There seems to be a trend of people opening small restaurants with limited menu and wine list, often open for limited hours. I reviewed The Dog’s Bollocks the other day which is basically a guy selling burgers out of his garage in the evenings, and this last weekend I went to The Table at De Meye.

We were lunching with our good friends Roger and Dawn from Jorgensen’s Distillery, and they suggested this as a good place to have a nice long, relaxed lunch. They were right, it’s a great place to have a nice long, relaxed lunch. It was a boiling hot day and the tables were all positioned in the shade of the various trees scattered around the lawn.

It was warm but we kept well hydrated. They stock Darling beers so we had to start with a round of those. Then to be responsible we ordered some water. They offer tap water, served in those cool retro Dairybelle orange juice bottles (remember from the days when they delivered milk and orange juice to your house?). But the filtered water (still or sparkling) is only R10 a bottle as they filter and gas it themselves. The filtered water is also served in a reusable bottle. And if you are one of those people who puts the reusable bottle in your bag and takes it home, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! It’s called stealing. Look it up.

We then got serious and ordered some MCC. They only sell De Meye wines except for alternatives when they don’t have that variety of grape. So the MCC is from Saltare and it’s great. The wines are very reasonably priced. The MCC was R150 and it’s priced at R140 from the estate so that’s a steal. The De Meye wines are priced from R55 to R90 with one costing R125.

It’s good that the wines are inexpensive because the food, at about R250 for 3 courses, is not. But there is a good reason for that. While just about every restaurant these days tells you they use fresh, local ingredients where possible (something I quite expect regardless), the provenance of each ingredient at The Table is important and this information is shared with the patrons. Commitment to the sourcing of ingredients of such high quality attracts a premium price.

The way the menu works is a bit different to your normal a la carte restaurant. The Table is only open for lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the menu for each week is set in advance. A ‘menu du jour‘ if you will. You can view the menu on their website before booking to check that you are happy with it. Vegetarians will be catered for with advance notice. The ingredients are all purchased according to the bookings (less than 10 tables per day) so last minute cancellations are a costly exercise. Why do Capetonians do this?

Below is the menu we enjoyed:

Starter

there’s a trick to good chicken livers that Camilla learned years ago from a griller called Goodman. she’s got a stunning knack with getting the spiciness just right and will only use livers from free range, hormone-free chickens. They are completely delicious and we’ll be serving them with crusty bread on a bed of Steve the Magic Man’s organic baby leaves as a salad for starters.

Main

oven roast Karoo lamb is the main, we’re still quibbling over the cut, but our butcher Wim has sourced some lovely meat for us. there will be hasselback potatoes with that because they’re just so good and a little seasonal salad. one of our favourite books at the moment is Movida, and the Moroccan-influenced carrot salad will make another triumphant appearance on tables this week.

Dessert

if you have room left, we are considering the heat and serving ouefs a la nege, a light dessert of soft meringue islands in creme anglaise. thoroughly delicious and just the ticket before a little sleep under an oak tree.

As you can see, very personalised and all about the ingredients. Everything was delicious. It’s certainly not fancy (except for the dessert, that was pretty fancy). The food is served on platters for the table and each person helps themselves (except for the dessert, that was fancy). It’s country style eating with a focus on the simple, true flavours of the ingredients combined in slightly unusual but careful ways.

The same attention that is paid to the food, is paid to the service. While Camilla and her brother look after the kitchen, Russel, Camilla’s husband, handles front of house with the assistance of 1x super jacked waitress (Mariska). Russel introduces each dish to the table, explaining a little about the ingredients and from where they are sourced. The service is best described as personal. Almost as if you’re having lunch at a (very helpful) friend’s place rather than a restaurant.

We arrived at about 1:30pm and departed at about 5:30pm after a stroll around the deli which sells some of the handmade sauces and relishes which accompany the meal. Don’t book at The Table if you’re short on time, it’s the quintessential long, lazy lunch. But be sure to book early in the week to avoid disappointment.

The Table at De Meye
Muldersvlei Road, Stellenbosch
Tel: 083 252 9588
http://www.thetablerestaurant.co.za

ps. I took the photos off their website as mine did not turn out well.

