Bloody, Bloody Book Week

I am always saddened when the Bloody Book Week, brainchild of Jenny Crwys-Williams, ends every year, as it is a week filled non-stop with the magic of books and lots of truly fascinating people.
The Bloody Book Week over the last three years has given this humble coffee shop owner the opportunity, not always afforded to us ordinary mortals, of meeting and more importantly interacting with a host of some of South Africa and the World’s most amazing authors

This year has been no exception and whilst I didn’t get to host Peter James and Deon Meyer this time around I had the immense luxury of spending an incredibly entertaining Thursday evening with Jacques Steenkamp, Amanda Coetzee, and newcomers Penny Lorrimer and CM Eliot, as well an outstanding Saturday afternoon with 702’s Ray White, Dr David Klatzow and Paul O’Sullivan.

It was fascinating hearing about the different writing styles of the lady thriller writers, to plot or not to plot is the question, character development, getting to know the characters and the joy of discovering the various protagonists, from CM Eliot’s Sibanda in the African bush to Amanda Coetzee’s Badger, a hunky sinewy Traveler (Gypsy). It does take a little leap of imagination to see these ladies sitting at their laptops plotting murders most foul, particularly in the case of Amanda Coetzee who is the bouncy, happy, irrepressible creature who talks at twenty to the dozen and writes a fabulous thriller.
Jacques Steenkamp the absolutely charming crime journalist who lead the conversation spent a few minutes chatting to me about his non-fiction book about the Griquastad murders, also the Steenkamp family but luckily no relation. I wouldn’t be lying if I said it was a truly enjoyable evening.

Four Deadly Authors, Their Books…

Some of the evening’s picture highlights with Authors, Mtutuzeli Nyoka and Mariyln Cohen De Villiers in the audience

A magnificent Saturday afternoon event spent with three very interesting characters, Dr David Klatzow, Paul O’Sullivan and Radio 702’s Ray White.
What can I say about Ray White apart from the fact that he is a delightful human being, charming, lovely eyes, softly spoken but with some steal under there I think, and a great sense of humour. There are rumours that he too, has a book coming out at some point. I cannot wait for that to happen! Watch this space about Ray White!!!
Paul O’Sullivan and David Klatzow, couldn’t be more different. Paul’s CV must make for fascinating reading, I honestly cannot remember how many different types of policing or police/security services he has been in both locally and abroad. His accent is an unusual mix of Irish, Afrikaans with a little R rolling. I perceived him as a little uncomfortable to be around, he doesn’t radiate warmth but maybe that has something to do with his choice of career. I did fully expect him to arrive with hunky, chunky Kevin Costner, bodyguards in tow, alas I was disappointed. I am pretty sure he is not at the top of Jackie Selebi’s Christmas card list and I never said a word about Glen Agliotti, having taken center stage at Indulgence Cafe last year, with his charm at volcanic level charm. What is it that makes the bad guys charming and the good guys not quite so?
I realize it isn’t polite to have favourites but David Klatzow could quite possibly get a Valentine’s card from me next year. I think that gruff exterior and furry face hides a supremely sharp mind accompanied by a sharp wit and a very dry sense of humour. He does have a lovely smile when you catch sight of it, but the thing that strikes you the most is the passion with which he speaks. He positively radiates when talking about his chosen career and the work he does. For me it was an absolute privilege having spent the time listening to him talk to Ray White at Indulgence Cafe and Alex Eliseev at Bookdealers, The Colony.

The Books…

A couple of the pics from Saturday afternoon’s event

Thank you so much Jenny and Co, for including me and Indulgence Cafe in the 2014 Bloody Book Week events, it was an honour and a privilege
Until next year..

Our 2013 in Pictures…………..

January to December 2013……

Welcome to the New Year

Amiga inspecting the beanies for The Beanie Project

Sushi Evenings at Indulgence Cafe

Adriaan Basson and Anton Harber at Indulgence Cafe

Easter Egg Collection for the Needy

Naughty Cupcakes

Hagen Engler at Indulgence Cafe

Our New Baby

Auriol Hays at Indulgence Cafe

Annica at Indulgence Cafe, a taste of next month

Gareth Crocker at Indulgence Cafe

On Radio Today with Michael De Pinna

Mother’s Day Lunch

Pieter Dirk Uys Visits us for the first time

Keira Witherkay at Indulgence Cafe

Annica in Action

Peter Piegl, Sean Newman and Glenn Agliotti

Gogo’s Birthday

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Michael Sears

Jo-Anne Richards

Craft Beer Tasting with the League of Beers

The Twisted Market

The Bloody Book Week with Margie Orford, Stuart MacBride, Alex Eliseev, Barry Bateman, Mike Nicol, Michele Rowe, Mthuthuzeli Nyoka and Julian Rademeyer

