Pretoria Dec 2021 / Jan 2022

PRETORIA
Lynne
McCarthy
Living a life filled
with gratitude
SPREAD
Lavish spoils worth
R60 000!
Whoop-whoop
Sparkle with
beauty finds
that shine
THE CHEER
We’ve got Christmas all wrapped up with
marvellous gifts for everyone on your list
KEEP YOURSELF & YOUR NEIGHBOURS SAFE
VACCINATE
DEC 21 / JAN 22

CONTENTS
GET IT
Editorial
Instagram: @getitptamagazine
Facebook: Get It Pretoria Magazine
Website: getitmagazine.co.za/pretoria
National Group Editor and National Sales
Kym Argo
kyma@caxton.co.za
Facebook and Instagram:
Get It National Magazines
Website: getitmagazine.co.za
Workflow & Studio Manager Megan Brett
Journalist Rialien Furstenberg
Head of sales
Bianca Pretorius
biancap@rekord.co.za
079 487 0759
Distribution
15 000 copies monthly
Get It Pretoria is distributed free
of charge. For a full list contact
distribution@rekord.co.za
Competition rules
The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be
transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions
are not open to the sponsors or Caxton
employees or their families. Get It Magazine
reserves the right to publish the names of
winners, who will be contacted telephonically
and need to collect their prizes from Caxton
Northern branch within 10 days or they will be
forfeited. Prizewinners’ names are published on
our Facebook page monthly.
COVER LOOK
Personality:
Lynne McCarthy
Photographer:
Willem Botha
BOOK CLUB
04 Thrillers and bubbles for the holidays
WISH LIST
06 Fruity fragrances. Gorgeous gifts. And all things that
shimmer and shine. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
PEOPLE
08 Lynne McCarthy believes that the more you do, the better you do
BEAUTY & FASHION
10 On our lust list … small products, big impact
13 Book a pre-festive facial before you set off on your hols
18 Pinks, pastels and purples … we’re positively passionate
about the new collection from U/R Italian
FESTIVE
14 Have yourself a stylish Christmas
FOOD
20 Behind the scenes of a deliziosa cookbook …
and some droolworthy Italian gin cocktails
24 It’s not just us who love avos ... big name foodies do, too!
TRAVEL
33 Explore a new – and totally Instagrammable – Aparthotel
at the end of Cape Town’s most iconic strip in Sea Point
WIN
18 Win a glam bag, earrings and necklace from U/R Italian
34 It’s our biggest spoil of the year ... with prizes valued at
more than R60 000. Happy, happy festive season!
The Get It team wishes
all our readers the
merriest of festive
seasons. Stay safe x
DEC 21 / JAN 22
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 03

Book club
Thrillers and bubbles for the holidays
David Baldacci. Bliss. Long Road to Mercy introduces FBI Agent Atlee Pine
who, after her twin sister was abducted when they were young, learnt three
lessons in life. Some wounds never heal. Time doesn’t lessen your pain. She
can make a difference. A brilliant new character from this brilliant storyteller. Pan
Books, available at exclusivebooks.co.za • Robin Cook’s medical thrillers always hit
quite close to the bone. In Viral, we meet a man whose wife and daughter are
hospital after they catch a lethal mosquito-borne viral disease, but finds a
dubious clause in his medical policy has allowed the healthcare insurer reason
not to pay the staggering hospital bills. Determined to seek justice, he uncovers
the dark side of the historically ruthless industry. Alarmingly real! Macmillan,
available at exclusivebooks.co.za
We’re thinking a bottle of Krone Vintage Borealis Cuvée Brut 2019
might be just the thing to celebrate our last book club of the year.
This iridescent pale gold wine is 87 per cent Pinot Noir and 13 per
cent Chardonnay and is lovely on its own, but is also exceptional
to serve with a bowl of mussels steamed open with seawater, or
with a creamy porcini risotto. You’ll find it for around R165 at your
local wine store or online at kronecapclassique.co.za
04 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

A routine job of cleaning the room
of a boarding house turns into
a mystery for the cleaner, when
she makes a gruesome discovery,
one that has her joining up with
a young police officer. Both have
their reasons for wanting to find
out more about the case.
Emily Noble’s Disgrace by Mary
Paulson-Ellis promises loads of
twists and turns to keep you glued
to the pages. Pan Macmillan,
available at exclusivebooks.co.za
The tension starts on the very first page of Andrea Bartz’ We Were Never Here,
and it doesn’t let up. Two friends, Kristen and Emily, are on holiday - a tradition
they have every year, visiting somewhere out-of-the-ordinary. But for one of the
girls, stress levels are high. On the previous trip, a backpacker attacked Emily,
resulting in his death, one the girls hid by burying his body and quickly leaving
town. As for fun-loving Kristen ... she feels everything’s behind them, and there’s
nothing to worry about. But as the walls close in on their cover-up, Emily finds
herself questioning whether she can really trust her closest friend? Penguin,
available from exclusivebooks.co.za • Sit down. I have something to tell you. We’ve
all heard that heart-stopping sentence. And it’s seldom good news. It certainly
wasn’t for high-flying lawyer Jessica Wells, whose husband has something to tell
her, something that ties in with a client and case she’s currently working with. I
Have Something To Tell you by Susan Lewis ... behind every secret lies a story.
Harper Collins Publishers, available at exclusivebooks.co.za
Collections of short stories are great for holidays.
You can read one on the plane, on the beach,
before bed. But on the other hand, when
the short stories are from Stephen King, Sara
Paretsky, Sue Grafton, you may just keep going,
story after story. Best Crimes Stories of the
Year 2021 are the 20 finest short stories released
this year. Edited by Lee Child, these stories are of
the extremes of human psychology caused by
despair, hate, greed, fear, envy, insanity and love.
Head of Zeus, available at exclusivebooks.co.za
Fancy winning all these books? And more. We’re giving one
reader a R10 000 voucher (TEN. THOUSAND. RAND!) from
Exclusive Books this Christmas. Turn to our Spoil page right now.
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 05

