The 2019 winter issue of City Views has some wonderful fun activities for you to enjoy during the colder months. Here’s a selection of them below.
1. ATTEND A COFFEE APPRECIATION COURSE
Cape Town’s coffee culture is booming. In the CBD alone, there are over 45 dedicated coffee shops in the CCID’s four precincts. Winter is the ideal time to learn more about your favourite Cup of Joe. You can do so by attending a coffee appreciation course in one of the Central City’s venues. These range from professional barista courses to introductory courses and demonstrations for home baristas. We recommend Truth Coffee on 36 Buitenkant St and Origin Coffee Roasting on 4 Bree St for a coffee appreciation course.
2. INDULGE IN ALL THINGS CHOCOLATE AT HONEST CHOCOLATE
Visit Honest Chocolate and indulge in all things chocolate, including a selection of chocolate truffles, tarts and cakes. Every month, this artisanal bean-to bar chocolate company also hosts a full tasting and introduction course on how cacao beans are farmed and processed, as well as a demonstration of how chocolate is made.
64A Wale St | 076 765 8306 | www.honestchocolate.co.za
3. EXPERIENCE FYNBOS TASTING
If tea is your thing, experience a taste of South Africa’s botanical heritage at a fynbos tasting in the historic Company’s Garden. In this one-of-a-kind experience, hosted by The Cape Town Heritage Trust, you’ll be guided through a tasting of eight fynbos botanicals starting from herbal tea infusions, sweet cordials, aromatic vinaigrettes and infused oils along with edible naturals and seasoning salts, culminating in soothing digestives accompanied by sweet treats.
15 Queen Victoria St | 066 225 5722 | www.heritage.org.za
4. ENJOY A COOKING CLASS
Expand your culinary horizons this winter by attending a cooking class with Chef Riyaz Mir. Born in Kashmir in northern India, Riyaz grew up watching his mother lovingly tending her steaming pots in their family kitchen and when she wasn’t looking, he used to sneak closer to stir the pots – something that wasn’t seen as a male activity in Kashmir. He says the art of Indian cooking is all in the spices, and he finds it fascinating how particular combinations result in special tastes and flavours. “That’s still what I love most about it, the chemistry of spices,” he says. He adds that cooking classes are a fun activity to do for team building or with friends. They are also a great date idea, too! “I always say, if you know how to love, you know how to cook.
167 Long St | 021 424 6772 | www.masaladosa.co.za
5. SPEND AN AFTERNOON AT A BOOKSTORE
Few things are better than being buried in a good book on a winter’s day. So why not spend some time in one of the Central City’s bookstores such as The Book Lounge (71 Roeland St), Clarke’s Bookshop (199 Long St) and Van Schaik Bookstore (62 Strand St). They all have an impressive selection of books to suit everyone. If you have children, you’ll be glad to know that every Saturday morning is Storytime at The Book Lounge and all kids are welcome free of charge. The Central Library (1 Parade St) also has a big children’s section and storytelling takes place here in various languages including isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho and siSwati.
IMAGES: Truth Coffee, gardenday.co.za