Tony Leon at Indulgence Cafe

Heritage Day with James Hendry

The Burger Menu Launches

Girl Power

Lee Marcus with Basha, baby

First Annual Horror and Fantasy Festival at Indulgence Cafe

Halloween at Indulgence Cafe

Second Craft Beer Tasting with Three Skulls Beer

Pieter Dirk Uys, the Return Visit

Lionel Bastos, live at Indulgence Cafe

Open Mic Night at Indulgence Cafe

Keira and Auriol together again

Wine and oyster evening with Oneiric Wines

Zapiro at Indulgence Cafe

The Death of a Statesman, Nelson Mandela

Deep Fried Man live at Indulgence Cafe

Author’s Cocktail Evening with a whole bunch of great SA authors

Hamilton Wende Reading from Arabella, the Moon and the Magic Mongongo Nut

A slightly Disorganized Carols By Candlelight

Twitter Pre-Christmas Evening

We Look forward to a fabulous and fun filled 2014 with more events, more authors and a whole bunch more Indulgent Fun, share this journey with us in this coming year
Love ‘n Lollipops
Mandi

Bloody Book Week Events 2013

Bloody Book Week

Well Hello There 🙂

These are the four Bloody Book Week Events that are taking place at Indulgence Cafe on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th of August. The line up is fabulous, the talent immense, the venue delightful and the food delicious and of course you get me thrown into the mix at no extra charge! Book your place today!

Bloody Book Week
We are honoured once again to be part of the Bloody Book Week with Jenny Crwys-Williams and Sunday Times. This exciting week has a host of incredible local and international, very talented crime writers at various locations all over Jozi available to you the public to meet and ask questions of. It is really a wonderful week to be a part of and we have asked for and been given four great events to host with nine top class, very interesting writers and authors! There are snacks and meals included in all the booking fees and books will be available for sale at all events. Please take note of the different start times, two are evening events and two are morning events

1 Aug
Julian Rademeyer and Mtutuzeli Nyoka, Killing in the African Bush
Mtutuzeli Nyoka: former president of Cricket SA, ENT surgeon, novelist, served as the President of Cricket South Africa (CSA) from 2008 to 2011. He currently lives in Johannesburg where he practices as an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon. His first novel, I Speak to the Silent, was published in 2004 by UKZN Press to widespread critical acclaim, and his second novel A Hill of Fools was published in April 2013 by Picador Africa http://mtutuzelinyoka.com/

Julian Rademeyer: investigative journalist, Alan Paton Award shortlisted author, is an award-winning investigative journalist who, for nearly 20 years, has written and worked for major South African and Australian newspapers and news agencies. Killing for Profit is his Alan Paton shortlisted book for 2013, a searing investigation into one of the most brutal of crimes and ruthless criminal enterprise: rhino poaching.
http://www.randomstruik.co.za/about-the-author.php?authorID=5958

We are charging R120 per head for this event which includes a light buffet dinner available from 6pm. The authors will start promptly at 7.30pm. Please be seated well in advance. Bookings please for catering purposes
The link to the FB event http://www.facebook.com/events/542142289179490/

Julian Rademeyer, Killing for Profit

Mtutuzeli Nyoka

2 Aug
Mike Nicol in conversation with Michele Rowe

Michéle Rowe: won the 2011 CWA Debut Dagger Award. Michele is writing South Africa’s second crime trilogy (Mike Nicol wrote the first). The first book in the trilogy What Hidden Lies will be launched at The Bloody Book Week. Michele Rowe is a scriptwriter for television and film. http://www.michelrowe.co.za

Mike Nicol: Journalist, writer and creator of SA’s only krimi page, Crime Beat, a journalist and writer, and convener of online writing courses on creative and non-fiction narrative. His Revenge Trilogy (Payback, Killer Country, Black Heart) is gaining stature abroad. For crime fiction news and interviews go to Crime Beat which is devoted to SA krimis, and more. A writer of stature and a wayward sense of humour, he has contributed, he has Apart from his crime writing, he is a writer of stature and his latest crime novel Cops & Robbers will be launched at the Bloody Book Week. http://mikenicol.bookslive.co.za/bout/

The link to the FB event http://www.facebook.com/events/356745727787886/
We are charging R120 per head for this event which includes a light buffet dinner available from 6pm. The authors will start promptly at 7.30pm. Please be seated well in advance, bookings please for catering purposes.