• The real story behind the Chapman’s Peak toll development, Republic Radio interviews Robin Carlisle http://t.co/64KXyhOX #
• I use Dropbox, but I’ve been playing with SugarSync and it has same extra features so I’m using both now http://t.co/3QvAhhZg #
• This dude serves burgers out of his garage, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t The Dog’s Bollocks http://t.co/7FmkShQc #
• Jason is very proud of his new sign at the Bakery… http://t.co/PCtmsE41 #
• Hey, @jasonbakery, Vanessa reckons that was the best fruit salad she’s had in a very long time. in reply to jasonbakery #
• Relax with Tax #Help #
• Quite impressed with the latte art at Common Ground Cafe this morning. The coffee is good too. http://t.co/gm85gYmW #
• You need a ‘MyConnect’ card to travel on MyCiti buses now. No cash/ticket option. I hope I’m able to obtain a card on the bus next trip I do #
• I’m bummed that I’m not around for the invite only Dom Perignon party at The Reserve on Friday. Looks like it will be a spectacular event. #
• All those offering to attend the Dom Perignon function in my place, your support brings tears to my eyes but the invite is non transferable. #
• eTV news did an insert on the scam where okes jam the signal from your remote so your car doesn’t lock. It happened to me earlier at Spar. #
• Thinking of going to the J&B Metropolitan on Saturday? Ubuntudeal is offering half price tickets http://t.co/7E7opS8h #
• Did you resolve to take control of your finances in 2012? Check out this website for tracking & planning your spending http://t.co/ZN10QovI #
• Exclusive Books sale starts tomorrow. I must not go. Not until I’ve read the 20 books already standing next to my bed! #
• New Discovery benefits include up to 25% of health care products at Clicks, like sunscreen http://t.co/YzvrPRdL #
• For the gamers, BT Games is having a huge sale http://t.co/a4QTy5m0 #
• #SaveTheDate Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo at Val de Vie. 25th Feb, 2:30pm – 11pm. R400 per ticket. #
• PE doesn’t have much going for it, but their sober chauffeur service, Home James Homes, is cheap as chips! http://t.co/4VGWn0qv #
• Talking about sober chauffeur services, CT has a new one called The Lift Club, a cross between taxi & chauffeur service http://t.co/VF4VKn3R #
• Good! RT @MyCiTiBus RT @brettherron 105 cars fined for driving in the MyCiTi bus lane near Stadium yesterday. #
• You’re too kind RT @cloudsdrummond: you sir, should be knighted “@RelaxWithDax: #SaveTheDate Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo. Val de Vie. 25/2″ #
• Feel like trying something different tomorrow? How about an authentic Peruvian breakfast at Keenwa? http://t.co/T5KfAp8t #
• I’m so looking forward to movie on the lawn at Nabygelegen tonight. Then a hike tomorrow with the awesome @RogJorgensen & @dawnjorgensen #
• Another highlight of my weekend is going to be trying The Table at De Meye for the first time tomorrow #HighExpectations #
• Express espresso, the new high velocity option at Jason’s Bakery, for when you need a fix on the run http://t.co/KZfjKrIQ #
• Tomorrow I’m not attending the J&B Metropolitan after attending it for 11 consecutive years. Quite relieved really. #
• I’ve had 3 bottles of French champagne in my fridge for ages. Clearly there is not much in my life worth celebrating #fail #
• Although, I’ve gone through quite a bit of MCC. So maybe I’m just parsimonious. #
• Just finished fab hike in Baineskloof, look at this view. Now for a swim in the dam at Nabygelegen http://t.co/o8TgCEFk #
• Great long lunch at The Table at De Meye. Look at these beautiful veggies. Now must have siesta. http://t.co/Nag9eUAw #
• Trying the slider option at Hudsons. Nice way to try different burgers without ordering a full one http://t.co/QhVNlCOg #
• Anybody know anything about the new restaurant in Seapoint called Richard’s? It’s where Adega used to be above 7Eleven on Glengariff. #
• You’ll all be pleased to hear that 1 of the bottles of French champers in my fridge has been drunk. The occasion was lunch with good friends #

I can’t recall how I heard about The Dog’s Bollocks. It may have been some mentions on Twitter and if you Google it (try dogs bollocks roodehek), you’ll see a bunch of people have reviewed it already. It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s a guy, called Nigel, selling burgers from his garage. I’m not sure it’s even legal.

