbilisi!

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:10:46 GMT

Where on earth is “that” my travel agent said? The Republic of Georgia by the Black Sea, I replied. Tbilisi known as Tiflis in Europe is the largest city in Georgia on the Mtkvari River.

Yes, I am back from my travels, albeit a short while, and so had to share an amazing experience I had in this tiny country formerly inhabited by the Soviets. There are hardly any tourists and black people are the centre of attraction, so more pictures were taken of us by the locals than we took of the sites. It is off the beaten track, wearing its troubled history on its face, yet carrying huge Georgian pride in its heart.

They are a very hospitable bunch. You can’t help but fall hopelessly in love with their culture, exceptionally warm hospitality and ability to toast to life no matter the adversities.

A HUGE statue of Mother of Georgia perched on the Caucasus Mountains towers over the land, sword in one hand and wine in the other, a testament to their troubled history. After being invaded and flattened 17 times, I guess they had to be prepared to either serve you or kill you.

What took me there, you may ask? Simple. Love. I went to a wedding of a dear friend, an American who found love with a Georgian. As guests of the groom the bride’s family made sure we were well received and amply catered for. The Supra (Georgian table) is a ten-course affair with, typically, nine toasts (for luck) with wine or brandy led by the Tamada (like an MC). These toasts are random, from toasting to love, friendship and of course Georgia. Now when a toast is made you have to empty your glass after the appropriate response, otherwise it is considered rude. Copious amounts of food is served on platters throughout the evening and never cleared off the tables; only your plates get refreshed. You are encouraged to eat a lot so that you can handle the alcohol. Oh dear…!

Georgians are fantastic musicians and performers and so entertainment by the folk dancers is an energetic site to behold. The wedding was a community affair, everyone invited. The similarity to our African customs and traditions was uncanny. No clock watching, impromptu village singers, all guests on the convoy to take pictures, plenty of food, drink and load laughter. As Georgians say: “To eat and drink together is to live.” Great fun. After the three days of festivities and heavy indulgence, we had to go to the Banya (like a Turkish bath) and be scrubbed down by a babushka to heal from our hangovers.

We stayed at a lovely hotel called Betsy’s www.betsyhotel.com. A boutique hotel of choice for expats and is a bit of a legend and staff are fluent in English.

The refrain is “Kargi Marjus – to victory”! To a country that considers guests a blessing. Victorious indeed!

Till next time.

All dressed up in love….

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:03:37 GMT

This Jennifer Hudson song has been pumping in my car to shake the winter chills away. I’m “warm in the winter, cool in the summer”.

I promised some great cosy places to snuggle up and shake the blues away, but blaring at your Vuvuzela under your blanket while watching the Confed Cup with your better half ain’t going to do it.

I say: “Go to Europe for the summer!”

It is warm, the Europeans are at their friendliest! I must say that licking Gelato (Ice Cream) while walking through the cobblestoned streets of Rome is really a great romantic way to chase the Joburg winter chills away. Sure, there are less costly, local ways to do this, but hey… “it’s a wonderful life and a short time to live!”

My personal favourite is the Bernini Bristol on the Piazza Barberini; it offers the glamour of a bygone era along with the most modern appurtenances and amenities marked by a refined atmosphere and comfortable elegance.

Talk about dressing up in love. Rome is the place to do it. The Romans are loud, emotional and openly affectionate. The hotel is right in the heart of Rome at the beginning of Via Veneto and near Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Necking on the Spanish Steps with other lovers is a must-do. Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome, a superstition believed by many. If you credit card has muscle, Via Condotti is a few steps away to shop to your heart’s content.

Go on toast to life and live a little.

All my love.

Country retreats…

Sun, 17 May 2009 14:33:35 GMT

It was only till I took up residence in Gauteng that I realised the value of country retreats. being a small-town girl; the need to break away from the hustle and bustle of city life just seemed odd.

We are moving into the middle of the year at an alarming speed. Not sure if you feel like me; I am bushed. So this blog is about my favourite spots to break away from it all.

My sons are at boarding school in the Midlands, so naturally I have found some gems in that area that are simply exquisite. Hartford House (www.hartfordhouse.co.za) is undoubtedly the best place to stay in the Midlands. My sons and I simply love the decadent experience that it has to offer. We chose to stay at the beautifully furbished, African-inspired villa overlooking a private dam. The restaurant is one of the Top 10 restaurants in the country, set on the most spectacular grounds I have ever seen. It is a world famous stud farm, so you may bump into Arab Sheikhs who are checking on their thoroughbred champions. These studs fetch a whopping R55 million and are treated like true champions, snacking on strawberries.

Dining is a true silver service experience. All guests are seated at the same time and each course explained by the chef and maitre ‘D. Breakfast is also a gastronomic affair that ends with dessert (yum) such as maltabella ice cream set on Amarula Cream, topped with a syrup drenched prune. Just delicious.

My next recommendation is a romantic getaway: Kloppenheim (www.kloppenheim.co.za) in Mpumalanga is a breathtaking country retreat. The cosy suites with fireplaces beckon you to nestle with your loved one, red wine in hand, lost in the warmth and comfort of your surroundings. This is one place where I highly recommend room service. However, if you must come out of your suite, a walk around the estate is a great way to unwind. The property is high up on the mountain so the views go on forever.

Winter is fast approaching – reminds me that my next blog will cover some great places for nookie!

Stay warm till next time.