Michele Rowe and Mike Nicol

3 Aug
Barry Bateman and Alex Eliseev talking Cold Case and true crime in Africa

Barry Bateman: investigative EWN Pretoria-based newsman with fire in his belly. Broke the Oscar Pistorius story on 702, tweeter of superhuman skills. Writing Behind the Door – the Oscar & Reeva Story with Mandy Weiner

Alex Eliseev: Award-winning EWN hard news journalist; on a Taco Kuiper grant for his cold case book: The Murder of Betty Ketani, A Secret Breaks Free (2014) & part of the Barry Bateman/Mandy Weiner Oscar Pistorius bail hearing team http://alexeliseev.co.za/

We are charging R100 per head for this event, breakfast snacks will be served at the tables. Bookings only please, payment in advance. Authors will start promptly at 10am, seating from 8.30am
http://www.facebook.com/events/169116873269416/

Barry Bateman and Alex Eliseev

4 Aug
Peter James and Stuart MacBride in conversation with Margie Orford

Peter James: an international best-selling crime thriller novelist published in 36 languages, he has written nine Roy Grace novels (sales are astonishing: 13 million for one of these novels, 11 million for another) but there are stand alone novels as well. His most recent novel is Dead Man’s Time, a Roy Grace novel. He has a particular interest in science, medicine and the paranormal. Novels, all set in Brighton. http://www.peterjames.com

Stuart MacBride: award-winning tartan noir crime writer
Having failed abjectly at architecture/IT/graphic designer/undertaker/etcetera, Stuart began writing a wee book set in Aberdeen, Cold Granite. His anti hero cop is Det Sergeant Logan McRae and the book was snapped up by Harper Collins. His latest book is Close to the Bone, “a typically twisted tale of witchcraft, murder and delusion.” Dying Light, Broken Skin, Flesh House, Blind Eye, Dark Blood, Shatter the Bones and his latest book (Close to the Bone). http://www.stuartmacbride.com

Margie Orford: crime novelist, award-winning journalist, film director, children’s fiction and non-fiction, and patron of Rape Crisis
Margie Orford is a crime novelist, who is already an award winning journalist and film director, and author of children’s fiction, non-fiction and school text books. Born in London, she grew up in Namibia and South Africa.

We are charging R280 per head for this event which includes a light brunch to be served after the talk. Bookings only please, payment in advance. Please email me to confirm. Authors will start promptly at 10am, seating from 9am

The link to the FB event http://www.facebook.com/events/672938522732653/

Peter James and Stuart MacBride

To book just pop me an email to lollipops@telkomsa.net or call us on 0117825062
Love ‘n Lollipops
Mandi

Sex, Lies and Bloody Good Reads

From one gangster to another……..

Hello, Hello, Hello Puddings!

Officially we are half way through the year, half way through winter and we do live in exciting times. I know that is a Chinese curse but I think it is remarkably true at the moment. The American president has just jetted in and out with his entourage in tow, the country waits with baited breath for daily news on our beloved Madiba, the petrol price goes up and up and UPPPPPPP, sh*t literally is flying around and Glenn Agliotti is quite charming! You really were not expecting that comment were you? (yes, it was a rhetorical question)
June was a really lovely month at Indulgence or my staff probably think so given that I wasn’t here for the first bit but I hit the ground running when I got home and back into the swing of things.
I had the privilege of sitting and chatting to Michael Sears, one half of writing duo Michael Stanley about their new book, Deadly Harvest and Jo-Anne Richards about her new book, The Imagined Child. Both of these authors are great to chat to, knowledgeable, erudite and downright fabulous and so are their books. It was a really lovely evening and we had a very decent turnout which always makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside! I have posted a short video to YouTube of Jo-Anne Richards reading an excerpt from her book, The Imagined Child but for some reason my video of Michael Sears never came out so sadly I was unable to post that to YouTube as well. The link to the video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SccvhG-bn8M

An entertaining evening with Michael Stanley’s Michael Sears and Jo-Anne Richards

