Cube Tasting Kitchen....Parktown North.....

Hmmmm....how did i NOT know about this.....u know im gonna blame being on the ship.....but im so glad my friend, Liezl, was not sleeping while i was gone and found out about this amazing place.....so....she made a reservation for 4 of us....and we would receive the instructions a day or two in advance...when Liezl received....she forwarded....and we decided.....(seeing that The restaurant is not liquor licensed)....to bring our own wine...wot i loved....they send you the set tasting menu and they actually tell you what wine they would pair it with.....so cool...so we made an effort to bring most....decided on two white wines and two red....ill bring the white (Boschendal Chardonnay and La Motte Savignon Blanc), she would bring the red....Shiraz and Pinot Noir....Man.....im getting so excited.....

So...place not too easy to find....no name outside...i saw Liezl in the window and i knew i had arrived....so it all started at 19:30, arrival 19:00 for 19:30, then you got told...each course will arrive, it will be explained by one of the two chefs and there will be 11 courses.....wine pairing...waiters will help us with our wines....first course placing together a gazpacho...So cool...there were salty "caviar" balls, cucumber gelee, roasted garlic, goat cheese...all topped with a cucumber water...the water was only poured at the table....what a way to start our 11 courses...it def set the standard.....amazing...here is a pic

Next up mozzarella....on the left was a pork broth with saffron and on the right was a tomato mousse topped with black olives...the star...mozzarella....it had some pancetta, soya beans and soya sauce...And some crispy coppa.....i tried taking a small bit of each and eating it together...but thought pork broth took away from the amazing soya sauce mozzarella....so nice to eAt individually....Here is a pic....

Third course....chicken wing with a corn red wine reduction....wow......and in the middle a herb sauce and on the left corn couscous, squash mousse dopped with duck biltong.....i honestly was not keen on the couscous at all....Liezl on the other hand...loved it....hmmmm....the red wine corn reduction...fab.....here is the pic.....yes....u will get a pic of each course....

Next up....this ended up being my favourite dish.....asian fusion....kingklip with a teryaki glace, lemon pUdding, sweet ginger, mushroom and onion confit....wow....all the flavours worked so well together....i loved it....wow..SO fab.....Also...when dish arrived one could smell the touch of truffle powder...wow....

Number 5.... This was a very intersting one, three people not keen...mainly because they are not crab lovers...me on the other hand...loved it....thought the squid ink mayo great and although the crab meat was plainly done...great...wot i couldnt taste was the hint of vanilla in the mayo....hmmm...and i must admit was not keen on the rice popcorn...didnt really add Anything......

Then...deconstructed high tea....cucmber ice, smoked aubergine puree, carpaccio beef and egg.....olive oil mayo...wow....cucmber ice with beef...great...i thought the smoked aubergine puree was way too overpowering...however...Liezl thought the two together were fab....i guess tastes differ.....so here is...yes...another pic....Oh almost forgot...appenzeller cheese on top.....

Now...lets take a small break....restaurant is fab....takes max 30 people...they have seasonal menus which means it changes regularly....restaurant is not licensed so bring your own...and trust me it is well worth bringin all the wines that pair with the food...amazing wot a difference it makes....the chefs....fab...the young guy that explained our courses...wow...so enthusiastic about all the explanations....it was great...we could even ask again if we were not sure what he meant....restaurant decor simple but modern...perfect for the tasting/ molecular concept.....here is some non- food pics....

Next up.....pork "gammon" with crackling and brussel sprouts and apple sheet....in my opinion, there should have been a little bit more apple....it was so good...now...i hate brussel sprout....and for some unknown reason, this one i really liked...must have been the glaze...pork...heavenly....gammon cooked to perfection and crackling was interestin cause it was like a powder sitting on top....very interesting...and i guess im a little bias cause i love gammon.....

Course number 7... Beef time....mine was perfecty cooked...unfortunately two people at our table had medium to well instead of medium rare....this came with a three flavoured cheese ball and some truffle relish...again...as the dish arrived you could smell the truffle...amazing....i liked this dish also...but again...i love beef....so hmmm...then again im a sucker for savoury food....ill be interested in sweets...the two ladies at our tale both have weaknesses for desserts.....here is the beef....

Finally dessert time....Liezl and VanessA's favourite....first up lavender ice cream, rusks and pistaccio butter...now we all know my weakness pistaccio...so yes...butter fab....guess what......Vanessa and Liezl loved it so much.....so guess what...licking of the plate...yes..I even got a pic...i might just pOst on my next blog....some blackmail...hahaha....first dessert good...didnt blow me away....def blew Vanessa away.......here is the pic....

Number 10.... Now im a sucker for cheese and choc desserts....so yes...next up...choc ganache with choc mousse and mascarpone...shit....the amazing part...the choc mousse sauce on its own way too light....but with the ganache...perfect balance...there was also a slight hint of marzipan...wish there was more....Liezl, Dean and Vanessa all thought it was great there was not too much marzipan...i said they never had real marzipan....cause what you get here in SA around a cake for decoration...is not like the marzipan figures you can buy for decoration in Europe..man i love marzipan...just reminds me back on the ship when my friend and i were fighting for the marzipan inside the banana toffee dessert...man.....good times...memories....ok back to this....here Is a pic of my desset love...

Last....beetroot marshmallow with a taffy and berry sheet and sugar...i felt that as i put the sugar in my mouth it had the texture of candyfloss....interesting...the berry sheet...wow...powerful raspberry...which i definitely know is my favourite berry...and i think i know a certain someone that always fights with me over raspberries...hmmmmm.....the beetroot marshamallow...nothing special...Dean didnt like it at all..he actually left it....so here is the pic....The orange crystals...red pepper flavour....

Conclusion...def def worth it....fab evening...but you need to go with people hat love food...have time...took 3.5 hrs...amazingly i didnt feel overly full at all...guess because it was spread....chefs amazing...can explain, enthusiastic....friendly.....fab fab evening...comPany def makes a difference...so thanx to the three of you for a fun evening....now some random facts....Vanessa loved lavender ice cream so much, she actually asked for some more at the end...no problem...and it arrived....how nice...and yes....Vanessa was not the only one licking her plate...dAre is a dare....Vanessa and Liezl Licked the plate of the lavender dessert...i decided to safe it for the choc dessert...so......again...def worth a visit.....im def going back....yummy.......

To end this blog...cannot believe the weather...hail....even had to walk in it...damn...not great....almost weekend again...and then watch it will be Wednesday again....time just flies...cheers for now...next time....ill update you on the other two truffels from Melt (have discussed the walnut Bon bon...smooth choc and red velvet cake to follow)..... Au revoir....

 

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