Introduction:

• It’s less than 50 days to go to the FIFA World Cup 2010.
• The tourism authorities are saying that there will be at least 250 000 international fans are about to arrive in South Africa to watch the football.
• And every one of them needs to eat.
• Which is fine except that if they book up all the restaurant tables where are we going to eat?
• The trick is to make a booking now so that even if all 250 000 of them descend on your favourite eatery you will be sitting pretty at your reserved table.
• This alimentary plan of action is advisable for match night even in those host cities where there are lots of restaurants but in the smaller host cities it is absolutely essential.
• Do not pitch up in Polokwane or Rustenburg without a reservation and expect to find a table available.
• What follows is the football fans food route…
How are we going to do this?
• Today we will do the little 5 i.e. those host cities that are not known as foodie hot spots (Bloemfontein, Polokwane, Rustenburg, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth).
• Next week we will do the big 5 (Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria).
• My reasoning is that the host cities that have fewer epicurean options will book up quicker. If you miss out on a given option in Cape Town you can find an alternative. If you fail to secure a table at the few decent restaurants in Rustenburg you are going to go hungry.
• Take my advice book today for eateries in the little 5 host cities.

HOST CITY 1: Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein’s Free State stadium is hosting five first round matches and one second round match. This is more than enough games for you to tire of the pitch-side kiosk kos.
Where to celebrate a win in Bloemfontein:
De Oude Kraal Country Estate, N1, 35km south of Bloemfontein. Tel 051 564 0733.
• If it’s a super serious win head for posh nosh at De Oude Kraal Country Estate.
• Gerhard and Marie Lombard’s country restaurant is situated on their 2400ha merino sheep farm. The farm house dates back to 1885. And there are pictures of Marie’s granny who founded it all over the dining room…
• Blesbok and peacocks roam the gardens and black-headed herons nest in the surrounding trees.
• Food is fabulous. Five-course set menus are offered as culinary love letters to the Free State terroir. Expect the likes of caramelised sweet potatoes, denningvleis lamb and angelically-light malva pudding.
• NB. This is a lovely place to stay too so if you are going to be around for a while make a booking now.
Where to go if you need cheering up after you lose in Bloemfontein…
Molakedi’s Bush Pub 219 Mochera Street (cnr Ngcayiya road), Cape Stands, Bloemfontein. Tel: 082 990 5046
• Buck Molakedi’s tavern in the township of Cape Stands offers traditional African and European style beer.
• Chisa nyama style food – nothing like a cholesterol overload to cheer up a football failure.
Where the soccer widow can hang out in Bloemfontein while waiting for husbands to come back from the games…
Meel; 87A Kelner Street, Bloemfontein. Tel 051 448 8836.
• Unashamedly girly.
• Super stylish bakery/ café with a pretty pink and white interior.
• Breakfast sees perfect croissant (the chef was trained at Ile de Pain in Knysna).
• Lunch is a ‘feast table’ buffet with all manner of delicacies. Soups, straight from the oven baguettes, blah, blah yum, yum.

HOST CITY 2: Polokwane

NB. Polokwane is culinarily challenged. So book fast …
Where the winners have gone before in Polokwane…
Mawetse Fine Dining 54 Jorissen Street, polokwane. Tel: 015 297 4439
• If your team is triumphant at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane why not follow time honoured tradition and go where other winners have gone before you.
• Rumour has it that during the December 2007 ANC National Conference the Zuma camp practically lived in the restaurant at Mawetse Fine Dining so this is JuJu central.
• Tank of oysters, bacon wrapped beef fillets, champagne bar and cigar lounge.
• Just the ticket for celebrating in style.
Pissed off in Polokwane? Or wanting a trip down memory lane …
Basil’s Restaurant at the Ranch Hotel, 30 km outside Polokwane 015 290 5000
• Zimbabweans who went to boarding school in Johannesburg all remember a stop off at the Ranch hotel.
• It’s 30km outside Polokwane.
• Basil’s restaurant inside the hotel is a lovely retro-chic trip down memory lane.
• Great chocolate cake. Proper salt slaked chips and good piri-piri chicken.
• Just what you need if you are feeling a bit miserable after loosing a match.
• Soccer widows should know there is a jungle gym and trampolines for kids to play on.

