Cape Town by Mouth

There is a new market in Cape Town. Yet another one I hear you think? There do seem to be quite a few around and many of them seem to have very similar produce on sale. In contrast to most of the other markets that sell lots of foodie goodies to take home, Bay Harbour market focuses on eating and drinking on the spot (That being said almost half the floorspace is devoted to clothes and handicraft).

Cool market vibe with tree stump hanging from the ceiling

Tasty tortilla from Nacho mama

The market is set in an old fish factory in Hout Bay right at the commercial end of the harbour. The walls of this cool industrial space are lined with foodstalls and interesting decor.  Who would’ve thought you could make a chandelier out of a tree stump? Mellow jazzy tunes play in the background while hungry Capetonians enjoy their Saturday morning feasts around communal tables.

Nacho Mama at Bay Harbour Market

oooh melktarts

We started our feast with a great burrito from nacho mama.  A toasted tortilla wrapped around a well balanced combination of guacamole, beans, rice and sour cream with a spicy salsa. We also devoured a  veggie wrap from sunshine satay. We ended our meal with coffee and a stunning melk tart from Nap. We skipped breakfasts, as they looked a bit heavy for our taste.

It was refreshing to visit a market manned by lots of newbies. Endearingly, one of the stall owners said that she doesn’t do this often so it would be better if I took a seat and waited for her to bring the food to me.  In contrast, some of the other markets have  producers which have already become so well known that you find them in supermarkets. I  guess it is challenging to decide which producers are too commercial as you do want to support successful entrepreneurs.

Anyway, I warmly recommend going to Bay Harbour Market. I hope it retains its great level of enthusiasm.

Oh yes and there is even  a portable ATM at your disposal : )

31 Harbour Road
Hout Bay

http://www.bayharbour.co.za/home.html

Since our honeymoon shopping sprees in Bangkok and Singapore we are seriously running low on Asian ingredients. I once did a google search on Asian supermarkets and there are three on the main road in Sea Point. This for me is the best out of the bunch. They offer fresh ingredients as well like fresh miso paste, pak choi, green papayas (will be posting a sum tam recipe soon!) and baby aubergines. Sadly for Cameron there was no torch ginger. The enthusiastic guy at the counter reckoned that if they don’t have it no one does… Don’t know where I will get that. New Asian Spice supermarket also has a decent selection of condiments and frozen dumplings.

186 Main Rd,

Sea Point

Cape Town

Some people cry at movies.. I cried at La Cotte Inn cheese shop and multiple times during the evening when I caught a whiff of my brie de Meaux. All my French favorites in one stop. Fantastic. Definitely on the expensive side but it reminds you what brie is supposed to taste like.

c/o Main Road & Louis Botha Street

Franschhoek

We went to the Stellenbosch Fresh Goods market thinking that we could stock up on veggies for the week. Not quite the farm vibe we expected. Instead the market provides you with lots of clothing and an impressive array of food to eat on the spot. The smoked truit we tried just melted in our mouths. Chorizo rolls and bread not quite the desired effect. We were just sad not to be able to stock up on goodies as we had a whole day in a hot car ahead of us. Will definitely drive back just for the trout.

Stellenbosch Fresh Goods Market
Oude Libertas Amphitheatre,Corner of Adam Tas & Oude Libertas Rd
http://www.slowmarket.co.za

Cheese has got to be one of the things that I really can’t live without. I have driven past this place many many times and wondered what it was like. It has a bit of a bleak spot on the main road that doesn’t exactly invite a visit, but once you enter it is actually very nice. Au Bon Fromage as the name applies has a great cheese counter. Some French cheese but mostly local cheese from small suppliers across the country. Preservative and colorant free, the owner knows his stuff. We had a lovely chat with him while he flirted with my beautiful mother in law and offered us tasters. I was fascinated to know that most of the rennet in SA is vegetarian as there isn’t a lot of veal around. French cheesemakers swear by animal rennet and claim that it affects the taste. I wonder if that contributes to the lack of depth in the flavor of local cheeses. Anyway nice little cheese shop with passionate owner.

cnr main & dean street

Newlands

tel: 021 685 3631

Little new store that moved from Simonstown that offers fresh game meat and some frozen goodies as well. They stock some very healthy looking chicken and fresh duck. Great biltong as well.

Cardiff Castle,
Cnr Kildare and Main Rds,
Newlands

021 786 5767

Always packed with people lunching and snacking on rolls and schnitzels. Excellent address for top notch steaks and cold cuts and a selection of cheese.

Ground level
Gardens Center
Cape Town

This is our great local butchery. Lots of game options and different sausages. The owner is German and he is often around to provide great service. Biltong is wet and wonderful.

120 Kloof Street
Gardens
Cape Town

Classic fish mongers in Cape Town.  We often use the one in Woodstock but have visited the one in Hout Bay as well. Service at the Hout Bay one is always friendly and knowledgeable and it is just fun to buy your fish in a fishing harbour. The selection of fresh fish is great at both of these venues. We often combine a visit to the Woodstock one with a shopping for vegetables at a local supermarket. The one across the street is a fraction of the prices at Woollies.

Greys Marine,
Hout Bay Harbour.
Tel. +27 (0) 21 791 4110

230 Victoria Road, Woodstock, 7915.
Tel.  +27 (0) 21 448 5258

102 Monte Vista Boulevard, Monte Vista, 7500.
Tel.  +27 (0) 21 558 1769

Fab selection of fresh fish

Fish4Africa in Woodstock

Ocean’s Edge is a new gleaming fishmongers in Sea point. They have quite a good selection of fresh fish and seafood. They even had massive live crabs from Namibia. Can’t wait to make some chili crab out of those : )
I bought a big fillet of yellowtail for about R80 and fed four people. Also bought fresh Norwegian salmon and made some gravad lax with rye bread.  Service was a bit slow and clueless, but otherwise great spot.

85A Regent Street
Sea point
Cape Town, 8005
021 433 0860