Most people buy a jar of olive tapenade, spread it on a cracker and stop there. But tapenade — a blend of crushed olives, capers, olive oil and herbs — is one of the most versatile ingredients in a kitchen. It is a pasta sauce, a pizza base, a marinade, a sandwich upgrade and a breakfast game changer. Here are seven ways to use tapenade that go far beyond the cheese board.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-04-07 19:08:472026-04-10 21:56:50How to Use Tapenade: Seven Ways to Serve It Beyond Crackers
The Swartberg Pass is a 27-kilometre gravel road that climbs 1,585 metres through one of the most dramatic mountain crossings in South Africa. Built by Thomas Bain between 1881 and 1888 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it connects Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert in 1.5 hours of driving. This guide covers timing, named stops, vehicle requirements, the Die Hel detour, where to refuel and where to eat at the end of the pass.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-04-07 19:08:452026-05-12 15:14:40The Swartberg Pass Road Trip: A Complete Guide to Stops, Safety and Where to Eat
Extra virgin olive oil is the one ingredient that turns a good braai marinade into a great one. As a natural emulsifier, it binds herbs, garlic, citrus and spices into a stable coating that locks in moisture and builds flavour — while adding the polyphenols and antioxidants that make it one of the healthiest cooking fats available. Here are five olive oil braai marinades, each designed for a different protein.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-04-07 19:08:432026-04-10 21:56:47The Ultimate Olive Oil Braai Marinade Guide: Five Recipes for Every Meat
A Harvard study tracking more than 90,000 people over 28 years found that those who consumed olive oil daily had a 19 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a 17 percent lower risk of dying from cancer and a 29 percent lower risk of dying from neurodegenerative disease. The health benefits of olive oil and olives are no longer a matter of folk wisdom — they are among the most thoroughly researched findings in modern nutrition science.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-04-03 09:43:502026-04-10 21:56:45The Proven Health Benefits of Olive Oil and Olives: What 90,000 People and 28 Years of Research Reveal
A growing body of evidence suggests that South African extra virgin olive oil is not only fresher and more traceable than many imported alternatives — it may also be more likely to be genuine. With 26 percent of imported olive oils in South Africa failing quality tests for extra virgin classification, local producers are making a compelling case for buying homegrown.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-04-02 06:33:532026-04-10 21:56:43South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil Outperforms Most Imports — Here Is Why
Up to 70% of extra virgin olive oil sold in supermarkets worldwide fails to meet the quality standards printed on its own label, according to research conducted by the University of California, Davis — a finding that raises serious questions about what South African consumers are actually pouring over their food.
The problem is not limited to bargain-bin bottles. Studies published by the UC Davis Olive Center, along with investigations by consumer watchdog organisations in Europe and Australia, have found that mislabelling, adulteration and quality degradation affect products at every price point. For South African buyers, the issue is compounded by the distance that imported oil must travel and the time it spends in warehouses and on shelves before reaching a kitchen. Understanding how to identify real extra virgin olive oil is no longer a matter of connoisseurship — it is a matter of getting what you are paying for.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-03-31 19:01:362026-04-01 11:14:56How to Tell Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Fake: A South African Buyer’s Guide
In a region celebrated for lamb and wide open skies, a wood-fired pizza topped with kudu salami is quietly becoming one of the most talked-about dishes in the Karoo. At Cafe O on Swartrivier Farm in Prince Albert, it brings together game meat from the veld and artisan food made by hand — a single plate that captures the flavour of the landscape it comes from.
The dish is not complicated. Hand-stretched dough, a wood-fired oven, tomato sauce, mozzarella and slices of cured kudu salami finished with a drizzle of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil from the farm next door. Yet it is this simplicity that keeps drawing visitors back, and it has become a quietly persuasive reason to add Prince Albert to a Karoo itinerary.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-03-31 19:01:342026-04-01 11:23:15Kudu Salami Pizza: The Wood-Fired Karoo Classic Drawing Visitors to Prince Albert
The Swartberg Pass, a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved through ancient quartzite mountains, has become one of the most celebrated road trip routes in the Western Cape — and the small Karoo town of Prince Albert, waiting on the other side, is the reason more travellers are making the journey every year.
