Das wedding

Time passes very slowly here in blogland. (Or is it very quickly? I’m never quite sure. Either way, it is of an elasticky, chewing gum nature.) I know I’ve been gone a while, but then I’ve been redesigning my blog.

And changing jobs.

And getting hitched.

Yes, that’s right — the Guinea Pig decided to make an honest woman out of me. (Or so he thinks.)

Now, before you go thinking, ‘Oh crumbs, this post is going to be about blah blah blah, her wedding, blah blah blah, how fabulous she thinks all her friends are, blah blah blah, she’s probably going to thank people who have nothing to do with me, or food, blah blah blah and more crap I’m not interested in reading’ — just know that you’re, uh, pretty spot on.

This is basically going to be the food blog version of Sally Field’s highly embarrassing 1984 Oscar acceptance speech. If you are a subscriber, muchas, muchas apologies, feel free to delete this right now, etc.

Invite by Cristal Smith (www.misscris.co.za)

Even though, on 2 April, my synapses were so overloaded they probably resembled soggy Rice Crispies, it was possibly one of the best days of my life, and a lot of very special (and quite mentally unstable) people made that happen.

First up, thank you (x 1000) to Brad and Michael. Wow — your generosity, your time, your thoughtfulness... You played a huge part in making the day what it was — and it was better than we dared to hope it might be. The food, the stay at 15 on Orange, everything... Merci beaucoup. Grazie. Danke.

My bouquet. With a dolly in the middle.

  

Cristal — I got the impression you felt what you did for us was nothing remarkable, but it was. Thank you my friend. Even though ours was a small wedding, there was a lot of last-minute organising, and knowing certain things were taken care of was a major relief.

Mom and Dad... well, okay I’m not going to get all soppy here, but you know how I feel. You are brilliant, wonderful, fabulous, and I love you. We are hoping to have the Smeg stove installed this week. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Dad, I found the copy of Random Violence in which you wrote your speech, and it is now among my most treasured possessions, as is Dan’s pendant that holds the wedding photos of her and Hiya on their wedding day (thanks Mom).

My grandmother's pendant.

Ian, thank you for coming all the way from Australia! Which is practically a parallel universe, considering the transit time. It was brilliant to have you there. I love you a lot.

Gaelyn and Dave — you are the best! The pre-wedding lunch at Simonsig is one of our most cherished memories. (Though I think perhaps we can agree never to discuss what happened after sundown, or the comfort of our floors.) Thank you for your generosity and your friendship.

Café Paradiso

Sasha, Chris, Tabitha — I am so glad you came down from Jo'burg for the wedding. Having my oldest, dearest friends there was just mind-bogglingly wonderful for me, so thank you. I only wish I could have spent more time with you. Now please move down to Cape Town.

Thank you Chenel for my fabulous bouquet! It was perfect — quirky, cheeky, with a plastic doll in the middle. I couldn’t have asked for more.

Tracy... You remembered our chat at Caveau, and I am so grateful to you for that. Also, I am going to spend a very, very long time thanking you for making the manager at Café Paradiso almost cry (because she wouldn’t let us sit outside, even though the weather was exquisite and that’s where we had booked to sit). She did eventually move us outside. You really saved the day, and I am so grateful to you. Thank you for not taking no for an answer — and possibly making her an offer she couldn’t refuse. But the less I know about that, the better.

 Canapés from The Art of Good Food.

To Steph & George, Roxy & Susan, Eunice & Geoff, Craig, Barry & Karen, Paige & Robert, Len, Karin S, Karen D, John & Janis... there was not a single one of you Patrick and I were not embarrassingly grateful to for being there. It was not a conventional wedding — we were ruthless with our guest list — and everyone who attended was someone we consider most special and loved. (Rainbows, violins, white doves, Michael Bolton, etc.)

Wild mushroom tarts.

Now, a note about the food (the caterer, not Café Paradiso). Oh my effing eff, it was good. If you ever want an event catered, please, please don’t ever let me find out you didn’t use Kevin Mink from The Art of Good Food. The Norwegian salmon drizzled with a gooseberry dressing and soya reduction... The crispy honey-glazed duck spring rolls with citrus soya dipping sauce... And don’t even get me started on the wild forest mushroom, caramelised onion and thyme tartlets topped with toasted pine nuts and Parmesan shavings. Please, call Kevin on 082 702 2810 for a good time. (And no, I am not required in any way to punt him on this blog.) (Also, the ‘good time’ you are thinking of may cost extra, you naughty reader.)

 

Finally, to my Angel...

Ha-ha, sucker.

And by that I mean, I love you so, so much, and I hope our life together continues in pretty much the same vein (i.e. squabbling over the pool/recycling/punctuality, lying in on Sunday mornings, lots of amazing food and wine, and, you know, that other fun stuff [insert vigorous throat clearing here]).

x

PS: Please vote for my recipe in the latest issue of Crush, featured on the 'Rate your recipe' page. I could win a natty camera!