Of the many things I love about the beautiful Mother City, one of those I love the most is the amazing variety of markets we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep. The sheer number of markets out there is quite something.
What I don’t always love and want to do is leave the warmth and comfort of my home (ok, getting out from under the covers!) on a cold, winter’s day and braving the elements to drive to said market.
The way I see it, winter time in Cape Town can be approached in a few different ways but basically, you have two options – you either dislike it intensely (I’m not a fan of the H-word) or you love it. As I’m more of a summer person, I can’t say that I enjoy the freezing weather, but there is a silver lining. Oh yes! Winter time is that special time of year when many restaurants introduce amazing Winter Menus to coax you into leaving the comfort of your couch and warm home to brave the elements in search of a delicious meal. The usual hefty price tag that is reduced to something that the average person can afford is what clinches the deal! Now what’s not to love about a great meal at a great price, preferably beside a roaring fire and red wine?
For many years, my hubby has patiently (read – VERY patiently!) driven us around the beautiful Cape winelands. Way before our son was born (or before we’d even decided to start a family), we used to hop in the car on most weekends and take off to explore and discover new wine estates. Sometimes we planned where we were headed for the day; other times we spontaneously drove off to see where the road would lead us.
This is great fun if you’re the passenger/navigator and don’t have to drive. Not so much fun if you’re always the designated driver. So, my friends and I decided to do a day trip to the Stellenbosch winelands with a difference. This time, sans kids and instead of one of the husbands having to drive, we decided to make use of a private tour guide to take us around. All I can say is that it was well worth it!