Wish list
Ho ho ho ... and merry merry to all
Festive bell earrings, R120
from lovisajewellery.co.za
Effortlessly stylish, cool, contemporary.
The View was Exhausting is the read
of the season. It’s all centred around
the love affair of international A-list
actress Win Tagore and her jet-setting
boyfriend, Leo Milanowski. Their
love story is the talk of the town ...
but it’s as fake as Hollywood. Being
a woman of colour - she’s of British
Indian descent - Win has to work hard
to control her public persona. What
better than a millionaire playboy to
fake a little good news. With each
PDA, the headlines shift back in Win’s
favour. What’s in it for Leo? The good
press draws attention away from his
dysfunctional family. So it’s a win, win
really. Until ... as great holiday reads
demand ... the two really fall for each
other, secrets are revealed, and all hell
breaks loose. Sharp, sexy, fabulous.
Headline, R410
This limited edition NUXE advent calendar has 24 dazzling surprises ...
beautiful treats daily for the countdown to Christmas. With its
sparkling star-studded design and two dozen NUXE miniature beauty
products and fragrances, it’s a massively desirable pre-Christmas gift.
R1995, exclusive to Foschini online. Details: foschini.co.za
06 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

Festive glitter
star drop earrings,
R160 from
lovisajewellery.co.za
You are never too old for a Christmas
stocking. And these, which you can
have embroided with each family
members name, are perfect. Neutral
cotton, with slate grey embroidery
and finished off with a leather loop,
they’re incredibly chic, but have also
been created to be big and strong
enough to hold fairly substantial
gifts. R165 each from baskiti.co.za
Shimmer
through the
festive parties ... this
Kitten Bliss Eye & Lip
Set is a speciallycurated
collection for
eyes and lips in Stila’s
universally-flattering
shimmering nude
shade. There are two
eye shadows and a lip
gloss. Swipe, sweep,
blend, glow! R570
from woolworths.co.za
Our firm favourite
when it comes to
scented candles
are those from
Glasshouse
Fragrances. Triple
scented, there’s a new
limited edition Sugar
Coated range, and
it’s all we want for
Christmas. Perfect for
those with a sweet
tooth, they’re doused
in rich notes of
creamy vanilla, butter
caramel, nutty praline,
offset with citrus
and sugared fruits.
Top of our wish list is
Movie Night (caramel
popcorn and choc
tops), Sweet Enough
(rich salted caramel)
and All The Red Ones
(we all love the red
ones the most ... and
this is a combo of
our favourite crimson
lollies ... think big,
bold pomegranate,
guava, raspberries,
cherries and jam).
R1299, Exclusive to
Woolworths.
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 07

Attitude of
gratitude
Lynne McCarthy is the epitome of living life to the fullest. She successfully steers the ship of
several small business interests. And she juggles it all without even breaking into a sweat.
marketing and business
intelligence specialist. An
actress and author. A
counsellor and private
chef and founder of a
charity and owner of
a specialised gifting
service. A mouthful,
right? Yes, that’s Lynne McCarthy.
“You only grow as a person if you
leave your comfort zone and
pursue new talents. The more
you do, the better you do. And as
a self-proclaimed control freak, I
always make sure I have a hands-on
approach to everything I do. Add a
generous amount of gratitude and
you’ll be surprised how much you can
achieve,” she tells us.
With so much keeping her busy,
surely she must have a main focus?
“Finding a good husband! Haha.
On a serious note, my main source
of income is my marketing and
business intelligence consultancy.
Then WhoCanForget.com, where I
create and import unconventional fun
gifting products, do out-of-the-box
proposals, cakes, events and offer a
private chef service at your home.
“I always say, if the sun or spotlight
shines on you, stand next to a worthy
cause and share the sunlight. It is
with this in mind that I started Angels’
Hands SA Charity Foundation two
decades ago. And ten per cent of my
income from both these businesses
goes straight to this charity.
Lynne, who has a doctorate in
Philosophy and Human Behavioural
Psychology, also offers counselling in
between everything else. As a product
of growing up in foster care, Lynne’s
passion and love for people and
animals propelled her into becoming
a counsellor with a massive social
media following on The Counsellor
Facebook page and an animal activist
- running multiple ongoing charitable
drives in supporting NGO’s.
“Not everyone has access to
someone who they can confide in.
Or even someone that encourages or
motivate. This is where I find my joy in
giving. In counselling. To serve others.”
Lynne’s just got the knack of turning
her interests into opportunities.
She is an avid baker and loves to
try out new concepts, ideas and
recipes. Soon word got out that she
is quite a master chef in the kitchen
and people started to book her as
a private chef to cater for romantic
dinner parties. “I have also had
requests to host cooking classes for
couples that want to learn to cook
together. This boosted my confidence
and I decided to start a blog, Lynne’s
Contrived Kitchen and share all my
recipes. There you’ll find anything
from desserts to dinner ideas. What
use is a talent if you don’t enjoy it
with others, right? Besides, legend
has it that the way to a man’s heart is
through his stomach. I’ll practice my
cooking skills until then.”
There’s even talks of shooting a pilot
for a cooking program soon and let’s
just say, we cannot wait to see Lynne
in action. And this will not be her first
time on the telly by the way. Years ago
she was an actress in Egoli and Isidingo
and co-host of Traveling Africa ... ahhh,
we thought she looked familiar.
Lynne’s also quite the entertainer. Every
year she hosts a Christmas dinner
party for her friends and this year will
be no different. From what we’ve
heard it is quite a lavish affair. “Oh, I
just love to entertain and spoil those
around me. So, I plan either an eight
or twelve-course meal with two pallet
cleaners. Confit duck is a must and
either cheesecake or tiramisu. The rest
remains a surprise to my guests. The
whole reason behind this is just to say
thanks and show my gratitude for their
love and support the past year.”
And right beside her will be trusty
Wally Walter, the love of her life. “It
will take one hell of a guy to ever
match the love I have for my golden
retriever. Walter saved my life when
I was at a very low point in my life
when I walked away from a very
unsavoury relationship. His love
matches and maybe trumps the love
I give. He does not ask for anything
but love in turn, which is admirable.
Humans can really learn so much
from animals.”
Details: lynnemccarthy.com,
lynnemccarthykitchen.blogspot.com or
@lynnemccarthy on Facebook and Insta.
08 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