It’s supposed to be a takeaway burger spot, there are some tables and chairs (old school wire garden furniture to be more precise) for people to wait for their burgers to be prepared. Wait you will, as these are no McDonald’s burgers which can be slapped together in 1 minute and 17 seconds. These big boys are made individually, with love. So expect to wait around 10 minutes.

Some people choose to eat their burgers there (as we did). We also bought some of the wine that Nigel makes. It’s called Ukuva iAfrika. It comes in 1.5L cardboard tubes and he charges R50. There were 2 whites and one red on offer, we opted for the 2010 cabernet sauvignon & shiraz blend which was pretty easy drinking.

The interesting thing (well, is there anything about this place that isn’t interesting?) about The Dog’s Bollocks is that Nigel only makes 30 burgers an evening. When they are gone, that’s it. Which means you want to get there fairly early to ensure you don’t lose out. We were there at about 7:30pm. He opens at 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

There are about 12 different burgers to choose from (no vegetarian option that I noticed). It’s all beef patty and I noticed a prego option but don’t know if it’s steak or a normal burger with prego sauce. All of them are priced at R55, except for the plain burger which is R50. I went for the Old School 1950′s Style Mega Slider. Nigel tells me this is how burgers were made originally, with melted cheddar and caramelised onion. All the burgers come with a generous amount of salad in it too. My burger was pretty damn tasty, but don’t make the mistake I did of biting into it as soon as I got it. I burned my mouth quite badly.

The rest of the table ordered cheese burgers and a mexican chilli burger which actually has a chilli con carne sauce (hot). Everyone was super happy with their burgers, one person even suggested that it was the best burger he had enjoyed in South Africa.

Nigel also makes the Ukuva iAfrika sauces you may have seen around. So those are available if you want a little extra spice. I see there are also nachos on the menu but I didn’t see anyone order them. I assume they use the carne that goes on the Mexican chilli burger, which means they will be pretty tasty.

Nigel said we can tell people about the place but not where it is. So you’ll have to find it yourself, but if you happen to go down Buitenkant Street and turn left after the Shell into Roodehek Street, start looking at number 6.

They don’t have a website, but there is a Facebook page.

