I certainly got the good end of the stick attending on the last day of the festivities (the Sunday session was between 12am and 5pm). The weather was fine, the food was superb and the wine, mmm, the wine…
Crowns were the official festival currency which were used to purchase food and drinks from the restaurants, bars and exhibitors. How it works: the ticket packages include pre-paid Crowns; though, festival-goers can also purchase the food fair’s currency using cash, credit or debit cards at the event from the Taste Bank or from roaming Crown sellers. Each Crown is worth R5, and dishes cost between 4 and 8 Crowns; change is offered in Crowns only.
A select handful of top Mother City restaurants showcased their signature dishes. Each eatery conjured up starter-sized, tastes, which cost between 4-8 crowns on average. The participating restaurants included Il Leone Mastrantonio, Azure Restaurant at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Cosecha Restaurant at Noble Hill artisan winery, Longridge Restaurant, Hemelhuijs, Kitima at The Kronendal, Jewel of India and Camissa.
Dukkah spiced springbok short rib with sultana and brandy jus, pickled agave shootes, baby carrots and potato puree from Cassima and a glass of Sea Smoke Savignon Blanc from Signal Gun
In good company: enjoying the butter chicken from Jewel of India with my husband.
The well-known Caprice set up a beautifully decorated vintage inspired garden party, with cocktails and music and flowers to boot.
The culinary celebration also hosted a number of stalls that offer out-of-the-box drink experiences. Berättelsen om Rekorderlig was on my list of top delights, showing off their exciting range of flavoured ciders, which have risen to international acclaim from humble Swedish roots. I tasted the Strawberry & Lime which was superb! Another pink-drink I indulged in was a Liniquetini (Lanique & Bombay Sapphire). I also tasted a premium whiskey from Balblair, the 2000 was smooth and sophisticated to say the least. The wine that stood out for me on the day was the Sea Smoke Savignon Blanc from Signal Gun.
Make sure to check the info for upcoming festivals at the website.
– Jeanne