Win a lovely
pamper hamper
valued at R1000 from
WhoCanForget.com! Pop
over to @getitpretoria on
Facebook and
@getitptamagazine on Insta
and follow the prompts.
Closing date:
Jan 7 2022.
Christmas to-do list if you’re spending time with family:
• Instead of buying presents, rather be present. This is the time to be with loved
ones. Switch off the cellphone and make time for those around you. Don’t let
couch and TV time supersede family time.
• Instead of wrapping gifts, rather wrap your family members in a hug. Socks
keep your feet warm, but love warms the soul.
• Instead of sending gifts, rather send love. Include friends and family that
are alone this season – extend the table, don’t build walls.
• Instead of shopping for food, rather donate food. Buy a couple of cans or
bags of dog or cat food and drop it off at a local animal shelter. Or cook a
meal for a neighbour that might be working or drop off something fresh at
a shelter, instead of preparing heaps of food that will go to waste.
• Instead of watching Christmas lights, rather be the light. Be extra kind and
sensitive to those around you and those you encounter. The Christmas
season is a dreary time for many. Many lost loved ones this year and many
have no one, which lends to a very lonely, sad and emotionally taxing
time of the year. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Pick your battles and touch
everyone with your light.
How to survive the festive
season if you are alone:
You might be alone during the Christmas
period for different reasons, such as the
death of a loved one, living far from
relatives, or because of social isolation.
If you have social anxiety disorder (SAD)
and don’t have close relationships with
family or friends, loneliness at Christmas
could be particularly hard.
• Go out and do something productive.
Rather than spend the day at home
alone, find something that you can do
that fits with your mindset and mental
state. For example, if you feel full of
energy, and the weather is decent, go
for a long run. If you feel social, consider
attending a church service to be in the
presence of others.
• Perhaps you are alone this year because
you turned down invitations. Know that
it’s OK to call those people back and
say, “I am free”. This is often a problem
for those with social anxiety — you turn
down invitations only to regret it and
feel lonely afterwards.
• Get involved in volunteering. Consider
offering to help serve dinner at a soup
kitchen, bring gifts to a children’s hospital,
or visit lonely residents at a nursing home.
• You are not the only one alone during
the holidays. Plan an “Orphan Christmas”
for those who have no one to spend the
holiday with or join a group of people in
similar circumstances.
• If you enjoy your work, and you have the
option to work during Christmas, spend
the day being productive. This is a smart
choice if your job involves interacting
with co-workers or customers; being at
work may help you to feel less lonely. If
you don’t have to work, work around your
home or on a project that you’ve put off.
• Host an online Christmas get-together
by setting up a Skype chatroom or
Facebook group. People can drop in and
out as they please, and you don’t have
to cook, clean, or even get off the couch.
You’ll also be keeping yourself and your
loved ones safe as you socialise virtually.
• Plan a day for yourself. Buy something
online to treat yourself, cook your
favourite food, or plan a movie marathon.
Or cut through the clichés and do
something offbeat like learning a new
language or starting work on the book
that’s always been in your head.
Text: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. • Photographer: WILLEM BOTHA.
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 09

Our lust list
Small products ... big impact!
Myrrh Body Scrub from Terres
d’Afrique. With coconut shell,
rooibos leaves and baobab oil.
Sugar, coconut shell and rooibos
flakes, blended in a specific ratio
for optimum exfoliation. Scented
with natural sweet myrrh, this
scrub sloughs away dead cells
leaving the skin soft and refreshed.
R1014 from terres-dafrique.com •
Red nails and gold eyes and you’re
ready to party the night away. Wet
n Wild Nail Polish in Red Red Red (R35.95)
and Single Glitter Eyeshadow in Brass
Nudecomber (R46.95) from Clicks • From
MSLONDON Mineral Cosmetics, Rosie
Mineralized Blush gives a pretty, natural
blush. R300 from Woolworths. • Isn’t this
just a festive party in a bottle? Scarlet
Poppy Cologne Intense from Jo Malone.
Yes, please. R1925 from Woolworths. • We
don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love a
little Jo Malone gift. This Peony and Blush
Suede Body and Hand Wash would be
massively appreciated, thank you. R715
from Woolworths. • Glam looks with Stila
... Suede Shade Liquid Eye Shadow in
Smokey Silk (R395), and Beauty Boss Lip
Gloss in In The Red (R275) - offering high,
high shine and pure colour, wear it alone
or over lipstick. Both from Woolies.
• On-point winged liner ... this one draws
the perfect wing. Wet n Wild Proline Felt
Tip Eyeliner, R84.95 from Clicks.
10 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

