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As the chilly weather sets in and we celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Day, many of us start craving the kind of comforting meals that remind us of home.
So, we asked the Dinefam: If you had to pick one restaurant that serves a dish closest to the cooking that reminds you of home – where would you go?
From homestyle pasta and Sunday fry-ups to Durban curry and chakalaka just like mom used to make, here’s where the team heads when they’re in the mood for a little food-fuelled nostalgia.
A taste of home
There’s no place like home – and nothing quite like South African cuisine. And, if there’s one thing almost all of us can relate to, it’s the smell of a braai – especially when the rugby’s on. “We are boere, we like our braai vleis!” says Merinda, who reckons Boma South African on Bree Street is the perfect place to get that same homey, braai-day vibe.
When Esethu is missing home, she goes straight to Marco’s African Place for their hardbody chicken with steamed bread and trotters. Pitso’s Kitchen is Amanda M’s spot, and she doesn’t hold back when it comes to ordering. Sheep tripe, hardbody chicken, steamed bread, chakalaka, and spinach – the full plate.
“This meal is something my mom would make for us on a chilly Sunday. It’s a labour of love because it takes long to prepare and cook. My dad always says he can feel my mom’s love whenever we have this meal.” – Amanda Mthethwa
A slice of Italy
If Italian food makes you feel at home, you’re not alone. As it turns out, quite a few of us at Dineplan feel most at home when we’re eating Italian.
Kiara’s go-to is The Woodlands Eatery. She says she can’t get enough. “Pizza, pasta, burgers – it’s all good,” she says! Georgie will go anywhere serving up a good Italian dish, but Bacini’s is her favourite. The smell of the wood-fired oven takes her straight back to rainy Sundays spent covered in flour, helping her dad make homemade pizza. While Ben heads to Blue Café when the spaghetti craving hits, saying it reminds him of his mom’s cooking.
The actual Italian of the bunch, Cat, says Ischia is her go-to spot when she wants a true taste of home.
“I usually order the melanzane alla parmigiana because it reminds me of my dad’s cooking. The restaurant focuses on southern Italian food, and since my dad’s side of the family is Sicilian, I can trust them to make it as close to how he does.” – Caterina Morettino
Cat also lets us know that the deli downstairs, Super Sconto, is where they get their ingredients, so she knows everything is fresh and authentic. “We’re talking proper Italian tomatoes and Parmesan imported straight from Italy – yes, please!”
As for Justin, it’s the fresh tagliolini at The Cousins Trattoria that hits the spot – tossed in a creamy parmesan sauce and finished off in a wheel of aged Parmigiano.
“It’s rich, comforting, and indulgent in the same way a home-cooked meal feels when your mom insists you take a second helping.” – Justin Igrec
A family breakfast
No, we’re not talking about bowls of Weet-Bix here – although piled high with sugar is a comforting memory most of us probably share.
For Max, Florentin and their Turkish eggs bring that feeling of home. Otherwise, a pit stop at Kleinsky’s for a salmon bagel also does the trick. Paige, on the other hand, grew up with a ritual of an English-style fry-up every Sunday – so when the craving hits, a visit to Clarke’s is in order. Think perfectly silky scrambled eggs, bacon, a pork sausage, mushrooms, tomato, and toast – with the most important thing being a bottle of HP sauce on the table.
“I head to Clarke’s and order “The Breakfast” from their “Big Breakfast” menu. And a Bloody Mary, because I’m an adult now and those pickled green beans they add to the mix are an addiction I can’t shake!” – Paige Errera
A warm curry craving
Another popular nostalgic dish among the Dinefam is a big, spicy serving of Durban lamb curry. Both Tosca and Warren say it brings that happy, homely feeling whenever they’re missing their parents’ cooking. Warren swears by Vadivelu. “The food rivals anything straight out of Durban and their Vindaloo is the perfect level of hot,” he says, while Tosca makes a beeline for Bombay Brasserie at the Taj Hotel.
Autumn, on the other hand, says it’s lamb or chicken Akhni that fuels her nostalgia – and Everyday Akhni in Wynberg does it best.
“It reminds my partner and me of the days we used to stay with our parents. We had comfort, soul food in winter.”
A sweet slice
And finally, when Tamarind starts thinking of home, she can’t help but remember her mom’s sweet bakes. If it’s not her mom’s, Mugg & Bean at Canal Walk has her heart. “Their carrot cake is the closest I’ve found to my mom’s,” she says.
And there you have it! Where do you go when you’re missing home and in need of a comfort meal? We’d love to hear in the comments where you go and what your order is.
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