Perhaps it’s because I got a touch over-excited about it in the first place, rooting out what was natural and organic, who the small producers and artisans were, and other aspects of the festival that interested me.  Or maybe it’s because the festival is now getting so big that it’s losing that country-side charm that it used to have before it became so popular that tickets could no longer be sold at the gates.

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s because what is supposed to be the focus (um, cheese) seems to be losing ground to things like olives, muffins, pomegranates and a whole lot of wine.

It seemed to me that the ratio of cheese to ‘everything else’ has been skewed… Where before I could keep walking around, discovering new and exciting cheese producers, this time I kept finding myself wandering a little aimlessly, wondering where they were hiding.  Of wine, there was plenty.  Of cheese, not quite as much as I was expecting.

‘The Market’, for example, is usually my favourite hunting ground, and last year was wall-to-wall cheeseries, most of them small producers, exhibiting for the first time at the festival.  This year, though, there were hardly any cheese stalls around the courtyard, and instead a strange and mottled assortment of stalls offered everything from muffins, to pomegranates, to carpaccio salad, to barbecued mushrooms.

Not that any of those are bad things  – they just seemed a trifle out of place.

I guess what I missed most, though, was the enthusiasm of the new small producers, who’re usually so excited to be at such a big festival, and to tell you about their creations.  It’s why I go, because I’m not that into wine, and although I love olives, the Olive Festival is where I’d head for those.

So why cut down on the cheese, in favour of other stuff…? I have a feeling many of the smaller producers simply can’t justify the cost of having a festival stall (never mind all the free samples they have to give out for four days running).

Last year, if I remember correctly, Agri-Expo sponsored 10 small cheese producers from around the country, and brought them to the festival.  I don’t think that happened this time around – and I think that’s a pity!

It’s also a monumental challenge for smaller cheeseries to create the vast stockpile required for replenishing both the sample plates and their for-sale items.  Many cheeses can stay fresh for a while, but not all of them, and certainly most of them don’t keep as easily as wines and olives, for example.  So it’s possible that the reason there was less cheese, was because there were fewer stallholders to start with.

That’s not to say there wasn’t lots of cheese, there just wasn’t quite as much variety and novelty to be had as in years gone by.  Commercially-produced cheeses I can find in a supermarket – I’m not looking for that at a festival (I’m not just after free samples).

Anyway, whatever the reasons, it was still a fun event, and a busy one (sold out both weekend days), and everyone I saw seemed to be having a good time, so perhaps I’m just getting jaded! (Am I?)

Still, I hope the festival’s 10th anniversary next year brings more cheese variety, not less, and supports the small-producers we cheese-fanatics love so much.  I’ll be back, but don’t move my cheese!

I hadn’t either, until I visited a little place I like to call The Source (known to most as Origin Coffee Roasting). If you’re fussy about your coffee (you know who you are), and care about the flavour of the beans, the consistency of the milk (assuming you don’t drink it straight), and the temperament of your barista – Origin is definitely the place for you.

And right now they’re offering up what is apparently one of the rarest coffees in the world: Jacu Bird coffee.

So what’s the big deal? Well, much like the Kopi Luwak variety, Jacu Bird coffee also passes through the gut of an animal, only this time it’s a bird. These Brazilian forest birds love to eat coffee berries – the best and ripest ones, of course – and fly from bush to bush, leaving their droppings (containing the beans) on the floor below.

In most cases, this kind of wanton thievery of prized crops would either leave a farmer bereft, or incur rather eco-unfriendly penalties for the birds. But, a Brazilian farm called Camocim is taking a more novel approach: harvesting the droppings, and recovering the beans.

As a supporter of the natural flora and fauna of the farm, Camocim welcomes the Jacu Bird as a member of the farm’s agro-florestal system. Rather than think of the Jacu Bird as a pest, eating our finest coffee cherries, we saw the opportunity to employ the Jacu Bird as one of our finest manual coffee pickers. Once ingested, the Jacu Bird eliminates the digested beans which lie on the ground under the coffee trees. Our staff collects these odorless droppings, transports them to the drying areas where they are dried, cleaned and stored in their parchment for up to three months. (more)

Camocim Farm is organic and biodynamic, and what’s really cool is that the birds, which would otherwise be considered a nuisance, and pests, are now an important part of this holistic system.

Which would all be by the by if it wasn’t for the fact that it also tastes REALLY good.  Nutty, full-flavoured, and not a trace of bitterness.  I didn’t even add sugar (not that I usually add much anyway).  It was like drinking a glass of decadently good red wine, savouring every mouthful.

For real.

It’s a pity it’s grown so far away – not exactly a habit I’d want to get into, considering it has to be flown in all the way from Brazil.  And, seeing as it costs more than double (R40) what you’d normally pay for a flat white at Origin it’s not something I’d be able to get too attached to (R1,000 per kilo if you buy the beans!)…

But if you’re a coffee fundi, and are looking to try something new and unusual – it’s SO very worth it.

It’s called Bottle, Plate, Pillow – a search engine for Western Cape wine farms, and what makes it different from anything I’ve seen thus far is how user-friendly it is, and how specific it allows you to be in your query.

There are three general categories:

• ‘Bottle’ (cellar door & wine farm activities), 
• ‘Plate’ (Wine farm restaurants) and 
• ‘Pillow’ (wine farm accommodation)

For each of these you can narrow down your search by selecting several or all options listed, such as ‘Open Saturday’, ‘Curio shop’, ‘Picnics’, ‘wheelchair friendly’ (under ‘Bottle’) or ‘Wi-fi’, ‘Outside dining’, ‘vegetarian’ (under ‘Plate’) or ‘Budget’, ‘pet-friendly’, ‘self-catering’ (under ‘Pillow’).

Within each category, this search can be performed for all wine routes, a particular area/route, or can be further honed to include only one winery name.  You can even look for ‘garagiste winemakers’, if you’re feeling experimental.

If that’s not enough choice for you, though, you can also decide on a ‘varietal’ (ie your preferred type of wine, port, brandy or bubbly) and search for it, within any of the available wine routes.

Results matching your criteria are displayed neatly, with the name and picture of each represented wine farm.  You select one at a time, and see which one tickles your fancy.

Information for each wine farm includes a brief description, a few photos, the list of haves and have-nots, location details, contact details, website address and even a ‘show map and GPS’ button (though that function doesn’t seem to be working just yet).

You can download a restaurant menu at the click of a button, and – usefully – switch between ‘Bottle’, ‘Plate’ or ‘Pillow’ information for that same wine farm, depending on what’s available… without having to start the search all over again.

Something else I quite like:  current food, accommodation and wine specials, displayed in rotation at the bottom of every page as well as info on upcoming wine events/festivals in the region.

I’m no wine fundi, so I don’t know which wine farms should and shouldn’t be on the list – but I really like the way this website is laid out, and I suspect it could become an invaluable tool novice and expert wine enthusiasts alike.

“Bottle, Plate and Pillow, was built by wine lovers, for wine lovers. Whether you are a wine newbie, or a tasting fundi, Bottle, Plate and Pillow believes that exploring South Africa’s beautiful wine lands should be simple, affordable, and accessible to everyone.”

Now there’s a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree.   Bottle Plate Pillow has only just been launched (March ’09), but I have a feeling it won’t take long to become very popular indeed.

.

High Tea is an institution at the ‘Nelly’ – served up every single day of the year (yes, even on Christmas Day) – between 2.30pm and 5.30pm.

It’s a buffet-style affair, with a long table creaking under the weight of the most beautiful and delicious cakes, tarts, scones, fruits, chocolate creations and, of course, the very English cucumber sandwiches (with crusts neatly trimmed off).

You have three hours in which to eat as much of it as you like.  And, you can wash it down with an assortment of teas and coffees (if you have room).

To accompany me on this gustatory journey I took a good friend of mine who I know is capable of eating far more than I am (she’s one of those crazy people who cycles the distance of the Argus just about every morning… before breakfast) and we ate, and ate, and ate.

We chose to sit inside, but there is also lovely seating on the covered terrace, as well as outside under umbrellas.  The grounds are beautiful, with the most radiant hibiscus and rose plants (most likely a result of the vermicompost they’re getting from the hotel’s huge worm farm).

And we had the most fabulous time!  Lounging about in comfortable chairs, enjoying the quiet, somewhat opulent, atmosphere, we completely relaxed and forgot about the outside world for a while.  And the food was absolutely gobsmackingly delicious.

I usually stick to my wheat-free regime, and they will happily provide you with a wheat-free platter on request, but it contained only sweet items, and the more savoury sandwiches were completely irresistible… soft fragrant white bread fingers, with cucumber or salmon, or wholesome brown (possible light rye) ones with pastrami.

Mmmmm, I ate a LOT, and loved every moment of it.  And I drank Jasmine tea until it had filled whatever gaps I thought I’d left.

It was fabulous.  Now, whether I’d be likely to pay the R185 R150 it costs to take one’s self to tea, I’m not quite sure… My budget isn’t too flexible on that score, for the time being.  So I’d have to think twice.

But, for very special occasions, yes it would certainly be on my list.  

And I would definitely recommend the experience to visitors packing the more powerful Pounds Sterling or US Dollars… It is, after all, rated the top High Tea in the world (or so I was told).

One observation, though:  whilst they do go out of their way to make a gluten-free (wheat-free) platter – it only contains sweet things.  

So, if you’re hoping for some savoury to break up the sugar, and you’re more allergic (or more dedicated) than I am… you’re fresh out of luck.  

Still, I reckon that’s just because they haven’t thought of it, yet, and perhaps they’d consider doing so in the future!

The Mount Nelson Hotel is located on 76 Orange Street, Cape Town.  High Tea costs R185 R150 per person and takes place every single day between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. Booking in advance is advised.   Tel: +27 21 483 1000 Fax: +27 21 483 1001. Email: reservations@mountnelson.co.za

*** please note: my previous price of R185 mentioned was for the special occasion Valentine’s Day High Tea – the usual price of the tea is R150 ***

.

Shared Earth is a magazine I’ve been eagerly looking forward to laying my grubby green paws on since I first found out about its imminent creation back in August…

And, folks, I’m happy to report that it has now arrived – and ecstatic to add that it is everything I’d hoped for, and more.

Before I go into gushing details, though, let me first admit my own potential bias… one of the articles featured in the first edition is written by yours truly: “In Search of Good Food” (yeah, I got to wax lyrical about food and farmers’ markets – how unusual of me!).

But, whether my article was there or not, I’m certain I’d feel the same way about this fabulous magazine…

It’s practical, it’s useful, it’s well-designed and it’s bursting with well-written, hands-on articles I’ve been reading and re-reading with absolute relish since I got my first copy a couple of weeks ago (yeah, yeah, I’ve been a bit distracted or I’d have reviewed it a whole lot sooner!).

The cover is fresh and inviting (man, I can’t WAIT for tomato season to kick in…) and the inside is beautifully laid out, from pretty contents page all the way through to the adverts at the end.

The colours are well chosen, and consistent, and their images superb.

As for the content, I’ve already admitted to reading it several times over. And I’ll likely read it again, consulting their handy information tables – it’s that kind of magazine.

There’s everything from how easy it is to make your own bread (instead of buying chemically-treated supermarket loaves), to how to become a flowerpot farmer (you’d be surprised at how much you can grow) to practical advice on how to go about setting up a renewable energy system.

You can also learn how to build your own working sunstove using an old cardboard box and aluminium foil (the instructions do seem a little mind-boggling, but then I’m not that good at that sort of thing!), get handy comparisons on the various home wind turbines available at the moment (with a useful-looking table comparing their various specs) and even find out how to dry foods at home (I wish I could grow enough to try it out!).

Well, folks, Shared Earth said they would provide ‘practical ideas for self-sufficiency and sustainable living’ – and I think they have done a fantastic job.

