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PROPERT Y PAGES SANDTON
RENAISSANCE RELIVED OXFORD AVE, SANDHURST
LUXURY RESTORATION HERITAGE HOME
VILLA D'ESTE
PANERAI’S
E ILE AN (1 936)
CLASSIC REVIVAL
ROLLS-ROYCE D AW N
TOP PROPERTIES FOR THE MOST DISCERNING BUYER
Purity. Sensuality. Intelligence. This open-plan interior in Berlin offers ample space for cooking and socializing. It combines a wall-mounted b3 system with a bulthaup monoblock. Sleek sandy-beige aluminum panels from floor to ceiling on the kitchen wall contrasts with the texture of the brick in the dining and living area. The look and feel of the aluminum changes with the light, and introduces additional elegance and warmth to the room. Moreover, bulthaup’s unique anodizing method ensures the aluminum surfaces are exceptionally robust, and well suited for kitchen use. To see what else bulthaup kitchens have to offer, please contact your African retail partner www.livingkitchens.bulthaup.com
bulthaup cape town Living Kitchens (Pty) Ltd 47 Somerset Road, Green Point Cape Town 8005 Tel. +27 (0)21 419 5445 info@bulthaup.co.za
bulthaup johannesburg Living Kitchens (Pty) Ltd 9 Kramer Road, Kramerville Johannesburg 2148 Tel. +27 (0)11 262 5257 info@bulthaup.co.za
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OXFORD AVE SIMPLY ENTERING THIS PALATIAL HOME LOCATED IN THE LEAFY SUBURB OF SANDHURST WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE ROYALTY
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VILLA D'ESTE A REMARKABLE HERITAGE PROPERTY THAT REFLECTS ONLY THE FINEST IN ITALIAN STYLE & CRAFTSMANSHIP
CLASSIC PANERAI YACHT THE RESTORATION OF EILEAN IS A TRIBUTE TO THE MARITIME MILITARY HISTORY THAT IS PART OF PANERAI'S LEGACY
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ROLLS-ROYCE DAWN GRACEFUL AND ATHLETIC, THE NEWEST ROLLSROYCE MODEL HONOURS BOTH TRADITION AND TECHNOLOGY
03 MESSAGE FROM SAMUEL SEEFF
16 YACHTING: A CLASSIC REVIVAL
04 CHARLES VINING: SEEFF SANDTON
19 COCKTAIL: CLASSIC MOJITO
06 LIFESTYLE: NATURALLY GREEN
20 RECIPE: LIGHTLY SMOKED DUCK BREAST
08 COVER PROPERTY: OXFORD AVE
22 SEEFF PROPERTY PAGES
12 MOTORING: ROLLS-ROYCE DAWN
38 HERITAGE HOME: VILLA DE EST
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SAMUEL SEEFF
RESIDENTIAL MARKET OUTLOOK REMAINS STEADY AND STABLE
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s we head into the cooler months, it is a good time to pause and reflect on where the residential market is heading for the remainder of this year given the prevailing weak economic outlook. The good news is that we continue observing a market that is holding up well. While there has been an expected slowing in activity and an easing in the national house price inflation since late last year, the first few months of this year have been better than anticipated. Our branches continue reporting plenty of activity, not just in the major metropolitan areas, but almost nationwide. We have still not seen any flooding of the market with property listings. In fact, most areas are still reporting tight stock levels and fairly good sales cycles. Buyers and investors are still keen to get into the market and the banks are still lending. A review of cash sales in the Cape metro for example reveals that some 60%–80% of sales in the top end areas are still
full cash transactions and mostly to South African buyers. We are also still seeing plenty of high value transactions in the luxury areas. While business confidence is at the lowest levels in decades, we are still seeing plenty of confidence in the property market. While by no means immune, there is an underlying resilience that seems to be carrying the market during this challenging phase. There is no doubt, though, that the challenges are mounting and affordability is a growing concern for buyers in the middle to lower sectors of the market. These are market realities that sellers need to take cognisance of. The key for buyers and sellers right now is to be aware of the economic influences and to expect further interest rate and cost hikes and to factor these into their buying and selling decisions. For serious sellers, there is still plenty of demand with well-priced properties still selling fairly quickly. Sellers will need to adjust to the slowing demand and
PUBLISHED FOR SEEFF BY CHAPEL LANE MEDIA
price growth, though, and be cautious of what prices buyers are prepared to pay, else they may risk losing out on a sale. Now, perhaps more than ever, working with a credible real estate agent will stand you in good stead. And, remember, if you are serious about selling, then a sole mandate is the way to go. The better-thanexpected inflation data and signs of stability returning to the currency
EMAIL: CHARL@CHAPELLANE.CO.ZA
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give us hope that our economy can stabilise. The property sector has been one of the star performers over the last few years, and, for now at least, it remains business as usual. We are delighted to present some of our top property listings here, but be sure to also visit our website www.seeff.com for access to all of our exciting listings.