The second fabulous book event of June was with two delightful young men who have graced our doors before with their first book on Lolly Jackson, Sean Newman and Peter Piegl. Glenn Agliotti himself was here and gangster though he may be, he was still very charming, very affable and very upfront. Chatting to all three of them as fascinating and I really enjoyed the entire experience. The event was well attended and we wish them the best of luck. With special thanks to Jean Fryer of Penguin books for giving us a couple of giveaway books on the day and Marcia from Skoobs who arrived with a few Skoobs vouchers to give away as well. YUM!
There is no doubting that Glenn Agliotti is a great net-worker, as he describes himself to be. He is very likeable and incredibly charismatic. Regardless of the fact whether one feels that the book is an affront to the average workingman in the street, anyone is entitled to either tell their story of have their story told. Glenn in person tells his story well and I can understand completely how people are drawn to him. Looking at pictures of me standing next to him gazing into his eyes you would think that we were a couple in love (but maybe that’s just the effect I have on men hahahahahah)
It was great to meet Sean’s wife and daughter as well as his mum. Always good to meet THE mum to see where the kids come from! And girls sorry to tell you but the delicious Peter Piegl now has a delightful gorgeous girlfriend so he is off the market. Now I am starting to sound like Gwen Gill lol
These wonderful pictures are care of Jonathan Everitt also known to me as Batman

Glenn Agliotti, Peter Piegl and Sean Newman at Indulgence Cafe

I personally have just read the most delightful book that has yet to see the light of day on South African or other shelves, called Basha, Baby. This book was written by a “little old lady” called Lee Marcus whom I am dying to meet and have a chat with. It is the story of a Jewish family that begins in Denmark and ends in Lover’s Walk in Fordsburg, exactly where the Oriental Plaza stands today and where my daddy was born. It was un-put-down-able which is most unusual for me and I only finished it in the wee hours of the morning! Cover to cover in one day! We definitely need to get Lee into a chair at Indulgence so we can chat with her about this very human story
I promised you the low down on our champagne experience, so this is the link to the blog post. I will write about our food adventure in the next one. The Champagne blog http://wp.me/pVdYg-b5

So what is coming up @ Indulgence Café this month…………..

Margaret’s Daughter

Margaret’s Daughter, Friday, 5th July
Accomplished acoustic duo Margaret’s Daughter takes to the stage at Indulgence Cafe in Northcliff as part of their fascinating monthly soiree line-up for winter, on Friday 6th July at 7:30pm.
At R165 per person, the evening is a dinner and show package, with partings enjoying a delectable buffet dinner while the acoustic duo sweeps them away with Ami’s timeless songs and unique voice, accompanied by her rhythmic acoustic guitar playing in this intimate setting.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, Margaret had a daughter. She called her Adri-Mari, or Ami for short. Fast forward a couple of years and Ami has established herself as one of South Africa’s top singer-songwriters. Together with multi-instrumentalist and indie producer, Etienne Ghyoot, they are the Margaret’s Daughter duo that fans have come to know and love.

http://www.facebook.com/events/513574615363396/

Over the years, Ami and Etienne have paid their dues by performing literally hundreds of shows. They’ve shared the stage with most of South Africa’s top artists, have played most of South Africa’s major festivals and have even performed internationally (Mexico, England, Spain, Mozambique).
Check out Margaret’s Daughter here:
http://www.margaretsdaughter.com/video1.html

Margaret’s Daughter’s appearance at this event is being facilitated by The CoLab Network in association with Hit Music.
PERFORMANCE INFO
Friday 5th July, 7:30pm.
Buffet Dinner available from 6:30pm (included in the ticket price). Performance starts at 7:30pm.
No under 3’s for patron comfort.
Ticket price : R165 including a buffet dinner and performance
Bookings essential : 011 782 5063 or email: lollipops@telkomsa.net

Quiz Dinner 17th July

Quiz Dinner, Wednesday, 17th July
Our monthly quiz dinner will be on Wednesday 17th July. Get your team together and join us for a wonderful evening’s entertainment. The winning table will get 50% off the cost of their food. This is a very fun evening with yours truly, me, as your quiz mistress J The cost per head is R120 and includes a delicious light buffet . Please book your table so I know how many I am catering for
011 782 5063 or lollipops@telkomsa.net

http://www.facebook.com/events/355189061250332/

Pictures from the last market

Twisted Market 20th July
It is time once again for the quarterly Fetish and Kink Market, now known at the Twisted Market! For those who are interested in the slightly different, the slightly unusual, the downright odd this is the place for you to come shopping. Just three little hours from 2-5pm on Saturday 20th July. Come browse, come shop, come visit with a whole bunch of other people. There are books, paddles, carpet beaters, cake, burgers and coffee and some awesome kraft beers to imbibe. If you would like a stall please pop me an email lollipops@telkomsa.net . You may have to dress warm, it is the winter market after all

http://www.facebook.com/events/143666769161002/

The League of Beers

Kraft Beer Tasting in conjunction with the League of Beers, Wednesday, 31st July
The details of this event are not yet quite finalized however there will be delicious kraft beers to taste under the guidance of Rob Heyns of the League of Beers. Rob is specially coming up from Cape Town, dinner will be included and a talk of some shape or variety given. In essence I am pretty sure this event is mostly of interest to men but ladies please prove me wrong and come join the boys as they work their way through some beers! I will send out a follow up email with the actual event details and the cost etc, so watch your inbox! NO FB event for this quite yet!

