I must admit to being a bit of a 'when we' and love anything nostalgic. After all, taste is also an emotional component of a dish. Last night, Joburg welcomed me to a chilly two degrees and, to warm up, I decided to have a great steak, chips and salad at Wombles in Parktown North.

I fondly remember Wombles from growing up in Zimbabwe. Fellow 'when wes' Duncan and Yvette Barker still own Wombles and Chef Nesbert, who is now head of the kitchen, was in those days a kitchen assistant. This time, the fillet on the bone topped with porcini marrow and red wine tempted me, but in the end I opted for the rump steak with a monkey gland sauce on the side. And I couldn’t resist my annual indulgence and had the marrow bones on toast to start.

To be quite honest, I think they packed two years’ worth into my portion! Wombles has that old-world nostalgic charm with a touch of Africa, and plenty of big smiles all round. The monkey gland sauce was delicious, smooth and tangy, a perfect reminder of the good old days.

Keep warm!
Abigail