Thursday, February 6, 2014

Frog Legs Rock Rebel Nights


Frog legs on a menu is bound to take even a non adventurous eater's taste buds off on a culinary adventure. They can be quite tough and it really just depends on how they are prepared. In this instance the tender and flavorful legs were done confit style and slowly cooked to perfection. ....and well they tasted like frog despite what others might say, like fish or chicken. Suppose the combination of fish and chicken is frog taste?  In any case, it was indeed an adventure on the tongue.

Rebel Night is a dinners concept at Viva Cafe that was created to allow resident Head Chef, Barend Greyling, creative freedom for a culinary delight for patrons that does not form part of the regular menu. Hence, the ‘rebel’ concept whereby the 3-course dinner is also paired with a wine partner every month has become a sought-after event to attend.

 
3 COURSE MENU WITH LE BONHEUR WINES

Le Bonheur Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Pimiento del Piquillo & goats cheese infused risotto truffles topped with confit frog’s legs.


Le Bonheur Estate Chardonnay 2013
Pan seared Scallop, cauliflower pancotta, smoked porkbelly crisp & summer pea vinaigrette.

Le Bonheur Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Ox Fillet Medallion, roasted garlic, parsley veloute & roasted Escargots.





Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Lady Gaga joins the fight against Aids and HIV with Belvedere and (RED) at Annabel


This month Lady Gaga and Belvedere Vodka returned to Annabel’s for an intimate performance of songs from the Grammy® Award-winning artist’s new album ARTPOP, released in November. In 2011, the music and fashion icon held a similar private performance to launch Born This Way and both Belvedere Vodka and Annabel’s were thrilled to welcome her back.

To celebrate the launch of the chart-topping album ARTPOP and the third anniversary of BelvedereVodka’s partnership with (RED), Lady Gaga performed new tracks in front of an intimate crowd at one of London’s most prestigious member’s clubs, Annabel’s. The event supported the (BELVEDERE)RED Special Edition bottle which raises proceeds for the Global Fund, the world’s leading financier of programs to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Lady Gaga performed ARTPOP, Poker Face, Dope and Do What U Want tracks, three from her new album, for the many VIP guests in attendance including Adele, Sting and Trudie Styler, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emma Watson Bar Rafaeli, Douglas Booth, Eddie Redmayne, Jessie J, Chelsea Davy, Boris Becker, Bryan Ferry, Hayley Atwell, Michael McIntyre, Emile Sande, Tinie Tempah, Christopher Kane, Natalie Massenet, Arizona Muse, Richard E Grant, Philip Treacy, Suki Waterhouse, Sally Greene, Nicky Haslam, Irina Ambromavich, James Blunt & Sofia Wellesley.

Throughout the evening guests enjoyed Belvedere specialty cocktails and following Lady Gaga’s performance, rising pop star, Charli XCX, entertained guests with a special DJ set that carried on into the early morning hours.


 “I think it is very important to join the fight against Aids and HIV and think it is wonderful that Belvedere and Annabel's are supporting and had this event this evening,” says  Lady Gaga. “The more we can educate people the more we control the problem. I think it is really wonderful they are involved and think all major corporations should join the fight.”

Lady Gaga



ADELE AND SIMON KONECKI 

Arizona Muse & Mark Abegg De Boucherville

Emma Watson & Douglas Booth


TINIE TEMPAH EMELI SANDE



Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Call for entries for the Eastgate Look of Fashion 2013



Eastgate Shopping Centre will be running the annual Look of Fashion competition with a call for entries starting in September.

Look of Fashion is one of the longest running and most influential modelling competitions to take place at any shopping centre. It is also a renowned launch pad for many aspiring models. Two previous winners, namely Tansey Coetzee and Bokang Montjane, went on to be crowned Miss South Africa after winning the Look of Fashion title.

Celebrities that have entered in previous years include Claudia Henkel, Shashi Naidoo, Rosette Mogomotsi and previous runner-up Celeste Khumalo, who was crowned Miss SA Teen in 2011.  Look of Fashion 2012 winner, Sharleen Dziire is currently in London, happily pursuing a modelling career and exploring the beautiful city.

Entries open on the 3rd September and close on the 29th September 2013. Entrants need to be 17 years of age and not turn older than 25 in 2014. Entry forms are available at Eastgate Shopping Centre Customer Service Desk or at participating tenants. Entries must be completed with two photographs attached; a head and shoulder shot and a full length shot, and handed in at Eastgate Centre Management, situated at Entrance 9.

Thirty semi-finalists will be invited to a screening process, whereby sixteen finalists will be selected through a judging process, to go through to the final event on 18th October that will take place at Eastgate Shopping Centre.

 

The Look of Fashion winner for 2013 will win prizes to the value of over R 60 000 which includes a trip to Las Vegas in July 2014 to compete in the prestigious Ragazza Cinema International.

 

 
 
 
For more information visit www.eastgateshops.com or contact the customer service desk on 011 479 6000.  Visit Eastgate Shopping Centre(Facebook fan page) or follow Eastgate on Twitter @Eastgateshops for the latest news on promotions and events.

