Outdoor SA – Page 2 – Outdoor South Africa

Jan 04

by Outdoor SA in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Cappucino, Chardonnay Deli, Constantia

Chardonnay Deli Farm Stall Constantia

Whilst the exterior of the building does not boast much, as you enter the deli, you are overwhelmed by the delicious homemade treats and homegrown fruit and veggies that are on display. A part of you becomes inspired to make your own jam, delicious crispy salads and juicy veggies with every meal and the other part of you wants to learn how to bake different types of breads and cakes. For a moment, you think to yourself – I’m going to grow my own vegetable garden and live off the land, as they say. This deli definitely did this to me – for a moment I was wondering how to convert a balcony of a flat into a lush veggie garden and how I was going to have to buy multiple bread-making recipe books to create crispy and light breads and pastries – then reality set in as I realized how much patience it would require and had second thoughts. If I did make my own produce, I would take away from the magic of this deli and others just like it – it wouldn’t be fair (wink wink nudge nudge). The right thing to do would be to just […]

Jan 03

by Outdoor SA in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Burger, Food, Hudsons, Stellenbosch

Hudsons – The Burger joint

I have often heard about Hudsons from my Western Cape friends, how delicious the burgers were and how sad it was that there wasn’t one in Durban (where we were staying at the time). Luckily for the Durbanites, one has now opened in Umhlanga but was fully booked during the festive season (alas) which meant that my chance to experience the legendary burgers for the first time would be here in Stellenbosch. The menu caters for a wide variety of burgers, all with interesting names, to choose one would be too difficult as they all sounded so good so I opted to have the sliders which would allow me to have three varieties but in a smaller portion. If you are like me, you simply cannot have a hamburger without chips, so obviously I had to order fries as well. To my dismay they were out of the little buns used to make the sliders and they were also out of fries at 12:30 during the peak lunch time traffic. My heart broke a little at hearing about the fries, but I decided to be calm about it and order a cheese burger instead. The burger bun was slightly toasted; […]

Jan 02

by Outdoor SA in Uncategorized 0 comments

Brenaissance

As we arrived at Brenaissance in Stellenbosch, the atmosphere was bustling, children were running around happily whilst their parents watched from the nearby restaurant. The foods offered on the menu are pizza and salad which makes for an easy choice – the pizza selection offers various flavours which compliment each other: biltong and fig, parma ham and rocket, caramelized onion and olives, chicken and chorizo and of course, the classic margherita. The full house pizza comprises the first four options which makes up a great combination so that you can try a piece of everything. The menu also caters for a variety of wines from the vineyards of Brenaissance and wine and pizza pairing at a reasonable cost. Something else to quench your thirst is the passion fruit and soda with a twist which is like a fruit crusher – perfect on a hot day! Our overall experience was awesome, despite it being rather busy, there were plenty staff, the drinks flowed and the pizza was hot and crispy.

Jan 01

by Outdoor SA in Uncategorized 0 comments

Dutch East Restaurant Franschhoek

As we drove through the town of Franschhoek on New Year’s Day at around 6pm – many of the restaurants and shops were closed. We were looking to enjoy a nice dinner on this very hot, sunny day in a cool relaxed setting. We spotted the Dutch East Restaurant which had seating outside in the cool breeze or had seating inside which was air-conditioned. We elected to sit inside and enjoyed the interior décor of the restaurant which was a combination of raw brick work and wooded paneling. With their kitchen opening for dinner at 6:30pm we enjoyed a drink and browsed through the menu which catered for everyone’s tastes. As we browsed, we were brought a warm piece of homemade bread which was served with a delicious hummus pate. Deciding that we would have all three courses, we started with beef springrolls which were served with a sweet chilli dip. The phyllo pastry was delicate which complimented the soft pulled beef inside and the chilli dipping sauce was light and gave the meal a little kick. Other starters included soup of the day, calamari salad, springbok/beef tartar and risotto. For the main course, we decided on two options – […]

Oct 10

by Outdoor SA in Food, Hearty Meals, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Durban, Family restaurant, Food, Good Value, great food, Olive & Oil, Umhlanga

Olive and Oil Umhlanga

We have eaten here a few times and also visited the Glenwood and Pietermaritzburg outlet. There are four outlets in total, with the forth being in Hillcrest. They really seem to have got the recipe right and you can be assured of a similar standard of food and service no matter which outlet you visit. Good value for money and quality is available with a wide range on the menu to suit all tastes. Popular with families we have yet to experience a bad meal. Whilst the restaurants have a Mediterranean flair and leaning it’s clear that the menu suits the South African palette. The group was started by Jacqui and Nickos Itopoulos, and later joined by Craig Storkey, being very much a family run and owned operation. The range on the menu offers from poultry, fish, to meat, pastas, pizzas and a full kiddies menu. They also offer daily specials and set menus with a starter, main and dessert which offer good value for money. Vegetarian offerings are also available. Whatever the occasion we would firmly recommend that you pop in and try them. Contact details are – Glenwood 031 201 6146 Email glenwood@oliveandoil.co.za Umhlanga 031 561 2618 Email […]

Aug 17

by Outdoor SA in Uncategorized 0 comments

Reef and Dune

Recently during our stay in St Lucia we decided to have dinner at a restaurant called Reef & Dune. We had explored the various avenues of the town earlier on in the day and this nice looking restaurant happened to attract our attention. We phoned the restaurant and spoke to Brandon about making a reservation for 6pm. On arrival we were greeted by friendly staff members and ushered to our reserved table inside the restaurant. The venue is family friendly and caters for seating inside or outside the restaurant. With bright and uplifting décor the ambience created in the restaurant is both friendly and homely. The menu caters for a wide variety of dietary needs – from seafood to grills, pizza and pasta. Our chosen order for the evening was a cheesy beef burger with chips and deep fried calamari tubes served with chips tartar sauce and creamed spinach and pumpkin. The spinach and pumpkin were an unexpected surprise but complimented the meal entirely. Definite value for money as the portions sizes were not stingy at all. After we enjoyed our delicious meals we were so full but eager to hear about the dessert specials from Brandon, our waiter. Various cakes […]

