What you will soon discover, if you haven’t already, is that most restaurants in the Midlands are a part of a food culture that cares about the environment and our wellbeing. It is a place where you can go back to the simple pleasures of pasta or pizza, knowing that the meal is home baked from locally sourced ingredients. It was lunch time and we went in search of a light meal that was healthy, wholesome, organic and under R100. Here’s what we found…
#1 A wood fired pizza on a focaccia Base with mozzarella, caramelised red onion, camembert cheese & basil pesto
R90 at Il Postino Pizzeria. Dargle Road, Howick | 8 min (6.7 km) from Lemonwood Cottages I GPS: -29.475773, 30.104378 | Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 – 15:00, dinner Tuesday to Sunday, 18:00 – 21:00 | +27 (0)72 905 9390 ilpostino.pizzeria@gmail.com
#2 Balsamic Beetroot, Roast Tomato and Green Pepper Risotto
R75 at Granny Mouse I The Bistro Old Main Road, Balgowan | 19 min (18.0 km) from Lemonwood Cottages via R103 | Open daily, 07:00 – 21:00 | +27 (0)33 234 4071
#3 Fresh peppered goats’ cheese, a water biscuit and sweet fig preserve.
Fran, the owner of “Swissland Cheese” has a passion for sustainable farm life. In her small and cosy shop she has an impressive array of cheeses, all matured and cured in different ways. While you choose between a light, smooth creamed cheese or a matured Pecorino, they might encourage you to create your own picnic basket from their shop with fresh bread, olives, salami and a glass of wine.
Swissland Cheese Shop I Old Main Road, R103, Balgowan I 28 min (23.6 km) from Lemonwood cottages I Open: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, public holidays and school holidays from 9.00 am to 4.30pm. Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, I 0824183440 I cheez@telkomsa.net I http://www.swisslandcheese.net
#4 Organic pomegranate, fresh tomato and rhubarb salad.
Michel and Sally Haigh are both artists and their quirky restaurant, Cafe Bloom, has a comfortable and friendly ambience. Their salads are seasonal as the produce is freshly picked from their vegetable garden.
Cafe Bloom. R103, Mooi River, South Africa I 34 min (36.1 km) from Lemonwood Cottages via R103 I 033 266 6118 I haigh@bundunet.com I Monday 7.30am to 4pm; Wednesday to Sunday 7.30 to 4pm
#5 Thai Salad with beef fillet strips marinated in honey, garlic, soy and ginger served on a bed of garden salad with sesame seeds and peanuts
R83.00 at Tumble Downs Café I Currys Post Road, Howick | 25 min (23.8 km) from Lemonwood Cottages via R103 I GPS: -29.420033, 30.197147 | Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 – 16:00, Thursday to Saturday, 11:00 – 18:30, and public holidays: 11:00 – 18:30 | +27 (0)82 802 2837 info@tumbledowns.co.za
Note: To give you the freshest option all menus are seasonal and the prices may change from the time of this blog post