Taste of Cape Town Festival
The Pick n Pay Taste of Cape Town event is an annual gourmet festival in Cape Town showcasing food from some of the top Cape Town restaurants and eateries.
Other stalls offer a look into artisan products, award winning wines and anything that makes a real foodie’s mouth water.
“Taste of Cape Town acts like a matchmaker between those who love to eat and those who love to feed them,” says Justine Drake,
festival director.
Q: What is Taste of Cape Town?
The ‘Taste of’ Festivals started back in 2004 when Taste of London‘s concept was for popular restaurants to operate mini-kitchens that gave people a ‘taste of’ what they had to offer. Combined with the mini-kitchens were the thrilling presentations and live demonstrations by chefs. This is the core of the ‘Taste of’ festivals.
Taste of Cape Town was launched in 2008, and has ever since become one of the most popular Cape Town events.
Q: Where else is this festival held?
Amsterdam, Auckland, Dublin, Cork, Dubai, London, Bath, Birmingham, Edinburgh [referred to as Taste of Scotland], Leeds, Melbourne, Sydney, Milan, our own Johannesburg, Durban and then London also has a ‘Taste of Christmas’ Festival.
Q: When is Taste of Cape Town?
- Upcoming Taste of Cape Town | 2015 | 2-5 April | TBC
- Most Recent Taste of Cape Town | 2014 | 3-6 April | ShowMe covered
Over the last 5 years this Cape Town event has always fell over a weekend to the end of March, in April or the beginning of May.
Q: Where is it held?
Green Point Cricket Club
Q: Where is that?
Corner of Vlei Road and Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Green Point.
[Right next to the Cape Town Stadium]
Q: What are the costs involved?
- 2015 Entrance Fee | Prices TBC
- 2014 Entrance Fee | Early Bird R50 | Online R80 | On the Door R100 | This includes a free tasting glass | 1 Scoin = R5
- Kids u/12 get in for free.
Scoins [known as Crowns in the past] can be bought at the event and is the only currency accepted inside the venue. Scoins are used to purchase food, beverages and anything else inside the venue. Meals range between 4 and 8 Scoins.
Q: How many restaurants showcase and sell their food?
The amount of restaurants operating mini-kitchens change every year, with pop-up restaurants that also feature some of the sessions. It usually varies between 10-15.
Q: Which Cape Town restaurants can I expect to find?
This also changes every year, even though there are some restaurants that have been a part of The Taste of Cape Town Festival for several years.
Taste of Cape Town Restaurants 2015:
TBC
Taste of Cape Town Restaurants 2014:
Azure Restaurant at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa | Beefcakes Burger Bar | Il Leone Mastrantonio | Jewel of India | La Mouette Restaurant | Makaron Restaurant at Majeka House | Burrata | Camissa Brasserie at The Table Bay Hotel | Jonkershuis on Groot Constantia Wine Estate | Societi Bistro | Cosecha Restaurant at Noble Hill Artisan Winery | Longridge Wine Estate | Jordan Restaurant | 96 Winery Road | Ernie Els Winery Restaurant
Taste of Cape Town Restaurants 2013:
Azure Restaurant at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa | Beefcakes Burger Bar | Il Leone Mastrantonio | Jewel of India | Makaron Restaurant at Majeka House | 96 Winery Road | De Grendel Restaurant | Fyndraai Restaurant on Solms-Delta | Signal Restaurant at Cape Grace | Savour Restaurant at 15 Orange Hotel | Dash Restaurant and Bar at the Queen Victoria Hotel | The Brasserie | The Boathouse | The Pot Luck Club | La Colombe
Taste of Cape Town Restaurants 2012:
Azure Restaurant at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa | Il Leone Mastrantonio | Makaron at Majeka House | Bistro Sixteen82 | Savour Restaurant at 15 on Orange Hotel | Fyndraai Restaurant on Solms-Delta | La Colombe | Planet Bar and Restaurant at The Mount Nelson Hotel | Signal Restaurant at Cape Grace | Sofia’s at Morgenster | Taj Cape Town | 96 Winery Road | The Westin Executive Club Restaurant
Taste of Cape Town Restaurants 2011:
Il Leone Mastrantonio | Savour Restaurant at 15 on Orange Hotel | Taj Cape Town | Nobu Cape Town | Planet Bar and Restaurant at The Mount Nelson Hotel | Fyndraai Restaurant on Solms-Delta | Signal Restaurant at Cape Grace | Societi Bistro | Jordan Restaurant | Bistro Sixteen82 | Pierneef a La Motte | GOLD Restaurant | Wang Thai
Taste of Cape Town Restaurants 2010:
Bistro Sixteen82 | Cape Colony at The Mount Nelson Hotel | GOLD Restaurant | The Restaurant at Grande Provence | Il Leone Mastrantonio | Jardine Restaurant | Le Quartier Francais | Maze by Gordon Ramsay | Nobu Cape Town | Overture | Signal at Cape Grace | Reuben’s at The Robertson Small Hotel | Societi Bistro | The Greenhouse | Wang Thai
“Our festival fans enjoy the imaginative way that the latest dining concepts are expressed, the energetic buzz of foodies having fun and the personal contact with their food heroes,” says Justine Drake,
festival director.
Q: Apart from the Restaurants, what else can I expect?
Over 100 boutique exhibitors. Taste wine, craft beer, cheese, meat, chocolate, ice cream and many other savoury, sweet and even spicy bites.
Q: Are there live shows?
Yes. There is live music at the Cape Town Angels Benefit Stage and then the popular chef demonstrations at the Pick n Pay Fresh Living Chef’s Theatre and the Pick n Pay Wine and Canapé Experience where you can learn how to create stylish canapés.
Every year is different, but what stays the same are the top notch food demonstrations and ‘cooking shows’ that are featured at more than one place at the venue.
Are there Kids Activities?
Yes. There is a Kidz Zone that can keep kids busy for hours while you browse and taste and walk around the venue. The Kidz Zone is usually filled with fun activities like a jumping castle, bikes, ball pond and obstable course.
Q: Is it wheelchair friendly?
Yes.
Q: Is there a Charitable Cause behind the event?
Yes. The official charity for The Taste of Cape Town is the Cape Town Angels.
Content and Images | Ed Beukes
Read more of Ed Beukes’s adventures on his personal blog | Editor in Love