SAMUEL SEEFF Chairman, Seeff
TEL: +27 (0) 82 452 8110
INSIGHTS
SEEFF SANDTON
CONTINUALLY IMPROVING OUR EXPERTISE IN A VERY ACTIVE MARKET
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andton property remains a solid investment. The capital gain on property in the Sandton suburbs is a good, long-term prospect. The Sandton CBD is the commercial hub of Africa and shows no sign of losing that esteemed position any time soon. Although the slew of construction vehicles and traffic congestion may be a short-term irritation while driving through Sandton, one cannot help but take in the scale of construction, expansion and improvement underway. When you buy property in Sandton central and the surrounding suburbs, you are, in effect, acquiring a future return on investment. It is best to take a three to five year view, at a minimum, and a five to seven year view if you are a conservative investor. If you have R1.5 million to spend, I would recommend investing in a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom sectional title property in a building that offers amenities on site (pool, or clubhouse, or gym, for example). Morningside, Sandown, Strathavon, Hyde Park and surrounding suburbs are a safe bet, and an apartment sized between 80 and 100 square metres is optimum. If you have R5 million to invest, I would recommend buying three of the afore-mentioned types of property… In fact, if you have R10 million, I would recommend buying several of these types of units. In doing so, you would spread your risk, as from time to time any rental property may be without a tenant, require repairs or necessitate other expenditure which might result in a short-term loss of income over the three to seven year investment period. If not buying as an end-user, and if you are looking to invest R50 million, I would suggest investing in commercial real estate in the central Sandton region. R100 million? Let us assist you in putting together a residential development or acquiring a shopping centre. We sell property priced from R700 000 to R70 million and beyond. The diversity of property and pricing in Sandton, Fourways and Midrand – the areas serviced by the Seeff Sandton branch – mean a buyer can find what they need, when they need it, provided they have a realistic budget and funding available. Our team of 70 agents and 30 support staff help us to achieve our great results in this broad range of real estate in which we operate. Seeff Sandton continues with our aggressive growth strategy and we have exciting prospects on the horizon, such as virtual reality video tours, for
example. We are constantly revising and re-engineering our business and day-to-day operations with our clients in mind. You, the buyers and sellers in Sandton, Fourways and Midrand are of prime importance to us. Please don’t hesitate to contact us – even if only to discuss the current micro-market or to get a free valuation on your home. Enjoy our latest magazine.
CHARLES VINING
Managing Director, Seeff Sandton
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COVER PROPERTY
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LIFESTYLE
NATURALLY GRE The kitchen is the heart of the busy home. It is the ideal place to start feeling like we are keeping in touch with nature when the world runs away from us. It is the place to keep it natural; to keep it green. Visit yuppiechef.com.
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1 LE CREUSET ROUND COCOTTE Le Creuset is known for making the best in cast iron cookware, with beautiful colours and longlasting quality. This green 6.6 litre round cocotte will not warp. The Phenolic lid knob is heat resistant up to 200°C. R2,950.
2 LAGUIOLE BY ANDRE VERDIER Made by master cutlers, every set of six Laguiole knives passes 50 quality inspections. Imbued with French passion and reflecting a deep love for food, they are made 100% in France. Designed with the signature bee on the handle. R299.
3 EVA SOLO ORCHID POT Bring nature inside by nurturing the most delicate of blooms in your Eva Solo Orchid Pot. Optimised for growth, the adjacent plant and water wells allow this aerophyte to draw the precise amount of water it needs. R899.
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4&7 CORKSCREWS BY ALESSI In a variety of fun and funky colours and shapes from Alessi, you’ll find the Anna G bottle opener (R979) or the Parrot Sommelier Corkscrew (R1 119). Both are efficient, practical and beautiful, and you’ll be happy to leave them out on the bar.
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WILLOW CREEK ESTATE OLIVE OIL 9
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5 DUALIT KETTLE Save energy when design and technology come together in this classic 1.7 litre kettle. Its Whisper Boil technology was awarded the “Quiet Mark” by the British Society of Noise. R3,999.
6 COUNTERTOP COMPOST BIN It’s great for your garden and great for the environment, but it is not easy to start composting. This is an attractive countertop solution for storing fruit and veggie scraps before moving them outside. R399.
8 WILD BLOSSOM HONEY This wild blossom honey is grown and crafted by the Chaloner family at their farm on the slopes of the mountains outside Stellenbosch. The perfect addition to toast, pancakes or yoghurt with fruit. R69.
Willow Creek Estate lies in the Nuy Valley, in the Western Cape. Close to the Langeberg Mountain range, the farm has been in the Rabie family since the late 1700s. A recent descendant, Andries Rabie, planted the first olive trees in 1999, and in 2002 the first oil was pressed. Today, Willow Creek Estate comprises 260 hectares, planted with 200 000 olive trees and keeps raking in awards and accolades. Olive oils, tapenades, pitted olives and more are available in the deli section of most major outlets, but can also be ordered directly from the Estate. Prices start at around R60. WWW.WILLOWCREEK.CO.ZA
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COVER PROPERTY
PA L L A D I O - S T Y L E V I L L A
OXFORD AVENUE, SANDHURST
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During the mid-fifteenth century, Venetian architect Andrea Palladio conceived and built a series of villas in the Veneto region of Italy for the powerful bankers and merchants of the Venetian Republic. On Oxford Avenue, architect Johann Slee reproduced this particular style for the original South African owners several decades ago.
COVER PROPERTY
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he Venetian upper-class had their homes in the country, called ‘villas,’ while a town home would be called a ‘pallazo.’ By all accounts, this design by Slee should have been called a ‘pallazo’ given its palatial stature and features, as well as its location on Oxford Avenue, a landmark of the leafy northern suburbs. The Palladio style of villas and town homes have earned the Veneto region UNESCO World Heritage Site status, named ‘City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto.’ Here, visitors can view the restoration of some of Palladio’s finest works, after the ravage of time and many a scuffle. His signature bold use of, among others, Doric pilasters, large bases and excellent symmetry, coupled with a very practical approach to the special needs of country-living, made these villas stand the test of time. Slee lived and worked in the Veneto region early in his career and used his time in the area to study Palladio’s work. When, several decades ago, his Johannesburg clients wanted something special, he proposed a villa in this style, given that one of the owners was a travel agent with a fondness for Italy. So, Slee set out to produce the best of Palladio on Oxford, while adapting for local conditions and climate. He started by setting the house high for a superb view. What followed were dramatic exterior motifs, wonderful symmetry making for harmony and balance, and a huge emphasis on light. The villa has high ceilings, with appropriately high doors and windows and most doors have inset windows for added light. Throughout, internal doors use the shutter-style and other doors have cremonese closing mechanisms. Wooden window and door frames are typically fitted with brass handles. Slee designed large fireplaces for the lounge, dining room and study and wrapped them in moulded mantelpieces and surrounds. His attention to detail is further enhanced by elegant cornices, deep skirtings and custom designed curved ceilings. Floors were laid with Travatine marble and wood and have underfloor heating. Levels were connected with wrought iron balustrades and polished wood handrails. The result: a fine villa with a flow that reflects the original functionality of Palladio’s designs. One enters from a curved driveway and circular parking area with a pond and fountain feature, through a double front door into a breath-taking entrance hall with a double staircase going upstairs, and a grand staircase descending into the
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reception area downstairs. This lower reception area has triple volume space, covered with a huge dome, and opens onto a spacious entertainment patio, pool and garden. The formal lounge, with fireplace and large moulded mantelpiece, has two sets of double doors with cremonese shutters that open onto the patio and garden. The voluminous formal covered patio with huge high ceiling, pillars and arches, has place for lounge and dining suites. Steps flow down to the garden and pool. The study, with solid wood fittings, features a fireplace and opens onto a courtyard and garden. It is adjoined by a wine cellar. Nearby sits a cinema room with fitted sound system, also with access to the outdoors. The dining hall has a built-in mahogany server, a fireplace with a large moulded mantelpiece, predictably a central wrought-iron chandelier, and it opens on three sides to a covered patio, the garden and an open patio respectively. This level also features a gym room with a Jacuzzi and a spacious family room that leads outside through several doorways. An adjoining bathroom has a wrought iron chandelier, with basin, shower and toilet.
