www.sanbi.org/
One of the added benefits is that we feel pretty safe within the confines of the gardens. Today was particularly enjoyable, showing early signs of winter, being fresh, clear and breezy. We met up with Mr SQ's new walking pal, and ventured out of the gardens and on to the contour path for an extra thrill to the day and a super start to the weekend.
All this fresh air and exercise called for a little refreshment, so we ventured into Moyo, whose Bedouin style tents have been intriguing me me lately. Moyo has recently taken over the lease on the former Silvertree Restaurant, famous for it's magnificent views and sylvan setting, but most definitely not for it's food, as is often the case where there is a captive audience. Hope springs eternal, as it would be really super to be able to have a light bite or an evening meal in the gardens we love so much. I must admit to being a bit dubious on arrival, as it seems to have a circus-cum-carnival feel to it, a bit-how-wow, and is, ummm, not quite Kirstenbosch. So ok, they come from Zoo Lake in Jozi where they do things differently. Not wanting to be accused of being a boring old fuddy duddy opting for the old tearoom for a pot of tea and anchovy toast, I was sweet talked into popping in to find out what it was all about.
The serving staff are bedecked in clownish outfits, not quite sure what that's all about, but they seemed delighted to see us. Colourful cushions like something out of a Kasbah bedecked the seats, and we took a table outside, talking the place up. Perhaps we could all meet up for a meal and a glass of wine some time. Trevor, the manager, invited us to check out his produce table in the entrance, and urged us to "get involved." "Get involved with what, exactly?" enquired You-Know-Who (Yup, your ever boring Suzy Q) and was told to get involved with all the organic produce, including the preserves, apples and coffees. This rather reminded of the line from Richard Rayner's novel Los Angeles without a Map when a girl at the seaside said, " I love the sea but I don't want to get involved." Ditto me and my hard earned coffee. I just want to relax, chat and drink it with friends.
Our newfound friend and charming walking companion decided, whilst filling us in on his various cardiac and cholestrol treatments, to order the full English breakfast, with two SOFT eggs. Not wishing him to eat alone, we opted for a healthy yoghurt, fruit and muesli affair to share. The organic coffee was really very hot and flavoursome indeed. Full marks, but there it ended. The eggs arrived rock hard with two tough looking bits of cold toast and were sent back on the double. Our friend remarked wryly, "if the chef can't get the breakfast eggs right, there's not much hope for the rest of the menu." Worse than that, they could't get the raw muesli affair right either. A parfait glass with a sticky sweet dribble of red syrup down the sides arrived with a sickeningly rich yoghurt, nondescript muesli and a few gooseberries as its "healthy" contents. Pass. It rather reminded me of the Knickerbocker Glory parfaits we used to adore in days of yore.
The second round of eggs were only half hard, and we all had to get going so lingered only long enough to mention the saga to Trevor. Flabbergasted he was, and thanked us sincerely for the feedback, then he quickly moved on like a slick politician to tell us all about the face painting they do (seriously, if I want to go to a face painting party I'll take along a tribe of three year olds) and his Sunday buffets at R150 a pop. Don't like buffets, and the North African cuisine seems strange to me when Kirstenbosch is visited by so very many foreign and local tourists, and could really showcase some of our very own exceptionally good cuisine. I reckon that if they spent less time on the circus fare and more time on the menu and the edible fare they might stand a chance as they have guaranteed custom from the passing parade. However, even if he had offered us a complimentary anything as compensation, I doubt we'll be returning, till the next crowd take over....
However, I do wish them luck, not wishing to see any enterprise fail, so if perchance you are a senior citizen, they have a Pensioner's special on Tuesdays of coffee and a muffin for R20 to coincide with the free pensioner's entrance to the gardens. Now there you surely cannot go wrong, so why not take an old friend out for a walk and a treat and give Moyo a try?
www.moyo.co.za
Lotsa love and good to be back. Thanks for your support and patience. Hopefully with my new bluetooth keyboard (the old mac lives to fight another day) and a better Internet service from Telkom, it'll be back to regular postings again.
See you back here soon,
Suzy Q
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