THE SUNDAY INDE YI EPE ENDE ENT T JU L LY Y 28 2013

lifefood
HASMITA NAIR Jozilicious
Twitter: @hasmita

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eing the resident foodie among my group of friends, Ive lost count of the number of times Ive been asked for a dinner recommendation for a first date. This isnt as simple as it looks one needs to know a bit more about the lady (or man) in question before advising a restaurant choice that will ensure a second date. Is she the pizza and beer type? Or is she the kind who needs to be wined and dined? Whatever her type, shes bound to love at least one of these restaurants. All three are cosy and welcoming, while remaining classy , so they are bound to impress your partner without putting you out of pocket for the rest of the month. Rabbit in the Moon This Italian bistro, situated in the Thrupps Centre in Illovo, has been around for a while, but has become a lot more noticeable after its recent revamp. It is a small restaurant, with some seating inside and the rest in an enclosed courtyard overlooking Oxford Road. The ambience is lovely warm lighting and soft music which, combined, encourage conversation and canoodling. The menu is mostly Italian, but has a Mediterranean influence with dishes that are exotic and homely at the same time. For starters, try the bruschetta Italian country bread rubbed with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper topped with fontina and mushrooms, R58, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, R54, or prosciutto, parmigiano shavings and rocket, R58. For an excuse to brush hands, order the cheese or charcuterie boards that serve two. For mains, there really is something for everyone. The salads, pastas, pizzas and burgers are all equally enticing. Try the fettuccia riccia with smoked salmon and a creamy saffron sauce, R105, or the grilled calamari, served with coarse salt, pepper and lemon zest, R90. The winning dish is really the grilled filet mignon, R130, flambed in brandy and cream, and served with oven-baked potatoes and caramelised onions. The dessert menu is small, but contains one of my top three desserts of all time, tres leches vanilla sponge cake soaked in condensed and evaporated milk, dark rum and cream, and topped with Chantilly cream. Booking is essential. Open for dinner Mon-Sat, lunch only Sun. Sit-

Rocket Parkhurst

PICTURE: SUPPLIED

restaurants
Looking to impress your love interest? These places are classy and elegant while not pretentious
uated at: 198 Oxford Road, Illovo. Call 011 447 6720. Eatery JHB The venue is intimate and rustic, with a touch of glam. The downstairs area is small, but go up a windy staircase and youll find a lounge upstairs, as well as a private dining room. The menu has only three options for starters, mains and desserts but there is a vegetarian, seafood and meat choice, so even if shes a gluten-free pescetarian, she should be able to find something to eat. If you do decide to go back for a second date, dont worry about being forced to try the same meal again the menu changes monthly . If you go this month, to start, try the slow-braised lamb shoulder with white bean puree, marinated

Top 3

Grilled filet mignon at Rabbit in PICTURES: RISHAV NAIR the Moon

Tres leches dessert at Rabbit in the Moon

for a first date

Halloumi fingers at Rocket
then move over to your table. I like to think of the menu as an amalgamation of the top-selling dishes at a Thai restaurant, a burger bar and a pizzeria. You can get an excellent green curry , a moreish salad, a thin crust pizza or a scrumptious chicken prego all with the attention to detail and focus on quality on which Rocket prides itself. For starters, the chicken livers and calamari tubes, peri peri fried and served with a Portuguese roll, R58, are a popular choice, as are the halloumi fingers with sweet chilli sauce, R38. For mains, the grilled chicken salad is delicious a generous portion of chicken served with feta cheese, avocado, cherry tomato, grated carrot, cucumber, peppadews and balsamic vinegar dressing. Also, try the Parmesan-crusted

New York baked cheesecake at Rocket

chicken schnitzel, R88, served with a basil and lemon infused mayonnaise and fresh tomato. Or opt for a gourmet pizza to share with your lady love, the pizza sevilla pancetta, chicken, mozzarella, avocado and Danish feta, R94 is excellent. The wine list is notable, but you may take your own bottle of red at a reasonable corkage fee of R50. Find it at 362 Rivonia Boulevard, Rivonia, call 011 234 8807 or Corner 10th Street and 4th Avenue, Parkhurst, call 011 880 6102. Hasmita was hosted by the restaurants above for the purposes of this article For more restaurant ideas in and around Jozi, visit Hasmitas blog: www.joziliciousblog.co.za

aubergines and grapefruit salsa, R60. For mains, the Malaysian seafood curry potjie with warm potato bread, R110, is particularly comforting on a winters night. For dessert, I like the sound of the liquorice pudding with flaked salt, strawberries and cream, R40. Note that a 12.5 percent service charge is added to the bill, so careful not to double-tip. Bookings essential. Call 011 783 1570. Open for lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat. Situated at: Corner 11th Street and Victoria avenue, Parkmore. Rocket With branches in Rivonia and the trendy Parkhurst 4th Avenue strip, Rocket is a cocktail bar with class. Have a drink, or two, at the bar, and

Nothing sketchy about Leagues insane fun

HASMITA NAIR

THE Insanity League is a sketch comedy movement, comprising Aaron McIlroy, Ben Voss and John van de Ruit, of Spud fame. The trio have put together a hilarious series of parody sketches that has left audiences begging for more. The sketches are five to 10 minutes in length, and the show runs for two hours, so youre really getting your moneys worth in laughs. Highlights include a Helen

Zille impersonation, an Eminem rap (with corresponding choreography), a drag show and an SAPS dance-and-song to the tune of YMCA. The comics poke fun at issues most South Africans can relate to, although some may take offence as the sketches are not entirely diplomatic. It is clear that the production is really a labour of love for the trio, who appear to put their heart and soul into each sketch; the onstage chemistry between them only enhancing the witty

script and amusing costumes. According to the cast, the league started on Vosss verandah after too much caffeine and not enough fresh air. The aim was to create a sketch comedy show that would stun audiences and careen between the comedic poles of sheer genius and rank stupidity. Until now, South Africas only real comedic relief has been the usual one-man comedy show, which is starting to get a bit old.

This is a refreshing change from the comedy were accustomed to its beyond entertaining to watch these guys make fools of themselves, and have fun while doing it. The Rise of the Insanity League runs at the Pieter Toerien main theatre at Montecasino in Joburg until August 11 and at the Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town from August 14-31. Tickets range from R100R160. Bookings at www.computicket.com.

The Insanity League: From left, Aaron McIlroy, John van de Ruit PICTURE: SUPPLIED and Ben Voss.