‘No grumpy husbands,’ says a board outside, and it’s hard not to smile at the signs that abound at Tam’JaZi gift and coffee shop, a few kilometres outside Alexandria on the Port Elizabeth side of the R72 in the Eastern Cape.
It’s easy to believe you’ve reached the end of the rat race, as a notice in the parking lot advises. There’s a crèche for husbands, dogs have their own rest room and kids can amuse themselves in a playground and farmyard that includes a bossy pot-bellied pig, cute ducklings on Ducktail Avenue and Oom Bok’s bokkies.
‘Wrong side of the bed’ breakfasts (scrambled eggs on toast with grilled tomatoes) are designed to put patrons in a good mood. If that doesn’t do the trick, try a savoury pancake, kudu burger or a slice of calorie-laden umsobo-topped cheesecake (umsobo, or nastergal in Afrikaans, is a delicious wild berry).
Everything is home-made at this family roadside business, from the frozen pies to the ‘Nothing wrong with shopping’ sign in the gift shop. I can’t wait to go back for more apricot mustard and umsobo jam.
Don’t be surprised if you see a crazy woman driving a tractor in high heels as she cuts the grass around the farmyard. ‘It makes it easier for me to reach the pedals,’ chuckles owner Sandy Zehmke.
‘My kids thought Ma had lost the plot when I told them I’d left corporate life in Port Elizabeth and bought a smallholding outside Alexandria,’ she says, grinning.
Sandy had the last laugh: she used her children’s initials to conjure a name for the ostrich hatchery she turned into a farm stall.
Now there’s a guest cottage as well and daughter Tammi was so enchanted with the setup that she gave up her job in London to help run the family’s new business.
Tam’JaZi is a refreshing spot to break a journey that’ll leave you smiling for many kilometres. Tel 046-653-0914, cell 072-729-5355.
Hot tip:
Add a lekker local dash to a cheese plate or cheesecake with umsobo jam next time you entertain friends.
GPS:
S33° 38’ 29’’ E26° 21’ 30’’
