Queensburgh Cheshire Home: Good Food for a Good Cause

Chews Wisely | By Christine Soobramoney

Your guide to good food and a happy mood.

The Durban food scene is a culturally diverse one, filled with unique flavours and cuisines. Whether I'm craving authentic, comfort food from a local takeaway or feel like indulging in gourmet dishes at a trendy, upmarket restaurant, the city always has a spot to satisfy me. However, the endless dining options can leave one spoilt for choice. That's where my reviews come in. Just an everyday foodie sharing my personal experiences and opinions on what's worth eating. My simple aim is to help guide someone on their gastronomic exploration of our vibrant city and enable them to "chews wisely".

Queensburgh Cheshire Home

I'm starting off with the most recent spot I got to savour at with a friend, a quaint little tea garden and the food stalls at the Queensburgh Cheshire Home, the oldest residential home in South Africa, assisting physically disabled adults.

We attended the home's Winter Fete which had a variety of stalls to shop at and support the home in raising funds.

While scouting for trinkets at the charity shop, I couldn't resist the intoxicating aroma of boerewors sizzling away at the food stalls. This compelled my friend and I to try out the assortment of meals on offer.

We were greeted by friendly faces, volunteers at the tea garden, who took our orders and ushered us to an available table. We were served our generous mugs of coffee almost immediately and the food followed shortly after.

The tea garden offered a pleasant selection of simple, home-made meals that were extremely affordable. The menu included butter chicken roti rolls, aromatic breyanis, burgers and an assortment of freshly baked cakes and fluffy scones, along with hot drinks to accompany them.

We settled on the butter chicken roti and the decadent looking carrot cake. Naturally, my friend grabbed the boerewors roll that was teasing our senses earlier along with some freshly made vedas.

The table settings had an antique charm that made it feel homely. The live musician singing old time classics, accompanied by a gleeful dancer added to the relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. I later learnt that the dancer with down syndrome was a regular favourite at the charity market, dubbed the "Dancing Queen". She brought joy and smiles to the audience and served as a reminder of the selfless cause of the home.

Overall the food was tasty and hearty and well worth the price paid. The vedas were crisp and satisfying but the carrot cake stole the show. It was moist with the perfect balance of spice and sweetness. This dessert alone is enough to make a visit worthwhile. Thus, I would highly recommend anyone to pop by the Queensburgh Cheshire Home.

The tea garden is open when their charity shops are open, Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:30am to 12pm. They also hold Open Days mainly on the last Saturday of the month.

A morning spent at the home is a heartwarming way to give back to your community. It boosts your mood and you get to discover hidden treasures for your home and your tastebuds.