02 May 2015

This was a great GREAT day, not only for the foodie in me, but also for that little girl with lots of questions that never quite left me as I got older.

First, the food!

We jumped out of bed in the morning and skipping breakfast intentionally, as we heading down to the Cape Town Neigbourgoods Market- and awesome gigantic Food Market, with what I like to call a “things market” on the side.

Frankly, this was just ridiculous. My stomach was crying out with a painful hunger that got worse the more I looked around! There was just too much damned choice!

I stopped halfway to indulge in one of the honey liquor shots in a chocolate cup

I mean, why wouldn’t I?

Finally, through all the choice, I settled on a beautifully tender steak sandwich from Kitchen Cowboys

And a refreshing Blonde Beer

(because again, why wouldn’t I).

Finally, breakfast mission completed, the girls decided to indulge in some market shopping, while I fed my curiosity with a visit to a tiny, local chocolate factory.

We were taken through the delicate process in which the beans are selected, dried, and made bloody beautiful (I can’t remember the correct word, it will come to me) and turned into delicious dark, milk or white chocolate.

We were then invited to a tasting

I just need to say this right now, and I know I’m constantly enthusiastic about food, but please this time I need you to take me extra extra seriously.

Forget British, forget American Hershey’s (obviously), and even forget Swiss because CAPE TOWN CHOCOLATE IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One in particular that stood out for me (that myself and the other two girls on the tour managed to charm a free bar of) was a milk chocolate cut with salted caramel!! I’m trying to make it last, but predict a certain email making its way to Cocoa Fair begging for a batch to be couriered to the UK soon enough.

Along with the glorious flavours, another thing that really stood out to me in this place was how proud people were to work here. At one point, the tour was taken through the Cocoa Fair kitchen where I spotted one man carrying a baking tray covered in zest. I asked him what it was and he invited me to try a pinch!

He said it was an Orange and Grapefruit Zest Confit, which will be used for making Cocoa Fair’s delicious orange chocolate. And he kindly, briefly, told me how to make it!

1. TWO oranges to ONE grapefruit

2. Peel and chop the zest finely

3. Boil for one hour in water

4. Drain

5. Boil for an hour in a combination of water, orange juice and apple essence.

6. Spread out on a non-stick baking tray, and bake for one hour on 60 degrees C,

His love for his job was so strong, that he shared this recipe with what can only be described as an inspiring combination of excitement and pride!

After this, I enjoyed my free hot chocolate/chocolate ice cream combo (included in the price of the tour)

Before meeting up with the girls again, and admiring all their buys!

 We then dropped our stuff back at the Ashanti Lodge hostel and explored an afternoon activity.

On mine and Sofia’s walk from the bus station to the hostel yesterday, I had spotted South Africa’s Museum of Slavery which I had been very curious since to check out. So while Tilly went to enjoy a bit more shopping at the Vicoria and Albert Waterfront, Lena, Sofia and I went to discover the history of South Africa’s slavery.

Obviously, what we learned was absolutely harrowing. A shocking amount of slaves were brought from many areas of the world including India and parts of Northern Africa, just to Cape Town alone! They were stuffed onto ships, drowning in the smell of each other, with a number dying on the way, their corpses being moved into a storage room for the journey.

They all lived together in a slave community, a building built by the slaves themselves- the same building that now stands as the Slavery Museum

Occasionally, some would be sold off like cattle

And if a slave was suspected of bad behaviour, such as disobedience or theft, he or she would be publically executed.

It was a huge eye-opener for all of us- there was a stunning amount in the history of slavery we had been completely unaware of! I strongly recommend this as a place to visit to anyone in Cape Town!

After this, we popped to a bar just across the road for a ‘swift half’, where I found the opportunity to introduce Lena and Sofia to their first oyster!

They didn’t go down too smooth, however we were impressed by a lot on the menu, so that evening we returned and brought Tilly with us!

We indulged in quite the feast!

After this, a sleepy Lena returned to the hostel, while Sofia, Tilly and I visited a fine establishment by the name of Beer House!

(After enjoying Beer Shack in Port Elizabeth so much, it only seemed right to go here!)

And venues with a famous enthusiasm for beer go, this place was fantastic! It even had a Palet Board, to help people non-too-familiar with beer to find the right one for them!

We all chose successfully!

But, after such a long day, two beers saw us all ready for bed! So off we went, bellies full and minds buzzing.

Last day tomorrow! I’m really not ready to leave this place!