Yumcious Restaurant in Cape Town

This new eatery by the renowned chef and TV personality Jenny Morris combines yummy nosh and delicious healthy treats into one wholesome offering

The first thing I notice about the chef is her warm smile as she waves in my direction. I’m at Yumcious, a delightful new restaurant at the Cape Quarter in Green Point by well-known chef and TV personality Jenny Morris. “Come in darling, grab a plate. I want you to taste and eat as much as possible,” says the chef as she hands me cutlery and points me to the KiloTable (more on that later). 

Yumcious officially opened its doors in December 2015 as a result of what Jenny describes as “satisfying the need to feed more people”. There’s also the fact that she is absolutely in love with food. “I always say that I grew up in a garden,” she says. “I would wake up to the fresh smell of strawberries and just loved the fact that we grew everything that we ate.” This awareness of freshness is what ushered her into the culinary industry. Several cookbooks, a cooking show and a chef school later, Jenny is ready for the next course in her culinary career.

I’ve just filled my plate with all sorts of salads and mixtures from the KiloTable and am ready to dig in. This table is one of the main offerings at Yumcious and is packed with bowls of goodness that folk can choose from and weigh once satisfied that they’ve grabbed everything they like. The fare on offer changes daily – something Jenny conceptualised in order to keep her mind stimulated (she gets bored easily) and her regular visitors happy – and is as fresh as possible. Flavours evident in the dishes draw from Jenny’s travels so one can expect anything from a touch of Thai to French flair. “I dream up recipes,” says Jenny. “I dream about textures, flavours, colours, ingredients and I put them together in really unique ways.”

And that’s something I can definitely taste in her dishes. From the pear, biltong and blue cheese salad, to the roasted beetroot, carrot, feta and pomegranate mix, I can’t help but feel as if the flavours are dancing in my mouth and putting together a show for my taste buds that will linger in my memory long after I’ve taken the last bite.  

There’s also the non-changing menu for folk who are looking for a good old burger or sandwich. Some recommendations – from Jenny – include the French Kiss (French toast with whipped orange and honey butter), the Yumcious Burger (egg, bacon and mushroom perched on toppings) and the Chef’s salad (honey-roasted butternut on a bed of fresh greens, feta and roasted seeds served with freshly baked bread).

We’re deep in conversation, I’m sipping on a cappuccino made with almond milk (my first time – not bad at all), Jenny has just shared a memory of her cooking for former President Thabo Mbeki when a customer walks up to our table, and says to her, “you know, every time I come here it just gets better”. The customer then turns to me and continues, “She literally just gives from her heart. That’s what comes out of these dishes”.

And that’s essentially what Yumcious is – an extension of Jenny’s heart. “We want your mouth to love you when you leave here. And that’s something that really comes from cooking from the inside. If it’s what you feel, then it’s what you do, and I just live for this,” says the chef who is also known as the ‘giggling gourmet’.

I’ve finished my food and it’s time to head back to the office. I take one last look at the place, soak it all in and decide that I will certainly be back. And as if she read my thoughts, Jenny waves and says, “You just have to come back for the pork belly, okay?”

Note: Yumcious has beautiful artwork adorned on its walls, which are for sale. There is also a range of teapots and cook books available for purchase. Just approach Jenny or any of the friendly staff for details.

Tip: The beautiful venue is available for hire. For more information email info@yumcious.co.za or call +27 (0) 21 418 8000

The Bill: Food from the KiloTable is charged on weight, while prices on the standard menu depend on a particular item. Breakfast items range between R45 and R75, gourmet sandwiches are priced from R60 to R68, burgers cost between R75 and R105, and salads range between R55 and R95.

Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday; 7:30am – 4:30pm

Cape Quarter Square | 27 Main Road | Green Point | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 418 8000

by Dudu Luthuli

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