 

 

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Interview with South African band REBURN


We met up with Reburn after their sound check at Assembly, Cape Town’s premier live music and entertainment night club that showcases the best local national and international bands and DJs . Reburn was set to perform live later that evening.

We were spotted by Frontman, Scottie who assured us that they would soon be ready for our interview after a photo shoot. We were following up with the band after a well received live acoustic performance at VIVA Cafe in Green Point, Cape Town.

For those of you that do not know,  Reburn is a South African Indie Rock Band based in Cape Town who have achieved success following a release of their first single, No Other Place. The single has been played in heavy rotations on radio stations nationally that include 5FM,MFM, PUK FM, UCT Radio, Two Oceans Vibe, Zone Radio and Voice of Wits.

They have performed at major events and festivals such as  Rocking the Daisies 2010, St Georges Park stadium at the Cricket 20/20 final and recently at the RAMfest 2013 sharing the main stage with International bands, Rise Against (USA) and Bring Me The Horizon(UK).

The band consists of five members namely, Alex McFarlane (guitar/vocals), Scottie Moore (Frontman), Craig Hermanus(guitar/vocals), Wade Brown(drums) and  Quinton van Rooyen(bass) .

Despite their prior engagements with full- time jobs, the band is passionate about music and will make up time to prepare, perform and rehearse good quality, mesmeric music that is something special for their audience.

So what inspired you to make music together?
Scottie: I think all of us have different reasons, It is just our passion. To be a musician in South Africa is not easy unless you one of the bigger bands and you can do it. We all work full time, so what has inspired us is our passion for music, wanting to be on stage to make music.

How did you start the band?
Quinton: Alex started the band, Craig joined in shortly after and one day [Alex] just rocked up with Scottie and said this was going to be our new vocalist. This was about 5 years ago and Wade joined about 3 years ago, just before Rocking the Daisies 2010. I joined in February 2012.

Where are you originally from?
Quinton: We quite the international band as far as it goes, with Craig and Wade being the only real South Africans. Scottie and Alex are originally Scottish and I am originally from Namibia.
Craig: I actually have French heritage. My great, great  grandfather moved down to Hermanus and loved Hermanus so much that he changed our surname.

What are your most popular tracks?
Scottie:  Out of My Mind, Anti- Louise and then  I would say our most popular song of the day now is No Other Place.

Would you say your latest singles are different from  your previous other tracks. By latest tracks, I am referring to, No Other Place and Won’t let Go? Why?
Quinton: Yes , it’s is starting to show how we as a unit now have progressed.
Alex: I think you can see and hear the evolution. From the early stuff right up until now, we have evolved quite a lot as a band and as we get new members, we seem to kind of Morph into something new every time
Scottie: We just trying to make music now that we enjoy playing and want to listen to.
 
Who are your major influences?
Reburn: Our Influences are so broad and so diverse but the real influence is how we feed off each other once we start working in studio.

What are fans/ people saying about you?
Quinton: I think our fans genuinely say good things about us, You could ask them tonight  yourselves … (everyone  laughs).

Do you have a record label?
Reburn: No, we have a Manager , Maruis, he is a legend…. but no record label yet hint, hint.

Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
Quinton: Not a set playlist
Scottie: The most popular songs we play in bigger shows and at acoustic shows we do covers as well.  
Quinton:  When we do acoustic shows at small club setting like for instance VIVA café,  people appreciate that we do covers once in a while because it is such a relaxed vibe. We also get an even better response when we do our own stuff.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
Reburn: Scottie does most of the lyrics.
Scottie: I had gone through a breakup with the first album so most of the lyrics were cheeky lyrics and now that I fallen in love again  most of the new songs are about love. 
Reburn: We have to get him a new hobby, like surfing or playing soccer….(everyone laughs)

Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Craig: Most of the time, Alex or myself would come up with a riff. Then everyone starts adding their own piece to it. Everyone tries different things, some work, some don’ t and sometimes the new ideas are so much better, that the original idea doesn't even get used. Every song is different, and evolve in their own way. To box oneself to a set of rules of how to write a song, would be ignorant and not very creative at all. We make music that we enjoy playing. Music with feeling and emotion, and to see other people enjoy it too, just makes it that much more worth it!

What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Scottie:  We all work full time so rehearsals is sort of like a release for us; a place where you can go scream, shout and have fun. [Our rehearsals] are Monday& Tuesday: 7 pm to about 10 pm.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Scottie: Finance. It has been a big challenge for us but we haven't let it hold us back or stop us from doing anything we set out to do. If you want something enough you will always make a plan. We have overcome this challenge by all of us understanding what our goal is and refusing to take NO for an answer.

What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Reburn: To be full time musicians and not have to do the rat race, [to] play music and last more than 15 minutes. [we want to] be recognised locally and internationally.

What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Reburn:Persistence beats resistance, you have to keep on going. It’s got to be a passion and  you should  believe in yourself.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Reburn: Facebook, Twitter, Sound club and  Drop Box.

Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Quinton: John Moore and Antonio Manuel as well as every single person who rocks up for our gigs. Also, the venues that allow us to play in the first place

One more thing before we get to the conclusion,…  Wade is often spotted seated on somewhat of a beat or sound box? What do you call that and what is the story behind it?
Wade: O.K, the story with the cajon. It is a percussive instrument used by drummers or percussionists.  I usually use it when we do acoustic shows. It sounds like a drum solo in a box and is a dream to move from venue to venue. I call it the speak box,  people are always amazed when they see and hear it for the first time and i be like "yeah better recognize "

What people can expect from Reburn in the future?
Quinton: We are busy writing new material that is more in keeping with where we are as a band right now. We might release another single in the coming months as we have done with Won't Let Go and No Other Place and then finalise the songs for our upcoming album. There is no set date for it yet, but we're hoping for an end of year release.


Other than that, we're trying to play at every club and festival in the country before hopefully taking things overseas for a visit.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Contemporary Art South Africa brings you A Drawn Conclusion

Diana Hyslop
The awkwardness of parting
Oil on canvas
50 x 50cm, 2012


Brent Meistre
Verneukpan, Northern Cape, South Africa

Colour photograph on cotton rag paper
Edition /10
88 x 111.8cm, 2007

Themba Shibase
From Umhlaba Kabani? Series – Who’s Land?
Acrylic and pastel on paper
123 x 169cm, 2007

Jan Neethling
Maiden strolling through landscape
Acrylic on board
122 x 84cm, 2008

A Drawn Conclusion is a collaborative project between Erdmann Contemporary in Cape Town and the North-West University in Potchefstroom that is on from 20 March to 6 May 2013.

Carla Erasmus, Brent Meistre, Brendhan Dickerson, Jan Neethling, Wilhelm Saayman, Thembalakhe Prospect Shibase, Diana Hyslop and introducing Robert Plotz.

The location of this gallery – set in a botanical garden - provided the curatorial framework for this exhibition.  The title, A Drawn Conclusion extends this narrative, exploring the co-existence between humans and nature.  The works by the seven artists selected (from Johannesburg, Grahamstown, Cape Town and Durban) for participating in this exhibition not only comments on this dichotomy but also provide viewers with a wide range of use of media. 

New comer, Carla Erasmus’ atmospheric photographs were all shot using expired film; her methodology thus alters the familiar and the known.  This altering of the familiar landscape is present in most of the other works.  Established artist, Diana Hyslop’s cartoon like creatures that are both human and animal further extends this dialogue.  Photographer Brent Meistre’s evocative landscapes comment on land ownership whereas Durban artist Themba Shibase’s work invites the viewer to explore what lies beneath the surface.       

Participating artists include Carla Erasmus (photography), Diana Hyslop (painting), Brendhan Dickerson (sculpture), Jan Neethling (painting), Wilhelm Saayman (painting and work on paper), Themba Shibase (work on paper) and introducing Robert Plotz (drawing).

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

1000FACESONPAPER.COM LAUNCHES AT THE BLACK BOX





Artist/ Actress Olga du Toit, based in Cape town, is launching an innovative new art
project at The Black Box/Worldart on Thursday, 13 December from 6.30pm to 9pm.
Entitled 1000facesonpaper.com, this is the artist’s first solo exhibition after being
selected as a SASOL new signatures finalist in 2011 for her work called ‘Daily Fix’.

Inspired by graphic novels, comics and the works of French artist and printmaker
Henri Matisse, Du Toit created and developed her own unique style of sketching a
face. The project,1000facesonpaper.com illustrates different forms of human facial
expressions, gestures and angles set in a series of 1000 prints. The first edition of
twenty-five faces will be on exhibition.

“The challenge I set myself was to render each face by using the simplest of lines to
convey expression and personality”, Du Toit explains.

Du Toit’s objective is to have each face speak directly to the mind of the viewer by
means of creating just a few expressive lines of ink. She is excited by the scope,
possibilities and uniqueness of this project to the idea that it can be interpreted and
shared to a global audience online.

“In the words of Matisse, ‘I am training my drawing hand to serve me; every ink
drawing I do, is a face waiting to be born on paper” , She says.

Each ink drawing is printed into an edition using the intaglio printing process. The
prints consist of an edition of 10 prints per face to a final total of 1000 prints. The
print sizes are approximately 35x35 cm from a 20 x 20 cm size plate that is hand
printed onto 250gsm Zerkall Butten Paper. Everything from the tearing of the paper
to the printing is done by hand resulting in slight variations that render each print
unique.

Du Toit sees herself as a creative entrepreneur or creative adventurer. She likes to
explore art in all its forms and merging conceptual ideas, music, design and
photography. 1000facesonpaper.com is one of a kind art project and may just be
the largest online series of ink drawings in the world.

The prints are available to purchase online at 1000facesonpaper.com.
On The Black box/Worldart

Worldart has acquired a new gallery space immediately next door to their
current gallery in Church Street, at number 52. The Black box opened last
week and will focus on identifying new talent with strong potential. For more
information, visit www.blackboxgallery.co.za