The 27-kilometre gravel pass, built by master road engineer Thomas Bain between 1881 and 1888, connects the lush Klein Karoo to the arid Great Karoo through a landscape so geologically significant that it earned its place on the UNESCO list in 2011. For visitors driving from Cape Town, it is the dramatic final act of a road trip that combines coastal scenery, wine country charm and high-mountain spectacle in a single day.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-03-31 19:01:322026-03-31 19:01:32The Swartberg Pass Road Trip: A Complete Guide from Cape Town to Prince Albert
South African extra virgin olive oil has moved from regional curiosity to international contender in less than two decades. Local producers are now winning gold medals at the world’s most prestigious olive oil competitions, earning quality scores that place them alongside the best estates in Italy, Spain and Greece. For consumers who have long defaulted to imported Mediterranean oil, the evidence is becoming difficult to ignore: some of the finest olive oil in the world is now being pressed in South Africa.
Gold Medals and 97-Point Ratings: South Africa on the World Stage
The shift in perception has been driven by results. South African olive oil producers have collected gold and silver medals at competitions including EVOOEUM in Spain, the Mario Solinas Quality Award (run by the International Olive Council), the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition and the London IOOC.
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-03-30 10:10:512026-03-30 10:45:31Why South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is Rivalling the Best in the Mediterranean
Prince Albert has long been called the Jewel of the Karoo, and the title is not an exaggeration. This small town at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains has reinvented itself as one of South Africa’s most compelling food, art and nature destinations, a place where farm-to-table dining, world-class mountain passes and night skies free of light pollution converge in a single, unhurried weekend. Here is what to do when you get there, organised by visitor type and by the time of day each activity makes most sense.
WHICH PRINCE ALBERT DAY FOR YOU
The food and farm day: Saturday market, olive farm tour and tasting at Swartrivier, long lunch at Cafe O, dinner at Karoo Kombuis
The mountain and views day: Swartberg Pass crossing, lunch at Cafe O on the descent, late afternoon walk in the village
The slow weekend: Friday arrive and dine, Saturday market and olive farm, Sunday Swartberg Pass and lunch out
The art and heritage day: Fransie Pienaar Museum, Church Street galleries, Karoo Kombuis dinner
The stargazing trip: Day at the olive farm or fig farm, dinner at Lazy Lizard, late-night sky tour from a local guesthouse
https://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.png00Kirsty van der Walthttps://www.oforolive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/oforolive_black.pngKirsty van der Walt2026-03-30 10:10:492026-05-12 15:20:57What to Do in Prince Albert: The Karoo Town That Serves Up Food, Art and Mountain Views
Find Us
Swartrivier Farm is 4 km from Prince Albert on the Kruidfontein Road (turn at the Prince Albert Golf Club and follow the signs).
How to Use Tapenade: Seven Ways to Serve It Beyond Crackers
Most people buy a jar of olive tapenade, spread it on a cracker and stop there. But tapenade — a blend of crushed olives, capers, olive oil and herbs — is one of the most versatile ingredients in a kitchen. It is a pasta sauce, a pizza base, a marinade, a sandwich upgrade and a breakfast game changer. Here are seven ways to use tapenade that go far beyond the cheese board.
Read more
The Swartberg Pass Road Trip: A Complete Guide to Stops, Safety and Where to Eat
The Swartberg Pass is a 27-kilometre gravel road that climbs 1,585 metres through one of the most dramatic mountain crossings in South Africa. Built by Thomas Bain between 1881 and 1888 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it connects Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert in 1.5 hours of driving. This guide covers timing, named stops, vehicle requirements, the Die Hel detour, where to refuel and where to eat at the end of the pass.
Read more
The Ultimate Olive Oil Braai Marinade Guide: Five Recipes for Every Meat
Extra virgin olive oil is the one ingredient that turns a good braai marinade into a great one. As a natural emulsifier, it binds herbs, garlic, citrus and spices into a stable coating that locks in moisture and builds flavour — while adding the polyphenols and antioxidants that make it one of the healthiest cooking fats available. Here are five olive oil braai marinades, each designed for a different protein.
Read more
The Proven Health Benefits of Olive Oil and Olives: What 90,000 People and 28 Years of Research Reveal
A Harvard study tracking more than 90,000 people over 28 years found that those who consumed olive oil daily had a 19 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a 17 percent lower risk of dying from cancer and a 29 percent lower risk of dying from neurodegenerative disease. The health benefits of olive oil and olives are no longer a matter of folk wisdom — they are among the most thoroughly researched findings in modern nutrition science.
