#SouthAfrica #CapeTown #Azure #SteenbergWineEstate #ShortmarketClub #PotLuckClub #Foxcroft #Meloncino #LaColombe #BombayBicycleClub #КулинарияКейптауна #KloofStreetHouse #Aubergine
September 2018
GLENN'S CAPE TOWN CULINARY CHOICES
The culinary scene in Cape Town, South Africa, is innovative and sensational. I can personally vouch for that. I consider myself to be quite the food fundi and I have a seasoned palate, thanks to my extensive travels. I have been blessed to sample and savour cuisine from all over the world and I can say with gusto that Cape Town offerings in the culinary sphere are something truly special.
Capetonian chefs are making a global name for themselves and these are some of my top choices for restaurants in terms of consistency, quality, variety, creativity and ambience.
Azure - Azure Restaurant is the signature restaurant of the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa. This location is hard to beat with spectacular sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean and the mountain as your backdrop. They are very well known for ingeniously incorporating the local Fynbos into their dishes. The menu is updated seasonally and includes a selection of Beatrice Tollman’s favourite and classic dishes, taken from her memoirs ‘A Life in Food’. Beatrice Tollman is the founder of Azure as well as the president of the Red Carnation Hotel Group. Her Prawn Stroganoff is a culinary masterpiece.
Bilboa - The Camp’s Bay strip is often an ultra luxurious dining experience and Bilboa fits into the scene perfectly. Gorgeous interiors with warm wood flooring and crisp white table cloths paired with the views and Mediterranean style flavours, is one I can highly recommend, but go early for the sunset.
Cafe Paradiso - I can tell you that Cafe Paradiso is a good fit for both locals and internationals. It’s in one of the most beautiful settings in Kloof Street. Sit outside, in the soft glow of fairy lights, on a balmy summer evening or enjoy a table inside with the scent of wine on the racks and the hum of lively chatter from happy patrons. I truly forget how many times I have been here.
Catharina’s at Steenberg Wine Estate - I make sure that Catharina’s at Steenberg Wine Estate is on my list, at the very least, once a year for dining. It’s in Tokai which means you don’t have to travel to the Cape Winelands for a bona-fide Winelands experience, it’s on Cape Town’s doorstep. The food focuses on simple dishes and lets the quality of the ingredients tickle your tastebuds.
Aubergine - This restaurant is tucked away in the suburb of Gardens and has a private, exclusive feel. I have had many enjoyable meals here and I can say that I am never disappointed. Their menu includes seafood, local games and even wild mushrooms foraged from the forest. It definitely ticks all my boxes.
Kloof Street House - Ask anyone that knows me and they’ll tell you that a firm favourite of mine is Kloof Street House. It has a great vibe but I need to warn you that you need to book well in advance. This creatively designed Victorian House is popular and one of my favourite dishes is their Oxtail.
Bombay Bicycle Club - I think that Bombay Bicycle Club is a great informal dining experience. It’s part of the Madame Zingara group and is a bit of a show of flamboyance. Their most favoured dish has to be the chocolate chilli steak. I find it can get a bit noisy but food and interiors make it well worth it.
GOLD Restaurant - This restaurant is something my company makes use of frequently. It’s African themed and promises a ‘taste safari’. It’s ideal for farewell or welcome dinners for groups and I’ve dined there many times. There is live djembe drumming and then a 14-course meal that showcases cuisine from different African countries.
Harbour House - Harbour House is a Sunday haunt for me. Throughout summer, I find it a continual toss up between the one in Kalk Bay or the one in the V&A Waterfront. Both venues offer superlative calamari steak and sole and in transcendent Capetonian settings.
Janse & Co - This is a new establishment in the fashionable and busy Kloof Street. It is a real gourmet experience with an extended menu. I want to extend a personal thank you to Arno Janse Van Rensburg for bringing his culinary expertise into the city centre.
La Colombe - Not a word of a lie, I can say that La Colombe is one of my top three favourite restaurants of all time. It was recently refurbished and although I prefer the dinner experience, there is something magic about vineyard views during lunch. The attention to detail, the creative passion you can taste in the food and the impeccable service blows my mind every single time I am there.
Foxcroft - This is certainly another Constantia favourite of mine. The design features charcoals, whites and raw wood with chic linens; it’s a sophisticated dining experience. The menu is something inspirational and the options are imaginative and endless.
Meloncino - Another restaurant that my company makes use of often and I myself have dined there at least three times. The menu is a wonder, having everything from fresh seafood to wood-fired pizza and steaks. It’s located in the famous V&A Waterfront.
The Bungalow - A simply extraordinary location in the upmarket suburb of Clifton. It’s a great place for either dinners or lunches and is easy food but the atmosphere is trendy. I quite like that during the day, you can see the paragliders gliding into their landing spot not far from the restaurant. I would recommend you head there early so that you don’t miss the sunset that Cape Town is famous for.
The Test Kitchen - The Test Kitchen is consistently making headlines, even being named the ‘Best Restaurant in Africa’. It is the culinary genius of Luke Dale-Roberts in the trendy Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. Out of all the restaurants in Cape Town, this is the one I most looked forward to experiencing and once I had gone, I finally understood the justified hype. It is a multi-sensory dining experience but bookings, as you can imagine, are hard. I am so eager to go again!
