Ok. On to the most important activity of all. Food! As always at the beginning of summer in Cape Town, new inspired offerings pop up in restaurant game. Some last and some don’t. The nature of the beast. As a consumer it makes for a culinary roller coaster. Lots of fun. So get out there and try them all. Or as many as you can.

RESTAURANTS NEW-ISH / HOT
Portofino: in the old Showroom venue. New management and owner. Cheap wine. Great italian food. Try it.
The Roundhouse:

great for breakfast, lunch or dinners. Amazing views, unique venue, excellent service.

Bombay Bicycle Club: great vibe, good food, good venue. Top of Kloof Street.
Bukhara: finally re-launched after extensive renovations. Tip top tasty indian cuisine

Uitsig River Cafe:

re-launched with Luke Dale-Roberts taking over. Should be good.
Haiku:

Eastern Tapas, has been consistently good for the last couple of years.
Blonde: coming soon  to Gardens, put on by the owners of Beluga and Sevruga. Should be good. Watch this space.

DELIS

Bread:

a European-style cafe, boulangerie and deli. food by Italian-born Antonino Allegra and his capable team. Woodstock, Lower main Rd, in The Bromwell.
Olympia Deli: Kalk Bay’s finest consistently. Wow croissants and huge. Yum!
Giovannis: legendary in all aspects. Sit at the counter and enjoy the authentic Italian cafe experience. Truly cosmopolitan and loaded with all sorts of the finest items available.

Jardine on Bree. Legendary for breakfast, a quick on the move snack, or a lunch. Classic stand up Italian style tables on the pavement. Great coffee, cappuccinos and don’t miss the poached on chorizo egg tartlets!!

SWEET STUFF

Charly’s Bakery:

if you need a quick snack like a cupcake or an amazing full size cake for an occasion. This institution for the sweet of tooth has recently moved into the most funky unusual venue: a Jewish Barmitzvah shop. See pic. And they have decorated it in the usual creative Charly’s style. Can you imagine what they can do to a cake?
Queen of Tarts: Observatory’s finest baker of sweet things. Lower Main Road towards town. Also good for lunch/coffee.

TOP 10 SA RESTAURANT AWARDS

EAT OUT have also recently announced their TOP 10 SA restaurants, most of which are in Cape Town or the Winelands.
The full list of venues and chefs is as follows:
1. La Colombe (Luke Dale Roberts – chef of the year) - Constantia Uitsig, Cape Town
2. Jardine

(George Jardine) - CBD, Cape Town
3. Terroir (Michael Broughton) – Kleine Zalze wine estate, Stellenbosch
4. Overture (Bertus Basson) – Hidden Valley winery, Stellenbosch
5. Mosaic at the Orient (Chantell Dartnall) – Elandsfontein, Pretoria

6. Rust en Vrede (David Higgs) – Rust en Vrede wine Estate, Stellenbosch
7. The Tasting Room

at Le Quartier Francais (Margot Janse) – Franschoek
8. Roots

at the Forum Homini (Philippe Wagenfuhrer) – Krugersdorp, Johannesburg
9. Bizerca (Laurent Deslandes) – Foreshore, Cape Town
10. Hartford House (Jackie Cameron) – Mooi River, Kwazulu Natal Midlands