Created in Japan under the concept of pure
and simple, Hada Labo Tokyo is an essential and
hydrating skincare line. Promising highly effective
skincare, with no unnecessary ingredients or
additives - so all paraben, fragrance, dye and mineral
oil free - the brand is massively successful in Japan
and Asian countries, the UK and USA. And now
we can buy it locally. Suitable for all skin types, the
products contain Super Hyaluronic Acid, which locks
supplies of moisture inside the skin. There’s a Red
and a White range, which include anti-aging and
super hydrating day and night creams and lotions,
cleansers and eye and mouth creams, and you’ll find
them exclusively at Clicks. Details: hadalabosa.co.za
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 11

PRE-HOLIDAY FACIALS
We all want to look our best when we’re on holiday. A pre-festive facial will help
with fine lines, dehydration, city-living daily pollutants and so much more.
There is a moment, during a QMS facial, when the
therapist applies a thick, algae mask to your face ...
which oozes over your eyes and slides down your
cheeks and over your mouth (yes, she checks first
that you’re not claustrophobic) and you just know it’s
going to be the best thing you’ve ever done for your
skin. Like the plaster mask she uses a little later, it sets,
and when it’s peeled off it takes off all nasties. Smells
gorgeous, too. It’s the best, but not the only treat
that the facials offer. And they offer an impressive lot!
Depending on your skin’s needs, these are our faves ...
The Collagen Rejuvenation Treatment This
specialised fruit acid peeling system combines
with the unique pioneering collagen serums which
immediately gives super hydration for dry skins. And
it lasts for weeks! These QMS collagen serums have
brilliant moisture-retaining capacity. Techniques used
will help with wrinkles and sagging by targeting the
underlying cause of aging – loss of collagen.
Perfect for those of us with tired skin, particularly
after a long flight, is The Activator Treatment. Super
protective marine collagen and deep penetrating
hyaluronic acid provides revitalization and
smoothing to dull and lifeless skin. It’s also a great
treatment option for brides and those going to a
special occasion.
The Urban Repair Treatment targets the damaging
effects of daily pollutants on the skin and helps
repair the cellular structure to restore the skin’s
natural wellness. This facial combines a deep
pore decongestion with advanced treatment to
support the detox processes, accelerates epidermal
regeneration and boosts metabolism.
The Neo-tissuedermie Treatment is an innovative
treatment offering firming, lifting and toning. It
stimulates the production of collagen to reverse
deep wrinkles and tighten loose facial skin. A lifting
and contouring massage followed by hydrating
foam massage will leave the skin visibly tight,
smooth and moisturized.
We’ve all suffered from wearing masks ... we try to have
The Deep Cleansing Intense/Deep Pore Cleanse
Treatment as often as we can. Therapists offer skin
refining fruit acid exfoliation combined with deep
penetrating hydrating ingredients such as collagen
and hyaluronic acid, which reduces excess oiliness,
refines rough skin texture and at the same time
smooths fine lines caused by dehydration. This is the
perfect treatment for combination skin (oily and dry)
showing the first signs of skin aging.
For a treatment before you leave for your holidays (or when
you’re on holiday with time to spare), these QMS facials really are
excellent. To find a salon closest to you, pop visit futurethis.co.za
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 13

This easy-to-bake Red Pepper & Chilli
Wreath Bread comes in a locally crafted
ceramic dish, which makes it a delicious
hostess gift. R249.99 from Woolworths.
Glam up the dinner table with these uber luxury crackers,
six in a pack, from R279 from Woolworths.
Oh my. If you’ve a friend who’s a Donna Hay fan (pick me,
pick me) here’s the perfect gift. One Pan Perfect - fresh, fast,
no-fuss deliciousness, all wrapped up in one very stylish
book. Divided into one pan, one dish, one pot, one tray, each
with sweet and savoury options, this is all about exceptional
cooking made easy. Plus there are QR codes dotted
throughout ... scan them and watch the instant videos - it’s
like your own personal cooking coach. Must be cook book of
the season. Fourth Estate, R649 from exclusivebooks.co.za
The successful combination of two endangered species - the rhino and the rhino
bush - comes together in one great tasting gin. Celebrating South Africa, and
donating a portion of the proceeds for each bottle sold towards the fight to save the
rhino, gives us even more reason to say cheers to the festive season with Cape Town
Rhino Gin, the latest offering from The Cape Town Gin & Spirits Company. Around
R299 from Take A Lot, Italian Deli and Norman Goodfellow online.
14 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

Contemporary
Christmas
Nothing blah about black and
white. Throw in some glitter and
you’ll boast the glammest event
in the neighbourhood.
Not only for the
tree. Hang gold glitter
baubles from every place
possible and have a glittering
Christmas. R79.95 from
Woolworths.
Black. Barista Black. Do you know that, if the Authorised Biography of James Bond is to
be believed, the world’s most celebrated secret agent is 100 years old? So, as it happens,
is the Pinotage cultivar. And grabbing this coincidence with both hands, the team at
Barista conceived a wine and bottling regal enough the match the richness of both the
Pinotage and Bond legacies. This opulent wine demands a well-deserved moment to
slow down, and savour one’s hard-earned successes. With plums, red currants and baking
spice intermingling beautifully on the nose, the wine has a juicy fruit core with velvety
tannins and oak complexity. The finish is long, smooth and pleasantly dry. Just like
James! Perfect to serve this Christmas, or to give a gift. You’ll find it in fine wine
stores for around R150, or order online from baristawine.co.za
What’s black and white and
the sweetest festive treat
ever? Delicious liquorice
... the Sally Williams way.
A limited edition, it’s a
combo of nougat and the
sweet aromatic flavours of
liquorice. So it tastes just
like classic liquorice, but
with the famous softness
and sweetness found in
nougat. Yum. Mee. R79
from supermarkets.
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 15

