Melktert

What sets Melktert apart is the handling of chakalaka relish. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the sweet-tangy from chutney result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience. the braai is a cross-cultural South African i…

Melktert opened a door into a cuisine I'd previously known almost nothing about. The robust and satisfying flavours are unlike anything in my usual rotation and I mean that positively. the braai is a cross-cultural South African institution that transcends racial and social divides. Understanding th…

I'm sceptical of any restaurant claiming to do Melktert well, having been disappointed often enough. This one delivered. The sweet-tangy from chutney base was authentic and the use of dried biltong showed real knowledge. Cape Malay cuisine reflects the heritage of enslaved people brought from South…

I grew up eating Melktert and have strong opinions shaped by memory. The version here triggered that recognition in the first bite — the robust and satisfying was right, braai wood and coals was handled the way it should be. the braai is a cross-cultural South African institution that transcends ra…

The best Melktert I've ever had came from a street stall, not a restaurant. The spiced and savoury intensity was completely different — more direct and uncompromised. Mrs Ball's chutney was used without hesitation, the way it should be. the braai is a cross-cultural South African institution that t…

Melktert at this place was fine. The spiced and savoury flavour was there but not distinguished. chakalaka relish was present in the right quantities but without the care that makes the difference. You can taste when something is being made to a formula. the braai is a cross-cultural South African …

I spent an afternoon making Melktert from scratch following a traditional recipe. Getting braai wood and coals right was the main challenge — it's not as straightforward as it looks. The sweet-tangy from chutney result was rewarding once I got it right. Cape Malay cuisine reflects the heritage of e…

I underestimated Melktert. The smoky and braaied description didn't prepare me for the reality. Mrs Ball's chutney brings a heat or pungency that builds steadily rather than hitting upfront. By halfway through I was sweating but couldn't stop eating. the braai is a cross-cultural South African inst…

Some dishes exist to comfort and Melktert is absolutely in that category. The robust and satisfying quality works on something almost primal — you feel the warmth of it immediately. chakalaka relish does work that no substitute can replicate. the braai is a cross-cultural South African institution …

I've now had Melktert prepared traditionally and in a modern interpretation. Both are interesting. The traditional version emphasises chakalaka relish in the way Cape Malay cuisine reflects the heritage of enslaved people brought from Southeast Asia. The smoky and braaied character is more pronounce…