Celebrate the 4th of July with us, a themed dinner

Thursday Menu for July

4th July USA Independence Dinner
Pumpkin and cumin soup with home baked bread
Southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes and coleslaw salad
Or
Philly cheese steak sandwich with jalapenos and coleslaw salad
Or
Vegetarian hot dog with American mustard and tomato sauce
Key lime pie

11th July
Sundried tomato soup with croutons
Thai green chicken curry with jasmine rice
Or
Spaghetti and meatballs in brinjal and baby marrow sauce
Or
Stuffed baked potatoes with butter beans, spinach and feta
Chocolate brownies and cream

18th July
Thick Vegetable soup with home baked rolls
Chicken quarters roasted in honey and lemon with roast potatoes and vegetables
Or
Mince stuffed peppers with mashed potatoes
Or
Vegetarian stuffed butternuts with mashed potatoes
Individual Chocolate mousse cake

25th July
Thai sweet potato soup
Roast beef, roast potatoes and minted peas
Or
Shrimp and chicken pasta bake with mushrooms
Or
Mushroom and nut vegetarian patties
Apple and cinnamon fritters with cream

The Bloody Book Week

Coming up………..In conjunction with Jenny Crwys-Williams we have the Bloody Book Week starting at the very end of July and going into the first week end in August with some really top South African Authors. We have asked for the two international authors Stuart Mc Bride and Peter James, as well as the cream of the South African crop including Mike Nicol, Julian Rademeyer, Mtutuzeli Nyoka and the 702 reporters Barry Bateman and Alexi Eliseev. Four events and four days of jam packed action! Watch this space for the events updates or check out our FB Page TheIndulgenceCafe or our website http://www.indulgencecafe.co.za

No live music first Friday because of Bloody Book Week but the first Friday in September brings us the one and only Lionel Bastos all the way from Cape Town! Yehaaaaaaaaaaa start spring off with a bounce in your step!

And that my fine feathered ones is all from me this month! Thanks so much for staying tuned to the good ship Lollipop. Stay warm, stay mad and have an absolutely festive time no matter what you do or when!

Love ‘n Lollipops
Mandi

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Indulgence Cafe

The Lollipop …………..August 2012

Rhino Mother and Child

Greetings and salutations my fine feathered friends 🙂

I am sitting in my kitchen cum dining room freezing my toes off to bring this newsletter to you nice and early. There is sooooooooooo much happening between now and the first 10 days of August that I want to get this information to you as early as possible so that you don’t miss out on a single thing!
This post is jam packed with events happening at Indulgence in the next two to three weeks and once you read about them you really won’t want to miss out, that much I promise you!
We had to unfortunately cancel our Minerals talk with Justin Glanvill last week but we will be rescheduling it as soon as possible. Maybe towards the end of August.
We at Lollipops Catered the Finale of the etv show Step Up or Step Out on Sunday night, it was a fabulous showy event and Endemol and etv really did themselves proud. The catering was awesome as well 🙂

The winners of Step Up or Step Out Thembisa Revolution

Step Up or Step Out catering for etv

This post is also the full and unabridged version of the monthly newsletter. It is getting too long to send to people at large so at least here I can post everything including pictures and the “fuller” story.
You may also have noticed that I have started putting in the Facebook links to events as well so that you can link directly to the event as posted on FB, if you are on FB that is. I hope that this will make life easier for you and provide you with a more enjoyable reading experience!
I will also be posting the Social Dinner Menus for Thursday nights in this full blog version of the newsletter for all the Thursdays in the month (if I can get my act together) as I feel that I am spamming you by sending the menu via email through every week.