An attractive kitchen houses authentic granite surfaces, maple units, a central island with prep bowl, two ovens, gas and electric hob, a griller and extractor fan, plus a practical breakfast area with doors on three sides opening onto a courtyard with koi pond and fountain. Out of view is the large scullery, a pantry with walk-in refrigerator and a further storeroom. Upstairs, all three bedrooms lead out to Juliet balconies. The master suite has a fitted dressing room, two storerooms for linen and luggage, separate toilet and bidet, separate steam shower, plus a large bathroom with marble vanities, decorated with two basins and maple cupboards, bath, plus an outdoor shower in its own balcony. The second and third bedrooms each have many of the same amenities at their disposal. An adjoining guest cottage has a bedroom en suite and an open-plan kitchen. On the grounds are staff quarters with three bedrooms, kitchen, dining and lounge facilities. There is garaging for four cars and an additional storeroom for implements and sports equipment. The house of Âą1 200m2 is set on 4 599m2 of land and is serviced by state-of-the-art irrigation and security systems.
VIEWING IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. CONTACT: CORINNA LOWRY on +27 (0)82 652 8891 or GEORGE PAPADOPOULOS on +27 (0)84 454 1834
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THE LEGACY
DA W N BY THE DRIVEN TEAM PICS ROLLS ROYCE ©
MOTORING
The Rolls-Royce Dawn offers the quintessential British automaker a new horizon of opportunity in a market that is becoming increasingly younger and more bespoke.
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espoke is not merely a way of doing, it is a way of living that is enshrined into the very fibre of the Rolls-Royce Motor Car company. Undisputed as the world’s leading luxury auto brand, Rolls-Royce does not merely make a new car, it carefully considers the wants and needs of its elite customers and creates masterpieces of engineering that effortlessly preserve the gravitas of the brand. The name “Dawn” suggests fresh opportunities for the brand and its customers, but that does not mean Rolls-Royce would ever compromise any of its core values when creating a motor car for a new audience. Guided by the long-held maxim to “accept nothing nearly right or good enough”, the Goodwood engineers set themselves the ambitious goal of creating a truly super luxury four-seater that looks as stunning with the roof up as it does with the top down. Inspired by the original Silver Dawn – delivered by coachbuilders Park Ward to their first customer, Colonel W.A. Phillips in Canada in 1952 – the new Dawn is a modern interpretation of a true classic. Particular engineering and manufacturing attention was paid to one key feature of the Dawn: its roof. Silent and graceful, the Dawn’s roof represents much more than a means of closing the car to the elements. It is an integral part of Dawn’s signature design, and a tailored feature that is meant to enhance the social space that is the Dawn’s interior, whether enjoying open-top driving or coupé motoring. Unheard of anywhere in the modern motor industry until now, the roof of the Rolls-Royce Dawn delivers the silence of a Wraith when up, and operates in almost complete silence in just over 20 seconds at a cruising speed of up to 50 km/h. It is
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called “the Silent Ballet.” Two key techniques were employed to ensure the roof not only appears beautiful and sensuous in its form, but also contributes to the silence of the car in its function. A perfectly smooth surface, combined with an innovative tailored “French Seam” ensures that the airflow over the car with the roof up creates no noticeable wind noise. While new techniques in design and execution are the order of the day for Dawn, its exterior design remains true to classic RollsRoyce principles – 2:1 wheel height to body height, a long bonnet, short front overhang, a long rear overhang, an elegant tapering rear graphic and a high shoulder line. Dawn’s graceful proportions look equal parts classic drophead and athletic sports car, all of which hints at its power. The inimitable soul of any Rolls-Royce is the acclaimed 6.6-litre V12 twin-turbo powertrain that is housed in every motor car that rolls off the assembly line at Goodwood – except for the Phantom, which still employs a normallyaspirated 6.7-litre engine. Delivering a power output of 420 kW at 5 250 r/min and a torque rating of 780 Nm, the experience of piloting Dawn is simply exhilarating. Ready and able to deliver its power to the road, the Dawn maintains the typical feedback-rich driving experience so entrenched in the Rolls-Royce DNA. The ride is forgiving without being soft, athletic without being rigid, and elegant without the stereotypical largesse with which one is tempted to associate with this kind of car.
