When it comes to Christmas, this is probably what comes to mind.
Indeed, pine tree heaving with white snow and sprinkled with golden starts, Santa in his red hat gliding pass with his reindeer in front, bringing all the gifts and joy, the smell of fire burning culminating with granny’s fruit cake, all these makes Christmas a forever lasting fairytale.
However, it’s a different scene in the Southern Hemisphere.
This is what Christmas looks like in South Africa, it’s summer !
We are celebrating the holiday season with sunshine, bikinis, and all the goodness of summer, after all holiday is about embracing the season and nature with our families and loved ones.
While the fluffy pine tree, firewood, cinnamon, ginger bread add warmth and comfort in winter, we bring along some freshness, vibrant colours and fragrances of summer onto our holiday table.
A fresh start for the holiday season.
Colours
We use orange, yellow, green, different tones of pink and purple, colours you can easily “pick” in summer, and transform your holiday table setting into to something delightful and inviting.
Flowers
Hydrangeas are in full bloom in summer, and can easily be found in flower markets, even in your own garden.
They naturally have different tones of pink, yellow, purple, green and blue which instantly brings vibrance and life.
Tips: Treat them by soaking the flower heads dunking into cold water for 30-60 mins, before you move them into your favourite vase, they can last 3-4 days even during hot summer days.
Sweets
Who doesn’t like cake?
Traditional fruit cake might be too heavy for summer.
How about a fresh fruit cake?
Our fresh fruit cake consist of two layers of super light sponge, filled with fresh strawberries, peaches and vanilla white chocolate Chantilly cream, topped with all the summer berries, herbs and edible flowers.
We are delighted to share this recipe with you.
For the sponges
you will need:
- 105g Orange juice
- 105g Grape seed oil
- 135g Cake flour
- 3g Baking power
- 135g Sugar
- 7 Eggs
Icing and filling
For the icing, you will need:
- 200g Valrhona white chocolate, or any other white chocolate with a minimum 30% coco butter content.
- 500ml Whipping cream
- 1 vanilla pod
For the Filling:
Fresh strawberries and peaches cut into small pieces.
Top and deco
- Fruits: Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or any fruit you enjoy
- Flowers/herbs: orange blossom, pansies, camomile flower, mint, or any edible flowers and herbs
Drinks
Both cool and warm, filled with complex flower notes.
Cool
A pink tonic with BLOOM, which is a virgin gin from VERMONT.
100% have naturally botanical distillates and extracts from Juniper, coriander, cardamom, allspice, rose pelargonium, angelica, cassia.
Warm
ÉROS, a flowery black tea from MARIAGE FRÈRES
Hope you enjoy it.