• Why would you actually log into LinkedIn unless accepting a connection, updating your profile or looking for skills? I don’t. #
• I just walked past Tom Yum restaurant in Seapoint and thought they should make their catch phrase: Less Tom, More Yum! #CleverBoy #
• RT @malulambert: Predicting a riot! Free breakfasts at Wimpy on Thursday between 7am and 8am http://t.co/Mx4N2NDi #
• Seen the menu for the chef’s table at the Food Barn this Friday? There might be a few seats left if you want to join me http://t.co/fDqE7FyY #
• I took a bottle of Ladera Wild Child chardonnay to the Kirstenbosch concert on Sunday. It was so popular I hardly had a glass for myself! #
• Talking about Kirstenbosch, this Sunday is the legendary Dan Patlanksy, and there are still tickets available online http://t.co/lMq2q9JX #
• Congrats to Keg King on their new beer shop, The Beer Box, in the Cape Quarter (via @mrtuckbox) #
• 2 minute noodles are way better when cooked for 3 minutes #ThingsTheyDontTellYou #
• Is this the future of music? Some thoughts on Airborne http://t.co/BA9Z2clz #
• A woman told me the other day that I am charismatic. That’s definitely a first. I wouldn’t even know how to spell karizma. #
• I haven’t heard RT @addtotaste: @RelaxWithDax RT @adam_letch: Mad Zingara bakkie spotted twice outside old Dom Pedro in Woodstock, any news? #
• So it seems confirmed that Dom Pedros in Woodstock is now part of the Zingara stable. Good for Woodstock I imagine. #
• I wonder if I would enjoy the El Divo concert at Grand West on the 10th of Feb? Never heard them but do love orchestras. #
• We were spoilt with lots of nice cheese at Slow Food committee meeting tonight. Cave aged cheddar! http://t.co/dGHstw6W #
• Some great #SlowFood events lined up & I managed to convince the committee not to pursue the Woolworths event in solidarity with Frankies. #
• I wonder if any homeless people managed to score a free breakfast at Wimpy yesterday? Feeding people who can afford it doesn’t help much. #
• oh boy! RT @foodbarn: @mattallison @RelaxWithDax it would be wise to have a light breakfast, as this is a perfect day for a huge lunch… #
• Stuff White People Like is kinda funny. Start with kitchen gadgets, Apple, microbreweries, bottles of water & wine http://t.co/MN5DUYX6 #
• Listened to some Il Divo last night. Not bad, but I see why Michael Bublé sold out 3 nights and they haven’t sold out 1 night. #
• I’m not going to do this with every course, but this is the start of our chef’s table at Foodbarn… http://t.co/ZXaEFuDw #
• You can see the full menu for our Foodbarn chef’s table here http://t.co/fDqE7FyY @Noordhoekfarm in reply to Noordhoekfarm #
• Our lunch is being paired with Nitida wines. These guys have some great stuff. They are confirming the value of aging your white wines. #
• Why is the Chapman’s Peak toll R31 instead of R30? #ANNOYING #
• Ok, last pic from Foodbarn lunch, this dessert was sublime. I can highly recommend long lazy lunches http://t.co/tuS1J3NX #
• Dinner at The Grand on the beach. We’ve ordered several pizzas at R250 a pop. Lovely evening though. Still waiting for lunch to settle. #
• Thanks for the tip, I must check it out RT @allisonfoat: @thedogsbollocks in gardens…random spot brilliant #burgers @RelaxWithDax #
• “@senseoftaste: “On A Roll” 10 days to go for Cape Towns first gourmet hot dog restaurant AKA Dog Kitchen!” #
• I’ve done about 15 physical training sessions this month, and haven’t tweeted about any. The tweet control really hasn’t been that difficult #
• I do know @senseoftaste pride themselves on their vegetarian food RT @VintagePrinces: @RelaxWithDax Hope they’ll have vegetarian sausages. #
• Checking out The Dogs Bollocks, it’s actually in a garage. Burgers & house wine only. What to choose http://t.co/n8tPMT9i #
• I opted for the Mega Slider, these are serious burgers #dogsbollocks http://t.co/GqPtrM67 #
• Now enjoying some Darling beers at the new jazz venue on Buitenkant, Mahogany Room. #
• Now we are checking out the new Reserve restaurant where Brio was. Things getting a little festive here… #
• Did you know you can’t buy Havanna Club rum at Makro anymore? Walmart won’t stock any Cuban products. #
• Try get hold of some 2009 RT @GregSym: Reminded once again on a leisurely Sunday afternoon braai why @nitidawine SB is such a great wine. #

I remember attending a presentation by an ex record company executive a while back. Two things struck me, one was that he made perfect sense (probably because what he said agreed with my personal view on the music industry), the other was that record companies with highly paid directors could not see the future and instead were spending all their time and energy trying to keep things the way they were. Those that embraced the new direction would be way ahead of the pack.

This particular guy (I can’t remember who he is) said that you can’t fight piracy. The future is in adding value so that people are still prepared to pay. Apple added value with iTunes by making it super easy to find and download what you want cheaply. Why go hunting for illegal music when you have what you want right there? There are a bunch of other ways to add value as well, eg. help people find music that suits their taste, provide information about the bands, etc.

Anyway, I don’t want to go into great depth, but I’m very excited about this new development in the music industry. It does what I believe needs to be done, connecting the listener to the artist directly. No middle men, no royalties and what not.

The artists need consistent support, and the users want access to their music and new music when it becomes available. Users are prepared to pay, but not a lot. Airborne puts that all together. I think this is a game changer.

