Brought to you by ABSA Top 10 Olive Oils

Whether you love to dip it in olive oil, smother it in butter, dunk it in egg then fry it, or top it with an entire avocado, there’s one thing we can all agree on – bread is amazing. So we’ve made a list of some of our favourite spots in the Mother City where you can get the perfect dish made with bread, plus grab a loaf (or, let’s be realistic, loaves) to take home. Banters, cover your eyes.

Cassis (Newlands)

This bakery is ten years old and their experience shows. Their country loaf is unbeatable, as are the rest of the breads. Try the sweet or savoury French toast – the former is topped with cinnamon sugar, crème fraiche and fresh berries, while the savoury version is topped with bacon and roasted cherry tomatoes. Also try the salmon-topped toasted brioche.

 

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A post shared by Thabo Maredi (@maredithabo) on Feb 18, 2015 at 1:06am PST

Jason Bakery (Green Point and Bree Street)

Jason Lilley’s insane doughssants are possibly his bakery’s most popular item, but he’s not known as Captain Bread for nothing. Though they get a little less love on the Jason Bakery Instagram feed than their OTT cousins, the breads are just as worth the trip as any croissant, éclair or pastel de nata. You can find everything from mosbolletjies to baguettes and Kaiser rolls, but we have to admit that the sourdough and rye is especially to die for. Grab a loaf or have with one of the bakery’s sandwiches.

 

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A post shared by Jason Lilley (@captainbreadza) on Feb 22, 2017 at 11:17pm PST

Loading Bay (De Waterkant)

The purveyor of the city’s best truffle fries also makes some pretty great dishes with a sauce-mopper included. One such delicious option is the vegetarian mushroom ragout. King oyster mushrooms get the ragout treatment and are topped with a dollop of fresh cream, a poached egg and a sprinkle of mature cheese. It comes served with sourdough. Also try the breakfast roll, which is a freshly baked brioche bun topped with a fried egg, bacon, guacamole, mature cheddar and a beetroot-and-apple chutney slaw.

 

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A post shared by Loading Bay (@loadingbay) on Sep 24, 2017 at 10:53pm PDT

Loaves by Madame Baker (Salt River)

Née Loaves on Long, Loaves by Madame Baker is turning out many delicious treats like bagels and croissants, but the prime focus still goes to their heavenly bread. The sourdough and rye combination is fantastic and the bakery serves it warm with dishes like soup and breakfast. You could also learn to bake expertly yourself by taking their masterclasses for breads like sourdough, ciabatta and rye.

 

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A post shared by Ciska Rossouw (@madame_baker) on Oct 6, 2017 at 11:38am PDT

Martin’s Bakery (Diep River)

The sandwiches at this southern suburbs gem are built for your Instagram as much as for your taste buds. 12 different types of bread include carb-free, focaccia, sweet potato, sourdough, ciabatta and seed loaf. The sandwich options are practically endless, featuring options like Italian salami and mozzarella; roast chicken with curry-infused mayonnaise; and bacon, avo and sundried tomatoes with homemade basil pesto.

Schoon (Stellenbosch and Somerset West)

You can’t make a bread list without Schoon. Every day is dedicated to a different type of bread, as well as their actual ‘daily bread’ selection that includes their regular picks. Choose from options like whole-grain rye, country loaf, olive bread sticks and yellow maize meal baguettes. Their sourdough – made over three days with a combination of rye, whole wheat- and white bread flour – is not to be missed. Have it or mosbolletjie bread with smoked trout, spring onions and scrambled eggs. Simple but mouth-wateringly good.

 

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A post shared by SCHOON (@schoon.eating) on Sep 22, 2018 at 9:37pm PDT

Woodstock Bakery (Salt River)

You’re spoilt for choice at Woodstock Bakery. Whether you’re in the mood for challah, sourdough, ciabatta, focaccia or brioche, you’ll find it here, plus loads more. Everything is freshly baked and the sourdough will change your life. Find them at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market and Neighbourgoods Market plus their breads at restaurants across the city, like at Olive Branch Deli, The General Store, Clarke’s and even Chefs Warehouse.

 

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A post shared by WoodstockBakery (@woodstockbakery) on Jun 2, 2017 at 11:14pm PDT

Brought to you by ABSA Top 10 Olive Oils

Look out for the CTC seal when you purchase olive oil. This seal guarantees that you are buying a high-quality locally produced olive oil that has been tasted and approved as an EVOO by a panel of local experts.

There are three style of extra virgin olive oil: delicate, medium and intense/robust. The style you use is up to personal taste and also determined by what you use it for. SA Olive suggests you try delicate oil for baking and fish; medium for salads and roasted vegetables; and intense for grilled or roasted meats and tomato dishes. Best for dread-dipping? Depends on your taste. Go for either medium to complement the taste of the bread or an intense one to add more taste to the bread experience.

The 2018 Absa Top 10 olive oils are:

Delicate: Rio Largo Olive Estate (Rio Largo Gold EVOO), Tokara (Tokara Mission EVOO), Olyfberg Vrugte (Olyfberg EVOO Blend A).

Medium: De Rustica Estate (Estate Collection Frantoio), Serrado Olive Estate (Serrado EVOO), Oakhurst Olives (Oakhurst EVOO), Zoetigheyd Farms (Zoetigheyd Daniel’s Delish).

Intense: Mardouw Olive Estate (Mardouw XXV Intense), Porterville Olives (Adente Intenso), Marbrin Farms (Directors Reserve EVOO).