I think editor, Steve Venter, says it best:

Living sustainably does not just mean sorting your own recycling – it is a way of looking at the world and thinking about our place and actions within it; a lifestyle that attempts to reduce our use of the Earth’s natural resources by altering the way we travel, our energy consumption and the food we eat, in balance with Earth’s natural ecology and cycles.

And, here’s the part I really like:

The journey to self-sufficiency does not mean “going back” to an idealised past and doing without the conveniences and technologies of modern living, it is to travel down the path towards freedom from the economic pressures which keep so many of us tied to desks and in unrewarding jobs.

Fact is, you don’t have to be a tie-dye-wearing sprout-munching hippie to be green and become more self-sufficient (no offense intended – it’s just a stereotype that seems to influence so many potential green beans out there) – and this magazine will help you find out how.

So, if all of that sounds good to you, it’s time get your hands on a copy of Shared Earth Magazine – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Subscribers have already received their first edition, but the magazine should be on the shelves of Exclusive Books and CNA by now (if not, ask them why the hold up!). The retail price is R28.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, Shared Earth is no longer publishing its magazine, owing to financial constraints.

It’s one of three new local ‘green’ magazines hitting the shelves this year (the others being the recently launched Red Magazine, and Shared Earth, coming in November)

At first glance I wasn’t too impressed with the design of Simply Green. Frankly, the cover looks more like it belongs to a computer magazine than anything remotely green or earth-friendly – and some (though not all) of the inside layouts are, in my opinion, a bit school-project-esque.

Plus, I think it’s a trifle cheeky to call it “SA’s No.1 Green Lifestyle Mag”, when the ink of its first ever print run is barely dry!

But, knowing that how something looks and what it proclaims to be isn’t really as important as what it contains, into the content I did delve.

The magazine is divided into various ‘green’ sections: greenNEWS, greenHOME, greenKITCHEN, greenFILES, greenSTYLE, greenTECH, and so on – each with accompanying news, views and information.

Plus, a number of ‘greenFEATURE’ articles cover more general issues such as ‘packaging power’, switching to energy-efficient lighting methods, ‘greening the nursery’ and more.

The articles are generally well-written, and an advisory panel of sustainability and eco-experts should keep the content current and relevant to the issues at hand.

I particularly enjoyed the article about organic gardening by Gary Hart (of Hart Nursery, in Ottery), which included a brief look at the history of vegetable gardening in South Africa, and gave plenty of great tips for turning your own garden into a food-producing haven.

In addition, several sections are dedicated to eco-friendly products – anything from solar-powered digital device chargers to natural fabric bio-baba nappies to jewellery made from e-waste. Also included, a number of home-greening solutions for the uninitiated, such as Woolworths’ new earth-friendly cleaning range, and Essential Green tissue paper products from Esspack.

What seems strange to me, though, is the inclusion of two cleaning products from the United States. Why not feature a local alternative rather than one that has had to be flown in from across the Atlantic? There are certainly plenty to choose from right here at home (Earthsap, Enchantrix, Bloublommetjieskloof pop immediately to mind)…

In general, I would say that Simply Green is an informative, well-researched magazine, which I will be quite likely to buy in future.

It has a tendency to be a bit dry… and does, I think, lack an element of lightheartedness. I’m not being flippant – obviously, there are many serious ‘green issues’ out there that need to be tackled, and about which we must all become informed, but I think we need to read about the good stuff too… community gardens sustaining the previously disadvantaged, and providing new sources of organic food, or how about the increasing popularity of fresh produce markets, perhaps…?

But, of course, those are things that are of particular interest to me, and might not be to everyone else! Plus, it’s only the first edition, and there’s only so much one can pack into one magazine, so I look forward to seeing what crops up (yes, yes, pun intended) in the editions to come!

Simply Green is available at Exclusive Books for R29.95. Keen green beans can take advantage of an ‘early-bird’ subscription special online: R135 for a year’s subscription (6 issues), which works out to R22.50 per issue.

