Truth Counts
So, where next to go for breakfast? Lynne asked on
a Facebook food site she belongs to. Several suggestions popped up, some of
which we have already visited, some were out of town and some stood out. On
checking on Trip Advisor and the menu on line, we settled for David Donde's
Steampunk Coffee House in Buitenkant Street in town. And we were not
disappointed
No bookings allowed, it's a
first come, first served coffee house, with food. We visited a year or two ago
when David installed Colossus, his vintage Probat coffee roaster and did a
media launch. He is one of the people who has done a great deal to introduce
Cape Town to the international coffee culture. Who can remember when all you
were served was a cup of awful instant in most places? We have been meaning to
return and did so at 9 am last Saturday morning. And yes, we are coffee snobs,
grinding our beans at home
The quirky outfits worn by the
staff are amusing and fun. This is the friendly and welcoming doorman with his
staff and medals
Decoration is industrial
madness with some bygones and lots of functional installations. Comfort is not
a great factor, but then it is a coffee house
People come first for the
excellent coffee and to chill and chat and perhaps eat something. Newspapers
and laptops are allowed. 7 am to 6 pm and 8 am to 2 pm at weekends. Lots of
friendly attentive staff
The first coffee of the day is
always welcome. They don't serve cappuccino, this is their flat white
The coffee roaster in its
protective cage. It's a bit chaotic and less untidy than first appearances lead you to believe, but it all adds to the charm and
difference of this place
You can do a coffee tasting
before you buy coffee to drink there or take home to brew. And they do Barista
courses
We were celebrating, so took a
bottle of Prosecca which they allowed us to enjoy with our breakfast. Corkage
is R40 a bottle
We were seated in one of the
comfortable u-shaped banquette alcoves next to the service bar
A knight in shining armour....
...no, a sugar dispenser
Steam punk blimp with cogs
Interesting plumbing
And some wicked cakes and
desserts to tempt. The coffee is excellent, strong, hot and full of flavours. We
had the Vengeance Americanos, and some had two each. R18 is good value
Shakshuka for our veggie
friend, nice and spicy and served with good sourdough bread. Its on the All Day
menu. A snip at R47
Who can resist truffled infused
scrambled eggs topped with mushrooms and rocket on sourdough. Truly Funky at
R74
Lynne decided to go for
something she has not had for quite a while, a Croque Monsieur with Bayonne
ham, an excellent béchamel and Swiss Gruyère cheese. You can taste the difference; it is so important to use the right
ingredients. It was very good and very satisfying. But not sure what the onion
marmalade was doing there.... She did move it to the side. The dish is served
on a small salad of leaves, apple and walnuts, a nice counterpoint to a fairly
substantial sandwich, R90 on the all day menu
John, who had had an awful cold
all week, went down the "Feed Me Carbs!" route, unusual for him but
necessary for his recovery. He had the French Toast. This was no ordinary
French Toast but croissants dipped in their homemade eggnog and fried till
crisp on the outside, squidgy soft inside, and topped with banana, bacon and
rum and vanilla syrup. Sensational, we all wanted some and just right for a
recovering invalid. R68, plus the bacon is an added extra at R15 a portion.
Very happy bunnies. Our sort of place
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2017
