Splendid Experience at the Moroccan House

*On a quest to try out different cuisines, find new restaurants in and around Pretoria*

I was so excited about trying out a new restaurant,  having tried Asian, South American and European cuisines, it was time for Africa.  I searched around and I found the Moroccan House. Moroccan House is in Menlo Park on Atterbury Road, Pretoria. Moroccan House is owned and managed by Joehan and Louise Erasmus.

Moroccan House Facebook Page



 

This place is exquisite, Moroccan House offers a guest house,  La Riad the function conservatory, Moroccan Imports, La Terasse Rooftop Café and Moroccan décor rental & Catering division.  Beautiful ornaments and lantern lamps lead you to the  reception area.

 



 

I made a booking the day before so when we arrived everything was quick at the reception and the service was friendly. We were led upstairs to the rooftop café for our lunch.  The La Terasse Rooftop Café & Deli upstairs is the most intimate yet so exotic space I have ever been to. It is unbelievable that it is on a rooftop of a guest house in South Africa, the place looked like it is in the middle of a desert, a vibrant market in Morocco or on the shore of  a North African beach. 

It is said that the Moroccan cuisine is the culinary star of  North Africa, you can trace the country's history of colonisers and immigration through its traditional dishes. Moroccan cuisine has the Arab, French, Middle Eastern, African and Jewish influences.

DRINKS

My friends ordered the Moroccan Magic Juice: a blend of pomegranate, apple and pear juice with sparkling spring water.

 

I had a Moroccan infused cordial - ginger with a dusting of chilli. This homemade ginger drink definitely gave me that kick that Stoney ginger beer will give you. The beauty of this refreshing drink is that it didn't have too much sugar and had no acid.

THE FEAST

APPETISERS
Spicy Harissa Prawns


Served on a green salad

drizzled with sundried
tomato and preserved lemon
dressing.

Moroccan Tangy Chicken Wings

Roasted in a tomato & blue cheese basting with saffron, ginger and coconut milk.

MAIN COURSE

Lamb Tagine with Dates & Honey

 

Served in a tagine, is a traditional lamb tagine prepared with dates and honey. Served with couscous.

 

 

Chicken Bastilla /Pastilla: Served with a salad, is a Moroccan fusion chicken pie with layers of phyllo pastry, orange blossom water and roasted almonds with a rich chicken and egg filling, topped with mushroom relish.



 

 

Oxtail Tagine: Tender meat cooked overnight in a clay urn called Tangia with onion and subtle use of spices and herbs.

 

The stews are cooked in a Tagine; a cone shaped cooking vessel used in North Africa.  The unique shape allows the meat ( lamb & oxtail, in this case) to slow cook for a luscious, tender texture.  The main meals ( stews) were served with couscous;  a Moroccan staple food made from semolina grains and steamed in a colander like dish known as couscoussiere.

 

 

 

Of course not being privy to Moroccan culture, we didn't order tea. Joehan, the owner, offered us some tea and explained that Moroccans normally have about three cups of mint tea in one meal.  "Mint tea is traditionally served in small glasses, when it is served, the person poring the tea holds the teapot high above the glass so as to create a little foam in each person's glass. Moroccans tend to like their extremely sweet, but one may choose to use less sugar". Joehan sweetened our tea with honey. It was very tasty and delectable. A drink I could easily enjoy everyday.

 

DESSERT

Rosewater Brownie & Ice cream delight: With rose & saffron syrup and strawberries
Rosewater Cheesecake: Rosewater & Turkish delight cheesecake
Orange Blossom Cheesecake: Orange blossom & Turkish delight cheesecake

 

 

For desserts and cordials, rosewater and orange flower water are important ingredients in Morocco.  Also, in Morocco cooking is enhanced with fruits, dried and fresh like apricots, figs, dates, raisins etc.

 

I checked and took home a few Ghoriba cookies. The Moroccan cookies are chewy like macaroons and some taste like short-bread.  Moroccans generally have a sweet tooth, their cookies are sweet and rich. You can taste the spices like cinnamon in some of the cookies and some taste like chocolate macaroons.

