tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110223888460378842010-09-08T08:41:29.780+02:00Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-42348878596903236002010-08-29T16:58:00.006+02:002010-08-29T22:40:00.171+02:00

On a corner at 33 Derry Street in Vredehoek, Cape Town, stands the Sidewalk Café.  We were meeting my daughter Lexie there to enjoy Sunday lunch together.  I was instantly intrigued by the sight of green double doors. 'The Green Door' is a  short story by O. Henry, also a song from the 50's.  It describes an  establishment with green doors, behind which a "happy crowd" play piano, smoke and "

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-3013692291896157322010-08-19T21:13:00.067+02:002010-08-23T16:55:00.486+02:00

Dining with the Duchess at No.1 Wisbeach Rd, Sea Point I would never have thought that whimsy could exist and flourish in tatty world-weary old Sea Point.   But it does exist and it has flourished at  'The Duchess of Wisbeach'. The Duchess experience starts outside the red double doors of the restaurant.  Atop tables that are set on the pavement, gas lights flicker in their lanterns.  The door

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-8254788313275467892010-07-07T16:59:00.016+02:002010-08-03T22:15:08.926+02:00

Travelling today is no longer a casual and leisurely affair.   On the contrary, it is full of pitfalls and needs a serious plan of action. Travellers appear to fall into two categories:  the 'bring everything you might need' and the 'bring only what you use.'   Where do you fit in? Do you appear to be carrying all you own, or are you one of those rarefied creatures that strolls up to the

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-34143033308634860042010-08-03T21:49:00.028+02:002010-08-03T22:09:29.897+02:00

Are you challenged, confounded or simply puzzled by social situations brought about by a technological explosion happening at the speed of light?    Pitfalls are many and manners are in crisis. Back Chat reviews the niceties and nuances of etiquette in a new age. This guide deals with rules of civility and also acts as a reminder that however much the rules of courtesy appear to have changed with

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-16570363702641175592010-08-03T15:29:00.003+02:002010-08-03T21:58:14.862+02:00

     ETIQUETTE RULES The rules of business etiquette are unique.  It is all about communication. You and your company will be judged by how well you communicate! Social etiquette is based on chivalry; Business etiquette is based on hierarchy. Rank and authority outrank gender and age. Does this seem like a minefield?  Are you bewildered and confused by all the possible pitfalls? Join Back Chat

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-22092793243246124402010-07-26T18:57:00.247+02:002010-07-31T22:30:17.969+02:00

Approaching Bistro Sixteen82 on a road that meanders through the vineyards of the oldest farm in the Constantia Valley, we were instantly transported from the past to the present day by the sight of a huge industrial type building with automated sliding doors.  Passing through this very modern-day portal, we were met by the sight of lots of  glass,wood and sleek shiny steel.  A very lovely quiet,

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-31432514149316743012009-10-12T15:23:00.485+02:002010-07-10T21:34:14.650+02:00

When Eugene and I visited The Grand Café at 35 Victoria Rd, Camps Bay, for the first time, we felt as if we had been transported back in time.  Back to the wonderfully bawdy era of the Belle Epoque music hall.   Lights shaded with naughty red shades, chandeliers, velvet drapes, huge fat cushions like voluptuous danseuses, antique candelbra and roses everywhere.   We had come to see an old

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-59903832999335023612010-06-01T16:53:00.080+02:002010-07-08T15:34:06.470+02:00

Eugene and I adore England.   The elegance and eccentricity of the English, their wit and their whimsy.   We were overjoyed to be back in this 'green and pleasant land. This is the 2nd of a two-part series describing our adventures on a three week driving tour that included Winchester, Bath and Oxford, with wonderful treats en route.  At the end of the first part, we had decided to leave

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-68873863574639471812010-05-02T11:09:00.028+02:002010-07-08T15:33:13.864+02:00

Eugene and I adore England.   The elegance and the eccentricity of the English, their wit and their whimsy.  We were overjoyed to be back in this 'green and pleasant land.'  We had arrived in Winchester, an hour's drive from London.  This ancient and royal city of kings would be our first stop on a three week driving tour that would include Bath and Oxford with wonderful treats and  sights en

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-87220317746594605222010-07-07T14:38:00.002+02:002010-07-08T15:27:21.375+02:00

International air travel today operates in an era of heightened security.  Packing has become a separate science. No longer do we have the luxury of bulging carry on luggage and fitting it all in!  Back Chat gives you a summary of the do's and don'ts of what you need to know about carry-on and check-in luggage.  For seasoned travellers this may be old hat. But for many all this will be new and

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-12779213210686783572010-06-22T16:01:00.055+02:002010-06-24T16:37:18.434+02:00

When Societi Bistro moved from the V&A Waterfront to 50 Orange Street, it underwent a complete change of style and personality.   A beautiful Edwardian heritage house, superb food, a warm, happy and welcoming atmosphere and voila, the ultimate neighbourhood restaurant was born. Situated just a few minutes walk away from the arched entrance to the Mount Nelson Hotel and across the road from the

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-76027139299848754472010-06-04T12:18:00.371+02:002010-06-05T16:28:04.857+02:00

There is an exciting new section in Back Chat, 'Email From America'.  James Plugh, erstwhile newspaper owner and  journalist, divides his time between his homes in Massachusetts, London and Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa.  The best part of all of this is that Back Chat has prevailed upon him to become a contributing editor! So, from time to time, he will email accounts of his adventures,

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-7905940879529985152010-05-24T09:35:00.031+02:002010-05-24T14:41:10.644+02:00

