Two weekends ago, gosh, where has the time gone? The ladies from Bloggers Who Bless or #BWB as it is more commonly known met up their monthly meet up at the most quirky of venues. I Love My Laundry. The concept of the spot is a place where you can get your laundry done, you can even have dying and alterations done and while you wait you can sit have a glass of wine or a coffee and devour delicious dim sum (I think of them more as dumplings) while having a good chinwag and admiring gorgeous art and goodies that they have on sale. Sounds like a lot to take in but really it is the most quaint and quirky little spot you will come across and not to mention the Milo is to-die-for and the dim sum is even more delicious!

There was only a small group of us who managed to attend this meet-up, namely Heather (founder of #BWB) from FemmeLifestyle, Lauren from Lately Lauren, Leana from Hipstyler Pretty & Ginger, Sarah from The Mommy City, Cupcke from Cupcake Mummy and Nicola from Wots for Lunch. When Heather dreams up the most creative of meets she especially chose I Love My Laundry as the venue and on our invitations we were advised to bring a new pair of knickers that we were happy to part with. Now, just to clarify in case there happens to be any confusion in reading that statement – yes, it was a bit of a different request, especially for #BWB; and the reason for taking this pair of kecks along was a secret.

Once we were seated with a drink, Heather explained to us that as BWB is about community, to be specific a community of lady bloggers who support and encourage one another and we are passing-it-on, so to speak, onto the community at large. To being with, we are going to be supporting a charity for women whom live in the local townships who cannot afford underwear. Sometimes, from not being able to have their own underwear these women are subjected to being raped. It was a chilly thought and prospect to take in; but as sad as it was to think about we were all too happy to hand over our panties so that they can go to a good home. I actually even plan on donating some more new pairs next time I go shopping.
As I missed the last meet-up which was held at Dermalogica Wembley Square *cries on the inside* because I was travelling and not in Cape Town, I was really happy to see the ladies that were there and really missed the others but I cannot wait to see them at the next meet for a long overdue catch-up, chat and giggles!
Thank you to I Love My Laundry for letting us dangle our knickers off our heads and act like a bunch of school girls!

Check out I Love My Laundry on Facebook and Twitter @ilovemylaundry.

Not to forget the darling Heather for organising such a special meet-up, yet again and to each and every single one of the #BWB Ladies for being so awesome. Sending some good vibes your way! <3

Until next time, Flea XO

 Check out Fi's new blog : http://teawithflea.com

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If you follow me on Instagram (if you don't you really should click here) you would have seen that I attended my first #BWB meet up a few weekends ago. It was a Macaroon making workshop at the 15 On Orange Hotel and I must say I seriously had the best time ever. Now I will admit, on my way there I almost turned back home a few times and kept trying to think of excuses not to go because I kept replaying scenes of Mean girls in my head haha you know being the new girl and all. BUT I have to say after getting there and receiving the warmest welcome and having a conversation about balls in my mouth, it was all fun and laughter from there on out.

15 on Orange is truly a magnificent hotel, I can't even explain how amazing the decor is (dude they have gold couches in their elevators your not even understanding me!) And there is a shoe boutique inside, SHOES!!! I went in a little scared because I can honestly not cook to save my life but as soon as we met executive Chef Sanel and Pastry Chef Retha my fears quickly disappeared. They are truly the nicest and most patient ladies ever (we were a large group of ladies with a supply of champagne need I say more!!)

Now I will admit I probably will never be able to make my own macaroon and I wouldn't even try but I can say I learnt why my Lemon meringues have so much syrup in them and I learnt that there is actually allot of types of meringues like who knew! I did get to mix some colourful meringues and chop some chocolates (see I do get my hands dirty) and then I "attempted" piping which I am sorry who ever says that shit is easy punch them in the face. We then attempted to make our own macaroons and damn were some of those ladies good at it. Mine turned out um okay I guess I mean they looked like Macaroons and tasted like them to hahaha. We were then lead on a small tour of the hotel which kinda got delayed because there was a HUGE ASS mirror um can we say GROUP SELFIE!

I had the most amazing time ever this was really a fun workshop and I honestly cannot wait to see all these ladies again! I wish I took more pics of the gorgeous Hotel but seriously having a group of ladies together is not always an organized affair so if you wanna see some great pics head on over to Elzannes's blog Klets & Kook this lady was there to do some business I tell you.

 

You can arrange an event like this through the hotel yourself, they do it for groups of 12 or more people for around R259.00 per person.

For more enquiries please visit:

www.africanpridehotels.com

Address: 15 Orange Street, Cape Town

Phone: 021-4698000

Facebook: Africanpridehotels

Twitter: @APHotels

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Ons maak macarons by die African Pride 15 On Orange Hotel

Ons maak macarons by die African Pride 15 On Orange Hotel

Wat ‘n heerlike en pret ervaring was dit nie! Hierdie vermaaklike werkswinkel was eksklusief aangebied vir die Bloggers Who Bless-groep, en Klets & Kook kon beslis nie so ‘n geleentheid misloop nie.

Aangekom die oggend in die stad was ek aangenaam verwelkom met die mooiste reënboog wat oor die hoë grys geboue en berg gehang het. Ek het so ‘n paar kiekies met my kamerafoon al stop-ry-stop-ry geneem van die een verkeerslig tot die volgende. Ek is maar ‘n slegte multi-tasker en moes elke keer wag tot die verkeerslig rooi slaan om ‘n foto te kon neem.

