Babelonstoren: The Greenhouse

Franshoek's Garden of Eden

This wine farm in Franshoek is the closest place I've seen to what I imagine the garden of Eden to be like. With fruit trees ranging from plums to figs, olive trees, pumpkin patches and a cacti garden - you name it - Babelonstoren grows it.

With a variety of fresh produce like theirs its to no surprise that their restaurants serves food that depends on their produces' seasons. Fresh salads, ice-creams, jams and meats are all organic and produced on site. I had a salmon salad (obviously not caught in the winelands) made up of beetroot, cherries, nectarine, red onion,  potatoes and tomatoes. Although fresh I did not find the salad to be anything out of the ordinary.

Their red, green and yellow juices were quite nice and their homemade ice-cream were quite delicious. Their menu is simple, clean and healthy however I think more care and flavours could be incorporated into their dishes.

If anything I would say their homemade tomato chutney and jams were their best products. This you can buy at their little farmers store which in itself is quite a treat to see. Their home made breads, jams, meats and cordials are sold there too. Most beautiful were some of the recipe books and ceramics that were on sale.

Babelonstoren itself is something worth seeing due to its uniqueness. If you are wanting to go to a wine farm visiting Babelonstoren should be based on seeing the Gardens and not to eat at The Greenhouse. Their other more renowned restaurant Babel may be another story however a spontaneous lunch at Babel is out of the question as bookings are needed to be made far in advance.

Salmon Salad

Red Juice

Cacti Garden

Hemelhuijs - No Pictures Allowed

With a sign on the wall that says "No picture zone" ,with regards to their decor, one may think this little cafe quite rude. However after eating at "Heaven's House" you will not question their slightly "stuck up" sign

Walls covered in frames with pressed leaves and flowers (probably indigenous to SA) with their fascination to petri dishes and measuring flasks this place has managed to make quirky chic. 

Besides their decor their salt and bread were enough to fascinate anyone. Their salt, displayed in a petri dish, is black in colour as they call it "charcoal salt." Their complimentary homemade bread ( delicious by the way) also had pieces that were black in colour as it too was charcoal bread. The bread, of which pieces had aniseed in, was served with zataar ( a middle eastern spice) and olive oil.

Their meatballs with truffle mash were fantastic - making a basic meal glamorous with  their truffle addition. The salmon and poached egg on a  thin "pancake-like" rosti with creme fraiche was also great. The chicken salad with dried cranberries was good but definitely not my favourite.

Glamourous and chic indeed with their beautiful layout of food on their plates. I had a duck salad with the most delicate thin slithers of beetroot, caramelized nuts and strawberries.   Never being a huge fan of beetroot I am convinced that this is the way to serve beetroot raw in a salad. I hope to also assure you chicken or duck the duck salad is the one to order.

Besides their food their fresh juices were the best I have ever had. The strawberry, apple and lime was the best juice over the other coconut option. I am absolutely convinced that with some mint leaves, vodka and slushy ice that strawberry, apple and lime juice will become the best mojito ever!

I did not manage to taste any desserts however I was told by my mother that the milk tart  was average however by the looks of their cappuccinos I would order one of those instead.

Hemelhuijs was placed under cafés to try in the eat out 2013. This is one of the best meals I've had in Cape Town. Don't miss out on this heavenly food.

Potato Rosti with Salmon,
Poached Egg and Creme Fraiche

Beef Meatballs/Frikkadel with Truffle 

Mash and Tomato Relish 

Duck Salad with Beetroot, 

Strawberries and Caramelized nuts

Strawberry Apple and Lime Juice
and Apple, Coconut and Pineapple Juice

Hemelhuijs From Outside

Bukhara: Indian

Bukhara is a restaurant I have been going to for years. When I ate there in 2012 I was concerned by how the restaurant did not seem to be well supported however eating there at the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 I was pleasantly surprised by how busy the restaurant was.

Although busy the service was great and the food was delicious. As always the butter chicken curry is a must. The butter and garlic naan are definitely required to eat your curry with. Another favorite in my family is the tandoori chicken. The dal fry is also great to have to accompany your main dish.

To finish off your meal the mango ice cream is the only thing you need to order. Possibly one of the best ice creams I've ever had this ice cream is made from one of the 100 mango varieties in order to create the tastiest and best textured ice cream possible.

