Challenge 15: Taste Bud Eatery

| Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge |

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

before her final graduation - 

I often pop into the Taste Bud eatery, seeing that it is situated about 300 metres from my lecture hall. It is however not only their convenient location but their clean, fresh approach to food that keeps me coming back. 

Taste Bud has a simple approach - they offer a buffet lunch daily, where you help yourself and the menu is consistently adapted. They also offer the alternative of an a la carte menu. If you still can't get enough, Taste Bud also takes orders for homemade dishes that will make entertaining much more convenient. 

The Taste Bud Eatery has a comfortable feel to it

 and draws visitors and locals alike

The daily buffet is perhaps their biggest attraction. With quality ingredients and creative combinations you will never get bored of the selection. I promise, there are not a bain-marie in sight!  The homey vibe adds to the experience. Pricing is done according to the weight of your plate, so you can determine the size of your portion. 

Delicious buffet lined up

 There are numerous dishes to choose from 

and vegetarians are also well looked after

The buffet is prepared fresh daily 

so when it's done, it's done - best to come early!

Having quite a sweet tooth, the dessert table never disappoints. Their sweet selection also changes constantly, however the red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing seems to be a constant winner. They also make a superb red cuppacino and red latte, which for a non-coffee drinker is quite a drawing card. 

The only drawback is that inside seating can be limited on overcast days. On one of my visits, my friend and I were seated at a table for four as it was the last available option. Twice the manager asked if other patrons could join us at our table seeing as they had no more spaces available. We did not complain, but it is not ideal. During the course of our visit, we shared the table with a few different patrons. Towards the end of our coffee, we felt that they encouraged us to leave as soon as possible so that the table would become available again. In summer however there is ample seating available outside under the magnificent oak trees and judging by the seat allocation, this seems to be a firm favourite. 

The dessert selection 

The red velvet cupcakes -  clearly a winner!

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Address | 44 Reyneveld Street, Stellenbosch

Telephone | 082 336 5863

Trading hours | Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Email | tastebud.eatery@gmail.com

Challenge #2: Basic Bistro

Nestled in Church Street, between a number of other popular restaurants, you will find Basic Bistro. 

Bistro (noun) | A bistro is a small restaurant serving simple meals at moderate prices. 

While living up to their name, with their homey feel and non pretentious yet delicious food, Basic Bistro however has more to offer. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a variety of wines and craft beers. It was their extended trading hours which prompted my return - on a quest for a hearty breakfast on a Monday morning in Stellenbosch - Basic Bistro was one of the few open restaurants in the area.   

Their menu does not disappoint, but I would encourage you to dine from the blackboard. They update their specials regularly and ensure that there is always something new to try. My sister and I popped in for breakfast to start off a special bonding day and opted for the breakfast special (from the blackboard). 

Currently their breakfast special consist of eggs, bacon, toast, caramalized onion, slow roasted cherry tomatoes and a cuppacino for only R 40. They are definitely student-budget friendly! As I am not a coffee drinker, in fact I have never finished a cup of coffee, I asked to replace the cuppacino with a Red Latte, which was the perfect cure to a cold, winter morning.

Other breakfast options include a selection of smoothies, breakfast waffles and croissants brimming with toppings. You can also design your own breakfast from a list - this is a great initiative, especially for picky eaters. As a tea lover I was impressed by their variety of quality teas, including amongst others a Apple Lipacho and Strawberry Vanilla Rooibos tea. They also indicate the exact steeping times for the various teas so that the tea can infuse properly and deliver a full taste. 

From previous visits I can definitely recommend their gourmet burgers. They currently have a burger and beer promotion in collaboration with Stellenbrau where you get a burger and craft beer for R68. They also serve steak, hearty curries and seafood.  You cannot pay them a visit without trying their carrot cake, it is by far the best I have had in Stellenbosch. The portion is large, so it is ideal for sharing after a scrumptious meal. 

They have a small inside seating area as well as an outside eating area, facing Church Street. In winter time they provide blankets and electric heaters, ensuring a cozy atmosphere even in the midst of the winter chill. 

    Photo Credit: The Basic Bistro

Pay them a visit - you will not be disappointed! 

Trading hours: Monday to Friday : 07:30 - 22:00 ; Saturday & Sunday: 09:00 - 22:00

Visit them at: 31 Church Street, Stellenbosch

Telephone: 021 883 3629 OR 081 271 2234

Website: www.basicbistro.co.za

Facebook: Basic Bistro Facebook page

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