South African food experience - Cape Town

Visiting the cape to explore the coastal views and food culture. It’s been 14 years since I last visited South Africa.
The water front is a foodie haven and can offer foods from around the world.
The first stop was a Belgium restaurant den Aker which offered a range of fish and meat options. I had kingklip which was dense and can carry great flavour. The dish was amazing. It was memorable.

A well known area in Cape Town is Bo Kaap which was a beautiful area of colourful buildings and the cape Malay community live. There was a wonderful street food stall of cape malay koesister which a cinnamon doughnut with sugar with a bready firmer texture.

Perfect after having a samoosa which is very similar to Indian versions ( less spicy). Delicious . They also have curry shops which is were you can buy pre prepared curry powder blends. They have different types such as mother in law spice blend and father in law spice blend. Which caught my eye. In some curry shops they make up blends to your liking, so you say you want to cook a fish curry and they put a spice blend together for you. The only thing is that you have no idea what’s in it! Lucky dip or pot luck.

That evening it was time for a curry, I cooked a Mother In Law’s chicken curry with onion and tomato masala. Buttery rice, salad and raita. A hit with the family. Mother in laws masala blend.
Spears, Bochendal, Neiderberg vineyards were great places to visit with picnic options and wine to sample it was worth a visit. Our favourite was Neidenburg Anna our guide for the afternoon was very knowledgeable and talked through the various wines we sampled. A lovely lunch was served too with a lovely relaxed setting and delicious dishes. I had springbok pie was delicious served with sweet potato and vegetables. It was my sister in laws special birthday which is what made it even more memorable.

Customer service is also very good here in South Africa. The waiters, waitresses and very helpful and keen to please. One place which was a stand out was Mama Africa restaurant. It plays live music and serves game meat. The dishes ok which s kebab of different meats. It’s game country. I tried crocodile, ostrich, kudu, springbok to name a few. There wasn’t chicken to be seen.

However our waiter was brilliant, Marco who was very entertaining and with a great sense of humour. I’d defiantly have some fun stories to share. Brilliant.

Woodstock is an old mill and was a very trendy place to visit for local artisan crafts and foods at a reasonable price. You name it you can taste it. The local black community food was so popular it was sold out, a sharing plate of salads, cheese and beef served on a piece of cardboard, so we opted for Ethiopian food which was lovely. All I one option of a fermented batter crepes from the region called Injera with a range of vegetable, dal, beef curry ( I omitted that and Richard enjoyed it) to eat on one plate. The fermented roll has a citrus tang, lots of air bubbles a little like India dosa, it was very tasty. This crepe lined the plate, the curries we’re positioned onto and another Injera rolled and placed onto the side . The chicken and egg curry was lovely as was the red lentil dal. More to discover.

We visited a different experience along the western cape route and drove up to a estuary where there was a restaurant called Die Strandloper. A rustic setting with braai set up, Poikie and home made bread. The set up is that you pay for the meal £15pp, you can take your own drinks, paddle in the freezing Atlantic water. The rustic setting was clever with concept using old fish nets
To protect you from the sun. Each course is served with bread and a different fish. Snoek is a local smoked fish. I wasn’t to keen but others around me were enjoyed it! Very strong smoked fish!

Plenty of delicious wines and foods to experience in cape with great service. What isn’t there to love. Worth a visit.

Highlights to see:-
1. Table mountain
2. Hermanus for spotting the whales - take some travel sickness tablets with you!
3. Camps bay for the beautiful sandy beach
4. Waterfront for food and shopping
5. Scenic views of cape - western coast drive from Bloubergstrand
6. Penguins at Betty’s Bay
7. How can I forget the vineyards of Stellenbosch, Bochendal and Nederburg
8 Tietiesbaai for humpback whales, wild camping, clear waters, beach and boulders