Oranges and Lemons ring the bells of Citrusdal

Just a quickie before I forget, do not pass through Citrusdal without stopping for brunch and coffee on the main road. The chocolate cake is the best in the west, and the baked cheesecake is celestial.   At the Grapevine Coffee Shop, the instruction is clear: "Greet everyone with a smile!"  and they do. 

Such friendly staff, and it does bring out the best on a Saturday morning.  We loved our omelette and crusty Panini. I wandered around the house, admiring the owner's gallery of black-and-white photographs. The silver jewellery on sale was gorgeous, and I was tempted and still a little sorry I didn’t fall for the sweet necklace.  We relished the Deli goods on the shelves, which perfectly complemented our picnic basket. You score an extra 10 points on my list for the Wi-Fi hotspot!

We bought a jar of Carmién’s delicious Chilli Sweet Potato Relish in Rooibos tea and a bottle of Vegetable Pickles in Rooibos tea.   The Relish is infused with lemongrass and ginger, and features gorgeous, crisp, whole chunks of sweet potato, flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg.  

The chilli gives a welcome bite, but the flavours are so well balanced that one’s palate craves another lick!  Serve with any dish that needs a pick-me-up.   Last week, we enjoyed the crispy pickled vegetables with our roast chicken; it just lifted the whole dish from very good to fantastic.   Last night we had our supper on trays. Hence, it was a simple affair: grilled, golden, farm-style pork sausages and oozy garlic bread.

The Chilli Sweet Potato Relish did the trick. Once again, the spices, chilli, lemongrass, and ginger were perfectly balanced to make our supper sublime.   Isn’t it amazing how similar ingredients creatively blended can give flavours that are completely different? I suppose, like life, it’s all about balance.  After our simple meal, even I felt inclined to forgive Oscar.

With our afternoon coffee, we loved the old-fashioned Soet Koekies, and on Wednesday, I served the Choc Nut biscuits for tea after our bridge game, and the girls were impressed, really melt-in-the-mouth delicious. I had a hard time explaining why no recipe will be forthcoming!   Carmien's packaging is trendy, with a “blackboard and chalk” look about the label. The ingredients are listed, and the price is very reasonable. Next time I go out for lunch to a friend’s, I’ll take a bottle as a gift, the perfect addition to a summer pantry.

Carmién Rooibos tea: This is what they say about their product, and I don’t doubt it at all. “With every cup of Carmien Organically Grown Rooibos Tea, you will taste the pure freshness of blue skies and crisp mountain air. The Rooibos plant is part of our natural fynbos and is found exclusively in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Carmien Tea is committed to protecting this unique flora and beautiful environment for future generations.”  

To contact Carmién: