Tantalising the Taste Buds

Greetings from a beautifully sunny and warm Stellenbosch. Instead of plugging our own business this week I absolutely have to tell you about two great little places in Stellenbosch that you and your taste buds absolutely have to visit!


Late last week I had a wonderfully decadent experience at one of the local cake and coffee shops. Not only has Mila got elegantly funky decor, friendly and well-trained staff - including an origins trained Barista - but they have some of the most beautiful and scrumptious cakes I have ever seen. I would even go so far as to say that the cupcakes on display would hold their own amongst the black bottom and red velvet cupcakes of the likes of Magnolia Bakery in New York and the Hummingbird bakery in Notting Hill, London. I had to leave my friends at the outside table to go and drool in front of the cakes, pastries and tarts - not once, but TWICE! (but don't worry - the little baked treasures are hygienically protected by a layer of clean perspex!) The tasty treats are all imaginatively decorated, without being garish, and the selection strikes a good balance of old faithfuls and some interesting combinations (e.g. the baked sour cream cheese cake or the beautifully garnished Amarula cheese cake). I had the uber decadent cherry chocolate sachertorte, whilst my friends enjoyed the Lemon cheesecake (it navigated the fine balance between sharp and sweet perfectly) and a moist, yet fluffy chocolate cupcake. I would also rate the coffee - sourced from Origins - as amongst the top three I have sampled in Stellenbosch! So for all of you in search of spending a couple of heavenly hours indulging in excellent cakes and coffees - Mila is the place to go (www.milacakeshop.co.za). A brisk 10 minute walk from the Oude Leeskamer Guest House down Dorp street to Mila (and back) should help ease some of the guilty conscience such an indulgence might induce!


Now for those of you not afflicted by a sweet tooth (such as has been the bane of my existence) - there is a restaurant a mere 25 meters from the Oude Leeskamer Guest House's front door that offers some of the most innovative and delicious gourmet burgers I have ever tasted. The extensive burger menu - containing no less than 31 combinations ranging from the sedate classic beef burger with tomato, mustard, cheese and onion to the outlandish "Elvis Presley" (a beef burger with peanut butter, bacon and banana) and the "Ronin" (a chicken burger with japanese mayonnaise, salad and warm wasabi vinaigrette) - offers something for even the most fussiest eater! The service is prompt and helpful and the atmosphere eclectically welcoming! For those of you who feel that the likes of MacDonalds and Steers have (tragically) done extensive damage to reputation of the innocent hamburger - a meal that has fantastic potential to tantalize the taste buds - this is a place you should not miss out on! (www.www.5ryneveld.com).


So by now your mouth should be watering and you should need no other excuse to book a relaxing, indulgent foodie weekend in Stellenbosch. Luckily we have a great special on this week: only R500 per person per night sharing (inclusive of breakfast), and our location right amongst all these amazing restaurants and coffee shops means that the walk (or roll) home from these gourmet havens needn't be an arduous one!