What do the three restaurants, Indian Chapter; Moksh and Annapurna have in common? The answer is easy – curry. Whether you like tandoori, madras or vindaloo, or a cashewy korma if you prefer your food less spicy, these three Cape Town restaurants are well-known for delicious curries. The first Indian restaurant we visited in Cape Town after relocating from Port Elizabeth at the end of 2010, was Annapurna. This restaurant, … Continue reading →
Gastao’s Restaurant I love the unexpected – well, if it is positively unexpected. It was Friday again, but we decided not to have lunch at a restaurant this time. Having lunch at home seemed like a very good idea. Around twelve in the afternoon Deon asked if I wanted to accompany him to Edward Street in Bellville as he needed something at one of the shops in that very interesting … Continue reading →
An easy recipe for a quick but delicious dessert – that is always my goal. These little soufflés are light and fluffy, tasty and easy to make. Ingredients 1 cup double thick Greek yogurt 3 large eggs, whites and yolks seperated, at room temperature 3 tbsp flour A pinch of salt 1 tsp lemon essence A pinch of cream of tartar 125 ml sugar A mixture of lemon curd … Continue reading →
We visited this restaurant last year with a guest from Port Elizabeth and when Deon asked if I could suggest a restaurant for lunch last Friday, I remembered the awesome view at Flavours Restaurant, which is situated outside Stellenbosch. Flavours is part of the Devon Valley Hotel. We ordered tapas upon our first visit, which was very good. As it was a very hot day, it thought that it would … Continue reading →
Café des Arts Franschhoek is one of the destinations that we love to visit on a regular basis. Maybe it is because of the scenery, the excellent restaurants or perhaps Deon and I have the tendency to form habits easily. Whatever the reason, today we decided to have lunch at Franschhoek once again. As we were driving towards Franschhoek, we saw many possibilities for Friday lunch. Babel Restaurant on the … Continue reading →
This is a delicious soup, perfect for hot summer days as it is served cold. Prepare it the day before you serve it, as it has to be refrigerated for at least four hours before serving. It is a perfect starter when you are having guests over for dinner in summer. It is from one of Rachel Koo’s recipe books. Ingredients 1 Packet of cauliflower florets (about 650 g) 4 … Continue reading →
Franschhoek in our beautiful Western Cape has always been a favourite and on my birthday this year Deon treated me to lunch at Reuben’s – celebrity chef Reuben Riffel’s restaurant on the main road. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with high ceiling and beams, elegantly decorated and the bar area features a wing of an old DC 10 aeroplane as the bar counter. There is a shop where you can … Continue reading →
When we moved to Cape Town, one of the first restaurants we visited was the delicatessen at Tokara, situated outside Stellenbosch on the R310 in the Helshoogte Pass. I always wanted to return to Tokara and we decided to revisit this beautiful wine farm today, 11 March 2016. Tokara was purchased by GT Ferreira and soon became known for producing excellent quality wines. The scenery all the way to Tokara … Continue reading →
My brother and sister-in-law from Rheebok visited us on the last weekend of February 2016. We had to find a new venue for lunch. This time, after a Google search, we decided to visit Boschendal in Franschhoek, one of the oldest farms in South Africa. The first owner of the farm was Jean le Long, a French Huguenot. He was granted the land by the Dutch East India Company in … Continue reading →
Exploring the Paarl valley – that was our mission for February 2016. On the third Friday of February we had our usual Friday lunch, this time at Harvest Restaurant, Laborie wine farm in the Paarl valley. Named after the district of La Bri in France, the farm became the property of Isaac Taillefert in1691. The architecture of the beautiful buildings which includes the restaurant as well as a guest house … Continue reading →
As it was Friday again, we decided to head towards Paarl for an early 2016 Valentine’s lunch. We reserved a table at Glen Carlou Restaurant, but as we had some time to kill before lunch, we popped in at Koöperasie Stories between Paarl and Franschhoek. It is an amazing French style shop which sells furniture, crockery, linen and everything else. It could be easy to spend a morning in this … Continue reading →
Last Friday, the first Friday of our hottest month February, we decided to have lunch at Nederburg, Paarl. The Red Table restaurant serves bistro-style food inside the beautiful Manor House or outside on the terrace if you prefer the stunning views of the Nederburg vineyards with the backdrop of the Drakenstein mountains. In winter it would be lovely to dine inside in one of the beautiful old-worldly plush dining rooms … Continue reading →
Delheim, located in the area of Stellenbosch, is the perfect venue for an outside lunch in summer or a cosy dinner in winter inside next to the huge fireplace. The original farm was called Driesprongh and purchased in 1938 by Mr Hans Hoheisen who planted the first vines. My mom was visiting us early January 2016 and we decided to take her to Delheim for lunch. Every time we visit … Continue reading →