https://www.airbornemusic.com

• Mosquitoes. #
• Want to make 2012 a productive year? Then avoid these productivity mistakes http://t.co/LurrPtlD (via @SiliconCape) #
• This is a clever idea RT @mashable: Citibank Lets Facebook Fans Share Rewards Points to Meet Collective Goals – http://t.co/LurrPtlD #
• RT @HQ_Restaurant: FREE MEAT MONDAYS continues into 2012 at HQ. As does THE RIVERTONES live reggae music. Book now 0214246373 #
• Just received email notification from Kulula that their website will be down for a day. Subject is: Online sale starts 10th Jan. #
• In case you missed it, the official Woolies response the the Frankies debacle. There is no doubt the product was copied http://t.co/BFLiGi4d #
• Apologies all, I’ve mixed up my shortlinks. I will retweet my earlier tweets with the correct links now. #
• This is a clever idea RT @mashable: Citibank Lets Facebook Fans Share Rewards Points to Meet Collective Goals http://t.co/nNxkhZ0Q #
• Want to make 2012 a productive year? Then avoid these productivity mistakes http://t.co/rzUFHr12 (via @SiliconCape) #
• I’m pleased to inform you all that I am in love. The object of my affection is the new Samsung Series 3 laptop http://t.co/Id0Zi0VY #
• This ‘stompie hotline’ everyone is going nuts about has been around since 2009. The fact is you still have to be willing to testify in court #
• I used my expensive pan from Yuppie Chef for the first time tonight. Now I understand why people shell out for expensive cookware! #
• Heard that Verimark dude on TV advertising the milk frother? “Tired of paying R40 for a cappuccino?” Whaaat?! Dude, you’re being ripped off! #
• A typical formula fed baby consumes 30 000 more calories over it’s first 8 months than a breast fed baby (equivalent of 120 chocolate bars). #
• Haha, what did I tell you? RT @drizzleanddip: Can’t even load the Kulula page for the sale. #
• You may find this article interesting http://t.co/9WkvIa55 RT @wendy_duplessis: @RelaxWithDax what about Purity vs actual food? #
• Like your cereal bars? Bokomo Oatees bar (choc flavour) has higher percentages of sugar & fat than an Oreo biscuit! #
• Wow, how’s this technology? Take a photo, then focus it afterwards because the camera records the light! http://t.co/Dct5BIbd #
• Blackberry OS 7.1 is out. Looks well worth upgrading http://t.co/x3tOuwCF (via @DavidDonde @Zite) #
• Need to share your screen while Skyping someone? Check out this awesome free service: https://t.co/3yOP4z9l #
• Unacceptable #Boycott RT @WouterLombard: The Daily Bread restaurant in Hermanus refuses to serve me tap water after I paid for meals&drinks! #
• The box for my new office chair said ‘very simple to assemble’. Well I guess it’s official then, I’m stupid. #
• Someone stole the badge off the back of my car in Canal Walk parking this morning, & scratched my car. Imagining what I would do to them… #
• Unacceptable – hoped you opted for tap then RT @lauramelanie: requested bottled water at Caffe Neo, they only had imported, no local. #
• 8ta launches awesome new prepaid deal: 60GB + 60GB off peak valid for 12 months, R1800. Plus bunch of other value adds http://t.co/CXYRTjrp #
• Because MTN & Vodacom aren’t screwing us & so deserve our business? #Not RT @sagrafoodsza: @RelaxWithDax pity they related to Telkom! @8tada in reply to SagraFoodsZA #
• Lazari in Cape Quarter has been replaced by Zabad (via @CTmylove, read her review here http://t.co/sXiFdUIO) #
• Another excellent new year resolution: Make sure your files are always backed up. Use this free tool http://t.co/ivEegvLl #
• I have a client looking for someone with wordpress and 1shoppingcart skills. Any takers? #
• Wimpy sent burgers to blind people with sesame seed braille, a lovely little heart warming video http://t.co/ugMxYwHr (via @Eat_Out) #
• It looks very cool, thanks for the tip. RT @kd_doll: @RelaxWithDax Thanks & in addition I recommend http://t.co/LiKpF2AA #
• African Relish cooking school has released their class schedule for 2012. Some awesome classes http://t.co/MZen6erq (via @PrimitivVodka) #
• Re the Woolies vs Frankies debacle RT @alsparkles: Nicely put http://t.co/pWKPlYPG #
• Very important info! RT @capetalk567: Do you know which beaches dogs are allowed on and what times you are allowed to walk the dog? #
• Anybody know? @GBC143: @RelaxWithDax Hi, do you know if Xmas lights still up in town? #
• Thanks for the responses re the Christmas lights. They are still up. #
• If you are planning on buying a skipping rope, don’t buy the cheap Trojan one (I got mine at Game). It’s crap. #
• You’re probably wondering what’s the deal with the Queen’s Plate? Well, read my review so you know for next year http://t.co/T0KdpIwg #
• The latest issue of digital wine mag, Wine Extra, is now available http://t.co/XBkf3aIL #
• Hearing SHOCKING stories about the service at Winchester Mansions… #
• Oh my hat! Why didn’t anyone tell me that the new dim sum place in Long St is ex Fat Back Soul? #
• Glad I could be of assistance RT @GregSym: @RelaxWithDax great restaurant suggestion, Kyoto Garden Sushi, great dining experience. #
• The coffee purists will probably shun me now, but I must tell you I’m currently using Illy coffee at home and really liking it. #
• Local postage stamps don’t have face value anymore,so when prices change they don’t have to reissue & purchased stamps never devalue #GENIUS #
• I resent that I can’t respond to unsolicited greetings on the street if I don’t want to give away money or buy drugs. Makes me feel rude. #
• Popped into the new Alexander Bar on Strand St last night. Novel idea having old school phones to call between tables http://t.co/qjniwIqT #
• I envy people that can have a few glasses of wine in the evening and still work. One glass & in 30 mins I’m either asleep or non functional. #
• Johnny Clegg at Kirstenbosch this evening, now that’s something to look forward to! #

