34 South, Knysna South Africa

After 2 nights at the gastronomic harmonic symphony of the Phantom Forest Tree-Top Lodge, we fancied a gentle tone to finish our visit to Knysna so took a stroll along the pier in town. We were looking forward to a meal whose name didn’t need a linguistics degree to fathom and whose ingredients didn’t need a master’s degree in Botany to decipher.

We were recommended 34 Degrees South and it was a great place to visit. Aside from being a standard seafood restaurant, they also had a deli, sushi conveyor belt, an impressive array of wines and erm, South Africa’s largest scale car collection. Not sure what the connection is but I was here for the chow.

My wife and I both tucked into a large bowl of oysters each, and a variety of cold starters. I’m gutted that the photo is blurry because this mouthwatering selection included Snoek Pate (a local fish prepared in the traditional Cape Malay style), Danish Herring (with apples, raisins and tomatoes), Peri Peri Calamari Heads and Sweet Pickled Yellow Peppers.

All these and many more local delights were available at the counter which I took a stroll around in preparation for the main dish. It really makes you realize what we’re missing out on in parts of Europe when you see the great varieties of seafood and how you can spend weeks just enjoying the starters themselves.

Above the deli counter is a sad reminder that over population and over-fishing is driving certain species to extinction. I have to admit that I’d never even heard of fish such as Potato Bass, Spotted Grunter or White Mussel Cracker, never mind eating one.

In slightly unconventional fashion, we finished off with a Cape Malay Seafood Curry and a Fish Soup.

Last but not least, the place also boasts the largest collection of tobasco and other hot sauces that I’ve ever seen.

34 South
Shop 19, The Waterfront Knysna Quays
Waterfront Drive
Knysna
6570 South Africa
http://www.34south.biz/index.php