Yesterday I had the goosebump experience of being introduced to the new-in-the-making Gåte at Quoin Rock restaurant at the Quoin Rock winery outside Stellenbosch, which is destined to become a superlative Fine Dining dinner experience, probably the best this country has ever seen! Continue reading →
Tag Archives: Van Hunks
Restaurant Review: Craft Bakery and Craft Wheat & Hops in Stellenbosch chalk and cheese in service!
I had heard that Craft had opened in the space from which Apprentice operated for a number of years earlier this year, having been a ‘test kitchen’ for the students of Letetia Prinsloo’s Institute of Culinary Arts. An unfortunate association with Le Chocolatier owner Daniel Waldis led to the closure of the restaurant. In its place is a dual restaurant and bar, separated only by a bar counter, but the difference in attitude of the two managers is massive. The two Crafts are owned by Francois Jooste, who also owns Java and Apres Bistro, all close to each other in a tourist rich area of Stellenbosch.
I visited on Monday, entering on the left, at Craft Wheat & Hops, which I did not immediately associate with a bar specialising in beers. Once one
enters, it is very clear what it serves, with 16 beers on tap offered, and a similar number of beers displayed on shelves. I recognised the voice of the friendly lady behind the counter, and she reminded me that she was the Chef and Manager of The Stall in Franschhoek when it first opened eighteen months ago. Marilie van Niekerk left when she had her baby. She made a menu available for me immediately, without having to ask for it, it being such a pleasure to experience her excellent service. The bar had not yet been set up, tables having been placed on top of each other, as the bar only opens at 15h00 on week days. Interestingly Craft Wheat & Hops offers food as well, but with only two options. Flammkuchen is prepared in what look like a massive pizza oven inside the bar, seven options offered in a price range from R40 (for Caprese) to R52 (smoked salmon, red onion, rocket, and caviar). An extensive list of Tapas dishes is offered, ranging from R29 (crumbed mozzarella sticks with berry compote) to R45 (roast chicken and cheddar quesadilla served with homemade salsa, guacemole and cream cheese). Other tapas include lamb meat balls, ‘corn dogs‘, chorizo and mozzarella crostini, mini mushroom burgers, and ‘beer brats wrapped in bacon‘. Continue reading →
Beerhouse Cape Town: largest ‘hub’ of local and imported beers in Africa!
The largest selection in Africa of beers on tap (16) and bottled beers (99) is available at newly opened Beerhouse, on party mile Long Street in Cape Town. The Beer List states that ‘we see ourselves as (part of) the world beer revolution’, and Beerhouse plans regular events to ‘incubate the ideals of craft’ and to celebrate the world’s oldest and greatest beverage’!
One cannot miss the strong beer yellow painted building exterior opposite Mama Africa. The Beer Hall is upstairs, once a bead outlet. The decor of the beer hall is quite plain, with some TV screens, and framed pictures of dressed up beer bottles in felt, representing traditional dress from around the world. The backs of wooden benches are painted beer yellow, and banquettes have been upholstered in the same colour. 
While they were renovating the building, they found attractive raw brickwork, and left some of it at the top of the walls. Lovely wooden floors had to be tiled, as the dust was affecting shops downstairs. Interior decorator Justin Plunkett of Joom came up with the theme of 99 beer bottles, after the well-known song ‘99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer. Take one down and pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall’. Continue reading →
Kloof Street: Cape Town’s renowned restaurant road, constantly changing!
In September last year we wrote about Kloof Street, and suggested that it be renamed FoodHood, when the ‘Name your Hood’ campaign made its short-lived appearance. Kloof Street has 38 restaurants, making it one of the most densely populated restaurant streets. In the past year seven restaurants closed down on Kloof Street, including Opal Lounge, Chez Chez, Mason’s, and St Elmo’s, with some new restaurants opening. Frommers’ travel guide calls it “The Dining Mile”.