There is no doubt that the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate is gaining more and more traction every year. I attended it for the first time in 2010 (review here) and wasn’t able to attend last year as I was out of town. There was a huge difference this year. In 2010, most people didn’t know what I was talking about when I said I was going to the Queen’s Plate, this year most of those people were also there! And those who weren’t, wished they were.

Many people have become a bit tired of the bun fight that is the J&B Metropolitan and are choosing the more sophisticated Queen’s Plate instead. With it’s strict dress code and traditional theme of blue and white, The Queen’s Plate brings to life how we always imagine a day at the races to be.

The trendiest venues like Caprice and The Reserve have chosen to have tents at the Queen’s Plate rather than the Met, which is an indication that this is the event to attend.

As a racing event, it’s taken very seriously. This year was the 151st running of the Queen’s Plate, making it the oldest race on the South African racing calendar. With prize money of a million Rand, it’s no lightweight.

In terms of parties, when the racing is done, the music starts pumping, the ties come off and the bars get extra busy. The bands that performed this year were Tumi & the Volume (these guys are great, I bought their CD after hearing them at Symphonic Rocks) and the Kongos (click the link and listen to Come With Me Now, then you’ll know who they are), as well as Spoek Mathambo who I do not know.

I was fortunate to be invited to the VIP Stud Club, which meant I had a place to rest my weary legs and there was complimentary food and drinks all day. The VIP Stud Club was full of the who’s who, so I spent some time networking and having a few drinks. Then I decided to take a look around so I took a walk to the main stands and spent some time chatting to friends there.

Then I made my way back to the Stud Club to get another drink, check out the announcement for best dressed couple (I didn’t win) and also catch the last couple of races. We had a tote in the tent but I didn’t do any gambling.

After the last race we checked out some of the other tents before wandering over to the main stage to watch the bands. By the time Goodfellas arrived to take me home I was exhausted and it was only 10pm. Apparently the party carried on much longer but I was happily in bed by then.

The Queen’s Plate is a great day out. If you missed it, shame. Make sure it’s in your diary for next year.

