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 île de païn - bread & café This is your spot for breakfast Stylish bread heaven - by now the secret is out. Follow the gorgeous comforting smell of warm bread and settle down to the best breakfasts and lunches available anywhere! Think Mediterranean-inspired lunches, with ingredients such as balsamic caramelised oni and garlic chilli mayo. Freshly-baked croissants, magnificent sourdough bread and pastries will tempt you, as will the unique, local cheeses, great espresso coffee, and the fresh fruit salad with mint and lemongrass syrup. But what could be more comforting than perfectly baked bread with butter and preserves? Sit right next to the ovens and see the breads in various stages of preparation, then take some home with you, all wrapped up in white tissue paper. If you had not yet heard of Knysna's île de païn, it would only be a matter of time before someone told you to go there. It is famous for serving delectable dishes combined with the freshest, local ingredients and hand-shaped, wholesome sourdough loaves made from stone-ground flour and baked in a wood-fired oven. Liezie Mulder, the chef/owner of île de païn, does not like to speak about the awards she and her team have received over the years but simply explains: "We serve what we love to eat and the café is our dining room ". The big crusty loaves have regulars lined up at the local markets every Saturday. Always focusing on the raw ingredients, slow fermentation and methods long forgotten by modern baking; and the mighty wood fired oven which burns for 12 hours each day before baking commences in the early morning hours. Most dishes on the menu include île de païn bread in some shape or form and offer a wide variety of textures and delicate flavours. "We make everything that we use here and use fresh, local ingredients as much as possible", explains Liezie, "one exception is the "Grand Cru" chocolate that is used for the most luxurious hot chocolate you will ever taste. It is also used in the chocolate mousse for after lunch or in the chocolate chip cookies which can be taken out as a pick-me-up". The interior of the café is also unique. The menu is written on large blackboards and printed plastic sheets are the only separation between the kitchen and the dining area. Large clusters of light bulbs hang from the ceiling and décoration is minimal. The environment as rustic, comfortable and unpretentious. The layout is simple, the large wood-fired oven is part of the décor, and the ambience is created by the people. ""There are people who come and eat here every day and it has become one big family." "It is the people that make a place happen. We want to create an environment where good food can be shared. Good food has life. Love life. This is what keeps the people coming back for more!" Thesen Harbour Town, The Boatshed #10 "under the coral trees" Tues - Sat : 8:00 - 15:00 / Sun: 9:00-13:30 - Always closed on Monday's Tel: 044 302 5707 First come, first serve No changes or substituti    |
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