In a city that offers gourmet cuisine and extravagant wine pairings on every corner – where do you go when you’re looking for something slightly more grounded?

Ginger & Lime’s Denise Levy invites you into her Fresnaye home to learn how to cook up a mean dish and meet new people. It doesn’t get more personal than that.

Ginger & Lime is more than forced conversation and awkward onion chopping. The cooking class/social kitchen is a real, intimate and interactive experience that will leave you feeling like you just whipped up dinner with the family after work.

We cooked an Italian feast with Denise and made new friends, all with a glass of Rooiberg Wine in hand.  Rooiberg’s senior winemaker Andre introduced us to the farm’s finest Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, an organic sparkling Pinotage, as well as a sweet Pinotage rose. Courses aren’t paired with a specific wine, and Andre encourages guests to sip whatever they prefer – which is the perfect way to enjoy wine.

What’s for dinner? 

Each experience offered a different cuisine, and our Italian evening boasted a menu filled with Mediterranean flavours (and recipes to take home)

Antipasti platter

Anchovy, olive, caper and herb tapenade

Grilled red peppers stuffed with goats cheese

Grilled Zucchini with lemon, garlic & parsley

Some crusty bread was served with all of this tasty food

Mains:

Creamy salmon and dill pasta with vodka and lemon zest (a crowd favourite)

Baked Italian fish of the day, on a bed of crushed baby potatoes with olives and baby tomatoes

Tagliata of beef served on a bed of rocket with parmesan shavings and white beans

Dessert:

Italian yoghurt cake with lemon

When you walk away, filled to the brim with great food, you are richer for making new friends, learning new techniques and partaking in an interactive dinner experience like no other.

Photography Ginger and Lime

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