Just a two weeks left until we announce the winner of our Savor South Africa contest. We’re very excited. And just to prove that South Africa really is the best culinary destination in the world, we wanted to share some of the food and wine festivals taking place in the next few months.
WitblitsFees – March 14-15, 2010
Not for the feint of heart, this little South African festival celebrates Witblits, (white lightning) a South African moonshine. It’s a true Afrikaner gourmet experience with traditional food served along with old-fashioned entertainment on the side. The festival takes place in Philippolis, the oldest town in the Free State. More details…
Tonteldoos Country Festival – April 3, 2010
The Tonteldoos Country Festival is held in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province (home to Kruger National Park). It started life as a Peach Festival in 1996 and has grown into a larger affair with 17 food stalls serving local delicacies and gourmet dishes. More details…
Lambert’s Bay Kreeffees – April 22-24, 2010
Fish lovers unite at this wonderful foodie feast dedicated to the crayfish. Lambert’s Bay is on the Western Cape coast. As well as food and wine, there’s music and bungee jumping. We highly recommend you bungee jump before you eat your crayfish and visit the beer tent. More details…
The South African Cheese Festival – April 24-27, 2010
The South African Cheese Festival brings together food artisans and cheese makers from all over South Africa. All you turophiles out there rejoice, you can eat cheese, make cheese, bake cheese and play with cheese. You’ll get to taste creamy goat cheese, piquant blue cheese, and nutty gruyeres, accompanied with bread, wine, music and other treats. There are lots of attractions geared to both adults and children, so bring the whole family. More details…
Prince Albert Town Olive Festival – and the Riebeek Kasteel Olive Festival, 30 April – 2 May, 2010
You may not be aware of this, but South Africa produces some of the world’s best olive oil and its worth celebrating. You actually have a choice of olive festivals. Prince Albert Town in the Karoo, will celebrate their liquid gold, with food stalls, circus performers and dances. Riebeek, in Western Cape’s Swartland valley, will showcase its famous olives in all their forms, along with lots of other gourmet delicacies, Swartland wine and music. More details about: Prince Albert’s Olive festival, and Riebeek’s Olive festival.
Cape Gourmet Festival – May 13-16, 2010
The Good Food and Wine Show comes to Cape Town once a year along with a host of celebrity chefs including Gordon Ramsey, Willie Harcourt-Cooze, and Anjum Anand. The show will be held in the Cape Town International Convention Center. Nine state-of-the-art kitchens will be set up with a world-class chef working their magic at each station. You can taste, watch and learn from the gourmet experts at hand. There will be experts blending wine, making beer, tasting teas and an entire theater dedicated to chocolate. Yum. More details…
Sorry to say, we just missed the Prickly Pear Festival in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, but check this site for 2011 dates! And if you can’t make it to a particular festival, many of South Africa’s towns have fresh, organic markets serving fantastic food every weekend. Ask us about them when you book your culinary tour to South Africa!