A taste of Cape Town

Sam Stogdale

Eating is a serious business at Africa Born HQ. We’re all keen foodies and - on any given trip - we immediately head off to check out the local cuisine.

But it’s my wife Tones - Africa Born’s Culinary Consultant and the brains behind our brilliant bush kitchen - that really knows her onions.

Antonia trained as a chef with the renowned Leith's School of Food and Wine where she discovered a passion for cooking.

So who better to give the low-down on Cape Town’s best foodie haunts: five brilliantly-creative culinary hotspots that chime with Africa Born’s approach to food, offering fresh, seasonal, sustainable produce with a farm-to-fork philosophy.

The most important and memorable element of any trip usually comes back down to food. And having eaten our way around The Cape late last year, we can certainly vouch for that. Here’s our inside scoop on the hottest restaurants:

The Test Kitchen Fledglings

A spin-off of Luke Dale Roberts’ much-loved Test Kitchen, TTK Fledglings champions fantastic food without the frills. This restaurant-cum-training school sees aspiring chefs work alongside some of the industry’s top mentors to learn the skills of the trade. This talented kitchen brigade offers a menu of excellent signature dishes alongside more experimental, new-found favourites. We love the beef fillet with bone marrow, celeriac purée, potato gratin and café au lait.

The Test Kitchen Fledglings, The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7915

TTK Fledgelings was founded with a simple goal: to offer those with no access to formal chef’s or guest service training. © TTK Fledgelings

The Pot Luck Club

Next door to TTK Fledglings is another Luke Dale Roberts triumph, The Pot Luck Club: an homage to globally-inspired small plates. We’d recommend the delicious pork penang bely, coconut and peanut curry with lime pickled onion. All to be enjoyed gazing out over the ocean, the mountain and the city. As of October last year, The Pot Luck Club relaunched its insanely-popular Sunday Brunch Club. There is no better Bloody Mary in town ;)

Thali is that easy-going much-loved neighbourhood restaurant that encourages spontaneity. © Thali

Protégé

A little out of town in Franschhoek, Protégé is a must and really nails casual fine dining. As its name suggests, this incredible restaurant offers young talented chefs an opportunity to shine, as they work under the guidance of Zane Soutar and La Colombe’s Scot Kirton: a true gastronomic innovator. The menu is - as you would expect - local, fresh and seasonal, with interesting Asian, French and Italian influences. Eat al fresco or in the main kitchen: either way you’ll be very glad you made the drive out of town.

Willoughby & Co

A real gem, offering the absolute best Sushi in town. For almost 30 years Willoughby’s has drawn an international crowd eager to taste their fusion style Japanese cuisine, which spans from sushi and tempura to soups, salads and more meaty dishes. Don’t be put off by the fact Willoughby’s is right in the hustle and bustle of the Victoria Wharf shopping mall: you don’t want to miss out on this one.