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The end of an era: Iconic Pretoria restaurant closes its doors

Wednesday, July 18th, 2018 by Diane de Beer

Pretoria foodies will be in mourning on 27 July, when chef-patron Rachel Botes and her team from Carlton Café Delicious close the doors to the deli that has become an institution for those hooked on her special cuisine. The news has come suddenly due to the unsuccessful negotiations of the restaurant’s lease.

The anchovy toast at Carlton Café Delicious

The anchovy toast at Carlton Café Delicious. Photo by Theana Breugem.

For the past 16 years, Rachel has been all about brilliance. The trained lawyer and qualified butcher chose a life in the kitchen, setting her sights on creating affordable cuisine of a high quality. Her dream was certainly realised. For nearly two decades we’ve been spoilt by her innovative approach to food. Carlton Café Delicious is the place where people lost their hearts (and diets) to her breakfast anchovy toast, where they’d give anything for a last brioche sausage roll, and where they’d ignore sugar intolerances to luxuriate in her chocolate brownies. Her legendary chocolate cakes were also pure decadence. When times got tough, she introduced economic Friday meals that could be ordered and collected for easy home dinners.

The innovative Rachel Botes

The innovative Rachel Botes. Photo by Theana Breugem.

Celebrity chef Nataniël believes Rachel is an institution and a force of nature. “I don’t care where she goes next, I will follow her like a virus. There are some favourites I cannot live or entertain without and she will make them! (Luckily she is a friend! God help the other people.)” That’s the kind of following she pulls. And he’s right – we’ll miss her genius food on a daily basis.

For Botes, the loss is all about the people. “Those who worked for and with me through the years, and the clients,” she adds. Carlton Café Delicious is situated in Menlo Park, where it’s all about community. In the early-morning rush hour they found themselves supplying ballet ribbons to learners and supplies to students. “I will miss that,” she says, still breathless from how suddenly everything has happened.

Though she says she has no idea what the future holds, Botes is currently busy with her master’s degree in food history and her first cookbook, which will be published in the next few months. We wait in anticipation because, whatever she does, we know it will feature food in the only way she knows how – deliciously.

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6 Comments

  • Steven
    July 18, 2018

    Greedy landlord! The feet will now vanish and the shops next door will close their doors sooner than later.
    Really, really hope Carlton C will open elsewhere.

    Reply
  • Thinus
    July 18, 2018

    Rather sad day as their innovative, delicious food will surely be missed. Rachel is Menlopark , Rachel is Carlton cafe.
    PLEASE open elsewhere…we will be there!

    Reply
  • Janice
    July 19, 2018

    A Sad day for Pretoria foodies….CC will be missed. Hopefully, Rachel will open elsewhere & we will be there.

    Reply
  • Bronwynne Mouton
    July 19, 2018

    This is truly the end of an era! From the early days in the little corner shop, Rachel has been an inspiration! A “go-to”, a place for celebration, a comfort. Roast vegetable sandwiches after school in the winter, piled high with charry peppers and glistening with a generous helping of South African- sourced olive oil. Connie’s Fried Chicken- a guilty substitute for “breakfast”. Delicious was there for every moment – graduations, a quick leg of lamb pie between meetings, a warm cuppa in the morning. She baked my wedding cake – her decadent chocolate cake, with layers upon layers of chocolate that left us all astounded and amazed! We will miss her and the familiar friendly faces every day!

    Reply
    1. Eat Out
      July 19, 2018

      Oh man! So many happy food-memories, Bronwynne! It’s terribly sad, but so happy to know that for such a long time she fed (literally and figuratively!) so many people. Thank you for sharing with us 🙂

  • Henriette
    July 26, 2018

    That is very sad news. Please if you carry on we will all be there?

    Reply

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