When it is pouring outside....

Where has the time gone, its mid- year already!!! Hope you made the best of the first half of 2013 and may all your dreams be realised for the second half. I personally have a few goals to accomplish. 

1 June means the start of Winter in Cape Town and naturally a time to hibernate, whip out the snuggle blankets and catch up on your book collection with a cuppa. If you know me, you know that no matter how wet and cold it gets outside, I have to be out and about looking for something exciting to do in Cape Town. So I called up my partner in crime, who enjoys discovering these exciting places with me, and also recommended this place and we braved the cape rains. 

We discovered this really magnificent Victorian house in Kloof Street that looked very interesting and decided to pop in. Kloof Street House Resturant , situated in Kloof Street offers their customers an eclectic colonial experience. We were certainly in for a treat. 
It certainly doesn't look like a resturant from the outside and when we walked up to the front door we thought we were trespassing on someone's property, until we were greeted by an inviting friendly waiter and a cosy place with a fire crackling away making it feel like a home away from home. 

We chose to sit close to the fire place,
to really appreciate the cosy atmosphere

The menu for lunch is not very fancy or extensive but its decent enough to settle your rumbling belly, which is ultimately what we want. The variety extends to blade beef which is the signature dish, lamb shanks, norwegian salmon, Kloof street house cheese burger, steak roll, free range chicken, salad and fish options. We opted for a "healthy" light option. 

lounging around in the dining area

i know i know, cocktails at the fireplace???

For starters we had a vegetarian antipasti dish to share,
humus and tzatziki was delish.
Great option and it was more than enough
for both of us.

For mains I had grilled line fish season veg, lemon and
parsley butter and romesco 

Zubeida had Kloof street Salad which was honey
mustard dressing, avo, feta,boiled egg and chicken

Now that we have the food out of the way, let me show you around this lithe quaint place, which I found to be truly an eclectic setting. 

You are greeted to this beautiful Victorian type style setting

Front door entrance

Some more seating outside.

Library area for you to unwind with a cuppa

Private dining area where you can host a private party

Cosy atmosphere inside stretches across 2 areas

cosy lounge area, that has ample seating for about
30 people with the fireplace to the left that adds that perfect
touch for these winter months

mmm..crackling fire

some more inside seating with an outside view

I could not resist taking a pic...

i could definately imagine having breakfast here

and a bar area that offers the usual

So if you need to unwind and keep warm this Winter, pop into Kloof Street House for a warm lunch or a coffee break, it definately offers an experience that will make you forget about the cape of storms rumbling outside. 

Top 3 Markets in Cape Town

Hello daarrrlllings!!! 

So this past weekend we celebrated freedom day in SA and it was a time to reflect upon the history of our country and how far we have evolved as a nation in this democratic era. 

Ja that didnt happen for me. 

I spent the weekend doing very little except on Sunday when I decided to visit some markets around the city. 

Sundays are always regarded as lazy-hazy-stress free days in Cape Town. With the weather being fairly good and no lunch preparations to be made, Zubeida and I decided to check out the markets around Cape Town and this is our top 3. 

Top 1: 
We started at Village Market at Cape Quarters Centre in Somerset Road, Greenpoint. It boasts an open air market on the 3rd floor that sells clothes, funny hats, fedoros, kids clothes, etc. But the part that got me really excited was the food section of the market, which is enclosed, and hosts food from all over the world under one roof. Zubs and i wasted no time and gathered foods from all corners. We launched into the thai food that was so amazing and so cheap. Definately check this market out soon, we had fun. 

open air market selling clothes and hats etc..

food section. We chose the Thai option served from
lady in blue and sat on the benches provide

Top 2:
Next stop was Hout Bay market. It is always a pleasure driving along the coast line with the wind in our hair, and admiring the dreamy ocean on our way to Hout Bay. We are definately blessed to live in Cape Town. Anyway,we arrived to a very bustling, crowdy and awesome vibe market situated at the edge of the harbour. When you enter the market it may not seem like much at first, there are a few things that may catch your eye, but once you turn the corner you see an open space with people buzzing everywhere from the clothes section to the food section which is situated right smack  centre and has everything you can think of to eat and snack on. Although we didn't buy anything at this market we still enjoyed visiting it and being part of the vibe. 

locals band entertaining the crowds at the entrance

Doesnt look like much as you enter

The buzz inside as you turn the corner

People everywhere

Some more entertaiment inside

Top 3:
And finally we went to Market on the Wharf situated at the V&A waterfront. Based next to the Alfred Hotel, the market has  2 levels and quite big inside which made it easy to walk around. ( if you still wondering where it is, it is where MUSICA used to be) It has mainly food, fruit and veg, coffee and various sweet treats for you to try. I stopped off at the frozen yoghurt section which I really enjoyed. This was a nice end to our market day experience and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. 

Zubeida hanging out on the 2nd level

Some lovely toppings to add

Some awesome street art on the 2nd level

Which markets have you been to lately??? Let me know and I will definately check them out. 

love the coke man!!!!

In living color..street art

it is not something that you would immediately appreciate but its all around the streets of Cape Town and i am completely fascinated by it. Im talking about street art, in its purest in living colour form. 

I have always been intrigued by it and a friend and I decided to spend an afternoon roaming some of the streets to get a good view and appreciation for this art form. i have no idea what the art means or what the take away message should be - i don't even think it is legal! 

However I think you will agree that some of the work is incredible and that there is a definate market out there for it to be showcased and for the message to be heard. 

 

Zubeida trying to fit into the art!! LOL

and then we spent sometime in Bo-Kaap
appreciating the brighly coloured houses

So the next time you are in town, stop, collaborate and admire!!