PAM'S FAVOURITE PICNIC SPOTS IN THE CAPE

The people down here love to make picnics and head to remote spots for "sundowners" - it is a big part of our culture here and something you need to participate in.  What are "sundowners"? It is quite literally a celbebration of enjoying watching the sun go down.  There are many ways that we enjoy sundowners: packing a picnic and heading to Clifton or Camps Bay and meeting up with friends there, taking a cold bottle of champagne and heading to signal hill for a romantic view, climbing Lions Head at full moon and enjoying dinner or vino up there.........etc.

Another favourite in the Cape is catered for picnics ie this is not the good old peasent way of enjoying picnics.  There are spots you can book that have beautiful tables in beautiful settings and you simply book and arrive to collect your picnic basket and then spend the afternoon relaxing and eating your way through the contents.  I love civilized picnics like this!

My two favourite places for this type of picnic are:

1. Vergelegen estate (Somerset West) - Vergelegen offer a very civilized picnic experience.  Here you can book to have a picnic lunch in the camphor forest.  They scatter the tables around the forest and lay them with long white table cloths.  You arrive and head through to the Rose Garden to pick up your picnic hamper and order your wine.  It is a serviced picnic where waiters come and check on you every now and again to see if you need more refreshments.  Remember that the locals come and spend the whole afternoon here - so do not plan to rush on afterwards.  It is a wonderful relaxing experience and I highly recommend it.  Book well in advance during the summer months to make sure that you can get in.  Another tip is to ask for a table well away from others if you want to have a romantic time in the forest! To book e-mail: ladyphillips@vergelegen.co.za and tell them it is for the picnic.  Tel +27 21 8471346.  Cost approximately R165 per person for a three course picnic.  Note if you are coming to Vergelegen, book to do their cellar tour in the morning - the cellar is spectacular and is a gravity fed cellar (large number of stairs in the cellar - don't do it if you have troubles with your knees).  The view from the cellar is also amazing, as it the architecture.  Also remember to do a wine tasting and explore the manner house.  www.vergelegen.co.za
2. Boschendal (Franschhoek on the R310 Hellshoogte pass) - they call their picnic Le Pique Nique - a play I would pressume on their French heritage! Not very good french I am sure.  The picnic is held in a park like setting and once again it is serviced in terms of drinks, the food is good and it is a really civilized and relaxing experience.  Book well in advance in summer reservations@boschendal.com website www.boschendal.com Note that Boschendal has one of the best examples of Cape Dutch architecture on the estate - so be sure to visit the manor house.  Note Boschendal is OPEN for Xmas for the picnic lunch - this is where I will be spending Xmas 09 with my family!
3. The Round House in Cape Town - This restaurant has a magnificent setting and a really top restaurant on the premises, it is on the road up from Clifton to the city and is located in a nature reserve - it offers sweeping views of Camps Bay.  They recently announced that they are starting to offer picnics there - and as such they should be really good - good setting and good food.  To see the setting check out their website on www.theroundhouserestaurant.com.  They have not updated information about the picnics yet onto their website.  So to find out more and to book, e-mail them info@theroundhouserestaurant.com 
4. Buitenverwachting picnic - note that you have to book telephonically for the picnic and that they do not take credit cards.  The cost per person is around R110 per person and they do a seperate meal for the kids.  I still have not tried their picnic - the setting looks lovely around a very old Norfolk pine and it is definately on my hit list for this summer.  To check out the menu, visit their website on http://www.buitenverwachting.co.za/picnic.html  To book call Adrienne on 021 794 1012 or 083 257 6083 Note that they are closed on Xmas and New Years day
5. From www.eatout.co.za - some other picnic ideas from their favourites Feb 2010:

   Three picnic spots stand out for me – one in Camps Bay and two in the winelands. The Rumbullion picnic at The Roundhouse restaurant, which is nestled in Camps Bay’s Glen overlooking the ocean, is a gem. Cram wicker baskets with tasty morsels that come in glass jars – roasted onion pâté, pickled octopus, olives, chicken liver pâté and lots more. The breads are glorious, not to mention the lemon meringue!

   The Solms-Delta picnic spots are set among whispering trees next to a stream in Franschhoek. Tuck into local smoked trout with chive crème fraîche and bacon, onion patatslaai and plenty of easy-drinking, fruity Solms–Astor Vastrap. Laze around for as long as you like while the kids paddle in the stream.

