We went to Monte Casino, one recomendation from Yudhi Dahlan ITPC Joburg.

Contemporary light fittings with warm orange shades diffuse the light and build on the welcoming ambience highlighting the dramatic “staircase” display of wine - a signature feature of The Meat Co Montecasino

After close our exhibition in Decorex, Gallagher Convention Centre, we drove about 40 minutes by car. Yes Monte Casino, here we goooo.

Monte Casino located in the downtown area of  Sandtown. Montecasino is a leisure and casino complex located at No.1 Montecasino Boulevard in Fourways, Sandton, Johannesburg, Gauteng. Montecasino is built on 26 hectares of land. There very huge parking area, it easy to find one empty parking lot, and it seen hundreds of cars were there.

Yudhi said Montecasino is a one stop entertaining area, and he is right dude, he always right and cool for any recomendation! Oh I miss him . Inside there are many restaurants, including book stores, handicraft shops, souvenirs, theatre and of course Casino.

Neon Sign

Because time has at 7 pm, we initiative for get dinner before look around the place.
Restaurant target is The Meat Co,  we are five people and it is not easy as in Indonesia that can be directly enter the Restaurant.  The restaurant’s captain stop us for entry, although some chairs looks empty. Mark, the captain name same as shown in his custom badge. He asks of us, to help people find the right table for us.

Oh yeaaah, so  everything is arranged, South Africa really disciplined (read related post : Parkirpun Harus tertib)

We enter the restaurant, and in our left sides there are Biltong room, and wine room.

Biltong Room

It looks like Chinese restaurant that shown the meat, chicken and duck hanging on the rack..:)

The Meat Company Steakhouse at Montecasino, they have food and wine experience of international standard. The design and theme of the restaurant complements the Tuscan feel of the Montecasino Complex. Great environment!

Bowl of Biltong

Sure we have to order Biltong, yes a bowl biltong appetizer is worth R50, about Rp 60.000.

This is the first time I tried the Biltong and yeees very nice. I am waiting long enough since stepping on the earth of Africa.

Biltong is typically made from raw fillets of meat cut into strips following the grain of the muscle, or flat pieces sliced across the grain. It is similar to beef jerky in that they are both spiced, dried meats, but differ in their typical ingredients, taste and production process.

According to the Yudhi recommendation, Ribs is number one according to price and class. I followed the recommendation. And sure he never wrong!

I order Pork Ribs, 600 grams! The wheather around 3-10 degree celcius make us need fat.. ha .. ha.

“Bloody hell, its cool man,” when Jacob the waiter serve the main menu. It is for Obelix’s portion.

We spent the night at The Meet Company, (Bahasa jawa Demit = devil ha..ha..ha) with a truly extraordinary experience.

A bottle of Redwine was up for us all.

I have an experience with high level of service excellence, which the professional and highly trained staff of The Meat Co, including Jacob.

This is really truly memorable and impress me.

Last picture…., I cant believe that i can finish the Ribs

I cant believe that I can finish Pork Ribs 600gr, Biltong and some appetizer.

I used to drink it when got less sleep. Sweet and fresh.

About the Lo Han Guo Fruit 

Lo Han Guo (also known as Lo Han Kuo or Luohanguo) is the common name for the fruit Siratia grosvenorii (formerly known as Memordica grosvenori). It is a member of the melon family and is primarily grown on vines in southern China. This naturally sweet fruit is increasingly being used as a sweetener because of its many distinct characteristics.

Naturally Sweeter than Sucrose

Lo Han Guo’s sweetness comes primarily from its mogrosides (a group of terpene glycosides) that are approximately 250 times sweeter by weight than sucrose. The mogrosides are commonly extracted from the fruit by water and then processed into a powder form that is readily usable as a natural sweetener for commercial or consumer usage.

Benefits of Lo Han Guo

* Zero Calories: Our digestive system does not metabolize mogrosides so Lo Han Guo is considered non-caloric.

* Zero Glycemic Impact: Safe for use by diabetics and hypoglycemics, this natural sweetener will not elevate insulin levels and may have an antihyperglycemic effect via the inhibition of maltase.

* Weight Management: Can be used as a natural substitute for high-calorie sweeteners such as sucrose and high fructose corn syrup.

Proven History

Dried Lo Han Guo fruit has been used as a medicinal herb and natural sweetener in China for several centuries. As a medicinal herb, it is commonly used to treat respiratory ailments.

So try it, feel different.

