DARLING is certainly most well known for it's glamorous 'First Lady', Evita Bezuidenhout and Evita's Perron, but it also has a few treasures that will surprise most visitors. An extended week-end almost felt like a holiday after visiting a few of the gems that Darling has to offer.
If craft beer is your thing then a visit to the Darling Brewery is a must. It seems to be a very popular week-end destination - it was packed on a Saturday morning. The food platters are amazing and the prices reasonable.

In town the Mantis Mall (three tiny shops in one building) is worth a visit. The bookshop is right up there with the latest in the world of printing - a seriously good selection of really good books! For the sweeter side of life there is the toffee shop and factory where you can do a toffee tasting in a combination of almost any flavour you can think of. The Flying Pig has a selection of cakes and breakfasts to be enjoyed, but it is their Ciabatta that made our week-end. Be warned, it sells fast so it is best to place an order before it hits the shop.
Darling Vleismark is a Butchery/Deli well worth a visit for their fine selection of really high quality charcuterie. From Parma ham to salami, chorizo to boerewors and all the normal products you would expect from a first class Butchery/Deli.

And then there is Cafe Mosaic, or 'die stoep' as it is locally known. It seems to be the heartbeat of Darling. Here locals and visitors meet all day. Breakfast, lunch, pizza and burger specials in the evening, good coffee and ice cold beer make it an all-day meeting place.
With an excellent cappucino in hand our friend suggested - rather insisted - that we try their Peppermint Crisp Tart. Not really one of my favourites, but I nevertheless ordered. What a delight - so good that I am now a convert and I simply had to get the recipe! With a lot of flattery and begging I eventually won over Siena to part with her recipe and give me permission to post it. It is very sweet, utterly decadent, and the overload of whipped cream balances it perfectly and transforms it from a 'kerk basaar' tart into a truly sinfull delight! 

Siena is the one who works her magic in the kitchen of Cafe Mosaic. Apart from the Peppermint Crisp Tart, she also does a Carrot Cake extraordinaire - but that recipe was unfortunately 'nowhere to be found'.
I will forgive her for not sharing it with me - every cook has a recipe so close to their heart that they simply cannot part with it. At least we can all still enjoy it when we order it with our next creamy cappucino on 'the stoep'.

Back to the Peppermint Crisp Tart. The recipe she gave me was for a very large tart so I had to halve the ingredients to still make a large tart for the average household.




Ingredients:
2 x 200gr Tennisbiscuits (Coconut biscuits)
2 x 150gr Peppermint Crisp chocolates
2 tins caramel
500ml cream

Method:
Whip the cream to form stiff peaks.
Grate the chocolate finely.
Place a layer of Tennis biscuits, about 3x5 biscuits, in a single layer in a fairly deep tart dish.
Spread a layer of caramel over the biscuits (1 tin)
Spread half the craem over the caramel (250ml).
Sprinkle the grated chocolate (1 slab) over the cream.
Repeat with a second layer of biscuits, caramel, cream and chocolate.
Place in the refrigerator, preferably overnight or longer, for the biscuits to slightly soften.

Siena does her tart in three or four layers, but my home version only has two, but it is equally good.

Camembert Cheese Tower - This centrepiece presentation is good on it's own, or it could be the focal point of a special cheese course. It is impressive, delicious and just absolutely stunning.
This one is decorated with candied orange spirals, green-fig preserves and a selection of macadamia and cashew nuts and almonds, glazed with a sherry infused sticky caramel sauce. The earthiness of the cheese, the fruitiness of the preserves and the salted caramel crunch of the nuts make it just so moreish and completely addictive.
Serve as a cheese course with a fine selection of your favourite biscuits, or as a grand finale to a fantastic meal!
Recipe: Camembert Cheese Tower

This is the perfect entertaining dish - the well-balanced full flavours will certainly satisfy most palates. It is spicy, has warm aromas and just enough bite to take you straight to Morocco. It can be cooked on the hob, but also works perfectly well in a 'potjie' over the coals - this makes for great outdoor entertaining. All it needs is enough time, good friends, ice cold beer or a seriously good bottle of wine or two.
With the festive season upon us this is a great 'go to' recipe to entertain and treat family and friends.
Recipe: Moroccan Slow-cooked Lamb