Have I ever told you how much I love the Braai Day holiday in South Africa? Every September 24th people across the 'Rainbow Nation' celebrate the camaraderie that is shared once a big fire is lit and delicious, fresh food is barbecued. Technically, Heritage Day falls on September 24th, which is the greater, overarching South African national holiday celebrating cultural diversity. I just find it fascinating how this day has evolved over time and how the focus has shifted towards uniting aspect of culture: food.

In South Africa, food has become an increasingly more important aspect of their identity as a tourist destination. The emergence of new dishes and flavors based on experimentation with traditional ingredients and cooking styles has made dining out an exciting trend. In the last several years, restaurants in the Western Cape, in particular, have been climbing the ranks and are now commonly featured and praised at an international level. Last year, one of Cape Town's best restaurants, The Test Kitchen, was named one of the World's 50 Best Restaurants. I've been watching as the USD and GBP exchange rates creep higher and higher, meaning it's now more affordable than ever to have an amazing gourmet dining experience for a fraction of the cost.

The Grill Room at the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga

The Planet Restaurant at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town

In this video, a Swiss couple frequents many of the known local gems and a few rising stars across the Cape Town dining scene. Even more exciting than recognizing some of my favorite places to eat in this short film is I recognizing some of my favorite Capetonians, including Mario of Escape To The Cape tours and the musician Jeremy Loops. Hint: this is one clip you don't want to watch on an empty stomach!

You might also like to read one of my earlier posts on Heritage Day, as well as, my post on How to Host a South African Braai.