When winter holds Magoebaskloof in a frosty embrace, there's a certain appeal in finding a warm and welcoming place indoors or in the midday sunbeams, especially when it involves hearty meals shared with loved ones. Enter the Sunday lunch tradition, where families and friends gather around long tables, sharing all the warm and fuzzy feelings it evokes - togetherness, conversation, laughter and the joy of reconnecting. Not to mention the meal itself - think comfort food like roast chicken with lemon and sage, oxtail slow-cooked in red wine, fire-roasted pumpkin wedges and crispy honey, garlic & rosemary roast potatoes. If this is making your tastebuds tango, wait for the rest of the menu! Krabbefontein Café’s chef, Rémi Anderson pulls out all the stops to bring together the best elements of a traditional Sunday lunch but elevates the experience with unusual ingredients, innovative combinations and a flair for presentation.
Time slows down as the pleasure of good company and comforting cuisine take centre stage in this lovely lowveld venue at the bottom of the Magoebaskloof Pass halfway to Tzaneen. The small but charming Krabbefontein Café, on a working coffee farm, has retained the charm of one of the original saw-mill buildings, adding stylish wooden tables and monochromatic historical photographs of the farm in its heyday. The Family-style lunch available on the first and last Sunday of the month, evokes the feeling of gathering around the dining room table to enjoy time spent with those you love most. If you are sitting inside the cosy interior, the aroma of slow-cooked roasts permeates the room as the sound of animated conversation is punctuated with the clinking of glasses. If you choose to eat outside, you can watch the kids having a ball and burning off pent-up energy in the outdoor play area with lots to keep them engaged and entertained.
The 3-course menu is constantly changing but we were treated to a tantalising selection of starters, beautifully presented on a communal bread-board. Tasty little tarts, skewered sticky chicken and yummy salads came with Krabbefontein’s freshly-baked breads and divine strawberry jam. The lively conversation was briefly silenced when the main course was brought in with a flourish and the table was piled high with the much-anticipated traditional Sunday lunch fare. We all agreed that the unexpected hero was the dutch green beans with potatoes because it brought back so many memories of Ouma’s kitchen. It seemed incredible that we had any more space left for dessert but Rémi’s gorgeous presentation had us all swooning. The coffee crème brûlée in delicate glasses came with chunky chocolate brownies with raspberries alongside delectable summer fruit and cream meringue nests. Finishing off our laid-back and lovely Sunday lunch with Krabbefontein’s own coffee seemed like a fitting end to an experience that warmed both heart and soul.
On 5 & 6 July, the Coffee-harvesting Festival will combine educational and fun events. On 5 July, coffee-enthusiasts can enjoy various informative talks before heading into the coffee fields to do a hands-on session. On 6 July, there will be coffee-tasting, cupping and brewing sessions as well as the opportunity to pick your own coffee to be processed and sent to you. 100kg of green coffee beans will be also be auctioned. There will be exhibitions of coffee equipment, demos, market stalls, great food and live music. Join their community Whatsapp group to get the latest scoop on events and happenings.
Krabbefontein Café is on the R71 between Magoebaskloof and Tzaneen. Call 076 968 0483 to book for Sunday Lunch or the Restaurant on Thursday / Friday evenings. Open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm, Saturday & Sunday 7am to 5pm.
Inni-Berg Coffee Shop is tucked into The Pennefather complex with its large variety of shops selling everything from books and collectibles to clothing and jewellery. Inni-Berg’s warm and welcoming stoep is a perfect place to stop in for light meals or coffee and their famous Nastergal Cheesecake, but they have also started to offer a regular Sunday lunch. Owners Eugene and Tanya decided that they felt like a change so they planned several pop-up events with local chef, Kerry Gibson and every other Sunday, they do a Potjiekos lunch which is becoming very popular.
Chef Kerry has offered a traditional Sunday lunch, a menu with a Cape Malay theme and a well-attended event where a selection of curry options was on offer with sambals and Sago or Fresh Mango Pudding. For Eugene and Tanya, it's all about really nice, wholesome food, good company and lekker vibes, but a bonus is that you get to meet new people that become great friends. Follow their Facebook page to keep up-to-date with all their upcoming events and those special days like Father’s Day lunch on 16 June 2024.
Inni-Berg Coffee Shop (Fully licensed) 061 403 5814 | 103 Rissik Street, Haenertsburg
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