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