Kwalapa.
The Montebello Design Centre is the kind of place that you could wander into and lose yourself for an hour or two.
It’s an attractive sprawl of studios, shops and restaurants set amongst the tall trees of what used to be the outhouses of the former Montebello Estate.
You’ll find jewellery makers, ceramic studios, weavers, printers, sculptors, garden furniture makers,
There are also a couple of restaurants, and I am a fan of Kwalapa deli and cafe.
Emily Moya runs the place with a cheerful passion about all things organic and free range.
The restaurant is set on a cobbled area, around a huge tree which pokes up through a touareg tent. It’s all lovely on a sunny day, and there’s usually a scramble for the outside seats.
The Wednesday Raw Bar is legendary. It’s a buffet of raw salads, vegetables and dips. There’s usually a couple of homemade soups on. Vegetable or butternut soup is served with ciabatta and a portion of raw veg.
There’s a selection of wraps and for mains you could try salads, beef goulash, chicken pie or winter lamb curry which I had.
Chicken Wrap.
I asked for some chutney, (Mrs Ball’s I suggested) to go with it and in true Kwalapa fashion Emily said that she’d go one better than that. She would bring me some of Mrs.Ball’s great-great Grandson’s chutney, which was organic and made from the original 1870 recipe.
She brought it in a tiny enamelled tin cup. It was delicious with the lamb; spicy, fruity and not too sweet.
Kwalapa is the kind of place that you want to linger and chat. I was there on a business lunch and I just ended showing my guest around the studios and meeting some of the designers.
It’s that kind of place.
Winter Lamb Curry.
Soups R42. Wraps R45. Mains R30-R65.
Hot drinks R14-R19. Organic Coffee from Bean There 100% Ethiopean Arabica, certified Organic and Fair Trade.
Kwalapa Organic Wholefoods Centre
Eatery, Store and Knowledge Centre
Montebello Design Centre
Newlands Avenue,
Newlands.
021 687 9314
Emily@kwalapa.com.
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This is literally just around the corner from where I live… Tried to go last Sunday but it was closed. You can bet I’ll be breakfasting there this Saturday! Great blog BTW.
Robyn
Hi Robyn, The breakfasts are great, legendary omlettes made from delicious free range eggs from Splash Farms. Try the freshly baked scones also. And the coffee is soooo gooood!!!!
I recently had the chicken wrap at Kwalapa, it was really tasty and served with a nice fresh salad on the side. I also saw the most amazing beaded work done there on the premises – not your typical local beading, but something really different and very unique.