A delightful deli in Sea Point wins over Kate Walker with its dreamy cake and charming personality.
Like people, restaurants give off a vibe. I like to surreptitiously slink by to catch a glimpse of what it’s all about, and I’ll only go in if I’m feeling it. Norfolk Deli, on Norfolk Road in Sea Point, puts out all the right vibes: casual but not in a ‘we’re too cool for you’ way; friendly but not effusive; busy but not because it’s trendy, just because it’s good at what it does.
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However, this was not my first encounter with the neighbourhood delicatessen that Chelsy and Marius Theron recently opened. I had been swooning over its funfetti-style cake on Instagram for well over a month and dreaming of the day we’d make our acquaintance. That destined day had come.
Glimmers of winter sun filtered through the spaces between the patio’s large umbrellas and overhead awning, and an old gent stretched his legs out to catch the rays. ‘Must be nice’ is written on the outside wall, and I was still deciding on its meaning when the hiss of a coffee machine and early morning mutter drew me inside.
Two friends fresh from a prom walk were chatting over their second cup of coffee while a group of hipsters huddled around a corner table discussing their latest venture. There was a couple ferociously typing behind their laptop screens, and some travellers, staying in the Airbnb above, were enjoying breakfast before they took on the city.
Against the walls were open shelves stacked with a mix of imported and local goods, like Santa Anna’s organic nacho chips, Hoghouse hot sauces and Babylonstoren teas, oils and olives. The fresh breads, rusks and cookies were also calling my name. And I made a mental note of the fridge full of everything from precooked meals and homemade soups to Peregrine Farm Stall’s famous pies and tubs of Kristen’s Kick-Ass ice cream.
Mellow indie-pop music added an upbeat mood to the small room. A display unit caught my attention with a spread of bagels, stuffed croissants, fluffy frittatas and a lineup of chocolatey treats. And that was just inside the case; on top was a tower of Marie Biscuit fudge and a plate of pecan and banana loaf slices.
And then I saw it, displayed in a smaller fridge unit, among a family of enormous croissants – the birthday cake, with rainbow sprinkles and all! A sweet guy called Kudzi must have caught me gawking because he asked if I needed help or perhaps a seat.
The time had come. I grabbed the morning paper off the counter and took a seat at the one and only empty table outside. My creamy latte, prepared by Parice, the chatty barista, arrived with a thick slice of the cake: layers of buttercream icing, soft sponge cake, and a shower of hundreds and thousands. The Instagram post did not do it justice. Every mouthful was perfection.
Needless to say, I left with a take-away bag filled with a roast beef bagel (for lunch), a packet of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (for snacking), and another slice of cake (for my ‘sister-in-law’).
The Norfolk Deli vibe:
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Details:
- Location: 6 Norfolk Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
- Contact: 065 617 7129
- Times: Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm | Saturday, 8am to 3pm
- Online: @norfolk.deli
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Picture: Chanelle Naudt / Cape {town} Etc