Dreaming of double cream

How delighted was I to stumble upon Tanglewood's double thick cream. I don't know why I hadn't noticed it before. There's nothing like jersey cream, so thick and dense it stops just short of being butter.

Top of the crop

It is usually the Midlands in KwaZulu-Natal and the Cape that come up as South Africa's pastoral idylls. The Magaliesberg is not mentioned in the same way, but the area harbours some great farms.

One of these is Tanglewood. I've long been a fan of Tanglewood's great jersey cow yoghurt, which has nothing in it but milk and cultures, and has the true wobble that separates real yoghurt from its starch-thickened supermarket counterparts.

How delighted was I to stumble upon Tanglewood's double thick cream. I don't know why I hadn't noticed it before. There's nothing like jersey cream, so thick and dense it stops just short of being butter. As an added bonus, jersey dairy in general is better for you than produce from other cow breeds. This is the only cream to smear on a scone or a hot baked potato.

Tanglewood is available from various not-so-posh supermarkets. The slightly foggy number on the cream bakkie seems to be 083-772-1694, and I'm guessing you can call to find out where your nearest stockist is.

Fast Falafel

I have recently been concerned with finding any sort of fast food that isn't utterly terrible. The other day I passed Anat Falafel in Rosebank, and realised a falafel meal has been the best option by a country mile all along. It's delicious, it's speedy as a burger (okay they do burgers too, but ignore those), and it's not junk food.

Until we get some decent street noodles or hot dogs not made from abattoir sluice runoff, I reckon Middle Eastern fast food is the way to go. Falafel or not, meat or not, pita or not, that's up to you, but the important thing is the salads/relishes/fillings.

The long counter at Anat, piled high with slivered pink pickled radish, shining roasted brinjal, red peppers, crisp-fried onion, creamy hummus and so on, makes you wonder why on earth, when fast food can get it so right, does it so often go repulsively wrong? Anat has two dozen outlets. Check www.anat.co.za.

Less street - but also fast and great - is The Schwarma Co, 71 Grant Avenue, Norwood.

Can't beat a beet

The paleo crowd have so maligned beetroot that speaking to them you would think it was on a nutritional par to a Hostess Twinkie. I'm still quite fond of it, and this is my current favourite. Beet and ginger salad: four beets, diced / 1 tbsp olive oil / around 1½ cups good yoghurt (see above) / 1 tbsp grated ginger / dash lemon juice / salt to taste. Cover diced beetroot with oil and roast at 160C until tender. Cool, then mix with everything else. Brilliant with roasted brinjal, grilled fish, curries and more.