Truffles. Just the word sounds delicious and exotic. ANDREW BROWN tracked down the legendary white truffle in Istria, the truffle capital of Croatia By Andrew Brown My trip to Istria, the northern most part of Croatia, was brief. However, I had time to explore the beautiful coastal town of Rovinj over a few days. The old town, the clear aquamarine waters of the Adriatic, and the seriously delicious food on offer at the many and varied restaurants kept me busy from dawn until late. I could easily have spent more time here. But the lure of learning more about truffles,…

Nestled in the Riebeek Valley among vineyards and olive groves, Riebeek-Kasteel is a haven for artists and those who love a taste of the good life.KERI HARVEY[wp_gmaps lat=”18.895283″ lng=”-33.384798″]BEANS ABOUT COFFEE: Located on the town square, here you will taste coffee that would still be growing if it was any fresher. Roasted and blended to order by owner Thomas Jamneck, the house blend called Sidewalk is rich and robust. Enjoy with the decadent baked cheesecake and berry coulis or opt for the house speciality of a quirky bacon and egg nest. They sell beans and ground coffee too, but a…

When F&HE contributor Richard Holmes set off to fly around the world in four days, we sent him packing with a simple brief: find us the best airport restaurants on the planet. Apart from a severe case of jet lag, here’s what he brought back… Johannesburg – Hong Kong/CX748 No matter how often I visit, flying into Asia is always a thrill: the signs are indecipherable, the language a blur and even ordering breakfast is an adventure. And that was my first stop after clearing customs. I ate well on the Cathay Pacific flight from Joburg – deep-fried kingklip with…

For food and wine aplenty, set to an incredible backdrop, there’s no need to travel any further than our own backyard. By Dominique Brown [wp_gmaps lat=”-33.925628″ lng=”18.411326″] With our Thompsons package deal itinerary in hand, a friend and I dashed into Lanseria International Airport outside Joburg just in time to catch our flight to Cape Town. We headed straight to Avis, collected our hire car and made our way to the first stop on our list – the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, situated in the heart of the Cape Town city bowl. Announced by twinkling fairy lights, the hotel…

F&HE reader and contributor JENNY HANDLEY and her women’s investment club enjoyed a value-for-money gourmet tour of Vietnam. By Jenny Handley There are many ways of experiencing Vietnam – backpacking, on a bike, on a budget or in a boat. I opted to travel as part of a group of eight fabulous, funloving women. Our all-girl investment club called the Topless Ten (we play the share market with the aim of learning, and earning enough profit to travel together) decided that the beauty, beaches, culture, history and cuisine of Vietnam were perfect for our next trip. Vietnam is in a…

Koula, 94.7 presenter and F&HE blogger, is loving all things food-related in her travels through Turkey, Greece, Italy and Israel… Thursday 6 September I think I might be in the most incredible place in the world right now! Am completely in love with Rome! We caught a late-morning flight out from Athens to Rome for our 48-hour adventure. No translator, no tour guide, no concrete agenda – a welcome change after the last three weeks. My husband had booked accommodation online two days before and seeing as we’d been warned about how uninformed tourists are taken advantage of in Rome,…

The Sunshine Coast and original frontier territory have become popular as a beach and bush destination By Andrea Pafitis-Hill [wp_gmaps lat=”-34.0811″ lng=”24.879913″]THE SANDS @ ST FRANCIS With its warm and intimate feel under cosy thatch, arriving at The Sands in St Francis Bay made me want to kick off my shoes and get comfy on the main terrace – until I discovered that my room had its own private deck overlooking the tranquil infinity pool. Just beyond my beautiful ‘back yard’ led a stairway to heaven, otherwise known as the Main Beach, accessible during low tide. After a leisurely…

& Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge is still a firm favourite on the gourmet map BEST KEPT SECRET? It’s an old favourite, launched when luxury game lodges in the bush were still a novelty. Phinda has always been the ultimate bush experience, and the private game reserve now has three accommodation options on offer – forest lodge, mountain lodge and rock lodge (which has recently been refurbished). Mountain Lodge is one of the bigger camps, with 25 suites, while the others are smaller and more intimate. Attention to detail and exceptional service are still major drawcards – from the Amarula hot…