I cannot tell you how much I love South Africa. I first visited about four years ago, and I've been looking forward to returning since. We went back last October-November (I know, I have a lot of catching up to do) and it was beyond everything I'd remembered and expected. The food, the wine, the stunning natural scenery, the amazing people...it's difficult to decide where to begin and where to end.

Brandon and I rented a home in Woodstock, and it turned out to be a great decision. Woodstock is a diverse, vibrant, and changing community. It's technically a suburb of Cape Town, but it's very close to the city center, and parts of the neighborhood are currently being annexed. It is known for resisting the brutal apartheid governments, and refusing to be declared "whites only." It's currently going through a period of urban revitalization. My neighborhood favorites were The Kitchen (great fresh and perfectly executed veggies/meats/sandwiches and Michelle Obama favorite), Woodstock Brewery, and too many fantastic coffeehouses to name.

One of my favorite things about the neighborhood is it's proximity to the famed Biscuit Mill Market. I'd loved it on our last visit. I mean, who doesn't love a place where you can get free-flowing champagne and gourmet food on a Saturday morning? We were there for a month, so I visited on three of the four Saturdays. 

My absolute favorite dining experience in Cape Town lies just above the market, in the Old Biscuit Mill development. The Pot Luck Club is worth the hype...and the wait for reservations. The beef tartare, trout sashimi, peri peri chicken, and beef filet were all memorable. 

Since it was summer in South Africa during our fall, beach time was crucial. Clifton's 4th beach is absolutely stunning and was definitely one of my favorites. I also love making the short trip to Hout Bay--for the amazing views, and the great seafood at nearby Fish on the Rocks. The peri peri shrimp and fried calimari are addictive. There's also a cute weekend market in Hout Bay, with food and other vendors. Boulders Beach is gorgeous and worth going to for the famous penguins. Beach clubs are a big thing during Cape Town summers. I loved Grand Africa Cafe for family time, and Shimmy for more of a day (to night) club vibe. 

One of the many things that makes Cape Town a real gem is its proximity to the Western Cape wine region, including Stellenbosch and Franschoek. In the Stellenbosch vicinity, Delaire Graff (yes, that Graff) was breathtakingly beautiful. Their wines were really solid as well. I loved their Sauvignon Blanc. The cheese plate at Delaire Graff was one of the best I've had. It was so good that we had to make a second trip to the winery. I also enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc at Tokara winery. Things tend to get a little blurry as wine tasting days progress, but I remember liking all of the wines at gorgeous Babylonstoren (they also have a great sparkling). I went a little bit crazy at their farm store, lol.

In Franschoek, La Motte wine estate was beautiful and had great wines. The on-property museum is worth visiting. We had an amazing meal at Foliage in Franschoek, with bacon croquettes, a gorgeous salad, beautifully plated and delicious pan-fried cauliflower, and perfectly tender 14 hour pork. 

As luck would have it, there is another, lesser-known region in the suburbs of Cape Town. I got to experience Durbanville wines during their annual Season of Sauvignon celebration. Altydgedacht Wine Estate was one of my favorites. I still can't properly pronounce the name, but I can tell you that their wines are very easy to drink. We had lunch at De Grendel Winery. It was all seafood, sauvignon inspired, and as yummy as it was creative.

I'm missing Cape Town already. I think another trip is on the horizon...