Mar 09

by Outdoor SA in Adventurous Road Trips, Great Driving Roads, Off Road Destinations, Off the Beaten Track, Uncategorized, Vehicles 0 comments tags: beautiful setting, expolre, outdoors, road trip

En Route Windhoek to Sossusvlei

We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the Olive Exclusive comprising a full continental and hot offering before checking out and saying adieu for the moment. We piled our luggage, camera equipment into the Toyota Hilux rental, and then ensuring that we had purchased sufficient water from the hotel we set off on our journey. Leaving central Windhoek we set off in a South West direction with lots of anticipation and excitement. The lush green vegetation surrounding the greater Windhoek area started to thin as the spectacular scenery flashed by. The obligatory stop at the permanent road block at the outskirts of the town did not deter our enthusiasm as the local policemen welcomed us to their beautiful country and bade us well on our way. The landscapes continued to change and become more arid, with the vegetation becoming scarcer. The external heat continued to rise and we were much relived for the aircon and water that we had brought with on the trip. The vastness of the landscapes stretched out all around us and we took in the natural beauty of our surroundings. The local towns became fewer and fewer and soon we left the comfort of the tar roads […]

Oct 02

by Outdoor SA in Explore South Africa, Fine Dining, Food, Hearty Meals, Things to do 0 comments tags: Butcher Block, Durban, fillet, Great Cuisine, great food, Indian Ocean, lunch, meat, rump, sirloin, Steak, Steakhouse, T Bone, Umhlanga, wine

Butcher Block Umhlanga

The team decided to visit the restaurant for dinner recently. Set in the Holiday Inn Express in Umhlanga just off Umhlanga Rocks Drive allows for plenty of parking for guests visiting the restaurant who are not staying in the hotel. The restaurant has a sister situated in Crowne Plaza Johannesburg, Rosebank. The Umhlanga restaurant is large and spacious with a warm ambience. It has a modern and clean design and caters for a more upmarket meal, family meal or a quick bite to eat. We found the staff to be warm friendly and attentive. They have a good wine selection for those with a discerning palette. Well known for its main feature on the menu of steak, the group was founded in 2003 as a steakhouse. The menu is full and varied with a great range of starters from chicken livers to the well-known favourite prawn cocktail through to soup; SA stock of boerewors, Mozambican strips chicken or beef, mussels and mushrooms. The full range of steak types, fillet, rump, sirloin, T-Bone and prime rib are all on offer with various cuts and basted to perfection. Chicken, fish, prawns, calamari, lamb shank, curry. The list is endless and there is […]

Sep 21

by Outdoor SA in Accomodation, Explore South Africa 0 comments tags: 5 star, beautiful setting, Bed and Breakfast, breakfast, gardens, great food, Pietermaritzburg, relax, Self catering

Lexden Bed & Breakfast

Old World Charm Set high up at number 176 Howick Road with sweeping views over Pietermaritzburg, Lexden offers the discerning visitor to Pietermaritzburg luxury accommodation in a variety of choices. There are three luxury rooms with ten rooms in total and an option of self-catering in certain rooms or a full bed and breakfast offering with the luxury rooms. Set in a plush garden there is an overall sense of tranquility and gracefulness with the timelessness echoing back to the times when ‘things moved a bit slower’. The large rooms are warm and welcoming with all the mod cons that a discerning traveller would require, while beautifully decorated by the owner and ex interior decorator Karrin Hatfield. The bathrooms are large and expansive allowing you to unwind from the stressful day. Services include – Laundry facilities – TV with limited DSTV Channels and free Wi-Fi – Fully air-conditioned accommodation – Cotton bed linen and down and feather pillows and duvets – Fridge and air conditioning in each room – Mini Bar if required The main house is both gracious and warm housing the main dining area in which a slow and leisurely breakfast can be enjoyed. If you are a […]

Sep 04

by Outdoor SA in Fine Dining, Food, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: 5 star, beautiful setting, champagne, coffee, Durban, Great Cuisine, Indian Ocean, lunch, Umhlanga

Little Havana

It’s no wonder that the restaurant has recently been voted The Best Steakhouse in South Africa. We have had the pleasure of eating here for dinner and lunch on a number of occasions, and our recent lunch once again proved to confirm this accolade. The upmarket décor and setting sets the scene for the diner to enjoy a sumptuous meal for the discerning palette. They are famous for their extensive range of steaks well aged and cooked to perfection. The menu is varied and offers a full range of offerings from seafoods, poultry, lamb, pork and of course the famous steaks. The walk in wine cellar offers you the chance to pair the perfect combination per course. The menu offers a wide range of starters and desserts to accompany your perfect meal not forgetting aperitifs, and the cigars. Vegetarians are also catered for with a superb offering. The restaurant is set upstairs in the Granada Centre in the village of Umhlanga. The mix of Colonial, Plantations and Cuba offers an interesting twist in the ambience and on the palette. During the day or on one of Durban’s balmy evenings sitting on the verandah provides a awesome setting, or inside the […]

Chardonnay Deli Farm Stall Constantia

Hudsons – The Burger joint

Brenaissance

Dutch East Restaurant Franschhoek

Olive and Oil Umhlanga

Reef and Dune

En Route Windhoek to Sossusvlei

Butcher Block Umhlanga

Lexden Bed & Breakfast

Little Havana

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