Instagram

I was listening to Radio 4's The Food Program about Instagram this morning and found it really arresting, as someone who photos food, mostly for myself and a couple of friends, obviously some for this (unread) blog and occasionally, though now rarely, Facebook.  As I don't use Instagram, it's a bit of a mystery to me, although the contributors seemed to suggest it was a nicer place than Twitter, so obviously nicer than FB as well, as they tend to both be miserable and / or shouty cesspits.

I thought the talk of influencers and people teaching how to take photos for Instagram - and being paid for it, were something of a revelation,  though I am too old and miserable for a bright and happy place - I did smile at the thought of a specifically Instagram friendly brand of pasta and trying to get seated at the the tables with the best light for photography

When I'm in the gym on a morning, there is a very fit attrative couple, there everyday who do a huge amount of work and document it as they go in a notebook, I've noticed now and again the they pause to take pictures / videos of eah other, I guess it is part of the same Insta-thing I'm just not with - but being old and fat as well as more interested in taste than looks in food, hardly surprising I'm out of touch

South Africa: winelands and Capetown

We flew up to Capetown from Joburg, picked up a car and drove to Franschhoek, wine train was fantastic value, ate lunch at Glen Carlou, very cheap and very fine dining:

TukTuk bewpub in Franschhoek was good, had a lunch in Boschendal:

Franschhoek is nice, if a little genteel and quiet, popped into Stellenbosch on way back to Capetown and thought it looked lovely, would stay there next time

Capetown was good, felt safer than Joburg, and Uber was v cheap, had great food, wine and beer, staayed in the best AirBnB we've had:

Would recommend Fork Tapas, Tiger's Milk and Beerhouse on Long St, Clerkes on Bree St and had a wonderful meal in Chef's warehouse (walk-in only)

Weather was great for the month, sites and scenery in Capetown were lovely, although a bit short of Art Galleries and Museums - went to Districk 6 Museum (and also Apartied Museum in JB), good, powerful, but really fucking depressing, like Schindler's Factory in Krakow.

Flew home via Istanbul, in two minds about visiting it, maybe a bit dodgy still and lots of others on the long list...

Mozambique, South Africa and babies

October was a trip to Mozambique and South Africa.  With family and baby in Maputo, so eating out was ex-pat, little bit cheaper than Dublin, nothing special, other than the company and some views

Local food is very dimple, maize and greens, apart from the bread pau (pauzinho is little rolls),  Prego Nao Pau is a minute steak sandwich, usually with a very hot piri-piri sauce on the side and I do like the beer, 2M and especially Lagunita Preta

She is bringing up the baby trying baby-led weaning, surprisingly (I though) going very well, different from her sister who is doing old school spoon feeding.  I cannot really talk as a young and terrible parent, anyone and any method is better than I did with Jack.

Made a fair bit of food for the baby and family, keeping salt and spice down and tring to make things Aoife could try herself when we left.

We all went into South Africa, a night in an AirBnB, with a couscous salad , cheese, fruit etc, the AirBnB hadd a great herb garden, so couscous was v good.

We then spent a few days in Johannesburg, bit dodgy, but around Fox St it's safe and very secured, food very cheap, beer and wine excellent.  We had a decent Mexican, an OK Italian, soom good food at Neighbourgoods Market  Che was fantastic,:

 They went back home to Maputo then and we few to Capetown - next post