Finally, the best season of the year is here! Indulge in all that summer has to offer by gathering around a table full of fresh fruit, veggies, and refreshing sides. Fill up on the season’s finest with these family-friendly salad recipes suggested by the culinary team of the Royal Palm Hotel.

These meals are quick, easy, and seriously delicious, giving you more time for what really matters; summer cocktails!

Strawberry, Avo & Goat Cheese Salad

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

300g rocket and watercress, rinsed and spun
2 ripe avocados, de-pipped and scooped
2 cups strawberries, rinsed, hulled and quartered
1 cup peanut brittle, loosely crushed
1 cup goats’ cheese, crumbled
3 tbsp balsamic glaze
salt and black pepper, to season

For the balsamic glaze:
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar

Method:

1. For the balsamic glaze: heat the vinegar and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally or until reduced and slightly syrupy. Remove, cover and set aside to cool.
2. Start with the rocket and watercress.
3. Scoop in the avo.
4. Scatter sliced strawberries.
5. Crumble the goats’ cheese.
6. Smash and sprinkle the peanut brittle (be generous).
7. Season with freshly-ground black pepper and drizzle on your dressing.

Indian Chicken Salad

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

4 Large skinless chicken breasts
1 heaped tbsp of masala powder
A bunch of coriander, stalks chopped and leaves separated
1 lime
150ml coconut milk
2 Heaped tbsp mango chutney
½ cucumber
100g bag of baby spinach leaves
1 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
4 poppadums broken into chunky pieces

Method:

Lay the chicken breasts in between a double layer of cling film and bash out using a rolling pin until about 1cm thick. Rub with the tandoori spice mix and some seasoning. With a griddle pan over a medium heat, cook the chicken for about 3-5 mins on each side until cooked through.

To make the dressing, mix together the coriander stalks, lime zest and juice, coconut milk and mango chutney until you have a pourable dressing – then season. Arrange the salad ingredients on a big platter. When the chicken is cooked, slice it and add to the salad. Then drizzle on some dressing, scatter with coriander and poppadum pieces and serve.

Biltong, avo & Feta

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

Tzatziki dressing –

1 cup of low fat plain yogurt
1-3 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
1/3  teaspoon of salt
½ cucumber, peeled
Salad –
½  cucumber, sliced
1 packet rocket and watercress
1 avocado
1 yellow pepper, sliced
1 punnet cherry tomatoes
1 ripe mango, sliced
200g moist beef biltong, sliced
60g feta cheese

Method:

Toss together all the salad ingredients and serve the salad with tzatziki dressing.

And if you still don’t have time for these quick meals, head on to the Royal Palm Hotel. The hotel boasts some real fine dining, with their very own onsite signature restaurant, Thyme@Royal Palm, providing delicious dishes in a luxurious environment – the perfect place for a date or to get together with friends over summer cocktails.

For bookings or more information, call 031 581 8000 or email info@royal-palm.co.za

How to run a successful conference in the new year!

Do you need some tips and tricks to run a successful conference? Do not fear, here are some tips provided by the team at Royal Palm Hotel in Umhlanga, on the ways to ensure you meet the goals for a successful conference.

The most important aspect of the conference is for attending guests to either leave feeling re-energized with new ideas; enabling them to understand the objective to be met for 2020 or to understand a specific product, should your conference be training-orientated.

Firstly work out the budget. A tip to remember is to jot down or create a planner and share your ideas with others to ensure your ideas are achievable and within with budgetary requirements.

Secondly, arrange the budget so that it covers venue hire, technical, food and beverage, number of guests and other possible miscellaneous items. The next step is to start looking at venues. Those venues that offer various package options, provide the best value for money and thereafter book in advance. You are likely to pay more for last minute bookings.

In most cases, good preparation and sound planning ensures a successfully run conference.

If the type of conference you choose requires a speaker, ensure that this is done as soon as you have the venue booked. You will have to take into consideration, costs of the speakers and their needs. Of course, the type of speaker selected would also depend on the type of conference you are hosting.

For any conference, it is best to also obtain food and beverage menu options beverage – whether it is a breakfast meet, a half day conference, full day  or one that lasts a number of days, it is important to include in order to keep the guests fueled.

Some of the other aspects to take into consideration is the printing of programs, AV and technical requirements. Most times, the venue will have a team member to assist, however ask this question when booking. Table seating arrangements and the guest list are also important – especially if it is a banquet style.

If you are looking for a venue sure to suit both your business and leisure needs, in an ideal location in the heart of Umhlanga, choose the Royal Palm Hotel.

The choice of conferencing facilities for up to a maximum of 80 delegates are as follows:

• Cinema
• U-Shaped Boardroom
• School Room
• Banquet Dinner
• Cocktails

For both half day and full day conferences, the following is included within the cost:

• Bottled Water
• Mints
• Notepad
• Pen
• 1 Whiteboard/flipchart
• Pa system with roving mic
• Data projector
• Complimentary Wi- Fi
• Arrival tea/coffee/pastries
• Complimentary Parking
• Lunch – for the full day (upon request)

For bookings or enquiries, contact 031 581 8000 or email info@royal-palm.co.za