Celebrating 15!

Foodways of the Western Cape

Discover the diverse culinary landscape of the Western Cape

Round Table Picture by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Explore the culinary themes

This series invites you to journey through eight distinct culinary themes. From the ancient wisdom of veldkos to the bustling energy of street food, and the bittersweet stories of land and belonging, we celebrate the tastes that define us.

Ingredients by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Foodways - Western Cape

Welcome to the table! What are “foodways”, and how have foodways in the Western Cape been shaped? Click here to read more.

Soutslaai - Frank Vincentz by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Indigenous Foodways

Discover stories and knowledge about edible plants, recipes, and preservation methods from Indigenous Peoples of the Western Cape here.

Fresh catch by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Food from the ocean

Seafood has been an important staple of life since the earliest human settlements. Explore this story to learn more about the abundant seafood harvests for which the Western Cape is renowned.

Samoosas by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Food on the Move

As people flock to cities like Cape Town in search of work or new adventures, new ways of cooking and eating emerge. Click here to discover more about street food, time and work.

Vegkop spinach by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Food, Land and Belonging

When we eat, we taste the land: Karoo lamb, Swartland wheat, Ceres stone fruit or Stellenbosch wine, all are rooted in landscape and place. Click here to reflect on how food can help reclaim connections and belonging to land.

Spices by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Movement and Migration

Foodways of the Western Cape have long been shaped by the movement of people into and out of the Cape. Learn more about food as routes and crossroads here.

Ingredients by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Tastes of Home

What tastes like home, comfort, or family to you? Take a look here to learn about traditions such as Seven Colour Sundays and Stokbrood!

Souskluitjies by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Sweets and Desserts

No Sunday morning in the Western Cape is complete without some freshly made koesisters. Click here to learn more about these and other sweet traditions.

Round Table Picture by Stephen WesselsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service

Join us as we honour the traditions we’ve preserved and the innovations that keep our heritage alive!

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

Interested in Food?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites