Muizenberg delights and Gibson’s gourmet burgers & Freek shakes

It’s here, it’s here! 🙂 The end-of-year holidays are upon us, and we collected brother-in-law Spec from the airport this morning, so will have fun times with him well into 2017.

Until then, here’s our most recent batch of highlights…

Friday, 16 December 2016: Bar-One poppers at I Love Big Bay market

Last Friday was Day of Reconciliation, but Husband had to work. I had a lazy morning with the doggies then went with Mum and Dad to Eden on the Bay’s ‘I Love Big Bay’ market – usually held on the final Wednesday of the month, but a public-holiday Friday works, too. We tried various fresh and fried goods, like chilli bites and Bar-One ‘poppers’.

We also had some slightly healthier options, like a wholewheat shwarma with chilli, chicken and lots of veg.

Saturday, 17 December 2016: Muizenberg and Fish Hoek morning, Gibson’s burgers & shakes afternoon

We set off for Muizenberg first thing on Saturday, and were surprised to find a relatively empty beach.

Some of the lesser-known Muizenberg sights – colourful beach huts as usually seen in St James, and striking giraffe graffiti.

Of course we needed breakfast before further sightseeing. We stopped in at Empire Cafe and Husband opted for the ‘poached eggs on butternut rosti’ and I tried the bacon, lettuce, tomato or BLT croissant with balsamic glaze, both delicious.

Husband sat in front of the coffee machine but I’m the one who tried the cappuccino. Just perfect with the BLT croissant.

Bellies lined, we set off up the road to Fish Hoek. Husband swam in the sea right along the shark net, while I read in the shade.

Next stop was Boulders Beach, a little past Simon’s Town. We spotted lots of little penguins far down on the beach below but didn’t have time to go explore properly.

You can just see the penguins on the beach through the hollow in the trees.

By then it was lunchtime, and we had a date at Gibson’s Gourmet Burgers & Ribs at the V&A Waterfront. Husband gave Gibson’s own brand of craft beer a shot.

Just look at those choices! There are pages and pages to flip through, with over 40 burgers and 100 shakes to choose from. I went for the Governor burger, top left, and the peppermint caramel Freek shake, middle bottom. Both were huge and delicious.

Everything we sampled: A minty mojito, the Tex-mex burger with nachos and a baked potato, the cheesy Governor burger with sweet potato fries and the peppermint caramel Freek shake. Click here for my official review!

We were both so very full that the rest of the afternoon entailed spending quality time with the doggies.

Sunday, 18 December 2016: Bread & Butter breakfast, Sunningdale dog walkies

We started our Sunday at Bread & Butter. Husband had the salmon eggs benedict.

I had the ‘breakfast banana split’, filled with yoghurt, granola and berries.

We managed to fit in a quick beach visit early that afternoon.

We took the doggies’ walkies-gear along when we visited their grandparents later that afternoon. Bertie darted this way and that, exploring the bushes.

A few more snaps from the doggies’ walkies.

Lots of chicken and salad for lupper at Mum’s that eve.

And for dessert, a wonderfully fruity custard flan.

Monday, 19 to Thursday, 22 December 2016: Veggie gardening and final work week antics

Husband’s been doing quite a bit of gardening recently. See how his seedlings are taking off here…

He also built beautiful wooden planters for strawberries and tomatoes by taking apart a pallet. And the strawberry plants are already ripe! Nothing beats the taste of something from your own garden.

We had lots and lots of Christmas treats in the office this week.

The last work day of the year meant a braai for Husband and his colleagues at Clarion. See his lunch plate below the pic of him cheers-ing his colleague, and on the right my own ‘final work day’ lunch of chicken briyani, noodles and Coke.

That’s all, folks! We hope you have a wonderful Christmas week and that you have time to relax and recharge your batteries before 2017 kicks in.

*Disclaimer: Obviously our meals at Gibson’s were part of our review package. All else came from our own pockets. All enjoyed equally.