The fresh produce included a wide selection of herbs aswell as organically grown produce like these radishes, above
Last Saturday morning we went to a delightful little place called ‘Lavender Blue’ which is situated on the East coast resorts road, between the towns of Gonubie and Beacon Bay. I had passed it a few times during my last visit to this part of South Africa – it’s one of those places which looks very quaint and inviting from the outside - but never had time to stop, so was pleased to finally get the opportunity to do so last weekend.
‘Lavender Blue’ is a family friendly country venue which sells a lovely selection of homemade ‘crafty’ items and gifts as well as fresh fruit, vegetables and a small selection of unique clothing. Each Saturday morning it has a market selling a huge array of fresh, local produce including cut flowers, cheese, baked treats, fruit and vegetables. It also has a nursery, and a coffee shop/restaurant – the outdoor seating area of which overlooks a small dam with birdlife and a nice children’s play area.
‘Lavender Blue’ is a family friendly country venue which sells a lovely selection of homemade ‘crafty’ items and gifts as well as fresh fruit, vegetables and a small selection of unique clothing. Each Saturday morning it has a market selling a huge array of fresh, local produce including cut flowers, cheese, baked treats, fruit and vegetables. It also has a nursery, and a coffee shop/restaurant – the outdoor seating area of which overlooks a small dam with birdlife and a nice children’s play area.
Hearty breakfasts were available - from muffins to omelettes and everything in between ......
It was raining when we were there, so after browsing around the various undercover/inside stalls (and stocking up on some lovely fresh produce for the coming week !) we ate breakfast in an upstairs area set underneath the roof and with a view of the market stalls below.
The self-service breakfast consisted of – amongst other things - a large selection of delicious toasted sandwiches (bacon, fig and brie anyone ?), the ‘Tutti Fruiti’ (farm fresh yogurt, fruit, muesli and honey all delightfully presented in separate bowls so that you could mix it up however you liked !), various omelettes or the ever popular bacon & eggs. They also had a lovely selection of muffins, cakes (the ‘cup cake craze’ has hit South Africa and everyone here seems to be making & selling all manner of cup cakes with every kind of towering topping imaginable !) and pastries – several of which you could buy from the vendors to take home with you, or to take over to eat at the communal trestle tables with a hot beverage of your choice.
The self-service breakfast consisted of – amongst other things - a large selection of delicious toasted sandwiches (bacon, fig and brie anyone ?), the ‘Tutti Fruiti’ (farm fresh yogurt, fruit, muesli and honey all delightfully presented in separate bowls so that you could mix it up however you liked !), various omelettes or the ever popular bacon & eggs. They also had a lovely selection of muffins, cakes (the ‘cup cake craze’ has hit South Africa and everyone here seems to be making & selling all manner of cup cakes with every kind of towering topping imaginable !) and pastries – several of which you could buy from the vendors to take home with you, or to take over to eat at the communal trestle tables with a hot beverage of your choice.
We ate our breakfast in the rooftop area which was really quaint - my daughter was rather taken with the 'carpet' up there - which had been painted on to the floor !
A wide selection of tea (herbal, Rooibos, English Breakfast) and coffee (filter, espresso, cappuccino) was available – a ‘help yourself’ tea and coffee station contained large suspended wicker baskets filled with metal tea and coffee mugs and ‘bottomless’ options were also available ….. drink as much as you like (great for tea lovers like me, where one cuppa is never enough !) and hot chocolate for the kids.
A view from the upstairs dining area onto the market stalls below I’m only sorry that the weather was so miserable (hence no outside photo's) and that we were unable to eat outside and make use of the kiddies play area. But then, I suppose, it’s provided me with a great excuse to go back again, when the weather’s a little brighter !
This particular stall sold a selction of dried fruit and nuts, amongst other things .....‘Lavender Blue’ is closed on a Monday and it’s opening times for the rest of the week are -: Tuesday to Friday 08h30 to 15h00; Saturday’s from 07h30 to 13h00 and Sunday’s/Public Holidays from 08h30 to 12h30. If you’d like to contact them for clear directions on how to find it, the local number is (043) 732 1172.
Breakfast, anyone ? Fresh flowers on each table added to the country feel of the dining area/restaurant ......