Kemudian pada comics Smurf juga ada buah sarsaparilla yg begitu populer dalam kehidupan Smurf, mereka memasak dengan campuran daun sarsaparilla. Uuh jika ada dalam kehidupan nyata, bisa dicoba resep dari papa Smurf. Nice comics. I was so excited! I smurf it very much.

Minuman Rootbeer juga membuat daun ini cukup trend, aroma yang tercium memang sangat menggoda.

The primary uses of sarsaparilla include the flavoring of beverages, and in folk medicine. As a medicinal product, sarsaparilla is supposedly a “blood purifier”, aid to detox, and a general “pep agent” that is traditionally used in cordials and tonics to invigorate and cleanse the body, although there is no evidence to support its uses.

Family Name : ASCLEPIADACEAE

Botanical Name : HEMIDESMUS INDICUS

Common Name : SARASAPARILLA, INDIAN SARASAPARILLA, ANANTMOOL, HONDURAS SARSAPARILLA,

Part Used : ROOT, LEAFES, FRUIT

Uses : It is Tonic, Diuretic, Demulcent, Disphoretic and Blood purifier. Employed in Nutritional disorders, syphilis, chronic rheumatism, gravel and other urinary diseases and skin afections. It is also employed as a vehicle for Pottasium Iodine.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

NUTRIENT COMPOSITION

Dulu banyak orang mengira sarasaparilla digunakan untuk obat penambah gairah, atau obat PMS, tapi itu dulu, sekarang tidak lagi.

Lebih ada dalam penilitian rematics dan pengobatan eksem, diuretic, asam urat.

Brought to Europe from the New World in the mid-sixteenth century, the herb sarsaparilla became popular with physicians and others, because of the medicinal property present in the herb that proved to be an excellent remedy for syphilis. Even today, sarsaparilla enjoys the same reputation, although the elite prefer to call the herb as “blood purifier” or an “alterative”, alternative terms for the same.

For many years, people thought sarsaparilla had testosterone in it, but there is none present, or for that matter in any plant studied so far. The spicy, pleasant smelling root is what gave old fashioned root beer its bite and is the part used medicinally. The exact mechanism of action has not been identified, however it is thought that the phytosterols it contains stimulate hormone-like activity in the body. Native Americans held it in high esteem as a tonic and blood purifier, and the root was registered in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1910 as a treatment for syphilis. However most modern herbalists no longer believe that sarsaparilla cures syphilis, build muscles or cure a flagging libido. There is research to substantiate its use. for gout, arthritis, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis and eczema. Certain root phytochemicals, called saponins, have soothed psoriasis, most likely by disabling bacterial components called endotoxins. Endotoxins show up in the bloodstreams of people with psoriasis, arthritis and gout.If you have any of these conditions, and feel the need for an all-around tonic to help you fight stress sarsaparilla could certainly play a beneficial role.

Closely related species have been used in Europe and Asia to treat a variety of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory conditions.

Sarsaparilla is native to South America, Latin America, Mexico, and the islands of the Caribbean and was introduced to Europe in the late 15th century. Unlike the sarsaparilla tree which is primarily found in the Northern hemisphere, sarsaparilla is a vine-like plant that has wood-like stems and long thorns. Sarsaparilla was exported to Europe before 1530 from Mexico. It was used in the sixteenth-century for syphilis and rheumatism. Sarsaparilla was used in the 1850s for syphilis in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. Sarsaparilla products were promoted as blood purifiers, tonics, diuretics, sweat inducers, and for many other applications and was often used in patent medicines. With claims implying it contains testosterone, sarsaparilla has been used as a male sexual rejuvenator and an anabolic steroid replacement in natural body-building formulas.

Sarsaparilla contains steroidal saponins, such as sarsasapogenin, which some researcher claim can duplicate the action of some human hormones. However, this purported property of sarsaparilla remains has not been substantiated by empirical evidence. Sarsaparilla also contains beta-sitosterol, a phytosterol, which may contribute to the anti-inflammatory property of this herb. A few reports suggest that sarsaparilla has both anti-inflammatory and liver-protecting effects. Similar findings on the effect of sarsaparilla on psoriasis can also be found in European literature.

Dosage and Administration

A recommended dosage for sarsaparilla is two or three times a day as a tea or a liquid extract. To make sarsaparilla tea, soak 1,000 mg to 4,000 mg (one gram to 4 grams) of chopped or shredded dried root for 10 minutes in about 8 ounces of hot water, and then filter before drinking. In its alcohol-based liquid supplement form it is recommended to take 2-3 teaspoons of sarsaparilla extract up to two or three times a day.

