Jason Lilley, a.k.a. Captain Bread, takes us on a foodie tour of Green Point

We find out exactly where Jason eats when he’s not at work…

By Jade Taylor Cooke

Ask a Green Point local where to head for brunch, or where to pick up proper bread, pastries and weekend provisions, and it’s highly likely they’ll send you to Jason Bakery. It’s owned and run by the eponymous and inimitable Jason Lilley (a.k.a. Captain Bread), who perfected his sourdough loaf while most of the rest of the city was still cutting its teeth on store-bought sliced.

So, what does the proprietor of one of the city’s most enduringly popular restaurants do in his own ’hood when he’s off the clock? Quite a lot as it turns out…

“Green Point is very family-oriented,” Jason tells us. “We have the beautiful Green Point Park, plenty of family restaurants and the Virgin Active Collection Country Club. It’s also less than 10 minutes from the Sea Point Promenade, a golf course, and the V&A Waterfront. And the Green Point & Oranje-Kloof City Improvement District (GPCID) does a wonderful job of keeping the area clean and safe.”

Of course, what we really want to know is where Captain Bread eats when he’s not at Jason Bakery. He lets us in on a few favourites:

Hemelhuijs

The design-led Hemelhuijs – another deservedly enduring Cape Town eatery – is one of Jason’s favourite spots. “It has a sense of sophistication and elegance,” he says. “As soon as you walk through the doors, you start to relax.”

Here, beautiful, locally handcrafted crockery and carefully considered interior design meet exacting culinary standards and the creativity of founder and chef-patron Jacques Erasmus. “The flavour combinations are exceptional, and they are consistent,” says Jason.

Loading Bay

In De Waterkant, Loading Bay is a must-visit for Jason, drawn by their flat whites and the Aesop body products sold on the top floor. This neighbourhood gem is a favourite spot for locals and visitors alike and is known for its great coffee, epic breakfasts and delicious baked goods, as well as its retail offering; the space also houses a men’s apparel section on the mezzanine level. “JP [JP Bolus, founder and director of Loading Bay] and I have known each other for about twenty years,” explains Jason. “He’s always been focused on quality. It’s all ethically sourced and true to the product.”

El Burro

No round-up of Green Point gems would be complete without the Mexican restaurant that helped a generation of Capetonians graduate from Tex-Mex slathered in cheese to authentic tacos made using freshly made, hand-pressed corn tortillas.

What’s Jason’s go-to order? “The fish taco. And I stand by my mango margarita recommendation.”

Woolworths, Portside Shopping Centre

A regular stop at Woolies is, of course, non-negotiable for a family man. What does someone surrounded by food all day never leave without? “That’s a difficult one, as I have so many favourites, but if I had to narrow it down, it would be the prawn cocktail chips. I’m addicted.”

From elegant meals to flat whites, fish tacos, frozen margaritas and an unapologetically addictive packet of chips, Jason’s favourite stops reveal a simple philosophy: good food doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be done properly, consistently… And with a little personality.