Cape Town Calling—My Favorite Places Around Table Mountain

from Food, Wine, Travel Magazine May 2021—Where We're Going Next

I’ll Be Living My Dream (Italy

Photos clockwise from top: Acornhouse in Oranjezicht, Cape Town; Karibu Restaurant; Table Mountain Aerial Cableway in Cape Town; Bo-Kaap ’19; Victoria & Albert Waterfront; Malva pudding, Hussar Grill; Gold Restaurant small plates; West Coast Potjie at Ons Huisie, Bloubergstrand,

Cape Town Calling~My Favorite Places Ar nd Table M ntain

By Elsa Dixon

Boom! Exactly at noon every day except Sunday, the Noonday Gun fires a shot from Signal Hill in Cape Town. There is a split-second silence before squawking birds flap their wings, startled visitors jerk up their heads, and Capetonians glance at their watches to check the time. I do miss hearing that sound. At my favorite place, I will book Acornhoek House in Oranjezicht, nestled just below Table Mountain.

Below is the city, Table Bay, Bloubergstrand, and the road up the west coast. Also visible are the northern suburbs where, through the Winelands, the N2 takes one to Johannesburg. The blue mountains simmer in the distance. Turning left, Signal Hill and the Atlantic Seaboard beckons to the right, the Southern Suburbs. Turning around, one sees the cable cars silhouette against Table Mountain. The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is only a short ten-minute drive up Kloofnek.

Karibu Restaurant at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront

Twelve-o’clock! Time for lunch, and where better to find the ideal eatery than the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. Karibu is one of my favorite restaurants since it offers an extensive array of traditional South African dishes. I long to taste the ostrich carpaccio or Springbok Shank served with mashed potatoes, yellow peaches, garlic, and red wine. The wine list is an educational experience, including a Western Cape Wineland map and recommendations for wines to pair with meat and fish types.

Authentic African Experience at the Gold Restaurant

I love visiting my friend Cindy Muller’s Gold Restaurant near the Waterfront. After an exciting pre-dining African drumming session, her menu takes on a culinary journey through the continent. In between traditional African singing and dancing presentations, she serves small plates, each with a story.

The Colorful Culture of the Bo-Kaap

A stone-throw away, also against Signal Hill, is the colorful Bo-Kaap, home to mainly the Cape Malay, descendants from the 17th-century slaves. South African dishes, such as bobotie, incorporates Malay spices. My mom regularly served this minced meat casserole with its custardy topping.

Tea-time at the Mount Nelson

I miss South Africa’s traditional tea-time, especially at the Cape’s grand old lady, the landmark Mount Nelson Hotel with its iconic pink buildings where I had my wedding reception incidentally. The tea master uses an egg-timer to allow each cup exactly the correct steeping time.

The Nostalgic Hussar Grill

The Hussar Grill tucked away in Rondebosch in the Southern Suburbs where I grew up is on my nostalgic list. Established in 1964, it has won many prestigious awards. Their choice of starters is legendary – Hussar biltong, Traditional Boerewors, marrow bones, Hollandse Bitterballen, Skilpadjie, and more. My favorite dessert is their sweet sponge Malva Pudding, a South African favorite.

Food with a View at Ons Huisie

My car will find its way to Bloubergstrand, Table Bay, for a stunning view of Table Mountain. I will stop at Ons Huisie restaurant for its mouthwatering West Coast Potjie. Calamari, prawns, line fish, and mussels, smothered with a creamy Thai curry sauce, fill the small three-legged pot with sides of rice, homemade chutney, and a crunchy poppadum.

The Mariner’s Wharf in Hout Bay

Heading along the Atlantic ocean towards Cape Point, I will turn off to the Mariner’s Wharf in Hout Bay. I can’t wait to eat an alfresco fish and chips take-out from The Wharfette Bistro while looking at the colorful fishing boats docked in the harbor. I recall, as a child, catching fish in a bucket during a sardine run. The Wharfside Grill Restaurant is also an excellent option for dining. Besides its great atmosphere, it presents an impressive menu and superb service.

Grand Constance, a Touch of Class

For me, a wine-tasting at Groot Constantia, the oldest wineproducing farm in South Africa, is a must. This 1685 property boasts a historic manor house, two excellent restaurants, two cellars, and a retail shop. I enjoy the “Chocolate and Wine Pairing Experience.” To think that Napoleon Bonaparte favored the world-renowned “Grand Constance. ”

Acorn House, my Home from Home

Thinking of where I want to go, I realize that restaurants are synonymous with my favorite places around Table Mountain, and Acorn House is central to all: “From here, I can go up the mountain, down the mountain, through the mountain, and around the mountain.”