Green Leaf Cafe and 2nd Annual Halloween @ Barnacles

Lou's jack-o-lantern skills!

The craziness of life has yet again gotten in the way of me posting on some of our recent Crawls. Hopefully, by the end of the year I will be caught up and ready to start fresh in 2015.  So, here goes, a double post on the last two Crawls of October.

On October 23 the Crawlers headed to the Green Leaf Cafe at The Donkin Reserve located on Belmont Terrace in Central.  This was our second visit to this shop previously known simply as The Donkin Coffee Shop (see Jan, 2012 post).   Back in January, 2012 this Wilderness Foundation coffee shop business had only been open for four months.  At that time the Crawlers were totally impressed with the Umzi Wethu trained staff.  Now, the shop has been running for almost three years and has changed its name to the Green Leaf Cafe.  Umzi Wethu graduates still continue to staff the coffee shop as chefs, baristas and waitrons serving up luscious baked goods, fresh-to-order breakfasts and lunches, and LavAzza coffee beverages.

This Week's Crawlers
Vicki, Arthur, Margaret M., Nicolette, Beryl, Pierrette, Stella,
Gail, Margaret Z., Beth, June, Nomusa. Leanne

Thirteen Crawlers, June Nash, Leanne Waller, Nomusa Nkomo, Beth Vieira, Vicki Minnaar, Gail Darne, Nicolette Hijmans, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Margaret and Arthur Marshall, Margaret Zoetmulder, and Pierrette, De Winne, joined me at this historical PE site to enjoy delicious coffee, excellent service, and a beautiful ocean view.  Staff members Wendy and Mawanda couldn't have been more accommodating and welcoming of the Crawlers.

Meet Thursday's Staff
Barista Wendy and Chef  Mawanda

The last time we visited, a number of Crawlers ventured up to the top of the lighthouse.  No one was feeling adventurous at Thursday's Crawl, so we just took some time after coffee to stroll the Donkin Reserve grounds.  After a wonderful morning at the Green Leaf Cafe and The Donkin I can only repeat what I said in my Jan, 2012 post.......PE residents, take some time to check out this little gem right in your own backyard!

The Green Leaf Cafe is open Monday through Friday, 8-4 and Saturday from 8:30-2:30.  The venue is available for private functions and off-site catering.  Call 041 582 1303 for bookings or to get info on their catering services.

Our October 30 Crawl was a combination Halloween/Birthday celebration.  Last year Halloween fell on Crawl Day, and Barnacles proved to be the perfect venue for the occasion (see Nov, 2013 post).  The Crawlers decided that a 2nd Annual Halloween Crawl was in order and that last year's site would be just right.  So, off we headed to Barnacles on Thursday, October 30, which just so happened to be my birthday.

In the true spirit (no pun intended) of the holiday everyone dressed up (and brought me a birthday cake!), and Lou and I provided the jack-o-lanterns and buckets of candy.  Our lovely hostess, co-owner Sunette du Plessis, had the patience of a saint as 18 Crawlers, Margaret Zoetmulder, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Gail Darne, Nomusa Nkomo, June Nash, Fran de Beer, Vicki Minnaar, Margaret and Arthur Marshall, Elize Pretorius, Nicolette Hijmans, Elaine Watson, Sandy Venter, Dale Mitchell, Beth Vieira, my husband Lou, and I ordered cakes, breakfasts, House of Coffee beverages, and later on, wine and mixed drinks to go with my birthday cake.  Barnacles offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner selections........and, they're fully licensed....something for everyone!

Nomusa

Beryl

Dale

The Halloween Crawlers
Elize, Gail, Nicolette, Nomusa, Stella, Margaret Z., Vicki,
Sandy, June, Fran, Beth, Dale, Margaret M., Beryl, Arthur
Not pictured. - Elaine, Lou, Ellen

For the second Crawl in a row we enjoyed a stunning ocean view.  On our first visit to Barnacles we searched the sea for quite a while looking for a show of marine life and were treated to a playful pod of dolphins right near the shoreline.  This year we were fortunate to sight a few whales in the distance!  The Crawlers have agreed that Barnacles is definitely the place for all future Halloween Crawls!

Love my candy corn!

Barnacles is located at 1 Elizabeth Rd. in Seaview.  The restaurant's hours are Mon-Sat, 9-9 and Sun, 9-3.  Call 041 378 2058 to book a table or to enquire about hosting your next special event or function at this glorious seaside venue.

~Thank you to Wendy and Mawanda from Green Leaf Cafe
~Thank you to Sunette from Barnacles
~Thank you to the Crawlers for making my birthday a memorable one!
~Congrats to Byron Keets, Donovan McLagan, and Ishaan Natalie for winning their respective
  events at the SCASA (Speciality Coffee Association of Southern Africa) Championships in Gauteng   last week!  Good luck on your upcoming international events!

Until next week,

Ellen