Ingrid at Live Love & Eat

Born in Adelaide (Australia’s largest wine-growing region), F&HE’s wine and travel editor Ingrid Casson studied wine and journalism before moving to SA 10 years ago. Mad about wine and food, she’s happiest when travelling…

After much urging from one of my friends I visited Live Love & Eat in Johannesburg’s leafy suburb of Senderwood near Bedfordview. Located on the second floor of the small shopping centre, it’s nice to feel up high on the balcony and removed from the car park.
Crisp white, ocean-coloured glass and wooden floors give the space a clean and casual look, which is mirrored in the contemporary bistro-style food. Highlights were the seven-spiced seared tuna with a really fantastic soy-based sauce and jalapeño candy (R70) and the free-range chicken breast stuffed with spinach, ricotta, Kalahari truffles, hannepoot raisins and Parmesan (R65). The chicken was a bit dry, but the imaginative flavour combinations made up for it. Also a hit was the huge, door-stop fillet chops on the bone with a creamy, zingy Béarnaise sauce (R160). There wasn’t room for dessert, but we’ll be back (in few weeks’ time after the menu has been changed for spring) for the beef fillet wellington with mushrooms duxelle, puff pastry, duck foie gras and real wine sauce.
The wine list is a bit limiting (a tad heavy on the sauvignon blanc – it would be nice to see a food-friendly rosé or chenin in the mix), but BYO is offered so rather take along something special and make a long lunch of it.
Live, Love & Eat, 17 Chaucer Ave, Senderwood, Edenvale, Johannesburg. Call 011-454-5360.

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By Ingrid Casson