   Last, but not least, are the new gourmet picnics on Warwick wine estate in Stellenbosch where chef Bruce Robertson has designed the menu for this simple but special alfresco experience. Fresh baguettes stuffed with lovely biltong pâté and delicious aged camembert with dollops of maketaan – a watermelon-and-ginger preserve – go down a treat with a glass of sauvignon blanc. The chef has thought of the kids too – they’ll love the brownies and sausage sticks with relish.

Doing Sundowners the Cape Town way:

This literally means packing a picnic basket and heading down to the beach or one of our mountains to watch the sun set.  Favourite places to watch the sunset:

1. Camps Bay beach with a picnic, or champers or just sitting at one of the wonderful bars on the strip and watching the sunset
2. Clifton beach - any of them.  Note that you should take candles down with you to put in the sand - by January their are literally circles of light all over the beach.  Note 4th beach is the family beach, 3rd is the gay beach, 2nd is the trendy beach and 1st is the beach for all sorts of people! Note Clifton is fairly proteced from the South Easter winds - so head here if it is windy.
3. Head up to signal hill to enjoy the view and a romantic moment - beware the masses have discovered the secret and in the early evening in peak tourist time you may share it with a couple of buses of tourists!
4. Walk up Lions Head - the view from here is amazing - this walk is particularly popular at full moon as it makes it easy to find the path after the sun has set!
5. Llundudno beach - one of the most gorgeous beaches in Cape Town - definately worth a trip down here if the wind is not blowing

NEW (and not tried yet by Pam!):

• KLEIN GENOT - Franschhoek.  This is a really beautiful estate surrounded by mountains.  They have just started a picnic side to their restaurant.  The owner is into plain and wholesome food that is locally sourced - so the picnic should be interesting.  www.kleingenot.co.za Cost: KLEIN GENOT PICNIC BASKETS – R128 PER PERSON – R64 PER CHILD UNDER 12 YEARS.  Includes: ALL OUR PICNIC BASKETS HAVE A COOLER BAG, PICNIC CROCKERY AND A BLANKET. MENU: (ALL OUR FOOD IS PREPAIRED IN OUR GENOT RESTAURANT)CHICKEN LIVER AND SNOEK PATE, CHIABATA AND MELBA TOAST, 3 DIFFERENT CHEESES, GREEN SALAD, ROAST CHICKEN, ROAST BEEF AND ROAST LAMB & A Muffin
• WARWICK WINE ESTATE - Stellenbosch.  Warwick has just undergone extensive renovations to create space for lots of tables and chairs for picnics.  Once again this a catered picnic which must be pre-booked.  The picnic has been designed by the famous South African chef Bruce Robertson - so it should be an interesting "foodie" experience.

To buy goodies for your own picnic in Cape Town and the winelands - here are some ideas:

1. Woolworths is our best supermarket in the country - they were originally owned by Marks & Spencers and the food side of the business is modelled on theirs.
2. Knead Bakery in Wembley Square does amazing bread (location lower Gardens in Cape Town)
3. Jardine Bakery in Bree Street also does great breads - however they usually run out of stock by around 4pm
4. Rotisserie 360 is a great new little shop opposite Jardine's in Bree Street.  She does unbeleivably delicious free range chickens that she marinades overnight, she also sells salads and home made mayonaisse to go with it - this is perfect for a picnic or for taking home for dinner.  Address 160 Bree Street. e-mail debbie@rotisserie360.co.za Tel 084 314 1357.  Open 08h00 to 18h00 Mon to Fri.  Note you can e-mail her to organize your picnic booking and she will package it and have it ready.  The picnics work out at around R75 per person for 2 to 4 people and the package includes chicken, salads, bread, a brownie and eating utensils. Should you wish to organize a more gourmet picnic option - simply let her know and she will organize for you.
5. Giovannis on the main road in Greenpoint - this spot is one of the best deli's in Cape Town - here you will find everything from imported ham to excellent breads, wines and cheeses - it is a one stop excellent picnic stocking up point for a gourmet picnic.  103 Main Rd Greenpoint.  Tel no: +27 21 434 68 93
6. Melissa's in Kloof Street & Claremont & Constantia - also a legendery deli with a large assortment of produce.  They are on the more expensive end of the prices - but every product represents a delicious investment in good quality and flavour. 
7. If there are a group of you and you would rather some one else prepared the picnic, then contact 2Chefs Catering.  The prepare breakfast picnics, picnics for hikes, summer picnics, winter picnics, luxury romantic picnics, kiddies picnics....and to brief! Contact info@2chefs.co.za or call +27741526080