What a change in weather I experienced last week, as I left Cape Town to spend some time between Durban and the Midlands. It was rather warm, but it’s never too hot to slip in a curry at The Britannia Hotel. The famous restaurant there, Capsicum, has had a bit of a makeover, but the curries are just as good as they’ve always been. Two of us shared a hot sugar bean curry, lamb on the bone and a roti. (I could have ordered more, but this was supposed to be a four-o’clock ‘in-betweener’.) The restaurant was packed even at that time – a true testament that the locals approve.

Everyone in Durban is excited about the new Asian tapas spot, Greedy Buddha, whose consultant chef is Michael Broughton of Top 10 restaurant Terroir. It’s just opened, so it’s top of my list for next time.

Before heading down to the Midlands, I popped into the brand new, slick Harvey’s, which had moved to Umhlanga, to have a look and sample a cocktail. Across the road is VickyCristina’s, a new Spanish-style restaurant that offers some quite authentic tapas. We nibbled on crunchy squid, clams and whitebait. (There’s another branch down the buzzy Florida road, too.)

I also managed to fit in the best braaied chicken roll and chips from a food truck. Soft, moist and juicy chicken was tucked in between a fantastic Portuguese roll and served with a pile of unpeeled skinny potato chips that I’m still raving about. I want one right now! (Another chicken roll and the food truck.) If you’re in Durban, look out for Afro’s Braai’d Chick’n.

Another highlight was a visit to a vegetarian restaurant in the Midlands called Café Bloom, which serves lovely homegrown produce with platters of salads and home bakes. It makes you happy just being there. The owners, Mick and Sally Haigh, are world-celebrated artists. When you arrive, Mick is either picking violets or rainbow radishes from the kitchen garden to decorate his roasted sweet potato and orange salad, or at his wheel turning out beautiful organic ceramics. I eyed his new grey and black range, but treated myself to some plates and bowls in spring colours instead.

There was one more pit stop very worthy of a mention. When I got back home to Cape Town, I went for Sunday lunch at Bistro Sixteen82. I have had two spectacular bowls of gnocchi in my life, at Il Leone and 95 Keerom, but I’m happy to announce that I can now add a third. Brad’s gorgonzola version is amazing: soft, melt-in-the-mouth dumplings, just as they should be. There was major order envy at our table! A great end to a very inspiring eating week.

Abigail

Photograph: Harvey’s