Service at SavCafe

Staying in the South Peninsula? Looking for somewhere new for breakfast? Look no further than SavCafe in the new Harbour Bay development in Glencairn. This more casual eatery is part of the Saveur Restaurant Group, a modern European-style restaurant group with an outlet at the Simon's Town waterfront (highly recommended) and as a fan of their quality food and great service, I looked forward to trying out some more of their fare.

The place was buzzing (it being brunch time and a public holiday), and I was unable to get a table near the windows which have gorgeous views over False Bay and Simon's Town. Despite being on the main road that winds around the scenic Peninsula and subject to a continual stream of traffic, there was no noise from outside. A delightful young lady served me, but gave me the bad news that the shakshuka was not available, and so I fell back on an old favourite, Eggs Benedict. I consider two things to be a test of a good restaurant - perfect poached eggs the way I like them (soft yolk, set white) and tea that doesn't taste of chlorine (the water has not been freshly drawn). 

The tea was perfect, the eggs a little too hard and there was grit in the rocket. My waitress came over to enquire how I was enjoying my meal and, as she had asked and honest feedback is a necessity, I mentioned the last two. She was very apologetic and I hastened to add that it in no way lessened my enjoyment of a very tasty, well-presented dish, and that the tea was excellent! I had a lengthy chat with the GM who came over to keep the customer satisfied and I was extremely impressed by his professional, friendly and informative approach and I totally understood the circumstances relating to teething problems in the new centre. There are many restaurants that could learn from him.

I have no hesitation in recommending SavCafe as a place to enjoy a light meal whenever in the area. The décor is welcoming, the atmosphere alive and purposeful and the food fresh and tasty. Oh, and the view!

Sublime salad at Lime Tree Cafe

Lime Tree Café in Dreyersdal Rd, Bergvliet, never fails to please the palate. Somehow there is always a reason to pop in when in the area, either for a late breakfast or early lunch. savouring his dishes that focus on flavour, flavour, flavour. There may be some dishes without the searing heat of chilli and ginger, but as one who enjoys food with a bite, I have not tried them. For those with a cast iron constitution, the firecracker burger is for you.
Breakfast dishes include a powerful shakshuka that will kickstart the metabolism, and for the less adventurous palate, the eggs benedict with the Lime Tree twist are a perfect start to the day. On cooler days, the chicken and prawn curry is my choice, but for the ultimate in sublime salads, try the roast chicken salad - a mixture of tender chicken, quinoa and salad ingredients that tantalise the tastebuds and provide all the textures required for a satisfying culinary experience.
The sweet side of the menu caters for those who enjoy cakes and specialist confectionery, but I try to avoid these, although I am sure you will not be disappointed in any of the items on offer!
Pricing is excellent for the quality and quantity of the portions, and the steady flow of clientele is testimony to the consistency of this highly recommended eatery. Casual and rustic, spur of the moment satisfaction. Location: Sherwood Centre, Dreyersdal Rd, Bergvliet (Cape Town).

New reviews in the offing

After some years of being side-tracked by the more unexciting aspects of life, I find myself getting out more and more into the world of those unencumbered by work i.e. the retired and tourists. Such outings inevitably mean lunch at a range of places from local coffee shops to upmarket wineries, with the plethora of offerings in between. We are so spoiled for choice that there is no excuse to ever eat twice at a place that is less than above average and we also don't have to break the bank to have a really enjoyable experience. Sometimes our choices are limited by distances and times of day, not just budget, and it is always helpful to get an idea of other views on a restaurant that we have not tried out before.
I hope that the forthcoming blogs will help fill that gap and that you may even follow me! 😄

A quiet winter's day in Kalk Bay

The upper reaches of Kalk Bay mountain were blustery and damp. The lure of coffee and Eggs Benedict was stronger than the need for exercise and all agreed to call it a day.
The Main Road was a different climate altogether, as is Cape Town's wont, and calm, dry conditions prevailed as I strode briskly along to my destination - Lekker, an eatery opposite the station car park where I have enjoyed good coffee on a number of occasions. With the summer southeaster firmly off the weather map, the front windows were wide open - in fact there are none, as has become customary in Kalk Bay restaurants, where the sounds of traffic and chattering passers by simply add to the ambience - and a glorious vista lay before me.
Shades of grey were the order of the day. Grey paint, grey tarmac, grey sea, grey mountains, grey clouds. Soft and soothing, as was the music playing perfectly in the background - Italian Café (Putumaya), lulling me into a Friday torpor.
The Eggs Benedict were beyond expectation - golden yellow yolks burst and flowed enticingly through a generous coating of light, fluffy Hollandaise (possibly the most culinarily correct I have ever had) and, were it not for the presence of others, I would have licked the plate. The cappuccino was strong and satisfying, in a large cup that obviated the need for a top up, and the bill for all this refreshment was quite a bit less than R100. Refreshing indeed!
Kalk Bay in winter is a delight. Plenty of parking, easy seating in places you can't get into in summer, and the harbour with its colourful boats and locals just a step away across the railway line.

