I was actually a little stumped today on what to write, but the delicious things I’ve eaten this week have given me the perfect place to start. Unfortunately I had to change my Joburg eating trip last weekend, so at the last minute I popped into Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants to stock up on some proper meat.

It was promised that the wind would ease off for a bit, which it did, and we had a long overdue braai. The tasty sticky ribs were a great hit, as well as the beef and chorizo burger patties and the pork bangers. It’s excellent quality meat; you can place your order and sign up to Andy’s newsletter on their website.

On Thursday a colleague treated me to a excellent pizza for lunch at Col’Cacchio on the Foreshore, and on Friday night we joined our friends in the courtyard at La Mouette in Sea point. Wow, chef Henri makes some really great food and it’s worth every cent.

A year ago I lived opposite Saigon Restaurant and I knew the menu pretty well – maybe too well! It was nice to eat their crystal rolls again yesterday. We were the only ones there for lunch, which was a pity as the food is consistently good.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year and not a Sunday, else I would have suggested a lunch out in Paarl at The Table at De Meye. You could always move your celebrations out a few days – you won’t be disappointed. Since being named as the best county-style restaurant at the 2011 Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards, they are now open on Fridays too.

My idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day night in Cape Town would be to start with a cocktail or two at The Grand in Granger Bay, and then move on to dinner at my absolute favourite, Maharajah in Kloof Nek Road, and then home to raid the freezer for a tub of peanut butter ice cream (a delicious concoction of nuts, palm oil and a touch of sea salt) from The Creamery in Mowbray.

In Johannesburg I would swop dinner for breakfast in order to have eggs Benedict at salvationcafé at 44 Stanley and then head off to The Leopard for lunch in Parkhurst. Unfortunately I won’t make it to Durban to enjoy mopping up a takeaway prawn curry from Seabelle on the beach, but I’ll be there very soon.

Happy eating!
Abigail