lifeisacelebration

Been here more than a week and sampled quite a variety of South African delicacies. What stands out though was the oyster and champagne for breakfast we had in Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. By itself, the breakfasts served here are alright even without the champagne and oysters. But there you go. Luxury. They’re few and far between — ahem — so, why not? Let those flutes clink to good health and a safe journey. Indulge. What a treat!

The succulent oysters for breakfast at Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

Kudu pies, vegetable salads, boerewors and koeksisters.

Then there are all those biltongs and pies made with minced meat. Not your ordinary minced meat though. I’ve tried kudu and springbok meat, both from the antelope family. Didn’t really like the boerewors sausages nor the very sweet koeksisters dessert, but I do like ostrich meat now and the fresh salads – both vegetables and fruits, freshly harvested from the farm – served us in Berluda Farmhouse and R62 Deli in Joubert-Tradauw Wine Estate. I was so looking forward to lunch at the Two Oceans Restaurant at Cape Point on Day 1 in Capetown but a change of plans landed us in Seaforth in Boulders Beach  instead. View is perfect but lunch could have been better. Well, no big problem a glass of Castle beer won’t cure.

For all the treats on the table, I enjoyed the roasted sweet potatoes (kamote) the most. Those, plus the veg bredie and fruits.

R62 Deli deserves a separate blog. Watch this page! Love their green and fruit salads!

A seafood platter from Seaforth Restaurant in Boulders Beach, just a skip and a hop from the penguins.

And speaking of beers, Mitchell’s is perfect when you dine at Tapas and Oysters in Thesen Island. The coastal oysters are so succulent that one will most certainly ask for more than the “tasting” portion. Tapas consisted of fresh calamari, samosas, shrimps, fries, and an assortment of sauces and dippings. And what better way to cap this lunch but with a stroll along Knysna Quay and a coffee and lemon meringue at Coffee Connection.

Tapas and Oysters live up to its reputation. No pretensions, no frills. Just honest to goodness good and fresh seafood!

Quiche or Bobotie? Ostrich steak or fillet? Springbok is deer or antelope? Doesn’t matter what it’s called so long as it’s good only dear Rosie can make them!

You can’t beat the views at the very exclusive Plettenberg Hotel and Spa. Dining al fresco here is quite an experience. The seafood buffet could have been more fresh though. For someone who loves oysters and shrimps, it was surprising to find myself yearning to get back to Tapas and Oysters for a beer and cowboy lunch.

Unbeatable views at Plettenberg Hotel and Spa!

Coffee and Lemon Meringue Pie at Coffee Connection in Knysna Quay. FTW!

Leaving the cosmopolitan life and into the bush, the Entabeni experience was really more than just the safari. A bush dinner at 9Celsius? Even the constant drum beating and African music can’t keep me warm enough. Nor the camp fires and the red wine. But I love it! Steaks couldn’t have been more rare. And it helps that it’s dark to miss the steak juice (aka blood) oozing out of the carving. There were more sausages and others say the chicken was good. Since I missed the superb steak served in Hyatt Regency Oubaii Hotel in George the night before, I’m going rare tonight! And in the bush!

Aaaaah. Carnivores…… let us celebrate!

How do you want your eggs?

And if you think I can’t have a hearty breakfast after that rare steak dinner the night before, you’re dead wrong. We’re in Africa, baby! On to our safari on full stomachs! 🙂