African Woodsmoke

Johnny Clegg wrote this song on behalf of Nelson Mandela and it is truly beautiful. You can feel the spirit of Africa in it!

Last night we had a great Woodsmoke Evening for the Siena Park apartment residents.  It turned out to be a beautiful evening here in DC once again.  The Diemersfontein Pinotage & Degrendal Rose were the huge hits of the evening.  To purchase some of the great wine that was enjoyed last night go HERE. Here are some photos from last night, thanks for coming!

This was my interview on 10/11 news where I speak a little bit about why I started Woodsmoke.  Also check out some of Woodsmoke’s great products in the background.

Cheers,

Sean Founder Woodsmoke

Lilac Bijoux in the historic town of Annapolis just signed on to help support education in Africa by carrying our scarves in their store.  Lilac Bijoux is a trendy womens boutique owned by Fern & Beth.  Woodsmoke would love to support them in any way possible.  If you find yourself in Annapolis make sure to stop by.  There address is:

145 Main Street, Annapolis, MD 21041

Here is the story of how they got started:

“A long time ago, in a country far, far away…ok, maybe not THAT long ago or THAT far away…Fern was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Her entire life was emersed in creativity. Fashion, painting, decorating, it surrounded her. Landing on the shores of California she and her American husband eventually made there way to the other shore. As a buyer for a major women’s chain, Fern perfected her ability to choose must have items that you shouldn’t live without!

Fern loves catching rays in Brazil and sipping on Caipirinhas (the Brazilian national drink). When she has the time, she is traveling to places she has never been and dragging her teenage daughter along for the ride!

Beth tried, for a very long time, to be happy making money for other people. Yay, not so much! Owning her own business was always a dream. When she was just five she was convinced she was going to walk the neighborhood dogs and make lots of money, and as teenager she dreamed of being a speech writer and the owner of an NHL team! Eventually she found her niche in sales.

Beth, a self proclaimed sci-fi geek, loves to ski the mountains of Vermont, big roller coasters and hot air balloon rides. She and her husband live on Maryland’s eastern shore with their two boys, two dogs and a cat!

A very brief stint working together, a few martinis and a cocktail napkin, and voila, Fern and Beth had the basic concept for Lilac Bijoux.

Now you know.”

Kweri (cheers),

Woodsmoke Team

One of Woodsmoke’s most popular products is called a Bamileke Table / Stool and is mainly used as a home furnishing piece as a coffee table.  The stools have been hand made in Cameroon by the Bamileke tribe who are famous for their exceptional woodcarving skills.  They make each of the stools from a single piece of wood.  The midsection takes the most skill; this is where the wood has been carved into a lacework decoration.  In Cameroon, they are called Kings Stools because the most intricate stools are uses as seats for tribal chiefs.

Here are some great pictures of the Bamileke table and many of the different colors that you can buy them in.  If you would be interested in purchasing a Bamileke we have them for sale HERE.

For the start of the World Cup last Friday, the South African embassy had an amazing party.  Myself, and a few fellow South Africans attended and celebrated a great day for Africa.  South Africa had a good first start to the tournament by drawing to Mexico.  Here are a few photos from the day.

We had an amazing event to celebrate the start of the World Cup and Woodsmoke’s arrival in DC.  The weather was perfect, perfect backdrop, and unbelievable crowd.  Thank you to all who made this night a success.

Last week I went to a restaurant in Laguna Beach, California called Mozambique.  I had heard rumors from my brother that it was fantastic and wanted to check it out.  Well I was blown away by how awesome it was.  Mozambique has a Portuguese influence in its cuisine that go back to colonial days.   What they are famous for is a chili that grows in Mozambique called African Birds Eye Chili, what the natives call Pili Pili, to Western ears this sounds like Peri Peri.  Peri Peri is used in most of their cooking and blended very well with Portuguese chicken and seafood.  Peri Peri sauce is the magic sauce for chicken and seafood.  It has unbelievable flavor and can make a bland chicken be very tasty.  It is widely used in South Africa but is often hard to find here in the United States.

Night at Mozambique with Manager George Poulos

Mozambique restaurant showcases the greatness of Mozambique culture from its setting to its food and its people.  The restaurant has a great vibrancy and spirit about it that portrays the greatness of Africa.  The place is packed all nights of the week and has a live band on weekends.  The food is spectacular and Peri Peri is used in many of the dishes.  They also have a great wine list and have chosen many spectacular South African red wines.  I enjoyed a glass of Thelema Merlot with Peri Peri prawns for dinner.  I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is traveling down to Southern California and is looking for a unique experience.  Amazing food, wine, and most of all a great vibe.  To find out more about Mozambique click HERE.

Cheers,

Sean, Founder Woodsmoke

To kick off our move to Washington DC and the start of the World Cup, Woodsmoke is having a premier event on the breathtaking rooftop of the Newseum Residences.

You are invited to an exclusive event that celebrates Woodsmoke’s move to DC and the start of the World Cup in South Africa. Sample boutique South African wine, savor continental African cuisine, and enjoy rare African art from Woodsmoke. The night will showcase the greatest of African creativity, and our commitment to Africa’s prosperous future.  Please spread the word to anyone who you think would be interested in attending.

Cheers,

Sean, Founder Woodsmoke