Easter is only two days away but it feels like only yesterday that we were dusting off our Christmas trees. This holiday is another excuse to indulge, so join us as we explore a variety of traditional Easter dishes from around the world.

In Italy, breads like Pannetone (fruit and nut bread) and Colomba (dove-shaped bread) are served. To round off the Easter meal, a traditional ricotta-based Easter Pie is served.

In Greece, Easter cookies called Koullourakia are made with orange juice and topped with sesame seeds.  Baklava, a dessert of honey and crushed nuts between layers of phyllo pastry is popular around the world. Main dishes include roasted lamb with mint sauce and Mayiritsa Soup.

Kulich, a bread used in religious ceremonies, is eaten in Russia. It is a tall, narrow, egg-based bread dotted with pieces of orange, almond, raisin and saffron. It is mostly served with Pashka, another Easter dish made from fresh cottage cheese which resembles a cheesecake without the crust.

Traditional Brazilian dishes include Paçoca (a Brazilian sweet made of mashed and pressed ground peanuts, sugar and cassava flour) and a white fish called Clipfish.

In Spain, no meat is eaten on Good Friday so dishes include Sopa de Ajo (garlic soup) and Potaje de Vigilia (a stew of cod, chickpeas and spinach). Another popular dish is Torrijas; thick slices of bread soaked in milk and beaten egg, fried in olive oil and served with sugar or honey. A popular Easter celebration cake is called La Mona de Pascua, decorated with coloured feathers and big chocolate figurines. 

In America, lamb is traditionally served as it represents the sacrificial lamb of the first day of Passover of the Jewish people. Another favourite is cured pork.

In the UK, Hot Cross Buns are served, bearing a cross as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made. As the English moved around the world, this tradition has spread far and wide. Another English Easter favourite is the rich fruit Simnel Cake – covered with a layer of Marzipan and 11 marzipan balls around the top to represent the 11 faithful disciples of Jesus.

Here at Cape Grace it’s all about chocolate. Enjoy a Sunday Buffet lunch at R275 per person. For the entire month of April, our Afternoon Tea will feature ‘a spoonful of chocolate’ as an Easter reminder. In addition, we are serving a special 3-course chocolate-inspired Dinner Menu from 1 to 30 April at R295 per person. This includes a welcoming Chocotini cocktail, Sous-vide Quail to start, seared salmon with cocoa crumble and caramel marshmallow pie for dessert. Check our website for the full menu.