Karen Little and her significant other came to visit me in Cape Town this past week. We had a great time and I got to see a lot of my new city. I have been here for 4 months and have not had a chance to see all the sights - bad, I know. I shall endeavour to visit more places so that I can be a good tour guide next time!
What I realized over the last few days is that Cape Town and surrounds has an incredible amount of restaurants. You can eat at a different place every week for the next 20 years! The food is also so good - everywhere. Granted, the food could taste good everywhere because you are in 1 of the most beautiful parts of the world and most likely enjoying this food with great company and incredible red wine. But no, the food is really good and the wine flows. I think it is fair warning to say that if you are hungry, stop reading now.
I have previously been to a quaint restaurant that needs mentioning, called Madame Zingara. A gypsy style restaurant with all the trimmings including belly dancers. Here your taste buds will sing the praises of the grilled Camembert with cranberry sauce and chilli chocolate fillet steak. It's just one place that we didn't visit this time around that you must add to your list.
Aaah, Long Street. A plethora of interesting restaurants, strange clubs offering any vibe from reggae to trip hop and bars a plenty. We went to a tiny vegetarian cafe called Lola's for some dinner before venturing to a music venue. It was here, sitting at a 1970's melamine table surrounded by that flowery decoration that we hated when we visited grandma, that I had the best macaroni and cheese on the planet. Yes, even better than yo' mama's. Mr. Pickwick's Deli (also in Long street) is amazing. A good lunch stop as we discovered. It's a teeny tiny sandwich and coffee bar where you can have Oreo or peanut butter bomb milkshakes to name a few and a sandwich with anything and everything on it. Yum.
Aaah, Observatory. No, not really. It's the student district and can be a bit dodgy but you do find a nice Italian restaurant there called Diva's. Not an original name but some original pizzas, like Brie with cranberries. The semi-student prices are also good. A really nice touristy spot to visit is Camps Bay. Expensive sundowners overlooking the cold blue Atlantic ocean is always a good idea. When you're hungry pop into the Bayside Cafe. The best ribs and a sirloin stuffed with figs and topped with blue cheese. If you don't eat cheese and don't drink wine, there are other options, like going to visit Durban or Johannesburg.
The last place I am going to mention is called Die Wynhuis. For those who don't speak Afrikaans, it translates to The Wine House. It is in Stellenbosch - wine country. So after a day of wine tasting at various farms we ended up here to enjoy some seafood and obviously, drink some more wine. Seared tuna fillets with a light wasabi sauce and crème brûlée. Orgasmic. (Winters: women are allowed to use sexual innuendo when describing food) It doesn't really get better than that. It was just a bit expensive. 2 bottles of wine and a meal set us back R210 each (about $30). Expensive for us South Africans. I have no idea if $30 is pricy for you?! But please let me know.
Incredible food, great wine and fantastic company make for a good few days! After writing about all that, somehow my mineral water, yoghurt and dried fruit for lunch, by myself, just doesn't do the trick today.
What I realized over the last few days is that Cape Town and surrounds has an incredible amount of restaurants. You can eat at a different place every week for the next 20 years! The food is also so good - everywhere. Granted, the food could taste good everywhere because you are in 1 of the most beautiful parts of the world and most likely enjoying this food with great company and incredible red wine. But no, the food is really good and the wine flows. I think it is fair warning to say that if you are hungry, stop reading now.
I have previously been to a quaint restaurant that needs mentioning, called Madame Zingara. A gypsy style restaurant with all the trimmings including belly dancers. Here your taste buds will sing the praises of the grilled Camembert with cranberry sauce and chilli chocolate fillet steak. It's just one place that we didn't visit this time around that you must add to your list.
Aaah, Long Street. A plethora of interesting restaurants, strange clubs offering any vibe from reggae to trip hop and bars a plenty. We went to a tiny vegetarian cafe called Lola's for some dinner before venturing to a music venue. It was here, sitting at a 1970's melamine table surrounded by that flowery decoration that we hated when we visited grandma, that I had the best macaroni and cheese on the planet. Yes, even better than yo' mama's. Mr. Pickwick's Deli (also in Long street) is amazing. A good lunch stop as we discovered. It's a teeny tiny sandwich and coffee bar where you can have Oreo or peanut butter bomb milkshakes to name a few and a sandwich with anything and everything on it. Yum.
Aaah, Observatory. No, not really. It's the student district and can be a bit dodgy but you do find a nice Italian restaurant there called Diva's. Not an original name but some original pizzas, like Brie with cranberries. The semi-student prices are also good. A really nice touristy spot to visit is Camps Bay. Expensive sundowners overlooking the cold blue Atlantic ocean is always a good idea. When you're hungry pop into the Bayside Cafe. The best ribs and a sirloin stuffed with figs and topped with blue cheese. If you don't eat cheese and don't drink wine, there are other options, like going to visit Durban or Johannesburg.
The last place I am going to mention is called Die Wynhuis. For those who don't speak Afrikaans, it translates to The Wine House. It is in Stellenbosch - wine country. So after a day of wine tasting at various farms we ended up here to enjoy some seafood and obviously, drink some more wine. Seared tuna fillets with a light wasabi sauce and crème brûlée. Orgasmic. (Winters: women are allowed to use sexual innuendo when describing food) It doesn't really get better than that. It was just a bit expensive. 2 bottles of wine and a meal set us back R210 each (about $30). Expensive for us South Africans. I have no idea if $30 is pricy for you?! But please let me know.
Incredible food, great wine and fantastic company make for a good few days! After writing about all that, somehow my mineral water, yoghurt and dried fruit for lunch, by myself, just doesn't do the trick today.
7 comments:
I have to you, being from the U.S., I never had any real interest in going to Africa. But now that I've read some of your posts describing different areas I think we might give it a try someday. Also my sister in law went there last year for two weeks and said it was wonderful.
To give you an idea of what that meal would cost in the U.S. with the wine. You would be looking at around $60 U.S. dollars by the time you add in the tip.
I agree with RGS-this would cost at least that. I am thinking like $70--$85. Maybe you could get a side job as a tour guide or as a writer for a quide to the town. You do a great job. If I wasn't so poor, I would be there in a heartbeat for the different food and culture. It sounds nice. Glad you had a nice time and hopefully it won't take you 20 years to discover it all.
Miss Wendy
We so have to get you out more - after four months here you should have a favourite table at Madame Zingara's ! Nothing beats the Cape Town social scene.
I haven't seen you in ages, but hope you are having loads of guilt-free fun - you deserve it.
How's it for vegetarian dining? I'm planning a trip to other parts of Africa that I haven't visited (Cape Town included) but as a vegetarian, I always find it hard to look for a place to eat. I'm happy to cook for myself but it's nice if there are places worth visiting and serves a decent vegetarian meal.
Thanks for the update!
Missy:
There are vegetarian delights here! I am not the greatest meat fan and have a few vegetarian friends, so I know there are lots of interesting places around.
Oh, please take me there! Think I should save up for a gourmet Mother City trip before I leave for the Rockies! I'm drooling all over the keyboard...
Ahhh man... Mr Pickwicks is awsome
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