Pot Luck Club - The Pot Luck Club is another Luke Dale-Roberts restaurant. It’s in a rather unusual location on the sixth floor of a silo in the Old Biscuit Mill. The venue has glass walls that let you see Table Mountain in all of its regal glory. Every plate is a work of art but booking is a bit of a struggle. I’ve been five times and it’s one of those ‘must do’s’ when in the Mother City.
Shortmarket Club - I had previously walked by this venue many times without knowing it was there. When I eventually went for dinner, it was like stepping into a private club. The tables are all booth style and Luke Dale-Roberts flare for design shines through. Everyone knows that I adore Karoo lamb chops and they served some of the most flavourful I have ever had. You should add it to your list.
Roundhouse - I often forget about this jewel of the city. It feels far removed from the madding crowds but it’s in Camp’s Bay forest. I find it to be authentic fine dining with generous portions. They also offer much lighter fare, picnic-style on the lawns during the day. There’s a palpable romantic atmosphere here and it’s excellent for couples and small groups.
The Stack - Having grown up around the corner for the Stack, I have an affinity for the area and the historical building itself. It has a nostalgic sense for me. Dear old acquaintances of mine, Nigel Pace and Sarah Ord have created something trendy with a unique glam feel. I’ve eaten both upstairs in the private dining area and downstairs but my favourite is lunch on the deck. This establishment is one that I often run back to.
I invite you to try one of my personal favourites next time you are in my city.
Warmest wishes,
Glenn
September 2018
GLENN'S CAPE TOWN CULINARY CHOICES
The culinary scene in Cape Town, South Africa, is innovative and sensational. I can personally vouch for that. I consider myself to be quite the food fundi and I have a seasoned palate, thanks to my extensive travels. I have been blessed to sample and savour cuisine from all over the world and I can say with gusto that Cape Town offerings in the culinary sphere are something truly special.
Capetonian chefs are making a global name for themselves and these are some of my top choices for restaurants in terms of consistency, quality, variety, creativity and ambience.
Bilboa - The Camp’s Bay strip is often an ultra luxurious dining experience and Bilboa fits into the scene perfectly. Gorgeous interiors with warm wood flooring and crisp white table cloths paired with the views and Mediterranean style flavours, is one I can highly recommend, but go early for the sunset.
Catharina’s at Steenberg Wine Estate - I make sure that Catharina’s at Steenberg Wine Estate is on my list, at the very least, once a year for dining. It’s in Tokai which means you don’t have to travel to the Cape Winelands for a bona-fide Winelands experience, it’s on Cape Town’s doorstep. The food focuses on simple dishes and lets the quality of the ingredients tickle your tastebuds.
Kloof Street House - Ask anyone that knows me and they’ll tell you that a firm favourite of mine is Kloof Street House. It has a great vibe but I need to warn you that you need to book well in advance. This creatively designed Victorian House is popular and one of my favourite dishes is their Oxtail.
Bombay Bicycle Club - I think that Bombay Bicycle Club is a great informal dining experience. It’s part of the Madame Zingara group and is a bit of a show of flamboyance. Their most favoured dish has to be the chocolate chilli steak. I find it can get a bit noisy but food and interiors make it well worth it.
Harbour House - Harbour House is a Sunday haunt for me. Throughout summer, I find it a continual toss up between the one in Kalk Bay or the one in the V&A Waterfront. Both venues offer superlative calamari steak and sole and in transcendent Capetonian settings.
Janse & Co - This is a new establishment in the fashionable and busy Kloof Street. It is a real gourmet experience with an extended menu. I want to extend a personal thank you to Arno Janse Van Rensburg for bringing his culinary expertise into the city centre.
Foxcroft - This is certainly another Constantia favourite of mine. The design features charcoals, whites and raw wood with chic linens; it’s a sophisticated dining experience. The menu is something inspirational and the options are imaginative and endless.
Meloncino - Another restaurant that my company makes use of often and I myself have dined there at least three times. The menu is a wonder, having everything from fresh seafood to wood-fired pizza and steaks. It’s located in the famous V&A Waterfront.
The Test Kitchen - The Test Kitchen is consistently making headlines, even being named the ‘Best Restaurant in Africa’. It is the culinary genius of Luke Dale-Roberts in the trendy Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. Out of all the restaurants in Cape Town, this is the one I most looked forward to experiencing and once I had gone, I finally understood the justified hype. It is a multi-sensory dining experience but bookings, as you can imagine, are hard. I am so eager to go again!
Shortmarket Club - I had previously walked by this venue many times without knowing it was there. When I eventually went for dinner, it was like stepping into a private club. The tables are all booth style and Luke Dale-Roberts flare for design shines through. Everyone knows that I adore Karoo lamb chops and they served some of the most flavourful I have ever had. You should add it to your list.
The Stack - Having grown up around the corner for the Stack, I have an affinity for the area and the historical building itself. It has a nostalgic sense for me. Dear old acquaintances of mine, Nigel Pace and Sarah Ord have created something trendy with a unique glam feel. I’ve eaten both upstairs in the private dining area and downstairs but my favourite is lunch on the deck. This establishment is one that I often run back to.
I invite you to try one of my personal favourites next time you are in my city.
Warmest wishes,
Glenn
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