Route 44 Market

Taking a drive to do some wine tasting in Stellies one Saturday, a stop on the way through to the Route 44 Market seemed fit. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t working in our favour on this particular morning; however this didn’t dampen the spirits of anyone there! On walking inside the large, spacious tents was the smell of good food, shoppers walking around sipping on hot chocolate and aromatic coffees and a wide range of craft stores.

Situated on Audacia Farm in Stellenbosch this particular Food and Craft Market was very welcoming and accommodating with traders greeting you with smiles and immediate assistance. The large, open tents, with long wooden floorboards bestows the feeling of an old barnyard, with an almost “farm-like” feel. Also very family orientated with many different age groups of people there, the place was still buzzing with people on this cold, wet morning.

This Market most definitely had something there for every one of its visitors- from jewellery, to book stores, home decor tips and trimmings, fashion boutiques, African artwork as well as antique furniture stores. What striked me once again was the many different foods available. A friend of mine and me tried a German Eisbein “hamburger” with caramelised onions and a sweet German mustard sauce for only R35! Being a huge fan of pistachio nuts, I spotted a fudge store selling a pistachio flavoured fudge and had to give it a go. My sister tested out the freshly squeezed health juices available. She had “the detox” which included apple, carrot, ginger and lemon, it was very refreshing- a great equivalent to normal fruit juices. To add to the variety of food stalls there was also a health bar which I thought was rather considerate and accommodating for all those health conscious individuals who would still enjoy to indulge while out!

Another find I thought was very interesting was the “Bubble tea”. This is a refreshing tea based drink, (can be either a fruity ice tea or a non-diary “milkshake” tea) the unique thing about this drink was the toppings. Either Popping Bobas (filled with pure fruit juice) or Tapioca Pearls mixes with your tea- sucked through an extra large straw guaranteeing a whole new experience for all tea lovers like myself!

Ciity Bowl Market on Hope

Located in a modest hall in the city centre on Hope Street, I was pleasantly surprised with this quaint, little market. Being considerably smaller compared to the first two markets I visited there was still an incredible atmosphere and buzz about it, with delicious smells inviting any people walking by inside!

Being a “gourmet food market”, this market is most definitely focused on those Cape Town food fanatics. Being a place where people come together to experience and enjoy foods from around the world I was eager to try the appetizing meals they had on display. I attempted a shrimp and pineapple Vietnamese Rice Paper Roll, along with a roasted sirloin, caramelised onion, rocket and garlic aioli wrap! Both were very tasty and I would most definitely recommend both dishes to anyone willing to try and experience new foods. My sister tried the seafood paella which was a rather generous portion of food with masses of seafood. (The dish was presented in two huge pans which instantly grabs ones attention-as well as the smell being superb!)

Selling mostly freshly cooked meals and fresh produce, there were a few boutique stalls offering fashion items and accessories for those individuals looking for a little bit more than just cuisine. Traditional African drummers give this market great character and melodies for everyone to enjoy while browsing through the various stalls. A market which caters for the entire family- there is a kids zone to keep the little ones preoccupied while Mom’s can enjoy a glass of wine and Dads can sample some of the craft beer available.

Open every Thursday from 16:30- 20:30 as well as on Saturdays from 09:00- 14:00 I recommend any of those “CT foodies” who haven’t yet visited and sampled some of the great food they have available to make an evening/day out of it and take the family along!

The Old Biscuit Mill

Being the second Market I was visiting after Hout Bay my hopes were high! On route, there really is nothing scenic or even slightly exciting to look at while driving through a rather busy industrial area. Compared to the slow meandering drive one takes to Hout Bay, however you then witness the hustle and bustle of the public walking in and out of “The Old Biscuit Mill”, situated on 375 Albert Road, Woodstock.

Much more spacious compared to that of Hout bay, (with only one entry and one exit) one can wonder and explore more. Being my first visit to the mill I wasn’t certain where to begin on arrival as everything appeared quite disjointed with wide open spaces, tables positioned in large courtyards, allowing patrons to sit down and enjoy a meal. The architecture is exquisite with tall, heavy staircases standing alongside solid walls and large, attractive fountains on display. Not to mention the fine art and decor displayed is any interior designers dream.