• Fantastic resolution! RT @janehb: @RelaxWithDax my resolution is to get a plumbed in water filter in the kitchen #Bottledwater in reply to JaneHB #
• RT @liezelv: Road Closures in Cape Town today for Minstrel Carnival http://t.co/SY5ytWKZ #
• So far I’ve heard 2 exciting stories of okes having their phone/camera/wallet stolen at MCQP & managing to recover the items. Sadly no klaps #
• Dinner at Greens in Park Road last night. Food wasn’t bad, service was elusive but they did appear to be understaffed. #
• RT @greaterthanpr: It’s Greater Than PR’s 6th anniversary! Thank you to all those who have supported us http://t.co/iRcWc0px #
• A good way to prevent socks getting lost in the wash is to tie them together before throwing them in #RandomTip #
• It’s the Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth racecourse on Saturday. The sophisticated version of the Met (but still a party!) http://t.co/JkxrZtuT #
• Was getting irritated because all the restaurants I tried are fully booked tonight. Then I recalled &Union is open again. Can you say PREGO? #
• I did the wine pairings for the latest Nomu recipe mailer. Check them out & if you sign up you can win some Ladera wine http://t.co/HCc3j7c8 #
• Goodfellas charged me for too many kms last month. They have refunded me but I advise you to check your charges if you don’t already. #
• Flip, how much am I prepared to pay for tickets to Michael Bublé? Cheapest are R530 and that’s right at the back. #
• Dinner at Bungalow tonight, table of 8. Lovely evening for it. #
• Overall experience at Bungalow was good. Food is not spectacular though and prices high @mrtuckbox @AngieCapeTown #
• Didn’t they close and open something in Camps Bay? RT @laurenmaas1 Thinking about trying Rioja at Solole in kommetjie, anyone been there? #
• After spending R500 on dinner the night before, R700 for a pair of shoes seems like a good deal! #AldoSale #
• Starting to panic about what I’m going to wear to the Queen’s Plate on Sat. Struggling to find a decent but not pricey white suit or jacket. #
• Another new year resolution suggestion: take the stairs instead of the elevator when possible. Good for your health & your carbon footprint. #
• I just made another new year resolution: Don’t listen to 5FM anymore. The music has gone from bad to worse & the DJs just talk putty. #
• And ‘how much space do you have on yr credit card?’ RT @CapeTownMag: The only thing your waiter will ask: ‘How do you like your steak?’ #HQ #
• I am going to throw a party on that pirate ship one day. No arrrguments! #
• Look how boring these Prada shoes are. I’d take my Aldo shoes at one tenth the price any day http://t.co/3J0yNa0n #
• RT @CityBowlMarket: City Bowl Market on Hope St is open again from tomorrow. Operating hours are Saturdays 9am – 2pm. #
• Good luck! RT @Bubbalubs: first week of self employed work @_bubble_wrap_ #
• 10 days lefts of Phantom of the Opera. Don’t miss it! Here’s my review if you need extra motivation http://t.co/pB0n9O6e #
• Nik Rabinowitz is one of the few comedians that can make me laugh. Catch him at the Baxter in Stand and Deliver http://t.co/p2UsRn2H #
• Wildlife Photographer of the Year – this is one exhibition you want to see. Currently at the SA Museum http://t.co/phqiZVun #
• Enjoyed Nik Rabinowitz at the Baxter tonight. That dude has SA cultures and accents wrapped up. He’s always worth seeing. #
• Everyone seems to be going to the Queen’s Plate today. It’s gonna be awesome! #
• Wow, #QueensPlate is vibing! http://t.co/ByS8a6Rf #
• #QueensPlate what a jol. Goodfellas taking me home. I love Cape Town. #
• R10 for a litre of freshly squeezed orange juice at Checkers in Seapoint #GoodDeal #
• I agree RT @richardwooding: GM crops literally killing people. This is a topic that needs much more attention! http://t.co/LurrPtlD #
• RT @greatergoodsa: Report shows Eskom’s World Bank financed Medupi coal project violated enviro & social best practice http://t.co/2hDkg0PM #

