A while back, I posted on the foodie things I remember from my childhood, inspired by the format of the truly wonderful I remember King Kong (the boxer) by Denis Hirson. Well, I’ve been dipping into his book again, every night before I go to bed, and here is a second set of foodie memories that he has dredged up from my childhood. Ring any bells with you?
I remember thinking that melba toast and prawn cocktails were probably the most sophisticated foods in the world.
I remember wondering why guavas tasted exactly the same as koejawels (koejawel is the Afrikaans word for guava).
I remember teasing friends at school “you’d get pissed on a pack of Wine Gums!”.
I remember when Whispers were the only thing that everybody wanted to eat in the movies.
I remember that my parents only ever ate Cadbury’s Albany chocolate, and that there was always a bar on the coffee tray.
I remember Sunday morning tea and scones at the Oceana Tea Garden in Port Elizabeth Oceanarium.
I remember wanting a Sodastream more than almost anything in the world.
I remember the rude farting noise the Sodastream would make if you overgassed a bottle.
I remember the Cream Soda flavour being the best.
I remember what a big deal it was when crinkle-cut chips first came out, and that it was Willards who introduced them.
I remember my dad’s office parties where the food was invariably Kentucky Fried Chicken family buckets.
I remember the round tomato-shaped ketchup bottles at the Wimpy restaurants.
I remember going to Mi-Vami in Pretoria Street, Hillbrow for my first schwarma.
I remember thinking that schwarmas were the best and most exotic thing I’d ever tasted.
I remember the Cremora “it’s not inside, it’s on top” advert.
I remember picnics by the roadside, with a whole roast chicken, Granny Smith Apples, Elite cheddar and Hellmann’s mayo.
I remember the tartan plastic coolbag that the picnics were transported in.
I remember when roadside picnics were not considered to be a particularly dangerous pastime.
What do you remember?
Similar Posts:
- African Cuisine eaten without a spoon
- Introducing the South African food & wine blog directory
- Bunny chows – street food, South Africa style
- Nice ‘n Spicy – and proudly Port Elizabethan!
- Oil & Vinegar, Johannesburg
Popularity: 4% [?]
April 4th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I remember having Orange Freeze and Double Thicks at the Doll House.
I remember that you could go to the Doll House in Highlands North, Johannesburg; Colbyn, Pretoria; Malvern, Johannesburg; Seapoint, Cape Town; and by the Umgeni River in Durbs.
Only the first is still around, and they don’t do Orange Freeze any more.
And in spite of the official name, we always called it “The Doll’s House”.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I remember the Doll House – my friend drove us past the remaining one on a visit to Joburg in October! I remember going there for soft serves as a student, and I’m pretty sure we called it the Doll’s House too…
April 7th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
“I remember the rude farting noise the Sodastream would make if you overgassed a bottle.” LOL, yes yes yes. My grandparents used to have a sodastream and it was the awesomest thing ever.
Eventually when we inherited it, it was never used again!
And of course the Willards Crinkle Cut ads on tv. wasn’t it about a guy’s hairstyle at one point??
I remember…a cone shaped plastic ice cream container which used to have a ball of bubblegum at the bottom. Can’t remember what it was called though.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
And I remember the song of the Ghost Pops ad on tv…(yip, there was one)
gh-gh-gh-Ghost Pops!!!
April 9th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Does anyone remember Jenny Post Mayonnaise??? It had a kind of 60′s orange/pinky lable with horizontal stripes, and tasted like Hellman’s. I think it was removed from our shelves in the late 70′s.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I am an ex capetonian. A real oldie but goody.
I remember the waldorf Cafe with the huge murals on the walls.
I remember Stuttafords Restaurant on Saturday morning. A “cool drink” and an Anchovy toast.
I remember the “Mixed Grill” at the Koffiehuis.
I remember Crayfish Mayonaise.
I remember the “Charcoal Steakhouse” in Seapoint. A steak roll was 25c. A Rump was 75c and the Filet was too expensive at R1.
I remember drinking Cooee at the Wellington Fruit Bazaar. Ginger beer was the best flavor.
I remember the Marine Bioscope in Seapoint “The Bughouse” Used to get one shilling pocket money. It was 8p for the Saturday matinee and 4d for a drink.Swopping comics during the interval.
I remember when you took back soft drink empty bottles to the Greek cafe when you stocked up on full ones.
I remember the “Starlight Stage” on the Seapoint beachfront during the season.
I remember “Uncle Vics” band playing at the Pav.
I remember using a “Clipcard” on the bus. 60 trips for five shillings. A penny a trip.
I remember Jack Lemkus where I would buy my Dinkie toys.
I remember the steak sandwhich and double thick at the Dolls House.
I remember the “Cafe Biscope” where you could “bunk” off from school and watch the same movie play the whole day.
I remember jazz night at the NAAZ in Woodstock. Great samoosas.
I remember “Penny Suckers” Lumps of flavored ice.
I remember Pepsi Floats for 9p at the Alladins Cave in Seapoint.
I remember my 21st birthday the the Florentine Grill at the Grand Hotel. Waiters in red fezzes and white gloves.
I remember Marxes Fruiterers and the huge baskets of fruit being delivered to the dockes every Thursday when the Mailship left.
I remember the “Midnight Show” at the Alahambra.
I remember eating out once a year on my parents anniversary at the Delmonico’s restaurant.
There are literally hunded of things that I am remembering about growing up in Capetown. Good memories.
May 31st, 2010 at 7:52 am
Best Fried Rice Recipe i’ve ever had. Easy to make and delicious. We are vegeterians so we left out the ham. Still delicious! Make a double batch as my family of four devoured the whole thing with no left overs