Memoir Monday has seen me digging in the cobwebbed archives of my mind, bringing back long-forgotten memories that now is stored here on Hive, my forever memory bank.
What a wonderful legacy for future generations!
@ericvancewalton's question for Memoir Monday - Week 11 took me on a nostalgic trip to some of our favourite haunts.
Eric asked:
What are some of your all-time favorite restaurants?
There's something about sharing a meal that brings people together, especially when sitting around the table.
Sadly, we seldom do that in our own homes, right?
The perfect restaurant, for me, need not be anything grand but must have the right atmosphere.
I love going to quaint places, preferably outdoors in summer, something with a view, good company, and of course good food.
A restaurant that holds a special place in my heart is 53 on Winchester, situated in Reservoir Hills, a suburb of Durban. This restaurant has become a popular function venue, so one has to book in advance. They offer sumptuous Sunday buffets and specialize in exquisite Indian cuisine.
We celebrated my 70th birthday there last year, a last-minute invitation by my bestie Josh and her man. Little did we know on that happy occasion that it would be the very last birthday my darling man would be beside me.
I'll be one year older in a couple of days...how time flies!
Josh 'gathered the clan' recently, inviting our ex-bosses, a father, and son team. Mr. H still works as a land surveyor at the age of 96; part-time of course, and he's kept up with new technology!
The food was delicious as always - my favourite is their creamy Chicken & Prawn Curry, with the best garlic butter Naan bread. The helpings are always too big, so I always take home a 'doggie bag' which I enjoy the day after.
Both occasions were happy, with delicious food, while catching up on what's been happening in our lives.
The Doghouse Craft Cafe at Yellowwood Forest, is close to the coastal town of Pennington, about an hour's drive from our home down the South Coast of KZN.
My hubs and I often dragged @artywink and her man away for a jaunt up or down the coast, and this was one of our favourites.
Their burgers are divine, as are their pot pies, and of course a tall glass of one of their excellent craft beers, is always welcome on a hot summer's day.
The ambiance is very laidback, with tables and chairs arranged in various areas, and some benches next to the small dam.
I've not been back there since Arthur left for greener pastures, but the service was always good, and it felt like visiting old friends whenever we went there.
I have to share at least one of my favourite takeaways, and as their catchphrase goes, when you're hungry and in a hurry, go grab a curry, from The Curry O's!
Note: O's is derived from the South African slang words, oke, or ou (noun) – meaning a guy or a bloke.
The only problem with these O's are that they've become so popular, that there's always a queue, but their service is quick, and it's easy to make friends while in the queue to pass the time. We South Africans like chatting, even with strangers!
Mr. Delivery (Mr. D) however is one of my new friends whenever I am too tired to cook on a Friday night, so I have a choice of restaurants from which to order.
The Curry O's' Bunny Chows are legendary; a hollowed-out half loaf of bread filled with a fragrant curry of your choice; vegetables, sugar beans, broad beans, chicken, beef, or mutton. The latter is very popular, but a bunny chow simply is way too much food for me.
I usually order a broad bean roti, absolutely divine, They make the best rotis; featherlight, and buttery!
This unpretentious little takeaway has made it into the top ten finalists of the Kwazulu Natal Bunny Chow Champions, and has been one of the most consistent contenders.
I'm sure you've gathered by now that I love spicy food. Should you ever visit Durban, you must try a Bunny, as we call a Bunny Chow, but make sure it's from a good restaurant or even better still, from the Curry O's!
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Memories of the past send us that nostalgic feeling...thank you for sharing. I wanna join here too. I guess my registered username here is silverglory on the tg though I haven't been active. Time to share one!
#memoirmonday is a great way to store your memories. You can also look back on some of the past topics on @ericvancewalton's blog and write about any of those @sarimanok. Thank you for popping in!
Ok thanks for the tips dear. Will surely do.
Excellent advice each family has a different taste or texture to the meals, always enjoy spicy food.
Would be a difficult not to have prawns and chicken curries, my late brother used to travel from Aggeneys when I told him a month ahead about special prawn curry evenings at the Illovo Country Club, now gated community by what I understand. Beautiful old homestead oozing history.
When chicken & prawn curry is on the menu, I find it difficult to 'try something new', it's just too good.
Prawn Curry evenings in an old homestead sounds very special Joan! It's such a pity that so many venues like that get swallowed up in new developments.
Sounds like we're in for a rough ride here in KZN especially! Let's just hope things don't get out of hand.
Our province is always a rough ride hopefully nothing like we witnessed 92/93 and again a couple of years ago!
Have a lovely day.
My mouth is watering, Lizelle. You had me at curry with naan bread, one of my favorites! I appreciate you taking part in #memoirmonday my friend!
Thank you for starting #memoirmonday Eric, it's been quite a trip down memory lane!
A fragrant curry and a good Naan bread is my favourite combo, they can spare the rice;)
Have a great Friday Eric!
My pleasure! I'm so glad I did because I'm really enjoying learning more about everyone. Happy birthday to you! I hope your day was as wonderful as you are.
It's fascinating learning more about our Hive friends.
Thank you for the birthday wishes Eric! I had a good day despite my plans going down the tubes because of the minibus taxis blockading some major routes - all political games before the elections!
is a nice initiative by @ericvancewalton, I think I'll check it out to see what it's all about.
your restaurant adventures look amazing, beautiful memories that feed the soul.
For sure Carolina, good company and food certainly feeds the soul.
Eric has some really nice topics! You can even go back and write on the older topics to build up a good 'memory bank'.
Very nice places you keep in your memory, your 70 years and your days with your husband with your good friends how to forget it. The good food is not forgotten either. Thank you friend for sharing. Nice Wednesday my friend.🥰❤️❤️❤️
Thank you @mamani, it was a really a special evening.
Have a wonderful Friday my friend!
Revisiting a place that meant so much can be very hard. I'm glad it was a good experience, my friend. And happy birthday! <3 You're such a wonderful person, a real ray of sunlight on this platform. Keep on shining for a long time!
Thank you for the sweet message @honeydue! It's kind of cathartic visiting our old haunts, so it was very good going back there. This time for a mini-reunion with our 2 ex-bosses.
We all had such a good working relationship.
Have a good Friday my friend, I'm looking forward to meeting up with friends in our Botanic Gardens🤗
All look so good
They all serve delicious food, nice seeing you @denissemata
Foods looks delicious and yummy. Great momeries.
Their food is very good indeed, new memories made with old friends!
Woah ooo, these are all appetizing threats, I'm longing to taste most of the food I'm looking at here now, thank you for this presentations.