The school holidays are around the corner and nothing shouts start of the holidays more than the ritual of stopping at a farm stall en route to one’s holiday destinations.
An hour outside of Cape Town – once over Sir Lowry’s pass, are a couple of options.
Orchard Farm Stall on the left has a special place in my heart as it was where my boyfriend (now husband of 20 years) stopped when he was wooing me. It has subsequently gone through a couple of ups and downs and new management took over this year, but in addition to being able to pick up fresh fruit and bread, it is a good pit stop to use the loos and give the dog a run around.
Coming through Elgin one sees Peregrine Farm Stall on the right. You know you are in Apple country with their range of freshly squeezed apple juices. Their bakery stocks mosbolletjies (sweet brioche-like buns made with fermented grape juice), rusks and biltong. Elgin is also the home of cool climate wine, so you can stock up on some of the local wines!
At the top of the pass, Houw Hoek Farm Stall has always been a favourite for fresh farm pies. They offer a range at R20 of chicken and mushroom, curry steak, steak and kidney. You can pick up kudu droewors and home baked goodies. My aunt religiously stops there for their seed stuffed health bread. The well-stocked deli is full of fresh farm treats such as Green Fig Preserve and Moskonfyt. You can pick up beautiful bouquets of local fynbos and always land up spending more than you meant to – but hey, it’s the holidays! The Houw Hoek Farm Stall also has a great range of local wines, which brings me to my next suggestion.
If you aren’t in a rush and feel like making the journey part of the holiday, then treat yourself to a delicious food and wine pairing experience at Gabrielskloof wine farm just past Botrivier on your right. The setting overlooking the Overberg wheatfields is simply gorgeous and it’s not surprising that this is such a popular venue for weddings given the beautiful courtyard and chapel.
There is a popular restaurant and at the deli you can even collect fresh farm eggs, as well as divine quiches and pies including a popular Bobotie Pie for R20. Everything is homemade and free range and the bread is all baked on the property.
If you are prepared to drive a bit further up the N2, just past the turnoff to Villiersdorp you will see Dassiesfontein on your right. It is hard to miss. A monument to boere-chic and by that I mean you can buy all kinds of enamel kettles and pots, old kitchen utensils and seal shoes as well as biltong, bokkoms and dried fruit from the Overberg. The doorstopper sandwiches on homemade bread hit the spot if you are starving.
For more information on food and travel tips, visit Melissa Sutherland’s Facebook page.