Read more
South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil Outperforms Most Imports — Here Is Why
A growing body of evidence suggests that South African extra virgin olive oil is not only fresher and more traceable than many imported alternatives — it may also be more likely to be genuine. With 26 percent of imported olive oils in South Africa failing quality tests for extra virgin classification, local producers are making a compelling case for buying homegrown.
Read more
How to Tell Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Fake: A South African Buyer’s Guide
Up to 70% of extra virgin olive oil sold in supermarkets worldwide fails to meet the quality standards printed on its own label, according to research conducted by the University of California, Davis — a finding that raises serious questions about what South African consumers are actually pouring over their food.
The problem is not limited to bargain-bin bottles. Studies published by the UC Davis Olive Center, along with investigations by consumer watchdog organisations in Europe and Australia, have found that mislabelling, adulteration and quality degradation affect products at every price point. For South African buyers, the issue is compounded by the distance that imported oil must travel and the time it spends in warehouses and on shelves before reaching a kitchen. Understanding how to identify real extra virgin olive oil is no longer a matter of connoisseurship — it is a matter of getting what you are paying for.
Read more
Kudu Salami Pizza: The Wood-Fired Karoo Classic Drawing Visitors to Prince Albert
In a region celebrated for lamb and wide open skies, a wood-fired pizza topped with kudu salami is quietly becoming one of the most talked-about dishes in the Karoo. At Cafe O on Swartrivier Farm in Prince Albert, it brings together game meat from the veld and artisan food made by hand — a single plate that captures the flavour of the landscape it comes from.
The dish is not complicated. Hand-stretched dough, a wood-fired oven, tomato sauce, mozzarella and slices of cured kudu salami finished with a drizzle of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil from the farm next door. Yet it is this simplicity that keeps drawing visitors back, and it has become a quietly persuasive reason to add Prince Albert to a Karoo itinerary.
Read more
The Swartberg Pass Road Trip: A Complete Guide from Cape Town to Prince Albert
The Swartberg Pass, a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved through ancient quartzite mountains, has become one of the most celebrated road trip routes in the Western Cape — and the small Karoo town of Prince Albert, waiting on the other side, is the reason more travellers are making the journey every year.
The 27-kilometre gravel pass, built by master road engineer Thomas Bain between 1881 and 1888, connects the lush Klein Karoo to the arid Great Karoo through a landscape so geologically significant that it earned its place on the UNESCO list in 2011. For visitors driving from Cape Town, it is the dramatic final act of a road trip that combines coastal scenery, wine country charm and high-mountain spectacle in a single day.
Read more
Why South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is Rivalling the Best in the Mediterranean
South African extra virgin olive oil has moved from regional curiosity to international contender in less than two decades. Local producers are now winning gold medals at the world’s most prestigious olive oil competitions, earning quality scores that place them alongside the best estates in Italy, Spain and Greece. For consumers who have long defaulted to imported Mediterranean oil, the evidence is becoming difficult to ignore: some of the finest olive oil in the world is now being pressed in South Africa.
Gold Medals and 97-Point Ratings: South Africa on the World Stage
The shift in perception has been driven by results. South African olive oil producers have collected gold and silver medals at competitions including EVOOEUM in Spain, the Mario Solinas Quality Award (run by the International Olive Council), the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition and the London IOOC.
Read more
What to Do in Prince Albert: The Karoo Town That Serves Up Food, Art and Mountain Views
Prince Albert has long been called the Jewel of the Karoo, and the title is not an exaggeration. This small town at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains has reinvented itself as one of South Africa’s most compelling food, art and nature destinations, a place where farm-to-table dining, world-class mountain passes and night skies free of light pollution converge in a single, unhurried weekend. Here is what to do when you get there, organised by visitor type and by the time of day each activity makes most sense.
WHICH PRINCE ALBERT DAY FOR YOU
The food and farm day: Saturday market, olive farm tour and tasting at Swartrivier, long lunch at Cafe O, dinner at Karoo Kombuis
The mountain and views day: Swartberg Pass crossing, lunch at Cafe O on the descent, late afternoon walk in the village
The slow weekend: Friday arrive and dine, Saturday market and olive farm, Sunday Swartberg Pass and lunch out
The art and heritage day: Fransie Pienaar Museum, Church Street galleries, Karoo Kombuis dinner
The stargazing trip: Day at the olive farm or fig farm, dinner at Lazy Lizard, late-night sky tour from a local guesthouse
Read more