We have been at Diemersdal Farm Eatery before, in fact, a couple of times, but when we heard that our friends Kobus and Erna from Port Elizabeth would pay us a visit in December 2015, we decided to introduce them to Diemersdal Farm Eatery. During the December holidays it is quite difficult to find a table at a restaurant like this, as it is usually fully booked. But, we were … Continue reading →
This is a Nigella Lawson old fashioned chocolate cake recipe which I have adapted slightly. It is quick and easy to make. Ingredients 1 cup plain flour 1 cup caster sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda ⅓ cup best-quality cocoa powder 175 grams soft unsalted butter 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 150 ml crème fraiche Method Heat the oven to 180⁰C. Butter a … Continue reading →
It is usually a problem to book a table for lunch this time of the year, as many restaurants are closed for the festive season and others are fully booked. When I phoned Durbanville Hills Restaurant in our Durbanville Wine Valley to book a table for four on 28 December 2015, I was happy to hear that they had a table available for lunch. At the wine estate, there were … Continue reading →
An impressive name for an impressive restaurant – situated on Coburn Street in Central Cape Town, this Italian restaurant is not to be missed. Reviews describe the restaurant as “impressive; consistent; simple but tasty food; visited by famous faces; elegant…” These are all descriptive words that we certainly agree with. The interior is modern with beautiful wooden floors, white linen tablecloths and excellent art on the walls. The service was … Continue reading →
If you manage to find this restaurant, you are in for a real Italian treat! Al Dente Pasta Deli is a cosy little Italian restaurant and pasta deli situated in Pickwick Road, Salt River. It is in the foyer of the Upper Eastwood Apartment Block. But once you are there, you will quickly forget how difficult it was to find the restaurant. Al Dente is run by an Italian mama … Continue reading →
Previously a fishing hamlet, Woodstock has always been an area with a mixed community. It was a grey area which fell outside the implementation of the Group Areas Act, according to Andrew Fleming in Making a Place for the Rich? Urban Poor Evictions and Gentrification in Woodstock, 2011. Woodstock was not part of the racially-motivated removals that took place during the apartheid era. In 1986 when there was a call … Continue reading →
On the last Friday of October it was time to reload our internal batteries again with a visit to somewhere out there where we would find an awesome restaurant for lunch. We both thought of going to a pub in Wynberg which we had previously visited. This pub, called Caffe Verdi, is situated in the quaint village of Chelsea in Wynberg, close to Maynardville Park. It is a gorgeous village, … Continue reading →
Under Oaks in the Paarl Winelands has a beautiful history. Ansela van Bengale arrived in the Cape as a slave between 1652 and 1657. She worked as a domestic worker for Jan van Riebeeck and was well-known for her beauty and kindness. Ansela was one of the first slaves to be set free and her daughter Anna married Oloff Bergh, a very wealthy man in the Cape. Ansela married Arnoldus … Continue reading →
On Friday we decided on the spur of the moment to do what we love on a Friday afternoon, which is to find a new venue for lunch. Although we have previously visited Diemersdal, we decided to visit them again, but when we arrived at the restaurant, we were informed that they were fully booked. Not surprising at all, as it was a glorious spring afternoon, perfect for having lunch … Continue reading →
This is the apple tart we all know, but with a slight difference. A splash of rum to the sauce elevates the tart to a new level. Ingredients 200 ml sugar 37, 5 ml butter 3 extra large eggs 250 ml self-raising flour 2 ml baking powder 2 ml salt 60 ml milk 1 tin of tart apples Sauce 250 ml cream 200 ml sugar 100 ml butter 10 ml … Continue reading →
Situated at the V & A Waterfront opposite the harbour, this is the perfect restaurant for a lazy Friday lunch. One of our favourite restaurants, Quay Four, lost out today, as we decided to give Seelan a try. Elegantly decorated and with crisp white tablecloths and serviettes, friendly staff and an inviting menu, this restaurant is a must to visit. As it was a quite chilly day in October, we … Continue reading →
This is a mild pasta dish, perfect if you like salmon. Ingredients 450 g spaghetti 3 tbsp. olive oil 5 ml crushed garlic 4 spring onions, chopped 3 x 150g fresh salmon fillets, skinned and cubed 150 ml thick cream 5 ml dill 20 ml vodka A pinch of curry powder Salt and freshly ground black pepper Zest of one small lemon Method 1. Cook the pasta in salted, boiling … Continue reading →
Deon follows Dave Pepler on Face Book and this is where he found this unbelievably easy recipe for cheese cake, called Lulu Ferreira’s Cheese Cake. I did not really think that it would be successful, but decided to give it a try. I adapted it slightly, as I had berry yoghurt in the fridge. (We buy delicious, double thick yoghurt from Dairy Exchange in Durbanville). This is actually a yoghurt … Continue reading →
We all love surprises and even better, to be surprised! Lucky brother Stephan’s wife organized a treasure hunt for his birthday. All the way from Port Elizabeth to Rheebok, close to George in the Western Cape, my sister-in-law, Sanet, left clues for Stephan. She was always somewhat ahead of him, leaving clues in balloons, while a friend had the task to drive Stephan. Deon and I decided to join in … Continue reading →
