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Cape Town is a foodie's heaven, with so many restaurants and cafes to choose from. One of the restaurants that has set the pace for coffee shops and delis is Melissa's Food Shop.

Melissa's started twenty years ago in Kloof street, Cape Town. At the time it was completely unique, and something totally different from what everyone else was doing. Don't forget that here in SA, Chinese food was pretty much as exotic as it got back then. People were just climbing on the sushi train.

Melissa's are known for their freshly prepared, home style food. They have a central table where you can help yourself to whatever they have made fresh that day. The table is changed for each meal; breakfast, lunch and early dinner. I absolutely love going there for lunch, and loading my plate with the different salads they serve; one of my favourites is the Haloumi and Cabbage Salad.

I've spent many a rainy afternoon drinking coffee, eating their delicious cakes and reading a book. The cafe in Kloof street is small, slightly pretentious and vibey. I like the music, and the staff are sweethearts. Sometimes the neighbouring conversations get to banal for me, and I head outside to the deck to take in the fresh air and watch the mountain.

Melissa's sell homemade cordials, salad dressings, tarts, breads and some of the cutest crockery I have ever seen. I do find the prices of the homeware pretty expensive, but this is Cape Town, and one of the most affluent neighbourhoods too. I would buy the homeware as a special gift for a friend on a birthday, (or myself ☺ ☺ )

@morkrock and I had a lovely breakfast on the deck today. It was drizzling slightly, rendering the mountain invisible with clouds. My favourite weather. We both had the Traditional Breakfast, which was just the right amount of food. Two eggs, bacon, tomatoes and bread. THE BREAD!! The bread is quite magnificent at Melissa's. Alway fresh and toasted to perfection. Their rye has a slight cumin-ey taste to it. I really look forward to that slice of toast when I eat there.

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