Strawberry Season in Stellenbosch

There is something so romantic about the strawberry, perhaps it is the shape of it when cut in half that so closely resembles a heart and folklore has it that if you share a halved strawberry that you will soon fall in love! Perhaps it’s the sexy, romance of the strawberry scene with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in “Pretty Woman”. Or how well it goes with chocolate or champagne!

Stellenbosch has taken a really fun approach to picking strawberries with amusing scarecrows, giant strawberries and antique tractors decorating its picking fields. There is nothing better than a freshly picked, luscious, ripe, sun warmed strawberry, only perhaps watching little ones feasting on them and their big red strawberry juice smiles!

You can pick your own strawberries at the Mooiberg Farm Stall and the Polkadraai Farm Stall.

Mooiberg Farm Stall

Strand Road, R44, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Telephone: +27 21 881 3222. Open: 08:00 – 18:00. Prices are based per kilogram. Call to verify availability. The farm is open for strawberry picking on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, all day.

Polkadraai Farm Stall

M12 Highway, Polkadraai, South Africa. Phone: 27 +21 881 3303. Open: every day of the week from 09h30 – 16h30. Prices are based per kilogram.

Strawberry picking season starts in October to the end of December.

Strawberries have many health benefits, they are filled with antioxidants, based on serving size, only blackberries and walnuts score higher in total antioxidant capacity and polyphenols in strawberries help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Chef Sorita Buitendag from Sinovuyo on Route 304 has treated us to her favourite summer salad recipe.

Summertime Strawberry Salad

1 Punnet Strawberries

200gr Wild Rocket

1 packet Chevin Goat’s Cheese

50gr Chopped Walnuts

1/2 Cucumber (sliced & halved)

Dressing

15ml Balsamic Vinegar

45ml Olive oil

10ml Brown sugar

5ml Wholegrain Mustard

Blend all dressing ingredients together (NB add olive oil slowly)

In a Salad Bowl layer the salad ingredients, finishing with the Chevin Goat’s Cheese on top. Pour Dressing over.

And what doesn’t say sexy like the strawberry cosmopolitan!

Recipe courtesy of bartender Julian Klaasen from Sinovuyo on Route 304

Strawberry Cosmopolitan

Castor Sugar

Drop of Red Food Colouring

Ice Cubes – crushed

250ml Strawberry / Cranberry Juice

2 tots Plain or Strawberry Vodka

1 tot Triple Sec

1 Lime’s juice & zest

Strawberries for garnishing

Dampen rim of Martini glass, Mix castor sugar & food colouring, dip rim of glass in mixture.

In cocktail mixer: ice, vodka, triple sec, lime juice, strawberry / cranberry juice. Shake well. Pour into a martini glass. Garnish with fresh strawberries and ENJOY!

Here is the easiest chocolate & strawberry mousse cake recipe ever and really fun to do with children on holiday!

Chocolate and Strawberry Mousse Cake

1 box Romany Creams

200gr Butter

2 pkts Moir’s Instant Chocolate Mousse

1 Punnet Strawberries

20cm Cake Tin (spring)

Cocoa Powder

Crush Romany Creams & mix with melted butter. Spray cake tin with Cook & Spray, lay the cookie mixture for a base and to cover 2cm on the sides. Make the chocolate mousse mixture and pour into the cake tin. Put in the fridge to set. Layer with strawberries. Dust with Cocoa Powder.

Recipe courtesy of Chef Sorita Buitendag from Sinovuyo on Route 304