Mango Ice Cream

  

Hout Bay Market

Now some may not like markets but I assure you that some of the best food in ct is at this little vibey market in Hout Bay. I promise that before you know it these little businesses are going to become a little larger and little more heavy on your pockets. So take advantage of this food!!

Lamb Lover

I for one have never been much of a lamb lover however I guarantee you the softest and most delicious lamb at this market. If you aren't too trusting of my statement you are welcome to taste their lamb before you buy it. Have a taste and you won't look twice at any other stand.

Veggie Eater

For those non-vegans Vegan words like micro-greens, chia and coconut flour are quite off putting when they are the ingredients in your food. Do not be scared! This vegan food has completely changed my mindset. The bun-less asian burger on micro greens and quinou salad with avocado and beetroot hummus is so yummy and healthy. 

You're assured an interesting conversation with the young guy cooking your patty as well. Ask and learn about his "righteous food."

Sweet Tooth

This last time I was at the market I was sad to not see the Creme Brule cupcakes! If you are lucky enough to come across them on your visit be sure to have one! Another delicious sweet treat is the pineapple and banana cake from Nap. For someone who does not like banana and pineapple this cake is definitely better than their carrot cake which they sell.

Mojito Movers

When it comes to cocktails I am very into my fresh minty mojitos. The raspberry mojitos next to Bramptons wine stand is fantastic. If you're not into your cocktails the Bramptons wine is always a safe bet or rather their delicious bubbly!!

Dear Me: Winner For Best Up and Coming Cafe

Great Service!  We arrived 30min after the breakfast cut-off time however they made a plan for us. We were limited to certain meals however they were definitely enough to please for the omelette, shakshouka and muesli eaters. 

The omelette with goats cheese, tomato and rocket was fantastic with their delicious homemade health bread.

The shakshouka was devoured by my father before I could taste however it looked and smelt fantastic.

The yoga muesli that I had sadly almost tasted stale however my lactose free cashew nut yoghurt was absolutely delicious - I could have eaten it by itself. 

Our English family friends asked for some marmalade but were rather given a homemade apricot jam that was absolutely to die for! 

We ended off out fantastic (very late) breakfast with a yummy gluten free orange and almond muffin- it tasted slightly eggy however maybe if it hadn't been gluten free it would have been better.

Leaving late, as we did have a rather late lunch, the smell and look of their duck salad as well as their fantastic service and breakfast will definitely drive me back to Dear Me Cafe for a try of their lunch.

Yoga Muesli With Cashew Nut
Gluten Free Yoghurt

Picture of Interior Design

Orange and Almond
Gluten Free Muffin

Burratta: The Top Rated Italian Restaurant (acc to Eat Out 2013)

• The pizza is very much overrated - the pizza was doughy and lacking in flavour in every demeanor. 

• The Kingklip was lacking in seasoning however the polenta was better than any that I had in Italy.

• Another complaint is that corkage was a high price and no matter your table size ( 2ppl or 12ppl) you are limited to one bottle of wine (ridiculous!) 

Personally: I prefer their 2012 winner for best Italian - 95 Keurom 

Their butternut ravioli with sage butter sauce is fantastic and the kingklip I have had their in the past surpasses Burratta's. To end it off their double baked chocolate soufflé is absolute heaven. This restaurant has always been a special treat in my families books and Burratta has just confirmed that 95 Keurom will continue being special to me.

Butternut Ravioli
with Sage Butter Sauce

Kingklip with a
 Salse Verde Sauce

Double Baked White Chocolate
 and Dark Chocolate Soufflé 

The problem with moving out of home is that fine dining is a no no with a student budget. Going out for dinner to nice restaurants with mom and dad is a definite highlight in the holidays. I hope my blog manages to let all you students in on those special places to eat (where you can spoil yourselves "occasionally") as well as hopefully helping you in on some healthy, quick and easy recipes for those students who battle in the kitchen.

Cape Town

I've spent my December every year in Cape Town with my family. Being a family whose lives revolve around food I have been lucky enough to go to numerous restaurants in and around the Cape. 

The Cape is well represented in the Eat Out Magazine. After Studying the 2013 edition back to front I can both criticize and commend their numerous selections.