Twinkle twinkle ... diamond star string
lights, R279 from Woolworths.
Twinkle
Is it even Christmas if there’s no advent calendar? We think not. And we’re
not going to deny opening a chocolate-a-day version is delicious (and
on that note, look out for the Chuckles calendar at Woolies ... not just for
children). But this SOiL version is taking 24 days of spoils up a level. The
SOiL Organic Aromatherapy calendar has 24 tiny 1ml vials ... one for each
day leading up to Christmas. Use them in your diffuser each night, or save
them up and make a SOiL Festive Diffuser Blend ... a combination of clove,
cinnamon, sweet orange and pine. R299.99, you’ll find it at Dis-Chem,
Wellness Warehouse and online at faithful-to-nature.co.za and soil.co.za
And here it is. The Christmas season’s
O. M. G. Shaped like an oversize bottle
of the iconic fragrance, the Chanel
No 5 Calendar has the required two
dozen boxes - numbered not from 1 to
24, but, in true Chanel style, from 5 to
31. No 5 is obvs, and 31 .... that one’s for
31 rue Cambon - the epicentre of the
world of Coco Chanel. Each box holds a
Chanel treat ... from a limited edition red
Rouge Allure lipstick to a tree ornament
shaped like the N°5 bottle to a black
ceramic bracelet designed to resemble
the wax seal on the N°5 Parfum bottle. A
properly luxurious gift - too desirable for
words. You’ll find it at Chanel fragrance
and beauty boutiques, for R14350.
16 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

MSLONDON Mineral Cosmetics has a cult following
... and deservedly. This black female-founded BEST
clean makeup brand was founded and formulated
by sisters Natasha and Ego Iwegbu, and has a dozen
adaptable, vibrant foundation shades for all tones ...
foundations that are made with minimal ingredients
for maximum effect. The foundations are lightweight,
multitasking and provide natural coverage that really
works. On top of that, it’s acne-friendly, is excellent for those
with psoriasis and rosacea, and doesn’t agitate even the most sensitive of
skins. Use with the iconic Flat Blending Brush (which also helps with you having
minimal contact with your face). R550 for the foundation, R350 for the brush,
and while you’re shopping, look out for the blushers, contour and bronzers,
highlighters and Banana Setting Powders (also must-haves). From Woolworths.
What does a girl
want? Beauty sleep.
So this sleep mask
and hair band gift
set will go down
a treat. R129 from
Woolworths.
Rooted in
tradition, built
for speed, the
latest addition
to the Dunhill
London’s
collection is
the Driven Eau
de Parfum, a
powerhouse
of a fragrance
for men with
a little va va
voom! From
R999, from
Clicks and
DisChem.
For more than 150 years, Loluis
Vuitton’s monogrammed bags
have been seen on the arms of
celebs (real and wannabe) and
royals ... the brand has thrived
through two world wars, the
Great Depression, the Jazz
Age and the Swinging Sixties.
Beautifully illustrated, Karen
Homer’s Little Book of Louis
Vuitton is the story of this - the
world’s most luxurious brand.
A brilliant stocking filler for a
fashionista. Welbeck, R297 from
Exclusive Books
Miss Dior by Justine Picardie (who had
unparalleled access to the Dior family
home and archives) paints a portrait
of the enigmatic woman behind the
designer Christian Dior - his beloved
younger sister, Catherine, who inspired
his most famous perfume and shaped
his vision of femininity. From the
French Resistance to the Ravensbruck
concentration camp, from freedom
and fashion to beauty and betrayal ...
Picardie reveals how Dior’s enchanting
New Look emerged out of the
shadows of his sister’s suffering. Faber
and Faber, R615 from Exclusive Books
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 17

PURPLE
PASSION
Chi chi Italian style for the party season
We’re infatuato with the collection from U/R Italian,
who’ve just launched their 2021 collection ... all pinks,
pastels and purples. The fashion, made in Italy, is
exclusive - only a handful of each item produced, and
is creative and elegant. We’re loving these purple
hues for the festive season ... and these earrings
remind us (in the swankiest way) of Christmas
baubles. Love! You’ll find them online uritalian.com
and on social media - facebook.com/uritalians,
instagram.com/uritalians PLUS ... we’re
giving away the bag, earrings
and necklace to one Get
It reader ... pop over to
@getitptamagazine on
Instagram to enter.
Secret studded jelly bag (R699),
U/R ball earrings and necklace
(R499 and R439), and Italian silk
pleated dress (R1159) ... your
party look, sorted!
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
18 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

