Inception

This is the smartest movie I have seen in a long time. Inception is built on layer upon layer of narrative, setting and characterisation. Just when you think you have it all figured out, there’s another layer. It’s like Russian dolls that way: as soon as you think you’ve gotten to the smallest doll, you discover the crack that reveals another one.

The story follows Cobb (Leonardo di Caprio) and his team (including Joseph Gordon- Levitt) as they plan a subconscious burglary – they steal ideas through the subconscious mind. This sounds tricky, and it is for the team and the audience. First you have to suspend disbelief and allow the premise that people can in fact enter dreams. But the dreams are so brilliant, so real, that the film sweeps you up and the difficulty in telling dreams from reality makes the film.

Cobb of course has his demons to battle (as does any worthwhile protagonist), and it is with these battles raging that he attempts his most difficult project ever. Enter Ariadne (Ellen Page) and various other team members. Cillian Murphy is the target and he is as cool as ever, though less ruddy than in his previous films (The Dark Knight, Red Eye)

This may be a film about a heist but it is not way simply a hi-tech robbery film of The Italian Job and Ocean’s 11, but the story also looks at far more intriguing themes like forgiveness, acceptance and guilt. Ellen Page plays the grounded confidante to Di Caprio’s troubled mind and she is the character that ultimately drives the story forward in revealing what has happened or will happen.

Layers are integral to Inception, and the way they interlink is something I’ve never before seen. Some may compare it to The Matrix, but this goes far beyond those simple levels to a far more complex and meaningful story. 

Leonardo di Caprio has, with Shutter Island and The Departed, shot to that echelon of stardom that few reach and his performance in Inception is laudable. He plays it cool, yet accesses some really deep emotions without heading for melodramatic territory. He is going to be one of The Greats and Inception will surely be one of the films that will appear in Classic Di Caprio DVD sets in the future.

Go see Inception on the big screen, as the visual effects by Chris Ourbould are stunning and the big screen will allow you to become totally immersed in the reality/fantasy of the film. It is worth going to see Inception for the cinematography alone.Christopher Nolan is a brilliant director and this is even better than The Dark Knight. And the ending… It is mind boggling. Please, see this film!

Cupcake Magic: little cakes with attitude

Have I mentioned I’m obsessed with cupcakes? Those delicious little bite sizes of heaven which have glorious potential for flavour and decoration and all round yumminess? I haven’t? Well, this is where it went from mild interest to full blown obsession – Cupcake Magic.

Kate Shirazi has created a stunning book dedicated to mixing, baking and decorating my favourite delicacy. The best part about this book is how the chapters are divided – “Low Faff”, “Mid Faff” and “High Faff”! From this I could immediately tell that this was going to be my kind of book. If you have ever baked cupcakes (which I highly recommend trying, even if you think you can’t bake) then you will know that the decoration depends completely on time at hand and the mood you are in. Cupcake Magic caters perfectly to finding the perfect cupcake for both these criteria.

When I have time my personal favourite is the “Black Forest Gateau Cupcake” (pictured below), but for quickies, I opt for the “Basic No-Mucking Around Cupcake” which is true to its name and can just be sprinkled with icing sugar – mmmmm… good. (Mine are pictured with purple royal icing).

Kate Shirazi has devised easy, light and fluffy recipes which all bake in 20 minutes. Her icing recipes are so useful and she also includes how to make decorations for the more adventurous (I have only got as far as roses!). Her style is informal and she will guide you every step of the way to perfect cupcakes, including tips on ingredients, baking supplies and decorations (I love edible glitter!).

Something interesting about the recipes is that they all call for margarine. Most bakers frown on this, but Shirazi bravely takes a stand and admits that for cupcakes, and only cupcakes, she prefers margarine because it makes for fluffier batter. She has quickly won me over with edible proof. Plus, who couldn’t trust someone who saves battery chickens and only uses free range eggs? (She did actually save battery chickens and now has her own egg supply at home).

I highly recommend this book for any aspiring baker or someone who simply loves cake. Plus the photographs and layout are so gorgeous that this book would give anyone’s kitchen shelves a lift.

Thank you to Sarah Duff for photographing my creations (yes, I actually made these ones!). Please check out her stunning blog at www.veggiedelish.com (it really is delish).

Just to give you a little taste – here’s the recipe for “Black Forest Gateau Cupcakes”

 Makes 12 delicious cupcakes

85g self-raising flour

4 Tbsp cocoa powder

110g castor sugar

110g margarine

1 tsp baking powder

2 large free-range eggs

1 jar cherry jam ( I used Pick’n’Pay Morello jam)

200ml whipping cream

60g dark chocolate

1 tin black cherries, drained

Pre-heat oven to 170˚C. Line muffin pan with cupcake cases (this will make washing up and getting the cupcakes out easier).

Sift the flour, cocoa powder and sugar into a large bowl, or food processor. Add marg, baking powder and eggs. Beat well until batter is light and fluffy. Spoon mixture into the cupcake cases and bake for about 20 minutes until firm to the touch. Remove and allow to cool.

Once cool, smother the top of each cupcake with a generous amount of jam, then pile whipped cream on top. Finish with some grated chocolate. I then finish them off with black cherries, but Kate Shirazi suggests glace cherries on a stick.

WOW!

River Café, Constantia Uitsig

9 am on Saturday. Not the time at which you’d normally find me out of bed and ready for breakfast, but friends’ birthdays are special and require extra effort. So it was off to the River Café. It was worth getting up early for the healthy breakfast and champagne (sorry, sparkling wine!).

Krone Borealis Brut was flowing with the fresh orange juice (I think myself quite the orange juice connoisseur, so it was definitely super fresh and delicious). The waiters were really attentive and kept our glasses topped up. Their smiles were constant, but unfortunately the lights were flickering. Sure enough, the electricity cut out, but luckily the River Café has a generator and the manager himself came to apologise to the table for the slight delay with our food.

The food was fabulous! My healthy breakfast was a massive plate of strawberries, grapefruit, kiwi, winter melon, pineapple, banana, apple, yoghurt panna cotta and muesli. I felt like I’d had my five servings of fruit for the day – stunning! The yoghurt panna cotta was smooth and delicious, contrasted to the crunchy muesli.

I must admit that while I was trying to be healthy, I was drooling over the fried up breakfasts around me – potato rösti, eggs and hollandaise sauce or eggs, sausages, mushrooms and all the fried-up goodness of traditional breakfasts. I missed the toast slathered in butter the most, so just had to sneak a piece!

The River Café has a beautiful setting, yummy food and friendly staff. The only thing I would improve is the coffee. It was a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday. Happy birthday, George!

If you get to the River Café before the 29^th August, you can also enjoy their Winter Special of a three course meal and a carafe of wine for only R195. If it’s as good as the breakfast, I’m sure it’ll be well worth it.

The River Café: Constantia Uitsig, Spaanschemat Road, Constantia, 021 794 3010  Breakfasts: R40+ Service: Excellent and friendly. Open 7 days a week, but for dinner only Saturday to Wednesday.