The Whole Food Almanac, written by Michelle Matthews (Cookie Not Cheffy), is a handy guide for anyone looking to explore the extraordinary culinary delights of the Western Cape region.

More than that, though, the book explains why it’s so much better to eat fresh, local food – and how important it is to know where our food comes from (and what can happen to it between farm and plate).

I recently received a review copy from the publishers, and read it, from cover to cover, within a single day. I drooled unceremoniously the whole way through it, and can’t wait to try some of the places and products that I haven’t yet encountered on my culinary travels.

Prepare to salivate as you find out where to get the best artisan breads, organic free range eggs, goats cheeses made from lovingly tended herds, biodynamically raised lamb and of course the freshest, healthiest naturally grown fruit and vegetables around.

The book is neatly divided into sections covering the different kinds of foodstuffs – everything from ‘breads, grains and pulses’ to ‘meat and poultry’ – and covers important subjects like ‘how do I know it’s organic’ and ‘where our food comes from’.

A section on local markets covers some, though not all, of our local fresh produce markets, with tips on market-shopping in general, as well as a description of what you’re likely to find at each one. Also included in this section is a brief rundown of a few of the bigger foodie festivals in the Western Cape.

And then the fun stuff: the scoop on local organic wines, fairtrade and organic coffees, naturally brewed beers and ciders and of course ever so tasty (yet wholesome) condiments and nibbly bits (Von Gesau’s rose geranium milk chocolate in particular sounds dangerously delicious).

Plus, towards the end of the book, several chapters describe the best shops and delis for natural produce, restaurants and cafes with wholesome healthy meals and even an overview of farmstall on major routes out of the city.

The book is informative, extensively researched, and well-written and I for one will be toting it around with me at all times, ready to whip out whenever a foraging mission is on the cards!

The Whole Food Almanac was officially launched earlier this month at the Book Lounge, and is available there and in other major bookstores – or, you can buy it online at Kalahari.net (R106.25 at time of writing this).

Crush is a relatively new eatery in the also fairly new Wembley Square complex, in Gardens. The focus: fresh food, fast, and in my opinion, they are most definitely getting it right.

I love Crush. I would (and often do) go out of my way to stop in and sample one of their many tasty (hellishly healthy) meals.

So far, my two favourite lunch meals at Crush have been a Mexican bean salad (complete with sour cream, tasty farm cheese, and a variety of aforementioned beans) and a toasted tuna mayo sandwich (with the novel and surprisingly delicious add-on of Mrs Balls chutney).

Unfortunately, much to my dismay, the bean salad is no longer available (they have a new summer menu), but there are plenty other goodies to keep the tastebuds tantalised, and everything is so fresh one feels they must have a garden stashed away someplace real close (up on the roof, perhaps?).

A few things that make Crush extra-ordinary:

• its location in trendy Wembley Square (right next to Knead Bakery, a sushi bar, and Vida E Caffe)
• its truly fresh and tasty fare
• its menu separated into different eat-in and take-away prices – something I’ve not seen elsewhere (they deliver too, within walking distance)
• its daily specials – there’s always something new to try out.
• they serve Pimms and ginger-ale – the perfect summer drink!

My only caveat: if you like your coffee to have a kick, skip the fairly bland Crush coffee and go straight to next-door Knead (they serve Buondi), or to the much lauded Vida E Caffe (personally, since they switched from Buondi to whatever it is they put in there now I find Vida a bit indifferent, but many would disagree).

So, if you’re a fan of things fresh, organic and ever-so-tasty, become a Crush addict, like me and start spending ever-increasing amounts of time in Wembley Square.

You can find Crush in Wembley Square, Mackenzie Street, Gardens.

Some take it to the levels of severe addiction (you folks who line up outside Vida E Caffe in Gardens before it’s even open – I’m talking about you), others merely dabble, indulging their cravings as and when the need arises.

Either way, it’s relatively easy to satisfy your gustatory desires when they’re for the simpler things in life. Chocolate, coffee, peanut butter – all available 24/7. I, however, have recently become addicted to a more unusual, somewhat less readily available foodstuff: seaweed.