Last Friday we had an errand to run in Stellenbosch, and we just had to have lunch. I googled and found a Greek restaurant, called Dimi’s, situated on Dorp Street. We arrived at 8 Dorp Street, but there was no Dimi’s. Instead, it was Ya-Ya’s Café situated in a beautiful building where Dimi was supposed to be. Later one of the waitrons told us that they have recently changed their … Continue reading →
As usual on a Friday, we were debating early morning on where to have lunch. A friend mentioned a new Indian restaurant in Aurora and as we love Indian cuisine, we decided to have lunch at Moksh, meaning “highest level of satisfaction”, as well as “freedom”. In retrospect, we will recommend anyone who loves spicy food, to visit this rather small, but quaint restaurant. They are not yet licensed, but … Continue reading →
As our first visit to Phizante Kraal Restaurant on the Durbanville Wine Valley was a great experience, we decided to pay them a second visit when Deon’s brother invited us for lunch. We were early and waited for them on the lawn while admiring the beautiful view of the mountains. It was a perfect winter’s afternoon. We were again very happy with our choice, and Johan and Juanita were in … Continue reading →
Deon is always seeking the best pork recipe ever. This time he tried the recipe of Errieda du Toit, author of the recipe book Huiskok, Glanskok. Although I am not very keen on eating pork, I have to admit that the aromas that escaped from the oven were really aromatic enough to convince me to taste this dish. It was rather delicious. Ingredients (serves 4 – 6) One deboned pork … Continue reading →
Cold – it is cold in Cape Town. What is a good solution to conquer the cold? Prepare a hearty stew or, as known in Afrikaans, a bredie. I made this version of tomato bredie, but as it was too cold to spend much time cooking in the kitchen, I used tinned tomatoes rather than fresh tomatoes to speed up the preparation process. Ingredients (6 portions) 2 large onions, peeled … Continue reading →
Another Friday afternoon without the delightful thought of lunch at a new venue somewhere in Cape Town, how disheartening. Deon was at a workshop in Stellenbosch and I was busy doing assessments at my education centre. But, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, when I returned from work after 16:00, Deon, whose workshop finished at 15:00, suggested that we go to the supermarket to buy something … Continue reading →
Nina Timm (Kuberkok) invited us for an interview on RSG. Here it is with a couple of pictures that means a lot to us. For us the good life is found in the love for and of our animals (past and present), travel, friends, music, art, photography, a good book … We trust that your search will be an enjoyable and successful one! … Continue reading →
I have always liked food in smaller portions – a huge steak with every bite that tastes the same is not for me. That is why Tapas is my kind of food – small portions, but a variety of flavours – that is what I like. We found a perfect restaurant that serves excellent tapas in the Cape Town city centre – Fork on Long Street has it all. South … Continue reading →
One of our stops when visiting Darling, was a very small mall, called the Mantis Mall. The sweet shop in the mall is well-known for making exquisite toffee, called Darling Sweet. Members of the public can watch the whole process of toffee making from beginning stage to packaging stage. The toffee is entirely manufactured by hand, with most ingredients locally sourced. The best room in Mantis Mall is definitely the … Continue reading →
As a reward to ourselves for working hard during the first six months of the year, we decided to spend a couple of days in the small village of Darling, 75 km from Cape Town and 25 km from Yzerfontein along the West Coast. On our way, we noticed the dull and grey shrubs that is called Renosterveld, often dominated by Renosterbos. It is found only in the South, South … Continue reading →
On a recent visit to the Cape West Coast, we had lunch at Beulah’s Farm Deli, a farm stall which is also known for its charcuterie, run by Gil Ferreira. The Deli is just before the Yzerfontein/Darling crossing towards Langebaan, on the R27. It is definitely worthwhile a visit, especially for the charcuterie, but also to enjoy the wonderful meals available. It is a cosy haven with a fire to … Continue reading →
Deon and I took a short break during the June holidays and decided to explore Cape Town as much as possible during the few days. First of all we decided to visit Woodstock which is one of Cape Town’s oldest suburbs. Woodstock is within reach of Table Mountain (a beautiful backdrop to Woodstock); the CBD and the V&A Waterfront. We had been to the Old Biscuit Mill on a previous … Continue reading →
Despite traveling to many countries and enjoying different cuisines, especially adoring Mediterranean food, my last meal on earth would preferably be something like the following dish – extreme comfort food. During our visit to the West Coast in July, we had lunch at Beulah’s Deli, close to Yzerfontein. Deon’s choice for lunch was a Ploughman’s Platter, but I chose the West Coast Smoor, which was actually on their breakfast menu, … Continue reading →
