Winter has settled into the bones of the Cape and after the last two fronts, it’s properly freezing.
My eBook Comfort was created for the sole purpose of curating a collection of some of my best wintery dishes like the best oxtail, coq au vin & coq au vin pie, the best potato gratin and twice-baked cheese soufflé immaginable. Its only R200 and you can buy it here.
New Restaurant alert
Scala Pasta Bar is a chic new Italian restaurant opening on the 15th of September at 81 Church Street, Heritage Square (Former Riverine Rabbit venue). Chef Luciano Monosilio (one of the youngest chefs to be awarded a Michelin star) is the culinary creative behind this exciting new concept restaurant. With their strap line ‘Not your mamma’s pasta’ you can expect innovative small plate sharing dishes with pasta being made in-house in their pasta laboratory. I got a sneak preview last night and fell in love with it. I cant wait to sip an Aperol spritz on the front deck this summer nibbling on cicchetti. Hello aperitivo in the coolest part of town.
Out & About
I’ve had a few fabulous meals in restaurants & some amazing excursions this past month. Its so worth the effort to get out there and be a tourist in your own back yard.
Kyoto
This iconic Japanese restaurant in Gardens is as good as ever. Expect an array of unusual and selectively sourced seafood which is turned into delicate and exquisitely balanced dishes. This will be amongst the best seafood you will find in a Cape Town restaurant. The quality is outstanding so the prices are on the higher end. The calm zen-like atmosphere of the restaurant always feels like a breath of fresh air. They have a great wine list and selection of Japanese single malt whiskies. Perfect for a date night.
Tintswalo Atlantic & Chefs Warehouse
I spent a night at this beautiful lodge set right along the shoreline in Table Mountain Park. I don’t think you can find a location this close to the sea in South Africa. Nestled under the ancient milkwood trees it’s a bucket-list destination. Dinner in the Chefswarehouse at the lodge was brilliant.
The Table at De Meye never disappoints and it was equally as nice visiting on a rainy day. As much as I love sitting under the trees, it was cozy inside next to the fire. Generous family-style dining that really works. You can see the little reel I made on Instagram here.
Kersefontein
We took a last minute road trip to stay at Kersefontein near Hopefield over the long week end. This eighth generation working farm is run by Julian Melck and a great place to stay if you looking for tranquility. A number of the rambling outbuildings on the farm have been converted into rooms and suites for bed & breakfast or self catering purposes. You can opt to join Julian for dinner in his original Cape Dutch Manor house where everything is preserved from a bygone era. We ate slow roasted wild boar which had been shot by Julian on the farm and which was delicious. This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the heritage of Kersefontein and explore the thousands of hectares of farmland and river plains.
On the way home we took a quick detour to the picturesque Bokkom Laan in Velddrif followed by lunch in Paternoster at Voorstrand restaurant & an icy swim in the Cape Colombine Reserve. The Daisies are out, so the West Coast is the place to be right now.
De Eetkamer
Had a lovely dinner at this buzzy eatery in Stellenbosch. Global cuisine is presented in a small plates menu concept. They had a great and concise winelist too.
Salsify at The Roundhouse has reopened after a short break and decor revamp. Its looking very spiffy with new wall murals, ceiling installations and furniture. They are currently running their winter special menu until the end of August which looks delicious and is excellent value at R 495pp.
A great read
The Inside Guide have launched their second print publication and its a beauty. Following on from their successful ‘The Hot List - Summer 2022’, The Secret Season is all about 100 ways to discover the best of the Cape in Winter. Both are collectable and a great source of inspiration when looking for places to explore. Find out where to buy it here.
Recent recipes on my blog
Moroccan chicken & rice with aubergine
I’m thoroughly embracing one-pot dishes lately and this is another delicious recipe. The warming spices are mild but full of flavour. I enjoy this meal garnished with pomegranate arils and chopped pistachios for texture. This one will go straight to my top recipes of the year list and I cannot wait to make it again.
White chocolate, cranberry, and macadamia nut cookies
These are one of my all-time favourite cookie recipes from the early days of my website. I made a little video too.
Italian sausage, orzo & fennel in a rich tomato sauce. This is a one-pan easy weeknight supper dish made with authentic Italian fennel sausages which I sourced from Giovanni’s in Greenpoint. I always keep a pack stashed in my freezer because its such a deliciously versatile ingredient.
Thanks so much for being here and see you next month. Hit reply or like this post to ensure it comes straight to your inbox in the future.
Sam x