Behind the legacy of love scenes
Putting a cookbook together is a labour of love. And writer Tayla Blaire and
photographer Roelene Prinsloo enjoyed every (delicious) minute.
he first recipe in Our Italian Legacy of Love is
for Café del Sol’s famous mayonnaise. And the
last is for a Bellini. And in between. Oh gosh
… avocado al-ritz and Nonna’s basil pesto
and limoncello risotto. Fresh mussel pot and
double-cooked chips and stuffed calamari. TPanna cotta with lemon curd topping and chocolate tart
with pistachio crust and Mamma’s pavlova. Recipe after
recipe after delicious recipe from the Café del Sol family
kitchen, each a memory Chiara and Ryan Viljoen have
of dishes from both their nonnas, as well as their mama,
Luciana Treccani.
And while the collection of recipes is a legacy of love,
the same could be said for putting it together … the
behind the scenes planning, tasting, writing, tasting,
photographing, and tasting!
The first seeds of the book were planted in 2019, when
freelance lifestyle writer Tayla Blaire was commissioned
to write an article about Café del Sol for the end-of-year
issue of Get It magazine. ‘I was thrilled, having been a fan of
the restaurant since 2008. Luciana and Chiara showed me
how to make limoncello gnocchi and then we sat down
to interview for the magazine. The interview ended up
lasting almost four hours, as we started reminiscing about
our respective travels to Italy – I had just come back from
a three-week backpacking trip there. I have a passion for
Italian food, passed on to me from my mom, which came
across, and they asked if I would be interested in helping
them write a cookbook, something that had always been
a dream of theirs. That December we put together a pitch
for Penguin. It got approved. And boom! Suddenly I found
myself in the role of ghostwriter for a cookbook.’
So what is it like behind the scenes? ‘A whole lot more
chaotic than the gorgeous glossy pages let on! Firstly,
Chiara got way too enthusiastic with recipes … I don’t think
I’m exaggerating when I say that about 50 had to be cut
from the first draft to the final book. That was probably the
worst part – knowing how many exquisite recipes wouldn’t
make it to print due to page limitations. The family also had
a habit of saying that everything was their favourite family
recipe … and I had to repeatedly explain that a favourite
implies there’s only one, and they had about 20 with that
title. This was a battle they weren’t prepared to lose, so
you’ll find a lot of favourites in this book!’
Worried that her knowledge of Italian cooking would lead
to her making connections that weren’t necessarily in the
recipe, Tayla often dragged her husband into the room to
read through a recipe to see if he could follow it. ‘If he could
follow it, anyone can – and I say that with so much love! On
the boring side … maintaining consistency for method and
measurements across every single recipe was tough as it
gets really monotonous. But on the positive side … I loved
the endless chats to the family, hearing their stories and
creatively weaving their narrative into the blurbs at the start
of each recipe. My favourite part of the book is the opening
pages – the story of the family. It was the first section I
wrote and it really set the tone for everything that followed,’
she says.
‘The family would ask my opinion on all kinds of things,
from what I thought the cover should be to helping them
choose which recipes to lose. That trust is so special to me,
as it shows that they knew I held this book as close to my
heart as it is to theirs.’
Tayla managed to pop in during one of the shooting
days for the photographs … ‘And I happened to coincide
my visit with lunchtime (of course she did!). They were
shooting the risottos and after taking the pictures, we all sat
down amidst boxes and flat-lays to eat every risotto from
the book – it was heaven. Gosh, they make a good risotto.
The best I have ever had, for sure.’
Shooting (and eating) the risotto was Roelene Prinsloo, a
sensational professional food photographer who makes
every dish look mouth-watering.
‘I started specialising in food photography in 2002. When
the chance came up to shoot the images for this book,
I grabbed it with both hands. I love what I do so much
it doesn’t even feel like work.’ It can, however, be quite
challenging to get a variety of settings and images when
shooting a book. ‘It involves a lot of physically hard work,
moving studio lights from one location to the next to set
up a different set, but so worth it to get a different lifestyle
feel. At the end of the day, even when I am exhausted, I am
massively satisfied when I go through the lovely images.
‘And shooting a recipe book is such great fun! It’s a
wonderful opportunity to be really creative and to work
together as a team. After working together so closely for so
many days – usually around 10 days, but we did this book in
a record of six – we feel like friends and family,’ Roelene says.
Tayla agrees with her. ‘At the launch of the book, I asked
Luciana, Chiara and Ryan to sign my copy, and Chiara wrote
that I am “officially part of the famiglia” – and it really feels
that way.’
20 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

Favourite recipes…
It’s a little unfair, asking the pair about their
favourite recipes from a book that’s just
crammed with sensational dishes.
‘People always ask me if we get to taste
the food on shoots, and the answer is yes,’
says Roelene. ‘Tasting the food is the best
part, snacking on the delicious cuisine
throughout the day is a perk of the job
(my hips don’t lie).’ Her favourite starter is
the Italian spring rolls with beurre blanc
sauce, ‘Since I simply love cheese! The
spring roll pastry is stuffed with smoked
mozzarella cheese that is wrapped in
parma ham. Yum. My favourite main I
would say is the limoncello risotto. It is
fresh lemony cheesy goodness and really
does taste like summer in a bowl.’
Tayla thinks one of the perks of working
on this cookbook is she’s had access to
the recipes for so much longer than the
public! ‘So I’ve made about 70 per cent
of the recipes in the book. I don’t think
a month goes by without making the
Gorgonzola gnocchi, and when time
permits, I make the gnocchi from scratch
too. It’s our go-to for entertaining friends
and family because it has such a gourmet
look and taste while being so simple to
make! I also cook oxtail stew in bulk so
that we can enjoy the oxtail risotto on
demand. It’s real stick-to-your-ribs comfort
food for winter. In terms of desserts, their
panna cotta is perfection and so easy to
whip together!’
Details: @tayla.blaire and @roelene.prinsloo on Instagram.
Websites: taylablaire.com and roeleneprinsloo.com
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
‘Allow us to set the scene: imagine this with an Italian
accent. The sun is rising and the kids are being summoned
to the kitchen by Nonna Chiara. Ciao, bimbi! Ciao, Nonna!’
So starts the story introducing the Café del Sol family,
and their deliziosa cookbook, which has been released
just in time for the festive season (great Christmas gift …
hint hint). Ranging from really quick and easy for nervous
cooks to a little more involved for those who aren’t afraid
to put some time and effort into dinner, the book is full of
exceptionally glorious dishes and mouth-watering photos.
Buon appetito! You’ll find Our Italian Legacy of Love by
Chiara Viljoen with Ryan Viljoen and Luciana Treccani at
exclusivebooks.co.za for R409.
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 21

