To Market, To Market – The Portfolio Travel Blog
From: The Portfolio Travel Blog 27 November 2008
Fresh produce and organic food markets in Cape Town and the Winelands offer an increasingly popular way to spend a weekend morning.
Porter Estate Market, Tokai
Saturday morning. The air is peppermint-crisp, winter is over and the bare branches of a hundred trees scratch against the pale blue spring sky – the sun has not been up long. It’s 9 a.m, and the stall-holders at the Porter Estate Produce Market in Tokai, Cape Town, are just finishing setting out their delectable wares. The first visitors are straggling in, drawn by the aroma of “moer” coffee and frying bacon.
Weekend mornings in Cape Town have become all about the food markets. Porter Estate is one of the more recent additions, and has become incredibly popular since it opened in the latter half of 2007.
The choosing of the delightful setting, at the Chrysalis Academy near the Tokai Plantation, is a stroke of genius. This under-used space is green, sheltered on even the windiest of days and overlooked by rugged mountains.
The market is divided into three sections:
- A small but growing craft circle with the usual range of arty bits and bobs and things for kids to busy themselves with.
- The actual market area is well laid out. While there is the anticipated array of organic fresh produce, there are also deli-delectable edibles to tempt every palette. From cheeses to vinegars, chocolates to chillies – most stalls offer tasty titbits to whet the appetite and persuade browsers to become buyers.
- The final section of the Porter Estate Market is the most popular – where you get to buy yummy meals and enjoy them then and there – at wooden tables and chairs in the lovely natural setting. A sandbox under shade keeps toddlers amused, musicians play classical instruments and the entire scene is relaxed and happy.
Eat There
- Freshly squeezed juices – Made from organically grown fruits and vegetables
- Moer coffee – served the traditional way in enamel cups with condensed milk!
- Pancakes – cheap and popular with the little ones
- Gourmet Burgers – Too late for breakfast? Have lunch!
- Farmer’s Breakfast – A large fresh breadroll with a choice of toppings including bratwurst and onions, veal sausage, salmon and scrambled egg and for vegetarians, scrambled egg, tomato and spinach.
Take Home
There are so many tasty foods to take home. We like
- Hand-made balsamic vinegars from Protea Hill Farm in Stellenbosch
- ‘Theobroma – Food of the Gods’ chocolate truffles
- Artisan bread.
Need to Know
Where: Chrysalis Academy, behind Tokai forest picnic area. Follow the Pink Piggie signs.
When: Saturday mornings between 9am and 1pm (weather-permitting).
How Much: R5 entrance fee (per car) (donated to the students of Chrysalis Academy who assist with parking)
One Response 
Its definitely time for Portfolio to revisit!