Without much further ado I give you the next few weeks at a glance:
Calendar for the next 4 weeks or so:
July 26 Dinner at Indulgence, Christmas in July themed dinner
Aug 2 Dinner at Indulgence
Aug 3 Bloody Book Week event with Mark Gimenez and Andrew Brown
Aug 5 Bloody Book Week event with Jeffery Deaver and John Connolly
Aug 9 Penis…..Oops, I meant rhino talk
Aug 9 There is no dinner tonight!
Aug 16 Dinner at Indulgence
Aug 23 Dinner at Indulgence
Aug 30 Dinner at Indulgence

Dinner by candlelight at Indulgence

Dinner at Indulgence

Our Thursday night dinners are going really nicely so far. Given that it is winter I am impressed with the number of you who are braving the cold to come out. It is warm and snug on the patio with the Gladwrap embracing the outside walls (I mean this literally, the shop is plastic wrapped) and the three heaters on, all this under the red glow from the lights and the candles on the tables. Very romantic and seriously, the patio is a wonderful place to spend an evening. This past week we had an incredible young jazz band, the Peter Auret Trio come and play for us and it truly was magical.

This Thursday’s menu is Christmas in July themed with:
Phyllo Seafood parcels to start (vegetarian option available as always)
A choice of gammon or stuffed rolled turkey with roast tatties, Brussels sprouts & candied carrots!
For vegetarians we have stuffed red peppers
Christmas malva pudding with brandy custard
Best of all this is only R100 per person. Bring along some crackers and pressie for the people at your table and make it a very festive occasion!
Remember to book your table.
Christmas in July dinner http://www.facebook.com/events/316537485107776/

The Official Bloody Book Week promo image!

AuthorTalks or in this case BLOODY BOOK WEEK events

Indulgence Café is one of the hosts for some of Radio 702’s Jenny Crwys-Williams and Sunday Times, Bloody Book Week events. I gave them two dates, I asked for some really fab authors who hail from overseas and hey presto I was really lucky to be given the choices I requested!
There is a printing error on the events brochure for the first event and it should actually read Mark Gimenez not Trevor Corbett.

Author Mark Gimenez who will be at Indulgence on the 3rd of August at 2pm

Some of the books written by Mark Gimenez

Author Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown’s latest book, Solace

The First Bloody Book Week event:

So on the 3rd of August, a Friday afternoon, awesome way to start the week end early we are hosting Mark Gimenez and Andrew Brown both of whom are incredibly well known writers. 2-4pm, R90 includes sweet and savoury snacks on the tables as well as tea and coffee, books will be available for sale. Leave work early if you can, I will write a letter to the boss for you but whatever you do, don’t miss this once in a lifetime event to meet these incredible authors. For Bookings with payment upfront please email me or call me for details. lollipops@telkomsa.net

Bloody Book Week 1st event http://www.facebook.com/events/340609099354742/

Jeffrey Deaver’ latest book, XO

Author John Connolly

One of John Connelly’s past books, The Whisperers 2

The Second Bloody Book Week event

The second event is brunch at Indulgence on Sunday the 5th of August but before you get to eat you have to subject yourselves to the torturous, horrid, terrible voices and stories of John Connolly and Jeffery Deaver. I have to say that again. John Connolly and Jeffery Deaver! Do I need to say more? Book your place, this event is already filling up. BOOKINGS ONLY. Brunch will be served at the tables when the authors have finished talking and are busy signing books. The cost of the event is R180 and books will be available for sale. Please email me or call me to book, payment upfront please. lollipops@telkomsa.net

Bloody Book Week 2nd event http://www.facebook.com/events/151515324985160/

Rhinos going head to head

Now about those Unicorns….oops, I meant rhinos

South Africa’s very own Unicorn is under attack. Our Rhinos are being poached to the point of extinction for their incredible horns. Help us contribute, in some small way, towards the conservation efforts that are being made by some very heroic organizations and people just like you and me. How can you do this? Come and spend Women’s Day with us. We are hosting an event that is open to everyone, except poachers at 10am on the 9th of August to raise awareness and hopefully to raise some money that we can contribute to the conservation of these incredibly majestic, almost prehistoric looking animals. This is a big event for us, we would like to make some small impact and do some good in any way we can.
We will have Vanessa Bezuidenhout from the Endangered Wildlife Trust as a guest speaker. Hopefully someone from the Lawrence Anthony Foundation will be here as well to chat about his book, The Last Rhino, a wildlife vet and possibly a surprise guest speaker as well. There will be incredible ceramic pots from ceramic artist Anne Rimbault, paintings, drawings and other rhino bits and pieces for sale. A huge chunk of the proceeds of these sales will go to the EWT so please dig deep and bring those credit cards to the party and go shopping! We will bring lunch to your table as well for the princely sum of R80 for two courses! The Lawrence Anthony book will also be on sale on the day.
Bookings pretty please. The event starts at 10am and ends around lunch time and is a public holiday so you can sit and chill with us……………..

Rhino talk http://www.facebook.com/events/295648373866382/

Rhino at Etosha by Paul Brehen

And that my friends is the next few weeks at Indulgence Cafe. Please lend your support to our rhinos, come and enjoy our authors and above all else enjoy everything that you do!

