Why would you want to eat pizza anywhere else?

Found in the original, Cape Dutch homestead of a farm on Slangkop Ridge which was established to provide fresh food to sailors ages ago, the cafe boasts beautiful surroundings and peaceful ambiance. The ornamental peacocks are amazing and the chickens pecking between the tables, pretty but stupid.

The rustic pizzas on paper-thin bases are delicious and over deliver on price. What a surprise to find fresh spinach instead of the usual frozen substitute.  The seafood pizza has to be the best around. No skimping on the filling and beautifully adorned with prawns and mussels in their shells.

Imhoff Farm is a great family destination with lawns where the kids can dash about or tree climb The Magic Faraway Tree or visit the animal farm. Sunday’s are the busiest day so book ahead for a meal or be like us and visit mid week.

Old Cape Wine Shop

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The first shock when we popped in for dinner last week is that you can no longer order The Goat Father or Signal Hill Cabernet Franc by the glass. In fact you can’t order them at all because the wine list has been down graded to a take-it-or-leave-it unknown wine by the glass.

The new owner, assuming that was he, slouched around looking oh-so-disinterested and did not manage to even greet us when we arrived. Not because he was busy with other tables. We were the only diners as it happened, until one family came in to occupy a table and soccer fans sat at the bar and ordered beer. There is no vibey atmosphere and the Italian background music has been replaced.

I would hate loyal readers of this blog to experience what we did.

Watch this space for a review of another great pizza dive when we find one!

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Artisanal breads

This has been a hot surf break since the 1960′s and recently hosted the reunion for the Muizenberg diaspora for hundreds of surfer dudes from all over the planet. The record for the greatest number of surfers on a single wave was almost made here with 71 surfers but this was pipped by 84 surfers who rode on one wave the same day at Quebra Mar in Santos, Brazil.

Knead opened here in 2008 in a lovely, old art deco building facing the beach and is sister to Knead in Wembley Square, Cape Town. (Tel: 021-462 4183) Sit outside at a veranda table or on the counter chairs at the beach-facing window. On the left side is the fresh bread counter for walk-in sales and at the opposite end, the coffee station. Walk straight through to the surf shop on a higher level which sells surf boards, clothing and surfing paraphernalia.

The feel here is uber-casual – come barefoot in your beach towel if you like – welcoming & vibey. Dog -friendly and kiddie-friendly, you will meet them all here.

Brioche French toast, roasted field mushrooms, bacon with homemade tomato sauce and rocket

After being handed a menu the moment we sat down, we had to decide between the tantalizing choices on the breakfast menu. Treats like brioche french toast, roast field-mushrooms, with bacon, homemade tomato sauce and rocket or with smoked salmon, creme fraiche and herb sauce. Or Bircher meusli, soaked oats, orange, cinnamon grated apple, honey, berries and nuts. We had one of each. They were served quickly and were delicious. At other restaurants I have ordered meusli only to have it served to me in a soup tureen. Too much and impossible to eat. This serving of Bircher meusli is the right quantity and absolutely fresh.

Also on the menu are Bunny Chows which were invented in Durban on the east coast of South Africa. Traditionally they are servings of curried meat or vegetables served in half a loaf of bread which is hollowed out so that the crusts of the loaf form the “dish”. Knead offer buttered chicken curry or curried beef mince Bunny Chows.

Handmade slow-cooked beef, roasted onions, rosemary and red wine or roast chicken, mushroom, thyme and roasted onion pies are on offer together with salads and sandwiches.

A variety of quality, artisan breads and pastries are made right on the spot. One of my favourites is the date, cranberry and pecan nut loaf.

Get there early and stay late.

Knead’s contact number is (27) 21 7882909

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La Piccola Ristorante

The ambiance is relaxed and casual with Italian music played in the background. Children are welcome here and families form a large part of the clientele especially on Friday evenings. There is a small lounge area to relax in with a glass of wine or cappuchino. Tables spill out onto the terrace where views of Muizenberg Mountain form the backdrop.

Oliver’s food and the wine list are what make La Piccola special. A small but quality wine list has something on it for everyone and there is a full bar facility. What drew me back after the first visit is that wine by glass is either The Goatfather, Italian cultivar blend, or Buiten Blanc from Buitenverwachting. At other local pizzeria’s, wine by the glass turns out to be an undrinkable fourth run blend, so La Piccola’s offering is a huge improvement. Having said that, more wines by the glass should be on offer since this is easily accomplished with a can of argon gass on hand. One squish into the open bottle and the wine keeps for weeks so there can be no wastage.

A seemingly difficult request for other pizza establisments to fulfill is to make my pizza 

Gnocchi with asparagus and gorgonzola, seafood pizza

with only about 25% of the cheese. Oliver customised my pizza by removing all cheese and replacing with a few bocconi.  This was arguably the most delicious pizza I’ve had since I was in Italy. On top of that the cost of the cheese was deducted from the bill and we only paid for the mozzarella. My difficult to please significant-other, raved about his seafood pizza.   

La Piccola’s contact number is (27) 21 7013589

Email: reservations@lapiccola.co.za

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The Toad wine list

This little tavern that could, has the atmosphere of an English country local, with an ample fireplace and seating beneath huge beams and thatch. The first delight was finding that we had arrived on a live music evening and later discovered that The Toad offers entertainment all week, including open mike sessions, quiz evenings and well known local musician performances. Not intrusive at all, the oldie numbers played created a great vibe.

At any eatery the first thing that grabs my attention is the wine list, which is so often disappointing and over-priced. The Toad offers a wide selection  of premium wines from many of the Western Cape’s top wineries and the mark-up is negligible so there is the sense that we got value for money which was also carried over in the food menu.

Impressively, the menu is put together by the previous head chef, Brad Ball, who now heads up the new Bistro Sixteen82 at Steenberg Vineyards and for pub grub, it can’t get much better than this. I went for the fresher than fresh beetroot and goat’s cheese salad while my partner tucked into a perfectly cooked (no garlic, no basting, just as it fell off the cow) sirloin steak. All of this served by Aaron, our waitron, who was helpful and informative.

Find The Toad in the Noordhoek Farm Village, Noordhoek or call on (27) 21 7892973 to make a table reservation.

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Bar Bar Black Sheep bar & bistro

I love the way the menu states simply what the meal consists of – Vaal Vrystaat Skaap Afval - sheep tripe cooked in the Free State tradition, Viskoekies met Soet Patats, – fish cakes with sweet potato – and Sardines wrapped in Vine Leaves.

Maybe I’m not the only diner who is bored with pretty jus of this and a froth of that, together with a puree of something. At Bar Bar Black Sheep expect honest food of high quality prepared with passion served without fuss. All of this washed down with local wines crafted from some of our best old vine syrah, pinotage, mouvedre, and chenin blanc fruit. By the way….. make you sure you book ahead!

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Friandises

In Franschhoek Village, Dutch Chef Pierre Hendricks, creates, in the open kitchen, affordable, delicious lunch and main course dishes. On the more extravagant side, there is a especially selected, suprise menu with five dishes and matching wines for R350 or R475. The fish chowder is a true delight and the coffee served with friandises, offered just the small, sweet touch to finish the meal.

Le Bon Vivant is open for lunch and dinner every day excepting for Wednesdays and you can find it at 22 Dirkie Uys Street, Franschhoek. Their contact number is 8762717 and email: lebonvivant@mweb.co.za

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