For the
love of an
Italian gin
cocktail
Roelene’s Hibiscus Gin
For Roelene’s gin cocktail recipe, you’ll
need 30ml gin, 20ml Hibiscus Syrup,
15ml fresh lemon juice and 100ml
Methode Cap Classique.
To make the Hibiscus Syrup, combine
500ml water with 2 cups of white sugar
and 3 cups of Hibiscus flowers. Heat in
a pan for about 12 minutes, stir well,
then remove from heat and strain
through a fine sieve. Chill.
To make the cocktail, shake the gin,
syrup and lemon juice together with
ice and strain into a chilled glass. Top
with MCC.
Tayla’s favourite gin cocktail …
a Basil Smash from Our
Italian Legacy of Love
Tayla’s gone straight to Our Italian
Legacy of Love for her gin cocktail of
choice. It’s named Basil Smash, but the
experience is a summer sunset in an
Italian garden.
You’ll need 50ml gin, 20ml simple
syrup, 15ml lemon juice (or to taste),
8 fresh basil leaves and ice.
To make the simple syrup, put equal
parts water and castor sugar in a pan
on low heat and slow cook until a
syrup forms, then remove from heat.
It will usually continue to thicken, but
shouldn’t be too thick (and make sure
it is clear and not caramel in colour).
To make the cocktail, combine the gin,
syrup, lemon and basil in a cocktail
shaker and shake vigorously. Fine-strain
into a chilled cocktail glass with ice.
The Negroni – along with the Aperol Spritz surely the most famous of Italian
cocktails – is said to be created and named for the Italian Count Camillo Negroni
in the early 20th century. While at the Caffè Casoni bar in Florence, he requested
that his regular cocktail, the Americano (equal parts Campari and sweet
vermouth with a splash of club soda), be made a little stronger, using gin instead
of soda, and orange peel instead of the more typical lemon peel. The result is a
refreshingly bitter, but fairly lethal cocktail … just the one is perfect before dinner.
Since we love the slightly sweeter taste of orange in our Summer cocktails, we
made our Negroni with Ginato Clementino Italian Gin, which has flavours of
clementine orange and Nebbiolo grape.
Ginato is the very essenza dell’ Italia, with its effortlessly chic, timeless, sunshinedrenched
way of life. It’s the combination of three core ingredients – juniper,
citrus and grapes – sourced from all corners of Italy that create Ginato’s trinity of
provenance … the very spirito d’Italia.
To make our version, simply add equal parts (one tot each works easily) of Ginato
Clementino Gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a glass filled with ice and stir
until chilled, then garnish with a slice of fresh orange.
For other Italian, gin-based cocktails, try Ginato Pompelmo (pink grapefruit &
sangiovese grape flavoured), Ginato Melograno (pomegranate & Barbera grape
flavoured) and Ginato Limonato (Pinot Grigio grape flavoured). You’ll find them for
R380 at cutlerdrinks.co.za
22 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

In Jamie Oliver Together - Memorable Meals
Made Easy, Jamie says “together feels more
poignant in 2021 than ever before,” and encourages
us to use the recipes in this book has an excuse to
reconnect with those we’ve missed seeing in the
intimacy of our home, and to create the power
that food has to bring people together. “This is
about saying ‘I love you’ through food.” The book
has a fabulous recipe for easy baked eggs, with avo,
spring onions and tomatoes ... tasty, super-simple
- almost beats avo and poached egg on toast. But
our fave is the Jam Jar Prawn Cocktail, his take on
the old fashioned but never out of style favourite.
Prawns, avo, cocktail sauce (yes, the one we made
years ago with mayo and tomato sauce, with a dash
of lemon and Worcestershire sauce). You’ll find it in
the book (quick, turn to page 212) or pop over to
getitmagazine.co.za ... it’s there too. Michael Josef,
R609 from exclusivebooks.co.za
We’ve all done it. Stood at the
fridge or pantry cupboard,
doors wide open, hoping for
inspiration. How, we ask, can we
turn this cabbage and handful
of potatoes into dinner? Well,
the team at the Ottolenghi
Test Kitchen do the same thing
(probably, we hasten to add,
with a lot more success). Once
raided, they give the ingredients
the ‘Ottolehghi twist’ ... and
these creative results are what
make up Shelf Love, the latest
in the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen
series. A selection of recipes that
you can adapt depending on
what you have in your kitchen.
There are pages for notes, lists
of suggestions, space for you
to create your own Shelf Love
List. Which should include
something avo-delicious, yes?
Like the cobb salad with
mango and lime dressing
and thinly slice avo, which
you’ll find on page 184 of the
book. (Oh ... and that cabbage
and potato dilemma. The team
came up with herby cabbage
and potato grain with Gruyére
and ricotta. Yum). Edbury Press,
R604 from exclusivebooks.co.za
Jamie’s Jam Jar Prawn Cocktail.
Iced avo? Absolutely. Try these avo, coconut and cocoa
lollies this Summer. Simply place two ripe avocados,
200ml coconut water (or coconut milk for a creamier
texture), and 15g good quality cocoa powder in a
blender and blitz until smooth and pourable. Add a few
teaspoons cold water if necessary. Pour into popsicle
moulds (this will make four to six) and freeze for six to
eight hours. Unmould and garnish with grated fresh
coconut, and keep chilled until ready to eat.
Lolly recipe and
pic from The South
African Avocado
Growers’ Association.
24 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22