HOST CITY 3: Nelspruit

The Mbombela stadium’s name is derived from a siSwati word which literally means 'many people together in a small space'. Those who don’t like to eat in a crowd need to start making restaurant bookings now…
Drink until you forget?
Magnolia, Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, Cnr Hazyview Rd (R40) and Numbi Rd (R538), White River, Mpumalanga. 013 751 1947, www.mag-nolia.co.za
• White River’s Magnolia restaurant is only 40 km from Nelspruit and the sensational rose water martinis are the way to go after a loss.
• Once you have drunk yourself into oblivion in the restaurant you can fall into bed in the attached Casterbridge Hollow boutique hotel where handmade nougat on the pillow awaits.
You can afford to be generous when you know youre going to win.
Trattoria Stefano Steiltes Shopping Centre, Nelspruit. 013 744 9310
• Kitsch can be irritating if you have lost but it's such fun when you are in a good mood after a win – New Zealand are playing Italy in Nelspruit so you really do need to go Italian after that match.
• What's not to love about an Italian restaurant with a pizza oven shaped like the Colliseum.
• Great Sangria too...

HOST CITY 4: Rustenburg

• This really is our foodie problem child.
• Despite its platinum mining economic boom Rustenburg could not be described as a culinary capital.
• If you ask the locals where to eat they will direct you to the Waterfall Mall where you will find franchises such as the Cape Town Fish Market and Piatto Mediterranean Kitchen. A mall is no place for a proper celebration.
If you have scored big at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium:
Villa del Palazzo at the Lost City 014 557 4308 during service, 014 5571000 after/between service hours
• 50 km outside Rustenburg
• Opulent with a capital O
• Menu designed by Conrad Gallagher the ultimate culinary dodgy chef who has once again skipped the country leaving a pile of debts and dubious deals behind him. Oysters in a Bloody Mary vinaigrette drizzled oysters
• Truffle risotto.
• Monk fish wrapped in pancetta
• Impossible to imagine how it could be posher.
If you are needing post Rustenburg comfort only the Silver Orange will do:
The Silver Orange Bistro; R513, 400m from Mfula Junction, Hartbeespoort. Tel 012 253 2136.
• Only 80km from Rustenburg.
• Chef Leon Nel runs the best restaurant in the North West Province.
• Menus change daily but expect the likes of duck and fig samoosas, quails on Dijon mash. Seriously sexy pudding menu.
• Very thoughtful, remarkably reasonable wine list for those needing to drown sorrows.
The most surprising soccer score of 2010 goes to…
Red Dragon Chinese; 0299 Old Rustenburg Road, Ultra Shell, Waterval, Rustenburg. 014 597 1248
• Good quality, cheep and cheerful Chinese food.
• Don't be put off by the petrol station location. Beggars really can't be choosers.

HOST CITY 5: Port Elizabeth

The Ashley Cole option for those wanting to hook up with a footballer over dinner…
Jeya Jazz Corner; Sheya Kulati Circle, Cnr Ferguson Road Ave A, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth. Tel: 041 454 7567
• Teams triumphing at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium always end up at Jeya Jazz Corner in New Brighton township so why not follow them there?
• Once you get there you are going to have to locate your own footballer but owner Noxolo Sume offers traditional Xhosa food, live music and ‘ngudus” (local slang for a beer quart) galore.
The comfort food option for after you have hooked up with a footballer and lived to regret it…
Old Cash Store; 278 Sardinia Bay Road, Port Elizabeth. Tel: 041 366 1211
If you are feeling terrible after a loss comfort can be found at the Old Cash Store where Mark and Mandy Wattam’s melt in the mouth tender pork ribs and apple crumbles are legends in their own lunchtime.
The serious score (plus forget Ashley Cole look at chef Matt Repton…)
Vovo Telo; 16 Raleigh Street, Richmond Hill Port Elizabeth. 041 5855606
• This is a really serious artisan bakery with an attached café.
• They really do give places like Ile de Pain in Knysna and Moemas in Joburg a serious run for their money in terms of the best bakery in South Africa.
• Nice shabby chic décor ratty old Persian rugs and beautifully weather beaten tables from the Transkei.
• NB. For Gautengers - They recently opened Johannesburg branch at 44 Stanley Complex in Aukland Park. This really is ikoloni teaching Gautengers what good bread ought to taste like...
• Also I don’t yet know his name but the boy running the Gauteng branch is if anything even prettier than Matt Repton. Clearly PE has a seriously good gene pool.