Sundays in South Africa – culinary inspiration for visitors

Sundays in South Africa started in 2010 when the FIFA World Cup 2010 took place for the first time ever on African soil – in my home country of South Africa.  I can’t tell you how proud this makes me. As our national treasure Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said at the opening ceremony:

“I cant believe it, I must be dreaming… I AM DREAMING… THIS CANT BE REAL…. South Africans – we have shown them that we can go from an ugly worm to a beautiful butterfly!” 

For one glorious month, South Africa not only opened its arms to the world – we gave the world a great big hug.  The stadiums were not half-empty. There was no terrorist attack.  The criminals did not descend on the tourists like a pack of hyenas.  The power did not cut out at crucial moments. The British tabloids had to re-write whatever doom-laden script they had prepared. My heart swells with pride every time I think about what we have achieved, and I hope we can keep the flag of national pride and achievement flying long after the final whistle has blown.

Although the tournament is over now, I will continue trying to post a review of somewhere South African, or a South African recipe, most Sundays here on CookSister – for all those who are tempted to visit the country and see for themselves.  I can’t pretend it is going to be a comprehensive guide to South Africa – but it will certainly be enough to give you some ideas.  I hope you enjoy your stay, virtual or otherwise.

Cape Town – a culinary snapshot

Le Chameleon restaurant (Humansdorp)

Roots restaurant (Johannesburg)

Bobotie recipe

A South African omnivore’s 100

Cobblestone Bakery (Port Elizabeth)

Featherbed nature reserve (Knysna)

Souskluitjies (cinnamon dumplings) recipe

La Colombe restaurant (Cape Town)

Cape brandy pudding / tipsy tart recipe

Roosterkoek recipe

Spur Steak Ranches (branches countrywide)

Waterblommetjie bredie (lamb stew with water hawthorn) recipe

Dessie’s (Port Elizabeth)

Fu.Shi (Plettenberg Bay)

The Roundhouse (Cape Town)

Belvidere Manor (Knysna)

Curried vegetable potjiekos recipe

The Goatshed (Paarl winelands)

Coconut tart (klappertert) recipe

Milk tart (melktert) recipe

Tintswalo Atlantic Lodge (Cape Town)

Irene Dairy Farm (Gauteng)

Choc-kit cookie recipe

Quills at The Intercontinental Airport Sun (Johannesburg)

Lamb sosaties recipe

Blue Waters Café (Port Elizabeth)

Cornuti al Mare (Plettenberg Bay)

All about gem squash – finding them, growing them, cooking them

The Duck Pond restaurant at Welmoed Winery (Stellenbosch winelands)

The Verandah at the Beach Hotel (Port Elizabeth)

The Lookout Deck (Plettenberg Bay)

Salt at The Ambassador Hotel (Cape Town)

Deli Street Café (Port Elizabeth)

Beef brisket and braai (BBQ) sauce potjiekos recipe

Boerewors mini sausage rolls recipe