The restaurant list ranges from inexpensive food on the run (McDonalds, Nando’s, Scooters) to fine Milanese pastries (Caffe Milano), homely baking and cooking (Manna Epicure and Tamboers Winkel), the Eat Out Top 20 Restaurant finalist fine dining Planet Restaurant at the Mount Nelson Hotel, and numerous other restaurants. The street venues offer food served over long hours, meaning that one will always find something to eat on Kloof Street, even late at night.
We have listed the restaurants on Kloof Street, starting from the bottom of Kloof Street, and working up towards Table Mountain:
* Gourmetboerie – said to open in October, where Despaco and short-lived Sabrina’s used to be. 8 Kloof Street.
* McDonalds – Monday – Sunday, open 24 hours a day.
* Best of Asia – 7 Kloof Street. Tel (021) 423-1177. Monday – Saturday 11h30 – 22h00, Sunday 11h30 – 21h00.
* Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants: Deluxe coffee, Jason’s croissants and breads. Fresh and cured meats, eggs, chicken, duck, lamb, beef, pork. Metal Lane, 8 Kloof Street. Tel (021) 424-7204. Monday – Friday 7h30 – 17h30, Saturday 9h00 – 13h00.
* Bardelli’s – Italian cuisine, with pizzas. 18 Kloof Str. Tel (021 423-1502. Monday – Thursday 18h00 – 22h00, Friday and Saturday 18h00 – 23h00, Sunday 12h00 – 22h30
* Vida e Caffe – good coffees, few snacks. 34 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 426-0627. Monday – Sunday
* Mozzarella Bar – salads, sandwiches and other dishes all contain … mozzarella, plus Puglia Cheese mozzarella to buy. R10 LavAzza cappuccino excellent value. Some Caffe Milano (sister restaurant) pastries to buy. Giorgio Nava-owned. 51 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 422-5822. Monday – Saturday 7h00 – 19h00.
* Nando’s – chicken, chicken, chicken! – 42 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 426-0240. Monday – Sunday
* Knead – artisan bakery sells breads and some pastries, sit-down menu serves sandwiches, pizzas, egg dishes. Lifestyle on Kloof, 50 Kloof Street. Tel (021) 671-7915. Monday 7h00 – 18h00, Tuesday – Saturday 7h00 – 23h00, Sunday 7h30 – 18h00.
* Hudson’s Burger Joint – burgers highly regarded. 69A Kloof Str. Tel (021) 426-5974. Monday – Sunday 12h00 – 23h00
* Mitico Pizzeria e Spaghetteria – 71 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 422-2267. Monday – Saturday 11h00 – 22h00.
* Ocean Basket – Part of a seafood franchise, good value. 75 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 422-0322.
* Café Sofia Meze & Tapas – Breakfast and Lunch, part of a franchise. 60 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 426-0801.
* Arnold’s on Kloof – Well known for (early) breakfasts, but also large lunch and dinner menu, cocktails, salads, burgers, pasta and sandwiches. 60 Kloof Street. Tel (021) 424-4344. Monday – Friday 6h45 – late. Saturday & Sunday 8h00 – late.
* Planet Green Salad Bar – 103 Kloof Street. Monday – Friday 10h00 – 18h00, Saturday 10h00 – 14h00.
* Myög – frozen yoghurt with wide range of toppings (photograph), 103 Kloof Street. Monday – Saturday 10h00 – 22h00, Sunday 12h00 – 22h00.
* Planet Restaurant at Mount Nelson Hotel – fine dining, on Top 20 Eat Out list. Tel (021) 483-1000. Monday – Saturday dinner.
* Van Hunk’s – South African cuisine, comfortable dining. Corner Kloof and Upper Union Str. Tel (021) 422-5422. Monday – Sunday 11h30 – 22h00.
* Royo Kloof Asian Restaurant – 115 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 422-1888. Monday – Sunday 11h00 – 15h00, 17h30 – 22h00.
* Tokyo Restaurant & Sushi Bar – 115 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 424-5108. Monday 17h00 – 22h00, Tuesday – Saturday 11h00 – 23h00, Sunday 12h00 – 23h00.
* Saigon – Vietnamese and some Japanese food. corner Kloof/Camp Str. Tel (021) 424-7676. Monday – Sunday 12h00 – 14h30, 18h00 – 22h30.
* Scooters – pizzas, mainly take-away and delivery. Corner Kloof and Union Str. Tel (021) 422-5995. Daily until 20h00.
* Asoka – light meals. 68 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 422-0909.
* The Slug & Lettuce – Bistro, English style pub, tapas, beers, wines by the glass. 64 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 422-5325. Monday – Sunday 11h00 – 2h00.
* DaVinci’s – pizzas. Corner Kloof/Camp Str. Tel (021) 424-7504. Daily 11h30 – 23h00.
* Saints on Kloof – burgers and beer! 84 Kloof Street. Tel (021) 424-0030. Monday – Sunday 9h00 – 23h00.
* Toni’s on Kloof Mocambique Portuguese Cuisine – 88 Kloof Str. tel (021) 423-7617. Daily 12h00 – 15h00, 18h00 until late.
* Shelley’s Gourmet Deli –Bistro, health and light meals served. 90 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 424-2740. Monday – Wednesday 8h00 – 16h00, Thursday – Saturday 8h00 – 22h00, Sunday 8h00 – 15h00.
* Melissa’s – Deli, part of a chain. Breakfast and lunch buffet, cakes, coffee. Monday – Sunday. Tel (021) 424-5540. Monday – Friday 7h00 – 19h00. Saturday 8h00 – 19h00. Sunday 8h00 – 18h00.
* Cocoa Oola Café and Pizzeria – Part of the Cocoa group, with other branches in Rondebosch Cocoa Wah-Wah), Observatory (Cocoa Chaa-Chi) and on Foreshore (Cocoa Expresso). Large menu, with pizzas, sandwiches, wraps, breakfast, tramezzinis, burgers, pasta, craft beers, and cocktails served in quirky spacious turquoise and lime green interior. Wireless internet. TV screens. Corner Kloof and De Lorentz Str. Tel (021) 422-3638. Monday – Saturday 7h00 – 23h00, Sunday 8h00 – 20h00.
* 
Tamboers Winkel – farm style kitchen in the city, rotisserie chicken forms foundation for many dishes, increasingly adding sweet treats (cupcakes, macaroons, etc). Also sell charcuterie, free range eggs, Manna Epicure breads, and other deli items (photograph). 3 De Lorentz Str. Tel (021) 424-0521. Tuesday – Friday 9h00 – 20h00, Saturday and Sunday 9h00 – 16h00.
* Jackal & Hide – ‘Continental cuisine’, bar. 108 Kloof Street. Tel (021) 424-1020. Monday – Saturday 15h00 – 24h00.
* Café Paradiso – Part of the Madame Zingara group, beautiful view onto Table Mountain, seating inside and outside, inexpensive comfort food. 110 Kloof Str. Monday – Saturday 8h00 – 22h00, Sunday 8h00 – 14h30. Tel (021) 423-8653
* Manna Epicure – Good breads, cakes and sweet treats, deli. Attractive white cottagey interior. 151 Kloof Str. Tel (021) Tuesday – Sunday 8h00 – 17h00.
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Caffe Milano – Milanese pastries, salads, few cooked foods, excellent breakfast (all day on weekends), fabulous Eggs Benedict. Giorgio Nava-owned. 153 Kloof Str. Tuesday – Sunday, 7h00 until 17h00. Tel (021) 426-5566 (photograph).
* Bombay Bicycle Club – wacky-looking inside and outside bohemian decor, also owned by Madame Zingara group. Comfort food, inexpensive. Kloof Str. Tel (021) 423-6805. Monday – Saturday
* Bacini’s Ristorante & Pizzeria – Italian style restaurant. 177 Kloof Str. Tel (021) 423-6668. Monday – Sunday 12h00 – 23h00.
* Liquorice & Lime – Coffee shop, Breakfasts and light meals. 162 Kloof Str. Tel (021) Monday – Friday 7h00 – 17h00, Saturday & Sunday, 7h00 – 17h00.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage