I’ve been wanting to share this post with you for weeks. I say “share”, but to be honest, I think De Oude Bank Bakkerij is already so well known, it’s hardly a secret to share. Luke and I were happily honeymooning in Jonkershoek and in need of a fantastic breakfast.
There are exactly 745 000 delicious options for eating out in Stellenbosch and the surrounds – but I was quite particular. We didn’t feel like wine farm pretentiousness or bird-sized vegan fare from one of the many cafe options.
We needed hearty, wholesome, beautiful food – and with the help of Twitter, we found it at De Oude Bank Bakkerij.
Found just off Church Street in Stellenbosch, De Oude Bank Bakkerij is firstly a working bakery – secondly, a restaurant making the most of the delicious fresh bread that is constantly being baked.
As we arrived around brunch time, coffee was very much on the forefront of our minds – the lovely husband having a macchiato, while I chose fresh Morrocan Mint Tea.
And goodness, the drinks alone are a reason to return! Luke is normally a latte or cappuccino man, so a macchiato was a little out of the ordinary – but so delicious, he had another before we left. Rich, creamy – with no hint of bitterness, it was truly special.
Of course, we came for brunch – so we had to eat. I was torn between toasted choc chip banana bread with fruit and mascarpone, and the scrambled eggs – but when I saw the scrambled eggs heading to another table, my decision was made. A pile of bright yellow free range eggs are piled on top of toasted sourdough bread, topped with rocket and bacon. On the side there’s a little bowl of a sweet-sour tomato relish, which did wonders to lift the eggs.
Lovely husband ordered the Croque Madame – a toasted sourdough sandwich filled with a Gruyere sauce, ham, a smear of mustard – topped with a poached egg. It ticked all of Luke’s “savoury” boxes for brunch, and was happily polished off.
There is a variety of treats to buy and enjoy at home – from preserves, olives and eggs to bread and pastries – we bought a loaf of sourdough and macarons to enjoy at our cottage. The sourdough was enjoyed mainly as is, we tore of hunks to enjoy whenever we passed the kitchen table. The macarons were delicious – with the perfect crisp, chewy texture. A win all round.
Note : Our visit was entirely unannounced, and we paid for our meal in full.
What do you think?