OUTING REPORT
My goodness half of the year has already slipped by and we are heading towards the second part of 2018!
Winter has set in, in the drought stricken Western Cape. We are now more than ever watching the weather forecasts with a keen eye. None more than me, for Thursday 28th June – predictions were a cloudless sky with NO rain which is always good news when you have ‘to move people on a coach’!
We had changed departure from Tableview first – so at 08h15 I arrived at the departure point to see very excitedly, that we had the Brand New 32-seater as our coach for the day. Hylton Ross have introduced 2 of these fabulous brand-new coaches to their fleet and what a comfortable ride they are! Hanlo was our designated coach driver and as this is to be ‘his’ vehicle, he was perhaps like a ‘kid-with-a-new-toy’ – he was thrilled (in his words) that he had the chance to ‘test the new coach’ on the open road without having to try it out in the city with all the traffic.
We headed across town to Constantia for our second pick up and excitedly we all headed out to Paarl! Our first stop was KIKKA MAIN – where the ladies were taken into our own private room for coffee/tea and a carrot cake cupcake.
We met Karika (co-owner of the KIKKA BRAND). She told us such fascinating history of Paarl & growing up there as a little girl! She spoke with love of her family’s protea farm which sadly had burned down – this gave her the passion she has today for flowers and it is evident in the way she put 2 posies together for us during a demonstration. These were given to ladies as a lucky ticket prize – Laura and Winnie went home with them.
Karika also told us all about her husband AB, and the delicious Balsamic reduction products he’s been making (and of the very large orders he has secured for them). An interesting tale was how they exhibited at the Food & Wine in central Cape Town years ago and were given an out-of-the-way stand where hardly anyone came their way. However, one lucky passer-by, Mrs Wendy Ackerman ‘found’ their product and the rest is history! Their product, AB GOLD, is sold in many large supermarkets and ranges from the Balsamic reduction in quite a few flavours to a few sweet products as well!
Karika gave us very interesting history of the Old Prison in Paarl and how they managed, after a lengthy battle to get it converted into a restaurant, KIKKA BOULEVARD, which is where our lunch was to be enjoyed. This unique experience where old doors and cell windows from the Old Paarl Prison have been preserved, is bound to be a good attraction. They also have a function room upstairs!
They have a smoker outside, where our Brisket was cooked, very slowly – what a delicious taste it imparts to the meat! Served with a potato bake and slow cooked vegetables – this was comfort food deluxe. They have an on-site baker – another added advantage! We were treated to a platter of their delicious breads before our main course.
A delicious lunch – served by attentive staff in a bustling restaurant! Congratulations Karika and AB and we hope to all return to the restaurant especially in the summer when we can sit outside and enjoy the views you have of Paarl Rock!
By 14h30 we all headed back to the city – (and to the traffic on the N1) – my goodness amazing how just after 15h00 and it looks as if everyone is already finished work! Must be the flexi-hours many Capetonians are working these days!
We did our first drop off in Constantia by 16h15 and Tableview by after 17h00!