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EILEAN 1936
PANERAI’S CLASSIC The Panerai luxury watch brand’s history is steeped in maritime military history, and remains closely associated with the sailing of classic yachts built long ago. Then they discovered their own flagship…
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RESTORATION
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FLAGSHIP
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s the sun’s last rays reflected across the bay of English Harbour, Antigua, Panerai CEO Angelo Bonatti sat down after a busy day attending the local leg of the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge to enjoy a few cocktails. Suddenly, looking out over the water, he spied the Eilean, a 1936 Bermudian Ketch with an unmistakable William Fife boatyard pedigree, tied to an old, rusty tugboat to stop her from sinking. Bonatti’s discovery of Eilean and her subsequent reconstruction set the course for one of the most inspiring stories of tradition, seamanship, care, passion and precision craftsmanship. Since 2005, Officine Panerai, one of the world’s most prestigious watch brands, has sponsored the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge, bringing together the beautiful old ladies of the sea – those built between the late 1800s and early 1900s – to compete in settings where the history of sailing was originally written. Already smitten by this breath-taking sight of so many fully restored or carefully reconstructed classic yachts under full sail, Bonatti decided there and then that the Eilean, too, would be destined for great things once again; she would be fully restored and would become Panerai’s very own flagship vessel at these events. Eilean had a chequered history. Built by the 80-year-old William Fife III, her waterlines were inspired by the J-Class yachts popular in the America’s Cup in the 1930s. Her first owners, the Fulton brothers – James V and Robert W – sailed her for only a short while before both lost their lives in WWII. Changing hands several times over the next decade, yet with very little of her activity recorded, Eilean got her chance in the 1970s when architect John Shearer, who sailed on her as a child when she was skippered by his uncle,
bought Eilean to turn her into one of the most popular charter yachts in the Caribbean. A brief 15 minutes of fame came when pop group Duran Duran chartered Eilean to shoot the video for their song “Rio”. After 14 Atlantic crossings, Eilean’s slow demise began when she was damaged by a stricken ferry off the coast of Malaga. She scraped home to Old Harbour, where first her rusted tugboat companion, and later termites, gradually stripped her of her former glory. So, to give Eilean her makeover, Panerai had a huge job at hand. Tied by mooring cables to the mangrove swamps, stripped of her masts and the interior emptied out, she was unfit to cross the Atlantic. So Eilean was first towed out to sea, to Martinique, and filled with inflated balloons to keep her afloat. From there she was shipped on a special yacht carrier to Genoa’s Voltri Port, and onwards to the Francesco Del Carlo boatyard in Viareggio, Italy, which had been commissioned to undertake her restoration. At the Del Carlo boatyard, the restoration steered as close to original materials and plans as possible. Almost all of the original four-centimetre thick Burma teak planking of her hull was restored,
as was the teak cockpit in Eilean’s stern, with original features such as the wooden steering wheel and the column of the brass compass perfectly refitted. The original bronze gear mechanism was remounted after restoration. The Fife deck-house, also made from Burma teak and located aft of the cockpit, was dismantled and restored in its original 1936 shape and chamber, as were the four original bronze portholes. Fresh materials were introduced for the 50 square metres of Eilean’s deck while the rigging and equipment on deck was replaced with seven new bronze winches, all manual and double speed with no electric or hydraulic mechanisms. Around six cubic metres of African mahogany was introduced for the interior and cabins, all in the original layout, which interestingly enough never included a dedicated owner’s cabin. This ketch was built for long trips at sea, and with this in mind, the single bunk complete with lee cloth was preferred. The two most striking features on Eilean are the generous central saloon and the two masts. Entering the wardroom saloon is akin to entering an old library, complete with rare books and mahogany graining. The two masts, the boom and the bowsprit used six cubic
metres of Alaskan spruce from just one tree. The mainmast is 28.5 metres tall and weighs around 800 kilograms, while the 18.3-metre tall mizzenmast weighs in at 300 kilograms. Planks from the Alaskan tree were glued together for a square section, which was then handrounded. The result is hollow masts with a striking pear-shape pattern repeated on both. These masts were fitted with the same zinc-plated iron used in the 1930s construction. The Fife boatyard’s symbolic dragons have once again been carved on both sides of the hull, with their heads on the bow and their tails on the stern. Eilean, Gaelic for “little island,” is carved into the transom wood. The combination of repolished old and brand new is a sight to behold. After a labour of love for almost three years, the renovated Eilean was introduced to the press in the Italian Navy’s La Spezia Harbour. Declared Bonatti at the time: “Seeing Eilean restored to her former glory is very moving, and I am sure that all lovers of vintage sailing boats share my emotion. With her elegance and perfect lines, Eilean is not just an example of craftsmanship and authenticity, but also a symbol of a love for the sea that only sailing manages to convey.”
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COCKTAIL
MOJITO SET SAIL WITH A CUBAN TRADITION
Some accounts attribute the invention of the Mojito to the desperate slaves working on Cuban sugar cane plantations in the late 19th century. Others suggest it was Francis Drake and his pirates who, in 1586, failed to steal Havana’s gold but managed to concoct a consolatory drink comprised of Cuban rum, sugar, lime and mint. Either way, the rum at the time was scarcely potable and needed a little help going down. Nowadays, baristas the world over get a kick by adding their own twist to this traditional cocktail, and we all can enjoy it. INGREDIENTS • 1.5 parts gin • ½ part triple sec • ½ orange, cubed • 8 fresh mint leaves • 1 tsp of honey • tonic water • orange slices and mint leaves METHOD Muddle the gin, triple sec, orange and mint leaves together with a scoop of crushed ice. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of honey and muddle some more. Pour into a chilled Collins glass and top with tonic water. Garnish with a slice of orange and a sprig of mint. BARTENDER’S TIP To muddle is to combine ingredients, usually in the bottom of a mixing glass, by pressing them with a muddler before adding the majority of the liquid ingredients. A muddler is a long, pestle-shaped utensil that is commonly made of wood, though modern designs can be found in stainless steel or plastic. One end of this bar tool is large and rounded and is used to mash the ingredients; the other end is skinnier and flat and is used to mix ingredients.
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RECIPE
LIGHTLY SMOKED
DUCK BREAST WITH APPLE CHUTNEY, BRAISED BABY LEEKS, CARROT PURÉE, AND SHERRY FOAM
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INGREDIENTS FOR THE DUCK BREAST • 4 duck breasts, scored on the skin, seasoned with salt and black pepper • 1 cup rice • 80g sugar • 4 rooibos teabags, tea leaves only FOR THE APPLE CHUTNEY • 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced • 20g sugar • 20g glucose • 20ml water • 1 star anise • 2 juniper berries • 1 clove • 20ml sherry vinegar
TEXT & IMAGES: COURTESY GRANDE PROVENCE
FOR THE BRAISED LEEKS • 16 baby leeks • 5 sprigs of thyme • 100ml pale dry sherry • 100ml water • salt to taste FOR THE CARROT PURÉE • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced • ½ onion, sliced • 30g butter • 100ml cream FOR THE SHERRY FOAM • braising liquid from leeks • 80ml cream • 1 egg yolk • 50ml water
METHOD
PREPARE THE DUCK: Mix rice, sugar and rooibos tea leaves together and transfer to a square of aluminium foil. Fold up tight and flat, leaving no gaps in the foil. Using a fork, poke a few holes in the top part of the parcel and place in a pot on medium heat. Cover with a lid. Once this has started smoking, place the duck breasts onto a perforated oven tray small enough to fit into the pot. Controlling the heat so that it’s just smoky and not hot, smoke the duck for 4 minutes; remove and set aside. MAKE THE CHUTNEY: Place all ingredients except the vinegar and apple in a small saucepan. Heat until caramelised before removing spices with a slotted spoon. Add the vinegar and then the apples, together with a pinch of salt. Cook until brown, stirring to avoid the chutney sticking to the pan. Allow to cool.
