Capetonian foodies worried about the effect the gridlocked traffic and chock-full restaurants of the upcoming 2010 Fifa World Cup will have on their social lives have a very appealing alternative indeed.

Situated just two hours’ drive from the Mother City, the quaint village of Stanford will be spreading its own Bafana Bafana-cheer around town between June and July, but at a much more sedate pace.

Wine-makers, beer brewers and restaurateurs of the usually sleepy winter destination are all teaming up to bring gourmands fun, interactive events, plus plenty of tummy-warming country fare with their Stanford Alive … and Kicking festival.

2010 Eat Out Best Country Kitchen Marianas Home Deli and Bistro will be open at night, offering a menu of authentic Overberg eats, with proprietress Mariana Esterhuysen hosting a few workshops for good measure.

The regions fresh, pickled and preserved bounty will be sold under the stars at the Village Evening Market; pinkies will be lifted at Galashiels Lodges traditional high tea; and Stanford Hills Wine Estate will kick things into high gear with its spit-braai barn dance.

And those are just the highlights. To view the complete Alive … and Kicking programme, click here.