Local flavour and the tastes of home

I arrived in Cape Town on 8 January 2016 for a two week visit with my family. I looked forward to experiencing the local flavor and tastes of home.

The weather during this time was hot and windy, with big dark clouds every now and then, but not a drop of rain. The country has been in the throes of the worst drought in 20 years, and it shows.

The agricultural land looks parched and ready to burst into flames…. And the mountains have been ablaze across the peninsula on more than one occasion. But life goes on…

There were outings to artisanal food markets like the Neighbourgoods market at The Old Biscuit Mill and the Thursday food market at St. George’s Mall.

We visited the West Coast fishing village of Paternoster for a relaxing weekend at the seaside. We bought freshly baked bread at the general store and slathered it with butter and homemade preserves.

The Saturday flea market on Paternoster Beach was a treasure trove of handmade items and we came away with delicious homemade cookies.

After returning from Paternoster we had a two night stay in the Francophile country town of Franschoek. We had breakfast every day at the Essence restaurant and coffee bar.

On our last day we paid a visit to Cooksensuals, the chef store next to Reuben’s restaurant in the Main Street. I couldn’t resist and stocked up on props and aprons!

And in between we managed to fit in breakfast, afternoon tea and dinners with family and friends.

Breakfast at Pearl Spoon in Belvedere Road, Claremont, with my cousins and aunts was a leisurely affair. Their food was well presented and I loved the coconut bread.

A few days later we went on a bit of a last minute shopping spree in Claremont and ended up at the Rodeo Spur for lunch. It was the stuff my teenage memories were made of. Spare ribs and buffalo wings, milkshakes and waffles.

My cousin Rasheeda held a small dinner party for the cousins and cooked melt in the mouth fillet steak, chicken, salad and a few other dishes I am still drooling over.

My sister in law pulled together this wonderful afternoon tea before I left for the airport.

In the two weeks in Cape Town I managed to enjoy and experience the authentic Cape local flavors and the tastes of home, and was reminded how much the local cuisine and produce has to offer.

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