As anybody who has read 'Travels With Back Chat' will have realised,  Eugene and I are pretty passionate about food.  We have eaten in many parts of the world and have come to think of French food as our spiritual home. So it is with great joy that we have become regular patrons of The Foodbarn' at Noordhoek.   Franck Dangereux is the maestro who creates the magical meals.  Originally at La

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-55028160106606359302010-05-23T21:15:00.035+02:002010-05-23T21:47:52.344+02:00

The Foodbarn Deli started in a corner of the Foodbarn Restaurant in Noordhoek Farm Village.   We all loved the cakes and the croissants, the pastries and the pies that emerged hot and steaming from the kitchen. There were all sorts of other wonderful treats to buy and buy we did.  It became part of the Foodbarn experience to wander over to the deli during the course of a meal and scrutinise the

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-31986123864925940602010-05-08T19:53:00.039+02:002010-05-09T08:48:30.791+02:00

Nestled high above Green Point in the historic De Waterkant, is the enchanting boutique bistro, Café Max.   Situated in a building that once belonged to Lord Charles Somerset, it now reflects the personality of the owner Anna Ridgewell and her passion for fine food and beautiful, calm almost Zen-like surroundings. Anna is every inch an experienced professional chef .  Originally from Zimbabwe,

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-79738136525133323192010-02-14T16:30:00.731+02:002010-05-03T09:03:44.421+02:00

There is a magical place in Plettenberg Bay called The Emily Moon River Lodge.   Eugene and I visited this place where legend swirls and where fiction and fact are so closely interwoven that reality becomes blurred. We dined in the bewitching Emily's Restaurant.  But first, in order to tell the tale and to set the scene, I shall describe our first impressions as we entered this extraordinary

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-65221490512451761482010-04-25T18:51:00.141+02:002010-04-26T10:57:06.709+02:00

Marika's at  38 Victoria Road, Bakoven,  is one of those very rare gems, a neighbourhood, family run restaurant serving amazing food to an adoring public.   And best of all, the amazing food is Greek food.  Yes, can you believe it and right under our very noses! As a family we love Greek food, having learnt all about it at the table of  the late great Greek Master Chef, Strati Constanides.  I

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-65031489282410352042010-01-11T18:49:00.004+02:002010-04-16T10:08:08.629+02:00

This policy is valid from 24 December 2009  This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact  les@leslieback.co.za  This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.  The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-59077980966879204212010-04-09T15:29:00.093+02:002010-04-14T15:28:07.875+02:00

Watch out pooches, Mia Feinstein is back in town.  You and your human may see her at any time in the course of your daily outings.   Mia of the graceful Mediterranean good looks and the shy smile, strolls and wanders, camera at the ready, looking for the next subject for her photographic library. Mia has relocated to Cape Town after 16 years in London.    Whilst in London, she earned Pooch

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-27818146417904949262010-03-28T18:12:00.078+02:002010-03-31T14:36:23.988+02:00

It seems as if La Perla has been around forever.  It has become a way of life for many of us.  Our children know La Perla and grew up enjoying the Italian food and became hopelessly precocious little foodies.  They knew the waiters by name and the waiters treated them like honoured guests.   There are now new generations of young gourmands being spoilt rotten. Forty years ago, Emiliano Sandri,

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-43948558072981554022010-03-06T16:12:00.291+02:002010-03-08T08:46:50.676+02:00

It was early evening and Eugene and I were visiting the first born of the Grand sisters, The Grand Café & Rooms at 27 Main Road, Plettenberg Bay. We entered the Café through huge double doors and the same feeling of otherworldliness that we experience at Grand, Camps Bay and Grand, Granger Bay overtook us.  We were encountering another era, another time and place.  Lights are dim and the lamps

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-82971531893206181742009-10-28T09:31:00.023+02:002010-03-07T08:04:30.980+02:00

'Only another oyster would find an oyster beautiful' wrote Dr R.Hedeen in his definitive book on oysters.  But to the true afficionado oysters are a thing of beauty.  Savour the sheer delight of a succulent oyster feeling it slip, like silk, down your throat - bliss!! It is overwhelmingly extolled for its alleged enhancement of the human libido.  Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, emerged

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-15925419095256713932010-03-02T15:27:00.077+02:002010-03-02T18:56:15.118+02:00

Sitting on the terrace of Lemon Grass Restaurant in Plettenberg Bay, we could have been on a Caribbean island.  Just metres away, the waves broke gently against the rocks and sea birds wheeled overhead.  Smaller birds sometimes came in to settle and drink from ingeniously suspended bottles of water. A voluptuous cherub draped in bunches of grapes, joyously celebrated Bacchus.  Slatted wooden

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-65206769573055640622010-02-23T21:10:00.000+02:002010-02-23T21:10:15.651+02:00

Channel Ferry Tickets Find cheap Ferry tickets quickly - Channel Ferries a fast way to search for tickets  http://www.channelferries.co.uk

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011022388846037884.post-2261697722900771382010-02-22T16:01:00.070+02:002010-02-22T17:48:47.004+02:00

Eugene and I were in Vienna for three whole days, so much to do in so short a time.Let Back Chat guide you through the fabulous city of music where even the horses dance.We hope that you will love Vienna as much as we did.  If you would like to find out more about this extraordinary city, do contact me.  Either leave a comment on Back Chat at http://www.leslieback.co.za or email me at les@

Leslie Backhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996643665432457803noreply@blogger.com0