TV chef and cookbook author, Zola Nene, tells us why Green Point in Cape Town is her neighbourhood of choice.
Zola Nene is a well-known personality on SABC3’s Expresso breakfast show, which means she has to get to work early in the morning. She was primarily looking for convenience when choosing a new home three years ago and found exactly that in a cottage high on the slopes of Signal Hill in Green Point.
“I chose this area because it's close to work, seven minutes’ drive away to be exact,” says Zola. “Tra¬ffic isn’t a problem at the time I go to work, but even in peak tra¬ffic it only takes eight minutes. I love Green Point because it feels very central – it's close to town and all the bustling food spots in Bree Street. Also, Sea Point is starting to sprout some cool new foodie gems. I like to be close to where there's a food buzz; it helps me stay in the loop.
“El Burro is my favourite restaurant in Green Point. The other day I discovered The Mess restaurant hidden down a side street in De Waterkant – a cool little spot. The Mojo Market in Sea Point is amazing for lunchtime; with so many different food stalls and restaurants there, I’m quite spoilt for choice!”
One of her favourite spots on a Saturday is the Oranjezicht City Farm Market in Granger Bay. For everyday food shopping in Green Point there’s a Woolworths Food and her favourite place to buy meat is The Butcher Man.
She says the nearby Green Point Urban Park is a great place to visit in summer for picnics with friends who have kids. Being high on Signal Hill, Zola has great views over the Cape Town Stadium. “If there’s a band playing that I like, I can open all my windows and I can hear the music very clearly. The acoustics carry everything uphill, so I can enjoy the concert in my backyard. But, of course, if there’s a football match I can also hear the vuvuzelas and the screaming. I’m high up the hill and have my own garage, so parking on concert days is not an issue for me.
“It’s a tricky part of Cape Town to define,” says Zola. “Green Point is more of a residential area, flanked by two really cool, buzzing areas, De Waterkant and Sea Point, which makes us feel like we’re also in the cool zone!”
I love Green Point because it's close to town and all the bustling food spots in Bree Street and also Sea Point. I like to be close to where there's a food buzz; it helps me stay in the loop.
About Zola Nene
Zola Nene, resident chef on the Expresso breakfast show on SABC3, studied at the Institute of Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch. As well as being a TV chef she works as a food stylist, MC and food judge. She is also the author of a cookbook, Simply Delicious, which won a Best (English) TV Chef Book award in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2017.
Dine out in Green Point:
- El Burro: for delicious Mexican food
- Giovanni’s Delicatessen: for classic Italian deli fare
- Il Leone Mastrantonio: for elegant Italian cuisine
- The Mess: for tasty contemporary food
- Shio Restaurant: for modern Asian cuisine
- Three Wise Monkeys: for delectable Japanese food
- Mojo Market: for an eclectic choice of cuisine
Things to do in Green Point:
- Visit Green Point Urban Park for picnics, workouts or a stroll in the Biodiversity Garden.
- Shop at Oranjezicht City Farm Market on Saturdays.
- Attend concerts and sports events at the Cape Town Stadium.
- Hike up Signal Hill.
- Browse design stores and more at the Cape Quarter
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood,Sunday Times.
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