Spice Routes and History Lessons

It was not difficult to convince Keith to head off to the Irene Market at the Jan Smuts museum because he wanted to see the house. Having seen the house where Jan Smuts was born at Bovenplaats near Riebeeck West in the Western Cape he had always wanted to see the house where Jan Smuts had lived in the old Transvaal (now Gauteng).

The market at Irene was more of a craft market with a food and antique section on the grounds of the Jan Smuts museum.

Cinnamon Sticks

I walked away from the antique market with some vintage kitchen tools that will enhance my culinary offerings at Towerwater.

We bought some Hertzog cookies at the stall near the front door of the Jan Smuts house. The irony of buying a cookie named after Jan Smuts's political rival on his property did not escape us.

Mixing Spices

After visiting the house where I got quite an informative history lesson from Keith we headed to the food market. The air was filled with the smell of spices that created the illusion that one has entered an eastern spice market. The source was a stall laden with big open bags of spices. The smells, colour and fragrance of the spices were intoxicating and seductive.

RSeductive Spices

I fought off the urge to buy realising that I have to fly back to Cape Town with limited baggage. We spent some time at the stall just inhaling the fragrance of spices that have captured the imagination of people all through history. I admired the stall holder's skill of mixing spices on request by his clients for certain dishes.

Olives with Sundried Tomatoes and Feta

We were enticed by a stall selling olives and after tasting some exquisite olives we were informed that these delicacies came from the Karoo. It was like tasting home and we decided to buy a selection of different preserved olives for lunch.

Kalamata Karoo Olives

With a large ciabatta and preserves we headed home to enjoy a tapas lunch and wine from Robertson.

Olives with Lemon and Garlic