Not for me those late night/early morning dashes to the nearest convenience store, oh no, I must either stock my cupboards with sheets of seaweed (yes, you can eat them just like that), or hope that my cravings happen at opportune moments, when restaurants and posh shops are open for business.

So, last night, when the craving, the NEED for this noble food suddenly arose, I rejoiced in the fact that I wouldn’t have to raid my stash of dry sheets, I could head out into the great world of miso soup and sushi platters and indulge myself.

Having sworn never again to set foot in another Cape Town Fish Market (CTFM), after my last experience, I resolved to find another, friendlier place, preferably as nearby as possible (when such a craving strikes, it must be satisfied forthwith!).

And so it was that I found myself perched on a comfy stool at Wasabi, in Constantia, delighting in a bowl of tasty miso soup (man, it was good), followed by a modest portion of california rolls (budget outweighed my lust, though it was ever so hard not to order more).

I’d been worried, being Constantia, that the prices would be horribly inflated, but they were pretty much in line with most decent sushi places I’ve been to (R26 for a 4-piece california roll portion, R19 for miso soup), and the quality of the sushi was really good (certainly better than CTFM, but that’s not too hard to manage).

And being there on my own wasn’t as daunting as I thought it might be – they have a ‘sushi bar’ where you can sit quietly watching the sushi chefs do their thing (or the beautiful fish in the well-kept tanks behind them – not on the menu, presumably).

They also have the best mineral water I’ve ever tasted (yes, I’m one of those people who does believe that water has different tastes) – apparently they filter it themselves, using a special inhouse system. And, states the menu, they do their very best to work with organic products wherever possible. So, that’s all good.

The decor is lovely – striking lantern-shaped lamps hanging from the ceiling and lots of dark wood and bamboo give the place a relaxed, warm feeling that makes you want to stay there for hours. And, importantly, the waitrons are genuinely friendly.

I didn’t try any of the other very tempting options on their menu (they’re not just a sushi place – they do have plenty of other delicious looking dishes), but I will definitely be back very soon to do just that.

Wasabi is in Constantia Village, in the ‘old village’ section (the one with the Spar, Mugg&Bean and Primi Piatti etc). They have a good website with menus, virtual tours and more. Tel: 021 794 6546.

Friends and I had organised to meet up at Simply Asia (Gardens branch) for a Tuesday lunch. It’s one of my favourite places to eat (I must – I will – write about it some time), so I’d suggested it for the rendezvous.

When I arrived there, though, admittedly somewhat late, my friends were nowhere to be seen. I was just about to sit down when I received an sms asking where the hell I was…

Disconcerted, and wondering how on earth we could have mixed up the venues I gave them a call, only to find that they were in a restaurant called ‘5 Park Road‘.

It’s right next door to Simply Asia, and they thought they were in Simply Asia. The fact that there’s nothing whatsoever Asian about the menu or decor hadn’t yet tipped them off (not enough coffee consumed, clearly).

Well, seeing as we were already there, and it seemed like an interesting spot, we decided to stay put and try out their vast and varied menu.

The waitress (Martinet) was lovely, very friendly and helpful, running through the various specials and explaining the menu (she even hand-made me a Cafe Mocha, even though it wasn’t strictly on the menu).

I ordered one of their lunch specials, grilled cob on a bed of herbed mash potatoes, accompanied by very very tasty red spinach (who knew spinach could taste so good!). All this, plus a small glass of white wine (or coffee, if you prefer), came to R40. And it was very filling.

My friends ordered a baby calamari salad (R43) and a calamari lunch special (R40), both of which looked and tasted absolutely delicious (especially the chips, apparently).
The coffee they serve there is ‘Illy‘, which ranks up there with Buondi (in my humble coffee-loving opinion) and a cappuccino there costs R12. It was excellent.

The ambience in 5 Park Road is lovely and calm, the service exceptional, and the food delicious. What a find!

5 Park Road is in Gardens, Cape Town at (you guessed it) 5 Park Road (just up from Kloof St, near the Lifestyles Centre). Tel: 021 422 5022.