Rupesh, the architect of this walking culinary tour through Cape Town’s streets, believes food is a universal language that has the potential to connect people from all walks of life. His love affair with food began after a decade-long career in banking when he left the corporate world to set off on a journey into the culinary world as a chef. This led him to Johannesburg and Zanzibar where he worked in restaurants and later became a food critic. After moving to, and falling in love with Cape Town, he set up Eat Like a Local to introduce visitors to the cultural diversity, robust history and the one-of-a-kind cullinary experiences that Cape Town has to offer.

We begin our culinary immersion on Kloof Street, outside the Mustacchio Café. Following the brief meet and greet, and the run down of today’s procedings, Rupesh leads us to our next stop. We arrive, a mere 500 metres later, at Jason Bakery on Bree Street. The bakery’s namesake, owner Jason Lilly, opens for breakfast and lunch, and his menu is the stuff of dreams. If like us, you dream of pastry then Jason Bakery is a magical wonderland of sweet and savoury treats. There’s also enough time on the stop to indulge in some of the treats – we cannot recommend the heavenly Cranberry Danish enough.

Three blocks from Jason Bakery we arrive at Nitro House, an easy-going coffee house and eatery, where the coffee is full-bodied, the food wholesome and the cakes mouthwatering. But also worth writing home about is their Kombucha and their book exchange program.

Our next stop is Bokaap, the colourful Cape Malay neighbourhood at the foot of Signal Hill. We make a stop at Fatima’s stall at the Atlas Trading Co. or The Spice Shop, as it’s referred to by Bokaap locals. Fatima serves up some Samoosas and Chilly Bites and speaks about the centra role spices play in Cape Malay cooking.

We walk on to the next attraction, 400 metres from the Bokaap. We arrive at Heritage Square, which historically, housed bakeries, tobacco shops and gunsmiths. Today the square is home to the Heritage Hotel and several top restaurants. But of even greater interest is that the square still has a grapevine that’s been growing since the 1770’s and still produces grapes for wine. Just off the square, is The Hot Skillet, located inside the Youngblood gallery. The owners of The Hot Skillet, Gamotsengang and Onginga got their big break as contestants on My Kitchen Rules TV show. Following their elimination from the show they decided to open their own restaurant and were fortunate enough to find a home at the gallery. More than venue, this location has inspired them to approach every dish as a work of art. And of course, it goes without saying that each one tastes like a masterpiece.

With inspiration aplenty we head off to House of H. Founded by Heinrich Koen and his wife, the restaurant serves fine grilled meat and craft beer in a shebeen setting. Officially opened in August 2016, House of H brings something a little different to the city’s culinary landscape in the form of a self-service “one-stop-shop”. With a key focus on serving high-quality local and organic meat products, House of H’s daily blackboard menu changes with the availability and the seasons of produce. Emphasising self-sustainability and being environmentally conscious, Heinrich and Christina take pride in planting and growing all that they can in-house.

We make our way to our final stop through St. George’s Mall, a pedestrian route lined by sidewalk coffeeshops and frequented by live acts. When we finally arrive at Moro Gelato, an artisanal ice cream parlour, we order some of the signature Italian-style gelato and sorbet. Moro Gelato was founded by Stefano Moro in 1982. The modern establishment incorporates the love of family and food. Moro Gelato offers a guilt-free experience of the finest authentic Italian dessert. From their milk tart to their rooibos flavours, there is something for every palate.

While the food and the culinary history of the Mother City are the main course, the walking tour also offers a unique perspective of the city. This is a great opportunity to explore Cape Town at a leisurely pace and a chance to admire some of the city's architectural charms and influences, all while getting a taste of its distinctive flavours.