It is common to find capsules containing powdered sarsaparilla root. It is also available in a number of combination oral herbal products. The recommended doses can differ according to manufacturer. Follow the directions on the package you purchase very carefully.

Although it is used in other parts of the world in connection with acne, eczema, fungal infections, and similar skin conditions, it is not usually used in the United States for this purpose. Sarsaparilla can be applied to the inflamed or infected skin in a tea form by slashing it on as a wash or as a compress. Topically it seems to be effective against itching and infections and seems to possess slight antibacterial properties. However, there are many other commercially available topical antibacterial agents which are more effective.

Supporting Literature

Ageel AM, Mossa JS, Al-Yahya MA, et al. Experimental studies on antirheumatic crude drugs used in Saudi traditional medicine. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1989;15:369-72.
Hobbs C. Sarsaparilla, a literature review. HerbalGram 1988;17:1, 10-15.
Rafatullah S, Mossa JS, Ageel AM, et al. Hepatoprotective and safety evaluation studies on sarsaparilla. Int J Pharmacognosy 1991;29:296-301.

The best way to shed the pounds and keep them off is to eat smart and exercise more.

Instead of becoming overwhelmed with the wide variety of options available in terms of diet plans, it is best to begin your first diet plan by eating healthier, more natural foods.

The most popular diets are the low carbohidrat diet

It is very important to eat healthy, exercise, relax, and have a positive outlook on life.
Have a relax day very so often, enjoy a glass of red wine – or otherwise reward yourself after a week of hard work.

People who practice four specific behaviors live, on average, 14 more years compared to people who don’t practice those healthy behaviors, according to a new British study.

The four behaviors – not smoking, performing regular exercise, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol and eating five servings of fruit and vegetables a day – had each been independently shown to increase lifespan, but this was the first study to examine their combined value.

Efek Viagra Dalam Semangka

Semangka sebagai buah hidangan pencuci mulut rupanya mempunyai efek viagra yang dapat meningkatkan libibo. Demikian diungkapkan oleh Dr Bhinu Patil, Direktur Texas A&M Fruit and vegetables improvement centre.
A cold slice of watermelon has long been a Fourth of July holiday staple. But according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be better suited for Valentine’s Day. That’s because scientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido.

“The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body,” said Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station.

“We’ve always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study.”

Beneficial ingredients in watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that are bioactive, or able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions, Patil said.

In watermelons, these include lycopene, beta carotene and the rising star among its phyto-nutrients – citrulline – whose beneficial functions are now being unraveled. Among them is the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does.

Scientists know that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes. Arginine is an amino acid that works wonders on the heart and circulation system and maintains a good immune system, Patil said.

“The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Patil. “Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.”

While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, which would also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

“Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra,” Patil said, “but it’s a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects.”

The benefits of watermelon don’t end there, he said. Arginine also helps the urea cycle by removing ammonia and other toxic compounds from our bodies.

Citrulline, the precursor to arginine, is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh. As the rind is not commonly eaten, two of Patil’s fellow scientists, drs. Steve King and Hae Jeen Bang, are working to breed new varieties with higher concentrations in the flesh.

In addition to the research by Texas A&M, watermelon’s phyto-nutrients are being studied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Lane, Oklahoma.

As an added bonus, these studies have also shown that deep red varieties of watermelon have displaced the tomato as the lycopene king, Patil said. Almost 92 percent of watermelon is water, but the remaining 8 percent is loaded with lycopene, an anti-oxidant that protects the human heart, prostate and skin health.

“Lycopene, which is also found in red grapefruit, was historically thought to exist only in tomatoes,” he said. “But now we know that it’s found in higher concentrations in red watermelon varieties.”

Lycopene, however, is fat-soluble, meaning that it needs certain fats in the blood for better absorption by the body, Patil said.

“Previous tests have shown that lycopene is much better absorbed from tomatoes when mixed in a salad with oily vegetables like avocado or spinach,” Patil said. “That would also apply to the lycopene from watermelon, but I realize mixing watermelon with spinach or avocadoes is a very hard sell.”

No studies have been conducted to determine the timing of the consumption of oily vegetables to improve lycopene absorption, he said.

“One final bit of advice for those Fourth of July watermelons you buy,” Patil said. “They store much better uncut if you leave them at room temperature. Lycopene levels can be maintained even as it sits on your kitchen floor. But once you cut it, refrigerate. And enjoy.”