saucepan. Add onion and soften but don’t brown. Add carrots and a pinch of salt. Cover with a lid and cook until carrots are soft, being careful not to brown. Add cream and bring to the boil. Liquidise until smooth. PREPARE THE SHERRY FOAM: Reduce braising liquid and cream until sauce thickens; season to taste. In a mixing bowl, place egg yolk and water, and whisk over heat until fluffy. Fold a ladle of foam into the sauce to form the sherry foam. COOK THE DUCK BREASTS: Place duck skin-side down in a cold pan. Bring pan to medium heat to render fat. Once the skin is crispy, turn each piece and brown off the other side before transferring to a pre-heated oven of 180 ºC to bake for 6 minutes.
BRAISE THE LEEKS: Wash off the leeks under cold running water to ensure they are properly clean. Brown the leeks in a saucepan before deglazing the pan with sherry. Reduce by half and add the water, salt and thyme. Cover with a lid and cook until soft.
TO SERVE: Warm 4 plates. Place 4 leeks in the centre of each plate and spoon 2 dollops of purée onto opposite sides of each plate. Carve each duck breast into thin slices and place on top of leeks. Using two spoons, shape chutney into quenelles and lay on top of duck. Drizzle foam around the duck, garnish with chervil or a sprig of thyme and enjoy.
MAKE THE CARROT PURÉE: On medium heat, melt butter in a
SERVES 4
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HERITAGE
OWN A PART OF HISTORY
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Once a sleepy farming area, the northern suburbs of Johannesburg started attracting scores of immigrants once gold was discovered. Fortune seekers still flock to the city of gold. Each group has added its own cultural footprint to the diverse urban landscape, but hardly as impressive as the Italian immigrant community of artisans and builders.
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n the heart of the green urban forest, within earshot of the lions at the Johannesburg Zoo, lies Villa d’ Este. Named after the famous Tivoli palace built in the 16th Century by the vastly influential Cardinal d’Este, who stood for election as Pope on five occasions, this heritage building in Saxonwold has a similarly fascinating history of how it came to nestle behind its high walls in Johannesburg. Originally built in 1923, the first home drew heavily on Dutch and Spanish influences. It was 32 years later, when architect David Morrison acquired the property, that a remodelling project stretching over several decades reshaped Villa d’Este into one of the city’s finest examples of Italian architecture. Morrison was able to draw on the skills of the large number of Italian artisans and builders who settled in the area after being released as
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prisoners of war after WWII. By some estimates, almost 100 000 Italians decided to remain in this country, and they brought their fine-honed talents to the market. Morrison decided to emulate, admittedly on a much smaller scale, the Tivoli palace. Cardinal d’Este was a major patron of the arts, and this relationship is reflected in the Saxonwold property’s many statues and works of art. Water features, fountains, columns and Romanesque frescoes are also derived from the Cardinal’s original vision.
Currently, Villa d’Este is used to operate the awardwinning Camelot Spa, which is exquisitely set among the fragrant lavender hedges, sweeping cypress trees and soothing sound of fountains. The property could, however, easily be converted back into a family residence, if the new owners so wish. Stretched over almost 2 300m2 of some of the finest land and gardens in the metro, it offers an oasis of calm amidst the Afropolitan hustle and bustle of modern, 21st Century Johannesburg.
VIEWING IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY ASKING: R12 850 000 SEEFF.COM REFERENCE: 380886 FEATURES: 6 BEDROOMS, 3 BATHROOMS, 3 GARAGES ERF SIZE: 2 299m² AGENTS: DAVID SAVAGE +27(0)72 232 7222 or TYLER WILSON +27(0)82 927 9495
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What makes for unrivalled beauty? A combination of the rarest tanzanite and the most brilliant diamonds, selected and masterly crafted by hand to be transformed into and exquisite Shimansky original - the only one of its kind.
SHOP L57, LOWER LEVEL, NELSON MANDELA SQUARE, SANDTON CITY, JOHANNESBURG | WWW.SHIMANSKY.COM