Tea time on top of the world

Today was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining and the weather was good. It all worked in favour of the hike I had planned with some of my girlfriends, Amy and Michelle. After an adventure through nature in Cecilia Forrest in Newlands, we had worked up an appetite for something sweet.

On a whim, we decided to visit Chart Farm, well known for its beautiful roses that you are allowed to pick for yourself at a small cost per rose. It is hidden above Wynberg Park, and the road to the farm is just off Klaasens Road, which continues on into Bishops Court. We arrived to a view of sunny rose fields and vineyards in the background. The last few roses of the year clung to their branches, pink and white against the dark green leaves. Rose season is from October through to May, so I will certainly be returning in a few months time.

We made our way down to the tea room and garden, which are open daily until 4:30pm, perfect for those daytime outings when you're looking for a pretty place to go. We sat down in the sunny tea room, basking in the sun's generous warmth. A softly spoken waitress took our tea and cake orders, and within minutes, our orders arrived. My pot of Earl Grey tea was served with a green and white checkered cover to keep the brew at tip-top temperature. I was amazed to discover that my small little teapot held 3 whole cups of tea! What a treat when you get more than expected.

My slice of carrot cake appeared big and bold on a clean white plate, adorned with an appetizing cream cheese frosting and crumbled walnuts to top it all off. I sliced my cake fork into it, excited to find out what tastes were waiting for me. The cake was moist and nutty, not too sweet but in a good way. I think I picked up on some spices, possibly cinnamon or nutmeg, maybe both. The icing - oh, the yummy delicious icing - it had a creamy sweetness with an unexpected hit of lemon. The texture was a bit wetter than I would have normally expected but that isn't a bad thing. It was so enjoyable, sitting in the afternoon sun, sipping tea and eating cake with my girls, chatting about love, life and the contrast of American culture with our own.

Did you know that what South Africans know as scones are closest to what Americans call biscuits? To them, biscuits are cookies. Well, I didn't know that but my dear friend Michelle brought me up to speed as she snacked on her scones with fresh cream and jam. Moreover, our thin concept of pancakes, which Amy was enjoying with vanilla ice cream, is quite different from the thick American pancakes, which we would liken to flapjacks. The well-loved drink, ice tea, is diversely perceived among Americans from different states. In the South, they refer to it as "sweet tea", and concoctions of lemonade and sugary Ceylon tea are blended together into a refreshing cold drink.

Despite a rather challenging week, I drove home this Friday afternoon with a huge smile on my face. It's incredible how some quality time with friends and good food can turn things back on track!