• Dinner at friends in Seapoint. How’s this view? http://t.co/BQMV3q75 #
• Folks, please remember when you buy milk, to only select from those that are labelled rBST free. Let’s root this evil out. #
• Thinking of going to the Ministry of Sound NYE party at the ICC? I’ve got VIP tickets to giveaway thanks to @8tada http://t.co/0AGUMfCW #
• Congrats to @drizzleanddip for being selected as the food stylist for Masterchef SA. #
• Damn you Game of Thrones. You steal 10 hours of my life and don’t even provide an ending. Ps. I’m not happy about the beheading either. #
• I watched the first few episodes of Come Dine With Me SA last night, thanks to @GaliaKerbel‘s PVR. The CT episode with Aubrey was hilarious! #
• Don’t forget I’m giving away tickets to the Ministry of Sound New Year’s Eve party at the ICC. Details here http://t.co/0AGUMfCW #
• Do you know that the Hout Bay market is open today and tomorrow until 5pm? Then on friday evening as usual #BayHarbourMarket #
• Diablo 3 is available for pre order on Kalahari. With a 20% discount. It’s been 12 years since Diablo 2 was released! http://t.co/G0XzZSUE #
• One of my all time favourite Dilbert comic strips. Just to get you in the mood for the office again http://t.co/rfOF3XGp #
• Today is the last day to enter my competition to win a pair of tickets to the Ministry of Sound NYE party in CT http://t.co/0AGUMfCW #
• My tin of Nomu hot chocolate is half finished and I haven’t even made any hot chocolate yet #ChocolateCravings #
• My friends, if you’re going to buy braai tongs, there is only one pair to buy. SA’s favourite (locally made) tongs http://t.co/b02mdFr9 #
• Has anybody else had an allergic reaction to Garnier roll on deodorant? First time it’s happened to me. #
• I must say my experiences with group buying sites have all been good. Some good deals & all issues dealt with swiftly & to my satisfaction. #
• Dinner at Sunbird Bistro in Camps Bay tonight. I’m a bit nervous as Camps is pumping and I’m not in the mood for sub par anything. #
• Sunbird Bistro: Food average (good ceasar salad). Service average. Menu & wine list average. Prices above average @GaliaKerbel @1800Grill #
• South China Dim Sum Bar opened at 289 Long Street this week http://t.co/Byh4Obx1 (via @citybowlmarket) #
• In further restaurant news, Luke Dale-Roberts opened the Pot Luck Club next to The Test Kitchen last night. Tapas style http://t.co/Njk6nkBZ #
• Australia R8123, Europe R3901, North America R6037. Yes, those are return flight prices! Have u seen the Emirates sale? http://t.co/OfxgsrZl #
• The randomly selected winner of the tickets to the Ministry of Sound new years eve party, courtesy of 8ta, is Nico Snyman. #
• Enjoy the party :) RT @NicoSnyman: @RelaxWithDax thank you Dax and @8tada! #
• That’s nice of Virgin Active to allow their members to train at any of the clubs over December. Good for holiday training. #
• Looks like my New Years Eve is taking shape. Chilled sundowner pool party leading into Ministry of Sound stonk fest at the ICC. #
• My new year resolution is to NOT TWEET ABOUT EVERY BIT OF EXERCISE I DO because it’s irrelevant to other people, nor do they care. #
• Doing some research into the DJs at the MOS party tonight. Ray Foxx has some good stuff http://t.co/1FOM8Qgc #
• If you haven’t seen the DJ schedule for the Ministry of Sound Party tonight, here it is. Dance floors open at 7pm http://t.co/uaxM8ymf #
• Just buying some Red Bulls for tonight. I have a feeling I’m going to need them #MOS #8ta #
• If you’re looking for a good new year resolution, what about resolving to switch from bottled water to tap water as much as possible… #
• Absolutely, I approve this message RT @fabfalsebay: @RelaxWithDax or get a good water filter/purifier & bottle your own #bottledwater #
• http://t.co/7vVC9AIe is finally becoming a useful interface to Twitter. The ‘Activity’ tab is particularly useful. #

By now you’ve probably heard about the HUGE Ministry of Sound New Years Eve party happening at the Convention Centre. Described as “15 hours of musical mayhem”, this event has 5 arenas showcasing top international and local DJs.

Ministry of Sound doesn’t mess around, expect massive sound and mind blowing lighting to help you get maximum enjoyment out of world renowned artists such as Chicane, Abomination, Skazi, Ray Foxx and Kissy Sell Out.

General admission is R280, VIP is R350 (gives you access to 4 exclusive VIP areas) and Platinum is R800 (access to the free bar). Tickets are available at Computicket.

But thanks to the good looking people at 8ta, which is sponsoring the event, I have a pair of VIP tickets to giveaway to a lucky reader. They actually gave me 4 tickets, but I’m using 2 for myself!

All you have to do to enter the random draw, is to send an email to dax@relaxwithdax.co.za with the subject: “8ta MOS NYE competition” and in your email include your full name and cell number.

I will contact the winner on the 30th of December so entries must be in before then.  The winner will need to come collect their tickets from me before the event.

You can read more about the event here, or check out the video teaser below.

Ps. Have you seen 8ta’s current data deal on prepaid? 3 Gigs for R149! See details here.