Alida Ryder is the woman behind Simply Delicious, Winner of Best Food Blog and Best New Blog at the SA Blog awards in 2010, and nominee for Best Local Food Blog at the 2013 Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards and the 2012 Eat In Produce Awards. Alida’s adventurous spirit for experimenting with flavours results in the easy, tasty and homely recipes for which her blog is known. We asked her for personal recommendations of her favourite spots for Asian food, a midweek dinner, freshly baked bread and burgers.

My favourite place for…

Pizza
Vovo Telo or Toni's in Menlo Park. Vovo Telo's pizza toppings are incredibly creative and absolutely delicious, while Toni's has good pizzas that are made with quality ingredients.

Asian food
Koi in Lynnwood Bridge has fabulous Dim Sum and Padbok Thai in Brooklyn has great, authentic Thai food.

Burgers
I make pretty legendary burgers myself, but if I'm in the mood for takeaways, The Great Burger Co. in Brooklyn has great build-yourself burgers and Ed's in Parkview has been known for great burgers and shakes for years. Karoo Cafe in Lynnwood Road has fantastic lamb burgers served on roosterkoek. 

Sushi
Yamazaki sushi in Waterkloof Corner has great sushi, but my absolute favourite is from Koi.

A great view
Pretoria isn't exactly known for restaurants with a view, but De Kloof at the Waterkloof Golf Estate is probably the best of the lot.

Takeaways
For proper, old-school fish and chips or russian and chips, Big Al's in Hatfield is still a favourite. I also like Burger Bar in Parkview, and Kung-Fu Kitchen in Brooklyn for Chinese takeaways and great spring rolls.

Take-away coffee before work
Leipoldt's in Waterkloof Corner is my stop for a quick coffee more often than I'd like to admit, and I'm obsessed with tashas in Brooklyn.

A week-day breakfast
tashas is my favourite in this case as well, probably because it's right around the corner. I don't usually like franchises, but tashas does it right. Their Breakfast Royale with polenta toast topped with steamed asparagus, poached eggs and a light lemon sauce is heaven on a plate.

A lazy Saturday morning brunch
I love Blos in Lynnwood Road. It has beautiful gardens where my kids can play and the food is great. The carrot cake is positively addictive!

A business lunch
Cynthia's Indigo Moon in New Muckleneuk (Brooklyn) is pretty fantastic for a business lunch – especially as most of the big business men and government officials conduct theirs there.

Sunday lunch with the family
Sunday lunch is best served at my house, done in my gran's style with a table groaning under the weight of roast lamb, chicken pie, sweet pumpkin, glazed carrots, green beans, roasted potatoes and gravy.

A blow-the-budget celebratory dinner
Kream in Brooklyn Bridge is pretty great for a celebratory dinner. The interior is gorgeous and the food is fantastic.

Buying flowers
The Flower Bucket in Waterkloof Corner is the only place I buy my flowers. The owner is very helpful and they get flowers fresh from the markets each morning.

Buying bread
Broodhuijs in New Muckleneuk has the most incredible baguettes, brioche and wholewheat loaves, while Lucky Bread Company in Brooklyn mall is known for their sourdough and sweet potato loaves.

Ordering birthday cake
Mydarlings in Lynnwood Road bakes the most beautiful cakes, but I love baking so I usually just do it myself.

Market-style shopping
The Hazel Food Market is a great all-round market with everything from fresh bread and cheese to ice cream, sosaties, burgers, roosterkoek and samoosas.

Pictured (from top): De Kloof, Toni’s Fully Furnished Pizza Company, Padbok Thai, De Kloof, tashas, Kream, Lucky Bread Company and The Hazel Food Market.