 

 

 

La Terasse Rooftop Café & Deli

Found on their website "Hospitality and authenticity are key in the success of Moroccan House, and coupled with the owners' quest for excellence and attention to detail, our patrons are promised a matchless experience".

 

I can honestly say that the above quoted statement is a true reflection and more of what our experience was at the Moroccan House.  The food was exotic and delicious. We enjoyed all our dishes and drinks. The exotic spices used to prepare their dishes give the Moroccan cuisine the different flavours unusual to our cuisine here at home. Their service is excellent, they are here to please the client and go beyond that. I've been to a lot of restaurants where the manage will come and ask whether "everything is okay", at the Moroccan House it didn't feel like it was his duty to do that, it was sincere and he was on a mission to give us an unforgettable experience. Also, I was very impressed with their knowledge of the food they were serving us, how it is made in Morocco and why it is prepared that way. I liked their honesty when it comes to dishes that have been prepared  to suit South Africa, e.g pastilla made with chicken instead of dove.

Moroccan House is definitely a place I could be a regular at and a place to bring a friend to for that magical dining experience.  I suggest you visit Moroccan House if you are looking for a different dining experience coupled with top-notch service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

* All photos are mine unless otherwise stated*

 

Greek Experience at MYTHOS

*On a quest to try out different cuisines, find new restaurants in and around Pretoria*

 Image: Tripadvisor

Mythos is a Greek restaurant with a few branches in South Africa. The restaurant I visited is at the Brooklyn Design Square, Pretoria. According to their website, Mythos, is described as a contemporary Greek restaurant with décor and an ambiance that is stylishly elegant, but also appealing to those who enjoy a quiet romantic setting for two.

When the menu came I decided not to have a starter and went straight for the main, besides it was too early for a three course meal.

 I ordered SOUDSOUKAKIA – Home-made meatballs cooked in a fresh tomato sauce & flavoured with herbs, a touch of garlic & oregano, served with rice.

On the meal:

The meatballs tasted differently from the sausages/ meatballs I usually eat or ever had in my life. I would say they were made at the restaurant with very little seasoning, additives or colourants. They were not fatty at all.  It was just minced meat and herbs. The rice was cooked just right, not overcooked. The grains were in an edible state not mushy. 

The tomato sauce tasted fresh, I would be disappointed if I were to realise that it came from a bottle.  It had that sour taste that tomatoes have and less seasoning and other additives.  This meal didn’t make me think, I am going to pile on some kilos after having it.  It was tasty, healthy, no oil in sight just starch from rice.

For dessert I ordered BAKLAVA, and it came with ice cream.  Ice cream was normal vanilla ice cream.

  

Baklava had layers of pastry; the bottom and top crust were a bit hard to break even though I was using a cake fork. I could taste the nuts and the syrup. It was so sweet - it was almost sinful.   So sweet I couldn’t finish it, I ate all the ice cream though.

Their service is okay, food came quick after ordering I can't fault it really. I left around 15:00 PM and the restaurant was quiet compared to when I arrived.  Lunch time is very busy on a Saturday, choose another time to visit the restaurant if you prefer to have your meal in a quiet surrounding.  

* All photos are mine unless otherwise stated*



Mexican meal at Joe Mexican in Pretoria East

*On the quest to try out different cuisines, find new restaurants in and around Pretoria*

 For the whole of last week I couldn't wait for the weekend, I kept on thinking about what I was going to eat come weekend.  Planning on going to a new place and trying out something different has never excited me this much. On Saturday evening I drove to Constantia Park in Pretoria South East. I found a Mexican restaurant on Google called EL PISTOLERO in that part of town. I have never  been to Constantia Park - though I have passed there. I found the place pretty quick,  only to be told that they were closed for the evening because of a private function. I guess that's what happens when you don't pre-book.  Lesson learnt!!

Google directed me to another restaurant in Garsfontein ( which was nearer to home, yippie). The restaurant is at the Eastdale Pavilion Shopping Center, Corner of Jacqueline Drive & Solomon Mahlangu Drive. I know this complex so it was easy to find. I arrived at Joe Mexican and I instantly liked the place. It was inviting and mellow. I didn't feel like I was in one of those places that expect you to have your dining etiquette manual on hand.

    

 





   

Upon being seated a bowl of popcorn arrived, now that was a first for me but hey I love popcorn. I requested warm water with lemon and it was delivered in a split of a second. They served their meals in enamel dishes and plates. This was a different, I am not sure whether in Mexico they (traditionally, perhaps) served meals in enamel dishes or it was part of what makes the restaurant different.



 

 CORN DOGS

 I ordered corn dogs. The corn dogs were fried and coated in cornmeal butter.  They were served with salsa, sour cream, corn and guacamole.

  

  

 The yellowish sauce in the mug had a sour taste and was not too thick. The sausages had a cheesy filling inside.  The corn crust around the sausage tasted like cake ( not so sweet) almost like fat cakes. I wish they served only one though - They were quite large.

 

  

 ENCHILADAS

 I ordered a pulled pork tortilla stuffed with drunken beans ( don't know what this means), gallo pinto rice and enchilada sauce. It was covered in cheese and baked. This meal came with salsa, sour cream, corn and guacamole.

 The enchiladas was very tasty, it kind of reminded me of breyani with the rice mixed with beans and pork meat.  

I used my knife to cut the enchilada and place it on the plate, then I was able to use the fork and knife to eat. Something tells me I was not eating/doing it right, oh well  I will do my research proper next time.

CHURROS - Dessert

I ordered churros- which is dough covered in cinnamon and sugar, served with melted chocolate.

           

The chocolate sauce was not rich but very sweet. Without dipping it in the sauce the dough tasted like fat cakes except it was covered in sugar and cinnamon. I couldn't finish my dessert - guilty voiced screamed "so much sugar!!".

 

 Except that one runs a risk of gaining tons of weight from the food served here, I really enjoyed my meal. It was tasty, full of flavour and hearty.  Service was good, food arrived quick, plates were cleared just as quick, manager / supervisor came out to ask if everything was fine. Really I can't fault them in that department.

 

Music was playing in the background, from the sound I guessed it was Mexican. The vibe was great I felt like standing and breaking into the Mexican Hat Dance.

 

  

 

* All photos are mine unless otherwise stated*  

Thai Meal at Lotus Thai Restuarant

As a Pretorian there are a few places (restaurants, theatres, parks etc.) that I have been to. Basically, I don't know Pretoria. Often I will know the shopping centre and the neighbourhood but I wouldn't know what that shopping centre has to offer.  I have decided to sample restaurants around Pretoria, more specifically the food they offer. I am interested in different cuisines.

 

 

 

 

My first stop is the Lotus Thai Restaurant situated in Glen Village Mall in Faerie Glen, Pretoria East. I went there for dinner Saturday night. Upon arriving at the restaurant, there was a minute awkward situation, something told me we were not a likely client (now, I don't know whether black people don't eat Thai food or black people in Pretoria don't visit the restaurant). Of course, we were seated immediately after that "awkward situation".

 

 

 

I loved the setting and the ambiance. I kicked myself for coming for a take away, it is definitely a place where one has to sit in and enjoy their meal.  Their menu offers Sushi and Thai dishes.



For an appetiser I ordered the deep fried ground chicken and prawn dumplings with sweet chilli dipping sauce. For main I ordered the beef sweet and sour stir fry with noodles. My meal was a take-away so I took it home and dished it out on my own plates.

I enjoyed the dumplings so much; I wish I had ordered times two.  The pastry bag was just right not to hard or soft, dipped in the sweet chilli sauce it offered a delicious sensation.   The stir fry was just as good. The sweet and sour taste tantalised my taste buds. The vegetables were still crunchy - which I loved as the food was not overcooked and I could actually identify their taste individually. The noodles were also not overcooked; the main dish was offered a savoury taste.

. 

Overall, I loved the food. It was tasty and different from the ( bland or junk) meals I have everyday. I will go back to the restaurant soon to try something else from their menu.

 

 

 

*All photos are mine unless otherwise stated*