On The Road: Cosecha.

Let’s start the new year by dwelling on the past. When I was a kid I remember meals mostly by the things left uneaten on my plate. Shameful piles of boiled peas and carrots that I’d have to grudgingly finish on my own before leaving the table. These days it’s more about the last awesome meal, whether a four-course feast, perfectly juicy burger or mindblowing bobotie served by an overly camp waiter in an old fishing village. Food is life and it’s always worth dwelling on.

One of the best meals I had last year was in December at Cosecha restaurant in the winelands. I’d driven past the place loads of times. It’s on that narrow road that connects Klapmuts to the R45 on which you always drive as fast as the N1 but really shouldn’t because it’s bumpy as all hell. Naturally, because you’ve got your steering wheel in a white-nuckle deathgrip, you miss the small sign that says ‘Cosecha’ on your right as you hurtle along. You’re going to kick yourself for missing it: the place is a gem.

Fresh Mexican food, as good as I’ve ever had, in the winelands. Served with sangrita, quality wines from the estate which it’s on (Noble Hill) and a California-meets-Cape setting, it’s hard to beat. There’s also the lawn for a post-lunch nap and a small damn with a sign that suggests you don’t swim but doesn’t say you’re not allowed to. Dive in!

Watch them make guacamole at the table for you in a mortar and pestle, eat the toasted quesadilla, kingklip ceviche, chicken and mango crispy tacos, grilled ostrich skewers and so on and so on. Just keep eating – the amazing thing is the food is so light you’re not going to get that bloated button-popping feeling you get when you eat cheap cheddar-covered Tex-Mex at your local “chili popper” joint.

www.cosecharestaurant.com