There are some things in this life that you just simply can’t afford to miss or forget. Those mostly include the birthdays of your SO and your parents, and please don’t forget the one week/month/year anniversary! Mine, however, includes a delicious array of food festivals in our beautiful Mother City of Cape Town. These are scribbled in red pen into my diary months in advance. These are the types of festivals you cancel weekend plans for; the type of food indulgences you take a leave day from work to attend. You simply don’t miss them. Read on for a line-up of my most anticipated food and drink festivals for 2018!
The Noordhoek Crush
14 April 2018
Noordhoek Farm Village, Noordhoek
Entering their fourth year in 2018, The Noordhoek Crush Festival is another one right on my doorstep, and only a short 30 minutes from city centre. Hosted in the quirky and vibrant Noordhoek Farm Village, this fest is brought to you by The Foodbarn, The Foodbarn Deli, Café Roux, The Toad in The Village, The Village Sushi, Siris Vinters, MorVino & OrderWine.co.za.
Rather than a large, commercial gathering, this festival is a smaller, intimate family affair where chilled vibes are at the order of the day. Kiddo’s are welcome – in fact; their attendance is encouraged in the spirit of community activities. Last year the festival boasted with more than a hundred wines from over 20 different vineyards – these can be tasted or even purchased at cellar door prices. All the local restaurants are throwing open their doors to join in the festivities, and to top it all (as if it can get any better!) – they waive corkage fees for the day to allow support of all the wonderful wine vendors who are showcasing their range of wines. Score! Add in a handful of pop-up food stalls, loads of kiddie activities (face painting, horse rides & sand art, jungle gym and permanent kids’ play corner) and plenty of shaded seating and you’re spending the day in the best company possible. Entry to The Noordhoek Crush wine festival is completely free. A ‘Wine Tasting Wrist Band’ must be pre purchased on Quicket.co.za for R150 which allows the beholder unlimited tasting and a wine tasting glass. All proceeds go to a local charity.
South African Cheese Festival
27 – 29 April 2018
Sandringham, Stellenbosch
I can literally write pages about the Cheese Festival, but for the sake of brie-vity (see what I did there?!), I’ll keep it short. This is the 17th running of the South African Cheese Festival and I’ve been attending this festival religiously for many years, and every year it’s bigger and better. My best bit of advice? Get there early before the late-sleepers wake up feeling peckish as it gets exceptionally busy as the day goes on. Expect cooking experiences with local celebrity chefs, hundreds of beautiful artisan cheese stalls and everything that you could possibly pair with cheese, including breads, wines, chocolates, sweets and home-made preserves. There’s interactive cooking classes (book in advance, limited space and at an additional cost), a supersized touch-farm for the kiddo’s as well as exhibitions of all the latest kitchen gadgets and widgets.
Your ticket allows you free food and drink tastings throughout the day, and includes a wine tasting glass. There’s loads of different food vendors, live music performances and plenty of shaded seating areas to rest your weary legs after a day of indulgence. No tickets sold at the gates, so grab your tickets HERE.
Cape Town Pizza and Pasta Festival
September 2018 (exact dates unconfirmed)
The Range, Tokai
Hosted right on my doorstep last year for the very first time, we are all sitting on the edge of our seats for the return of the annual Cape Town Pizza and Pasta festival. A refreshing addition to the massive artillery of Cape Town foodie events, this festival is everything you’ve been missing from your life up to this point. Sprawled under the tall pine trees in the Tokai forest you’ll find Cape Town’s best pizza vendors, cooking up a storm in portable stone pizza ovens. Beautiful bowls of pasta and other creative Italian dishes are passed from table to table. Don’t want a whole pizza? Just taste a single slice! Return to your favourites and make a meal out of it. My favourite was the mac and cheese balls – I can’t even put it into words!
Your ticket includes 3 pizza tastings and a drink. After that, pizza is sold per slice and pasta in small tasting portions. Throw in kiddie activities, food trucks, craft gin, beer and wine and live music and it’s the perfect Saturday. Keep your eye on their FACEBOOK page for details on this year’s festival.
See you at the festivals!
There are so many opportunities in Cape Town to spend a lazy day surrounded by the little pleasures in life; sunshine, food, nature, family, friends. It only takes a little bit of planning, and you can’t really go wrong with any food festival in Cape Town, as we have the best bites this world can offer. In my (very) humble opinion, at least! So, make sure to pencil these into your social calendar, grab a handful of friends and enjoy what our city and its talented chefs has to offer. Oh, and remember to look out for my second instalment of the best food festivals in Cape Town coming soon!