I have tried to keep this as short and sweet as possible but there is just so much happening that you needed to hear all about it. Have an awesome month, stay warm, stay toasty and be wild!

Have a look at our Facebook pages:
http://www.facebook.com/theIndulgenceCafe
http://www.facebook.com/LollipopsCatering
http://www.facebook.com/lollipopscakes

The menus for the rest of the month will follow shortly, watch this space!
Love ‘n Lollipops
Mandi
Indulgence Cafe & Lollipops Catering

The Lollipop July 2012

Some of the Lollipops Catering staff with Dali Tambo at the People of the South promo shoot 30 June 2012

Greetings and salutations my fellow Americans…………..oops, wrong newsletter!

Howzit Everyone

Is it cold enough for you yet? Just think, the longest night has passed, means summer is on the way back. Okay we still have to get through cold, cold July and windy August but summer is just around the corner and then it is a downhill run to the end of the year (or am I getting a little ahead of myself here)
The June AuthorTalk with Sarah Graham was fabulous and very entertaining, what a lovely book bitten. is. And our Fetish and Kink Market absolutely rocked this month. Around 120 people came through the doors during the 3 hour event which went of fabulously. I had my doubts about the weather because the start of the day was gloomy and very wet but by lunchtime the sky had cleared, the sun was out and the day was magnificent! If you missed it in June then make sure you are here for 27 October! Our bonus AuthorTalk with ex Bok coach Peter De Villiers really was smash hit. Who would have thought that Peter was quite so engaging, quiet so charming and really funny actually. It was a real treat to meet him!
Big, big month happening at Indulgence this July so I am just going to plunge right in (speaking of plunging remember we have some fabulous plunger coffees for you to try out, R28 for a plunger full of robust delicious Colombian, Indian or African coffee!)

The July Calendar first:
5th Dinner at Indulgence (The first with some give away gifts on the night)
12th Dinner at Indulgence
14th AuthorTalk with a French twist
19th Dinner at Indulgence
21st Rocks and minerals talk with Justin Glanvill
26th Dinner at Indulgence

Home comforts and fabulous food

Dinner at Indulgence:

Your favourite coffee shop is opening on Thursday nights for dinner. Dinner is a three course set menu with a set starter and desert and 3 choices for the main course. The cost per head for this first evening is R100 per person. We know it is chilly so we are going to warm that patio up with heaters, a barrel fire and blankets if you need them. Your cars will be safe our car guard will be outside braving the elements. What more could you ask besides fabulous food? If this initiative proves popular then we shall start opening on more and more evenings! So help us make this happen please! As we are not licensed at this point in time please BRING YOUR OWN or BYO 🙂
The Thursday night menu will change from week to week so watch this space for a new weekly email with the menu on. There is a FB event posted if you would like to have a look :
http://www.facebook.com/events/429645730400592/

Booking is essential!
After some in depth thought, a huge challenge, in my case this is how dinner is going to happen………………..just to reiterate ……………
There will be one starter, choice of three mains and one dessert and the cost………….R100 per head! Dinner is from 6pm, no service after 8.30pm………….hope you are all still going to come.
The menu is as follows:
Leek and potato soup
Red Thai chicken curry with jasmine rice/beef and baby onion casserole/Potato and chickpea curry with rice
Dessert is warm chocolate brownie and cream

The latest offering from Amanda Coetzee, her second book Redemption Song

AuthorTalk:
This month’s author is a foreigner, she comes all the way from England via Rustenburg and is coming through specially to chat to us about her book that is only launching in July, so this one really is hot off the press. This is Amanda Coetzee’s second book, her first is called Bad Blood. Her second book, Redemption Song, a crime thriller, is the one she is coming to tell us alllllllllll about. This is a special AuthorTalk for a couple of reasons, one being the book only launches in July, the other being that it is the French holiday Bastille Day. I know that means absolutely nothing to any of us but it is just one more reason to eat fabulous French style food. So the lunch specials for the 14th of July will be the mussels in cream, wine and garlic with home baked brown bread, deep fried Camembert with berry coulis and a toasted bagel, French onion soup with a cheese crouton and a hearty seafood stew!
Redemption Song:
She thought she would stop breathing. Looking back, she wished she had …Dark, enigmatic hero Harry O’Connor, aka Badger, is on long leave from the London Metropolitan Police Force, living once more among the Traveller community he grew up with as he heals physically and mentally from the strains of his last case. When social worker Emily Meadows calls with news of a mother and daughter trapped in the clutches of a brutal Albanian warlord named Jak Kraja, Badger sets off on a mission to free them. When Badger tries to escape with his charges, things start to go horribly wrong. As Kraja’s net tightens, Badger turns to former police colleagues and the mysterious Albanian Traveller community for help. Badger must pit every ounce of his skills, wit and strength against a wily enemy and his henchmen as a thrilling race for survival unfolds.
About the author:
When she isn’t writing crime thrillers, Amanda Coetzee works as a deputy headmistress. She grew up in Bedford, England, and now lives in Rustenburg with her husband and son. Redemption Song is Amanda’s second novel after her acclaimed debut crime thriller Bad Blood.

