Challenge #1: Balboa Balcony Bar

| The Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge | 

-  a student's quest to visit every restaurant in Stellenbosch, 

before the completion of her studies - 

To start of my Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge, I met up with some special friends at Balboa Balcony Bar for an after-holiday-catch up.

Balboa Balcony Bar is situated in Andringa Street, where Sgt Pepper used to be. It is a small venue with a great vibe. It serves as a Tapas Bar and restaurant aside from an interesting list of cocktails and craft beers they serve pizza's, nacho's as well as a dessert selection. 

I've been there twice and both times it was packed, so booking is definitely recommended. In summer time the deck is open, giving it a more spacious feel and a view on the beautiful oaks and street activities. 

We enjoyed a selection of cocktails, with the Strawberry Daquirri, albeit it's size, being voted as the favourite. The cocktails are reasonably priced, in the R40 region. 

                    Photo Credit: Balboa Balcony Bar

Two friends decided to share the chicken nacho's - it ended up being such a large portion that the whole table snacked on it, and still we sent some back to the kitchen. The pizza's also seem to be very popular. 

Balboa has a great atmosphere and especially their cocktails will ensure my return. The service was a bit slow, but to their defense they were operating at full capacity that night.* Their extended trading hours (from 12:00 - 01:30 on Monday- Saturday) is an added bonus.  

* Take note that no under 23's are allowed. 

                                               Photo Credit: Balboa Balcony Bar

Visit their Facebook page here

Telephone: 021 886 7110

Address: 18 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch

The Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge

 | A student's quest to visit every restaurant in Stellenbosch, 

before the completion of her studies |

Stellenbosch has been described as the wine and gourmet capital of South Africa, securing no less than 9 of the 20 nominations in the 2013 Eat Out Awards. Whether you agree with this status or not, it is an undisputed fact that Stellenbosch is home to a number of fine dining restaurants as well as many trendy alternatives - this combination caters to the eclectic mix of residents you will find in the oak lined streets of the town.

Photo Credit: Night jar Travel

I've been a student in Stellenbosch for the past 5 years, but still there are so many restaurants and cafe's that I have not yet visited ... therefore I have decided to make the most of  my culinary experience. My Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge will consist of an attempt at visiting every restaurant and cafe in Stellenbosch, at least once, before the completion of my studies.

A quick search provided a list of approximately 100 restaurants. Obviously with the constraints of a student budget in mind, I won't enjoy a full meal at every restaurant - but I will post a short review of every experience.

If you have any recommendations of restaurants in the area, please feel free to share them with me.

"The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite." - A.J. Liebling. With a healthy appetite, I am all set for my culinary experience.

Let the Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge begin! 

Photo Credit: The Big Easy, Stellenbosch