I think everyone who knows me, knows how much I love markets, bargains and sales. Markets because you get such variety all under one roof. Bargains and sales because I feel like I’m saving money. Yes I know, if it wasn’t on sale I wouldn’t buy it and therefore saving money. But if I wanted it later, I would have to buy it at a higher price and therefore I’m saving money. This is the discussion I’ve had with my husband over and over again.
People have been telling me about the Tokai market for a while now. The day finally came for me to check it out. It’s an exclusively food market, with live music in a marquee for protection from the elements that rage through Cape Town; the raging South Easterlies that sometimes get up to 60-70km/h, the cool rains, occasional fires down the mountains, but I suppose a marquee can’t really do much for this.
It was so lovely. Parking was freely available, which is always good. We walked passed the bar with a selection of wines and 3 beers on tap, through to the marquee with benches and tables on the right hand side, the stage on the left and the food stalls in the centre of the room.
We were welcomed by a variety of delicious aromas from a number of different cuisines. I love how you can have a bit of everything as your heart desires.
Walking from stall to stall, tasting this and tasting that. So good!😁. From Greek’s chicken and pineapple skewers, cinnamon coated nuts, tuna fish, to cakes and desserts.
By the end of my rounds, my mind is torn between; surprise, surprise; 2 lamb dishes! A lamb vindaloo, which is spicy hot and I love spice. And slow cooked lamb in a potjie, so deliciously tender,cooked for 3 1/2 hours with simple ingredients; salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary and thyme. A potjie is a cast iron pot, usually 3 legged. (Similar idea to cooking in a tagine).
But final choice was a vindaloo, I just could not resist. And the chef turned out to be a cool guy as well, who actually works at an Indian restaurant down the road from our house. And I’m definitely visiting him again very soon. This was a good choice. The only thing I would change is how the lamb was cooked. It was a bit tough. I would either add it into at the last minute so it’s still tender. Or I would slow cook it until it falls off the bone.
Our starters were sushi, I had my trusted salmon sashimi and my husband went for salmon California rolls with avocado maki. Delicious!
At the end of starters and mains, there was zero space left for dessert.
Successful market dinner. My son even met the first girl he wanted to hold hands with.