Trailblazing at Trail's End!

There’s a trailblazer in town and it’s Trail’s End in Grabouw, nestled in the orchards of the Overberg. This brand new bike hotel, the first of its kind in Africa, is the brainchild of Pieter Silberbauer, a local businessman with a reputation for building top-notch timber homes across the Western Cape. Retirement didn’t suit him and, together with two partners, he converted his factory building into a light, airy, practical space for bikers, hikers and the like. Every convenience and need is catered for, without over-the-top frills.
There is a bike wash for the bikes, a mud wash for the bikers, and a long pool (heated) for those who didn’t get enough exercise on the trail (or chose to lounge on the verandah with a good book, chosen from the shelves of the thoughtfully and well stocked library). Inside the spacious open-plan dining, reading, relaxing area (the décor skilfully detracting from yet adhering to the factory shed atmosphere), you can enjoy a large cup of the best cappuccino I have ever had, accompanied by a generous slice of warm blueberry cake straight from the oven of the well-equipped kitchen, run under the skilful hand of Canadian chef, Brenna Coupland. I can only imagine that mealtimes are something to really look forward to at Trail’s End.
The entire hotel is eco-friendly, with solar power for the lighting, pristine groundwater supplying all water needs and everything recycled (apt for a bike hotel). Local craft beer and ciders are served, vegetables are locally grown and a community project is supported in the small retail section of the hotel.
Facilities are suitable for families, groups and solo guests, with a choice of private en-suite rooms or dormitory accommodation for serious teambuilding! A total of 60 beds are available. A secure indoor area is provided for bicycle storage, as these babies can cost the same as a small car!
Coaching clinics are held relating to training for triathlons, nutrition, cycling, etc. and there is a chiropractic, massage and Pilates facility, as well as a physiotherapist on hand for those strained muscles after a day on the trail. The hotel is perfect for conferences and teambuilding  outings, as well as weddings or other special occasions. A kiddies’ pump track provides energy-burning entertainment for the youngsters, and a climbing wall will keep them occupied while mom and dad enjoy a sundowner in the comfort of the courtyard, while maintaining a watchful eye.
Find Trail’s End at www.trailsend.bike  You won’t regret it!

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is the perfect place to get away from the hum of the city, or to find endless green lawns, ancient shady trees and examples of the Cape's vast and unique floral kingdom, satisfying the needs of everyone from the harassed housewife to the budding botanist. I have been walking those masterfully cobbled paths since early childhood and still never need an excuse to go there. The babbling brooks carrying the runoff from Table Mountain through the Dell soothe the soul, and plentiful resting benches donated by past wanderers have provided respite from the sometimes arduous trek for millions, locals and tourists alike.
Birdlife abounds as they can feed from all their favourite vegetation and owls roosting in trees attract twitchers and normal viewers, especially children, to admire them under their sleepy stare.
The Boomslang canopy walk is a recent addition that has brought a new perspective to the gardens, although it would benefit by another few hundred metres, I think!
It is truly a national treasure and those who live in Cape Town should take time out of busy lives to lie under a tree and recharge if they are able to.

 

Die Weskus Padstal, Yzerfontein - a short drive from Cape Town

I chanced upon a lucky find today - the Weskus Padstal at the turnoff to Yzerfontein. Who would have thought that an unprepossessing assortment of buildings would yield such a fascinating interior? The most marvellous assortment of goodies awaits the tourist and local alike inside the large shop - locally made clothing, hand-knitted jerseys and things you just don't see in too many other places are there for the picking. The usual homemade preserves and jams are supplemented by olive oils, salad dressings and other delectable delights from the Winelands and vicinity.

 

 
 Once you have browsed and bought, you can then go further into the building and find yourself in the indoor eating area, and then the outdoor area, where everything from old army dixies to glass fishing buoys adorned the walls. Artistic use has been made of the huge wooden cable reels that hold the cables laid along the sides of our roads, and tables, umbrellas, fencing and gates have magically appeared from these rather utilitarian items. Four enormous pink marble lions guard the garden and an old tree stump, very skilfully carved,
dominate the area.
A nursery is accommodated, but the plants are laid out along winding paths in small areas and so it is not immediately apparent until you see the labels. But the piece de resistance is the section with the aviaries, where you can admire everything from a budgie to a macaw. Although I am not enamoured of caged birds, these do have companions and are evidently very well looked after - a hobby of the owner, not for sale.
The coffee was excellent and the meatballs were egte boerekos. There is an extensive menu of light meals and takeaways are available for travellers on their way further afield. An added bonus is the friendly and efficient staff! I consider the drive up from Cape Town to be worth it for a half day outing for something a little different, and there is always the magnificent beach a little further down the road to go walking along should you have overindulged in the cake section!