Avo-licious
It’s not just us who thinks avos are the best things since (and on) sliced bread.
A few of our favourite foodies have included avo dishes in their latest cookbooks.
Waffles and cream. Low carb?
Really? In Vickie de Beer’s Low-
Carb Express we found this
recipe ... quick Waffles with
Avo and Raspberry Nice
Cream. It serves four so the
perfect family treat.
Make the nice cream first.
Simply combine 2 avocados, a
pinch of salt, the grated zest of
1 lemon, 125ml plain yoghurt,
300 g frozen raspberries and
45ml erythritol (or to taste) in
the bowl of a food processor
and process until smooth.
Spoon the mixture into a metal
or glass container and keep in
the freezer until needed. There
is no need for it to set, so you
can eat it immediately.
Then the waffles. You’ll need
100 g almond flour, 10 g
psyllium husks, 2.5ml vanilla
extract, 40 g erythritol, 60 g
butter, 2 eggs, 125ml milk and
extra melted butter for cooking.
Preheat an electric waffle iron
according to the instructions.
Combine all ingredients except
the melted butter in a food
processor and process until the
dough comes together.
Brush the waffle iron with the
melted butter and scoop two
to three tablespoons of the
mixture onto the waffle iron
and spread it with the back
of the spoon. Cook for five
minutes or until golden.
Serve the warm waffles topped
with generous scoops of the
nice (and it really is) cream.
Tips: Substitute the raspberries
with any other frozen berries,
such as strawberries or
blueberries. If you are omitting
dairy from your diet, use
coconut cream instead of
yoghurt. Penguin, R320
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 25

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PRETORIA
SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
EVERYDAY CRAZY
BARGAINS

STYLISH LIVING
An aparthotel on the Atlantic seaboard
There are just so many reasons why a trip to the Mother City
is an exceptional idea. Anytime, really, but in December, with
the long days, warm weather and cosmopolitan vibe, there’s
nowhere to beat it.
And there are so many reasons, we’ve discovered, why you
should consider your Cape Town base the Latitude Aparthotel
- the newest, and certainly one of the most instagrammable
hotels - at the end of Cape Town’s most iconic strip in Sea Point.
Firstly, you’re in Cape Town ... you want the views. And views
you’ll have ... of Lions Head, Robben Island, and if you’re in the
Penthouse suite, of the entire glorious, glittering city.
Then there’s the whole aparthotel appeal. It’s self-catering
apartments. With all you’d expect and need. One, two or three
bedrooms, tastefully decorated - all plush velveteen sofas, soft
white linens, sleek granite counter tops, with fully-fitted kitchens,
spacious dining tables, built-in dishwashers and Nespresso
machines. In some of the apartments, there are balconies with
braai facilities; all have work stations and high speed Wi-Fi, so
that important Zoom call isn’t a prob.
But then ... there’s the added comfort of hotel. There’s a cafe
for where you can start your day with breakfast and a view, a
sensational pool deck with kick-back patio loungers (here’s the
Instagram shot), meeting rooms and co-working areas. If you’re
really swish, book the penthouse ... great for events, with a
private pool and that top-of-the-world feeling.
Rates from R1889 for a standard one bedroom per
night to R4261 for a superior three-bedroom per night.
Details: 101 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town. 021 286 9332 or
totalstay.co.za/latitude-aparthotel
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
Dec 21 / Jan 22 Get It Magazine 33

December
SpoilWe’ve got your festive
season all wrapped up!
We’re wishing our readers a happy, fun-filled festive season
... and our biggest Spoil of the year will certainly have one
of you whoop, whoop, whooping with joy. Just look at what
we’ve wrapped up in one massive Christmas box ...
• A weekend for four people at The Bungalow in Plett, worth
R17 200 (you’ll need a break after these hols!)
• A case each of Sense of Place Anna Christina Methode Cap
Classique, Kastanjeberg Chenin Blanc and Suikkerboschrand
Cape, worth R5370 (so red, white and bubbles ... cheers)
• A BlendNespresso machine hamper, worth R4200 (wake
up to the best coffee ever)
• A R10 000 Exclusive Books voucher (book lovers heaven,
right there!)
• A set of Thule roof racks, worth R6000 (no need to pack
light ever again)
• A R5000 Volpes voucher (linen and towels and so much
more for your holiday home)
• A Lou Harvey bag from her new collection, worth R500
(pack up your troubles ...)
• A Sodastream maker, worth R1250 (makes the best
cocktails, too)
• 15 bottles of seriously great spirits and drinks for your
holiday bar cabinet, worth R4600 (the New Year’s Eve party
at yours, this year)
To stand a chance of winning this or one of the daily prizes
leading up the main draw, with a total value of more than
R60 000, pop over to @getitptamagazine on Instagram and
follow the prompts. Entries close at noon, December 10.
PLUS ... fantastic
daily prizes
leading up the
main draw ... all
on IG!
34 Get It Magazine Dec 21 / Jan 22