This is a regular AuthorTalk so pretty please remember to bring along some books, at least one to swap and one to donate. Please bring along books that are actually worth having. By which I mean in good condition and not just good for recycling. It is all well and good to bring along books that you no longer want but they do need to be books that someone else may want to read and it doesn’t help if they are falling apart. (My soap box moment!) The author will start at 2pm promptly.

Justin Glanvill and the late fabulous Finn who Amiga terrorized at Emmarentia Park relentlessly. Poor guy didn’t know what had hit him with this older woman!

Mineral Talk:
On the 21st of July Justin Glanvill, a very well respected local geologist will be coming along to talk to us about rocks! Not the ones in your spouse’s head but those you find lying on the ground, in the ground and cascading down the side of a mountain. Justin is going to talk about the local rocks, minerals and crystals of South Africa. He is bringing along some samples and you are welcome to raise the “fracking” topic with him as well. I have asked him to bring me a handful of diamonds and rubies with a (s)pot of gold but so far my pleas are falling on deaf ears! Please join us for this free talk on Saturday 21st July at 2pm. Bring along a few of your rocks that you would like identified or you find interesting and would like to show the rest of us. Adult show and tell, no take your mind out the gutter now! 2pm and the regular menu is available! That is Justin in the pic with his boy Finn, who sadly is no longer with us. He was huge friends with Amiga and she used to terrorize the poor youngster all the time!

What’s Coming up?
That pretty much wraps up June at Indulgence Cafe but before I go I have to tell you a bit about events in August because before you blink it will be here and I won’t have dangled the carrot yet! I have no doubt that you are in some shape or form aware of who Jenny Crwys-Williams is, what I am not sure about is if you have heard of the events she organizes called The Bloody Book week. What happens is that Jenny brings together a whole bunch of writers both fiction and non-fiction to talk crime writing. Most are local writers and journalists but some hail from over the seas. Well this year, your very own Indulgence Cafe had been chosen to host a couple of the events to in the first week end of August we have Trevor Corbett, Andrew Brown, Michael Connelly and Jeffrey Deaver coming………….you read that right, I promise! So watch this space and keep an eye out for the advertising for The Bloody Book week which is just starting to happen and make sure you have booked your spot for at least one of the two events we are hosting!
Also happening in August is our Rhino talk and that is shaping up very nicely with a couple of guest speakers, some ceramics, some art and very possibly someone from the Lawrence Anthony Foundation to talk about him, his work and his last book, The Last Rhinos. Very exciting stuff happening around here

Feel free to follow us on twitter @indulgence_cafe
or follow Amiga on twitter @amigafriedman

We have a couple of pages on FB that you are really very welcome to go and like. There are always pictures, jokes and interesting tidbits being posted to them
find them at:
facebook.com/theindulgencecafe
facebook.com/lollipopscatering
facebook.com/lollipopscakes

Thanks so much for spending the past 20 minutes with me! Please make sure you introduce yourself because we cannot wait to feed you
Happy week end and stay warm!
Love ‘n Lollipops
Mandi

A few pics from the past month: Fetish Market Pictures are courtesy of Adele Horn Pet Photography

Picture care of Adele Horn of Adele Horn Pet Photography http://www.adelehorn.co.za

Picture care of Adele Horn of Adele Horn Pet Photography http://www.adelehorn.co.za

Picture care of Adele Horn of Adele Horn Pet Photography http://www.adelehorn.co.za

Picture care of Adele Horn of Adele Horn Pet Photography http://www.adelehorn.co.za

Picture care of Adele Horn of Adele Horn Pet Photography http://www.adelehorn.co.za

Hellllooooooooooo Kitty Cupcakes

Mountain climbers do it differently

Ex Springbok coach Peter De Villiers chatted to us about his career and his book, Politically Incorrect

Sarah Graham chatting to us about her blog and her fabulous cookbook, bitten.