Dit was my heel eerste besoek aan die African Pride 15 On Orange Hotel in Kaapstad en ek was nogal heel beïndruk met die goue bank wat jou groet in die hysbak  vanaf die onderste vloer tot by ontvangs. Dit is ‘n baie luukse hotel met moderne dekor en baie hoë glasvensters om natuurlike lig in te laat. Oral loop jy vas in uitspattige patrone, chroom-elemente en kleure van pers, grys en hier en daar selfs oranje. Die byderwetse Art Deco interior-ontwerp skep die gevoel van ruimte, luuksheid en klas en bekende persoonlikhede, parlementslede en baie groot korporatiewe kliënte besoek gereeld hierdie pragtige hotel. Die hotel spog met ‘n swembad, gim en gesondheidsklub, spa, restaurant, koffiewinkel, verskeie konferensie- en onthaalareas, 'n luukse kroeg en sitkamer asook ‘n besigheidssentrum.

Ons groep was baie vriendelik ontvang en verwelkom in een van die konferensielokale deur uitvoerende sjef Sanel Esterhuyse en pâttiserie sjef Retha wat ons sommer onmiddelik bederf het met vonkelwyn, koffie, tee, vrugtesap en die mooiste soethappies en heerlikste canapés. Ons het dadelik daaraan weggelê aangesien meeste van ons nog nie ontbyt gehad het nie! Toe ons magies eers lekker vol is en almal effens begin giggel het van die vonkelwyn, het ons twee-twee ‘n werkstasie ingeneem om te begin bak en brou.

Die werkswinkel het prakties afgeskop met ‘n meringue-maak sessie en die fokus was om die regte meringue-beslag te maak vir die perfekte macarons. Dit moet goed geklits en glad wees. Ek moet dalk net byvoeg dat macaron die regte Franse terminologie is en nie “macaroon” soos ons almal dit eintlik maar ken nie. Volgens Google Translate is die Nederlandse term daarvoor “bitterkoekjes”, wat nogal ironies is omdat meringue so vreeslik soet is.

Nadat ons heelik ge-oefen (en gemors) het om die meringue mooi in vormpies te druk met ‘n spuitsak, is ons gewys hoe om die amandelmengsel aan te maak vir die macarons en hoe om dit dan korrek te spuit sodat dit ‘n “voet” vorm. Daarna laat jy dit staan om eers ‘n effense doppie buite-om te vorm voordat dit gebak word.  Ons het sirkels op bakpapier as patroon getrek sodat ons baie mooi en versigtig die macarons ewe groot kon spuit, en daarna is dit kombuis toe gestuur om gebak te word.

Met almal se macarons in die oond, het Sanel en Retha vir ons gewys hoe om sjokolade ganache en ook gesoute karamel te maak waarmee ons daarna dan ons macarons gevul het. Ons het sommer ook lepelsvol daarvan net so geëet. Ek meen, hallo? Dis die dinge waarvan drome gemaak word! Niemand kon dit weerstaan nie.

Die werkswinkel is afgesluit met elke blogger wat haar macarons in ‘n glasflessie geseël en met lint en dekoratiewe papier mooi versier het om vir iemand anders as ‘n geskenkie te gee, en daarna het Sanel en Retha ons op ‘n vinnige toer deur die hotel geneem.  

Nie net was hierdie twee sjefs baie vriendelik, geduldig en hulpvaardig  met die lot van ons nie, maar het hulle ook hul macaron-resep gedruk en vir ons elkeen gegee om saam te neem sodat ons almal dit weer by die huis kan maak.  En jy kan natuurlik ook! Hier is wat jy jy nodig het en moet doen:

Bestanddele:

210g eierwitte, vry van olie of eiergeel

250g strooisuiker

250g fyn amandels of amandelmeel, vooraf gesif voor afgemeet

250g versiersuiker, gesif

Jou keuse van voedselkleursels

Metode:

1. Voorverhit die oond tot 120ºC en plaas bakpapier in ‘n oondpan.
2. Sif die fyn amandels drie keer en daarna die versiersuiker.
3. Klits die eierwitte tot styf.
4. Voeg die strooisuiker lepel vir lepel by die eierwitte en klits aanhoudend. Skraap die kante van die bak af soos nodig.
5. Wanneer die eierwitmengsel dik en glad is, vou ‘n lepelvol daarvan by die amandel- en versiersuikermengsel.
6. Voeg die kleursel by en vou in by die res van die eierwitmengsel.
7. Gebruik ‘n spuitsak en spuit in sirkels op die bakpapier met ‘n 2.5cm spasie tussen elk.
8. Laat staan vir een uur en bak dan vir 15 minute tot die macarons skoon en maklik vanaf die bakpapier opgelig kan word.
9. Vul met ‘n vulsel van jou keuse, byvoorbeeld sjokolade ganache of gesoute karamel.

Baie dankie sjef Sanel en sjef Retha, tesame met African Pride 15 on Orange Hotel en Bloggers Who Bless, vir ‘n heerlike en pret macaron-werkswinkel. Julle diens en gasvryheid was puik en ek het die geleentheid vreeslik baie geniet! 

NS: Volgende keer kom besoek ek beslis julle spa!

{ Elzanne }

Om meer foto's te besigtig, kliek hier.

Klets & Kook 

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