The Neighbourgoods Market really caught my attention. The display of fresh produce, delicious open sandwiches and even dim sum (a style of Cantonese food prepared as small bite-sized/individual portions of food traditionally served in small steamer baskets) to snack on while meandering through. I treated myself to one of the most delicious “egg and bacon rolls” I had ever tasted, which included a perfectly toasted bun, creamy mayo and rocket- the perfect way to start off the weekend! To add, a fresh apple juice from one of the Boutique Deli’s. Walking around and browsing at the stalls, the assortment of cheeses, macaroons, and freshly baked breads and pies- its hard to not get hungry and over indulge!

For all those chocolate addicts out there another rather exciting thing to do at the Mill is the chocolate tour for R40 per person. (My sister objected as we probably would’ve had to do it twice!) The tour includes; the chocolate making process, chocolate tasting, cocoa bean culture as well as hot coco and ice-cream provided at the end.

Another thoroughly enjoyed morning out with friends, a market I would definitely recommend visiting to all tourists, national visitors and of course the good old Capetonians!

Hout Bay Market

Nestled in an old fish factory, positioned right in the bay near the harbour where one can watch and enjoy the entry and exit of boats on the water, this is the perfect way to begin a weekend after a long week on campus or in the office! On walking into the market the smell of incense, freshly baked bread and aromatic food rises in your nose, and the humming of voices sounds in your ears. The array of stalls is endless displaying colourful paintings, vintage artwork and beadwork for the art enthusiast.

The atmosphere is staggering. Known as Cape Town’s most vibrant and happening market you can feel the “vibe” and excitement as you wonder from stall to stall. Yet people are too very laid back and relaxed with family units sitting opposite long tables enjoying the appetizing and fragrant food available from the plentiful food stands. The choices are never-ending from an organic/health bar, freshly braaied fish, seafood paella and sweet treats tempting all drifting patrons.

Being a caffeine addict I spotted the “best ever coffee” stall right near the food court! Walking around sipping on one of the best iced coffee frappes I tasted to date, and discussing the range of different boutique clothing stalls and hand-crafted goodies to take home with you- our evening was great! There is also a bar with “beer on tap” as well as vases of red and white wines available to warm up with on a cold winters evening.

Open for most of the weekend (from 17:00- 21:00 on Friday evenings as well as Saturday and Sunday from 09:30-16:00) everyone needs to go and immerse themselves in what Hout Bay market has to offer! With live music resonating through your ears, the inviting and accommodating traders bartering with patrons, the incredible views of Chapman’s peak as well as the variety of goods you truly feel distinctly and proudly South African!

An Introduction...

Having made the big and daunting move out of home, (Durban) to the Mother City this year to complete my Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management at the University of Cape Town has been anything but ordinary! Being very apprehensive and slightly overwhelmed with the concept of moving out of home and having some now, rather extreme responsibilities to compete with for the year, it has turned out to be an exceptional one!

As part of a current course I am studying in my second semester at UCT, we were asked to start a blog. (On a topic of our choice) Having a rather frantic first semester with our workload being one of extremes, I hadn’t experienced much of what Cape Town had to offer! Therefore, I made it my mission to get out and live a little no matter how much my workload increased and visit the many Markets CT and its surroundings have to offer.

Lieu de Re’union, (a French term) refers to “a meeting place”, where people come together. I decided to write on the various Markets one could visit within Cape Town and the surrounding area’s as not only is it very accessible to everyone but a place to chill, unwind and enjoy the company of others. Having good conversation, good food, as well as good wine after a long week, to me, is the perfect way to start the weekend!

On introduction to this blog, it seemed like a rather huge challenge as I’m anything but tech savvy! However, I have thoroughly enjoyed doing my research and creating this Blog- Lieu de Re’union, I hope you enjoy my journey and exploration into these Markets as much as I did.