Ticket price unchanged at Taste of Cape Town

The ticket price is unchanged and at the same level as the first event six years ago. This year, festival-goers will also have a modern guide, the new Taste app for smart phones, so they can traipse between flavour hot spots dotted around the foodie playground without missing a beat.

The pop-up restaurant concept added to the festival last year will have foodies in awe. "It brings with it a very adventurous way to enjoy the diversity of tastes Cape Town is known for." Taste hunters can try dishes as diverse as champagne-poached oysters and seafood bredies, a dish named "Message in a Bottle" and miso-glazed short rib with fresh kimchi. The pop-up dining experience brings rebel with a food cause Bruce Robertson of The Boathouse, Luke Dale-Roberts of The Test Kitchen/The Pot Luck Club, La Colombe with Scot Kirton and Tanja Kruger of Makaron Restaurant at Majeka house.

Eleven restaurants chosen

In addition to the pop-ups, the 11 restaurants chosen to represent the spectrum of tastes of the Mother City dish up their signature creations in started sized bites. The restaurants include: Henrico Grobbelaar of The Twelve Apostle's Azure Restaurant, Natasha Wray of 96 Winery Road. De Grendel Restaurant debuts at the festival with Ian Bergh, Shaun Schoeman of Fyndraai Restaurant on Solms-Delta, Signal Restaurant at Cape Grace with Malika van Reenen, Sanel Esterhuyse from Savour at 15 on Orange, Jewel of India's Dayan and Shankar Poojary , Beefcakes Burger Bar, represented by Wonderful Ndhlovu, Il Leone Mastrantonio and Daniel Toledo Dash Restaurant and Bar at the Queen Victoria Hotel with Craig Paterson and Stefan Marais of The Brasserie.

A brand new initiative at the festival - Taste Craft Beer Project - will showcase more than 18 of the country's best quality craft beers on tap. This collection of micro-breweries will be on hand to quench the thirst for craft beer, with each brew paired with dishes featured at the festival.

Other culinary highlights include:

• Food Market: Hand-picked artisan producers, premium drink brands and award-winning wineries in the laid-back atmosphere of a boutique food market. Sip on Bain's Mountain Whiskey or the Fairtrade wines on offer while dipping into pesto, munching on gourmet cheese and stocking up on pantry stuffers to get you ready for autumn entertaining.

• For those looking for a 2013 dinner party wow-factor, the Pick n Pay Chef's Theatre will feature live demos by top chefs. For the hands-on visitors, the Pick n Pay Wine and Canapé Experience will reveal the secrets to creative pairings of canapés and wine in an interactive area.
  
• Cape Town Angels Benefit Stage: An eclectic group of performers the likes of Janie and The Beard, Natasha Meister, Philip Malan, and Silent Side are brought to Taste of Cape Town by the Cape Town Angels.

• Lindt Al Fresco: Lindt's Master Chocolatiers from the Cape Town Chocolate Studio create fresh Lindor truffles and pralines by hand to enjoy along with Lindt Hot Chocolate in the al fresco dining area. The Lindt shop will have decadent goodies from its Excellence and Creation ranges on sale, to satisfy the craving on the go. At the Chefs Theatre the Lindt Chocolatiers will do more sweetening up, demonstrating their master craft with amazing chocolate sculptures.

• The Royal Thai Embassy puts Thai chefs on show preparing popular dishes in cooking demonstrations throughout the festival. Savour the culture, traditions and lifestyle through authentic dishes and flavours. To add to the experience visitors will also get a chance to enter the lucky draw and win a round trip for two to Thailand.

• Taste Fest App: Apple, Android and Blackberry users can enjoy an interactive map to navigate the show and stay up to date with the Pick n Pay Chef's Theatre timetables with a "My Diary" feature to make the most of the visit. The app puts all the interesting facts on chefs, restaurants and festival exhibitors in the palm of the hand. It is available to download from 30 March from your device's app store.

• Do good/feel good by supporting The Chipembere Rhino Foundation. They are committed to on-the-ground assistance in the protection and conservation of Africa's rhino. Show your support by stocking up on branded caps and shirts at the festival.

• Cape Town Angels: A non-profit company driven by a group of young professionals operating in and around Cape Town. Through commitment, partnership and collaboration they share "The Magic of Compassion" by boosting other social responsibility initiatives and developing community based projects.

Green as you go, "taking the environment into account and ensuring best practice in terms of sustainability can only add to the flavour experience that epitomises Taste," said Drake.

The sponsors, Pick n Pay and Orbit Sugar Free Chewing Gum, place a high premium on environmental issues and actively promote and operationalise sustainability in their core activities. Pick n Pay has multiple green awards, including the Retail Sector of the Climate Change Leadership Awards (CCLA) 2013.

The festival has partnered green companies Interwaste, which will be providing recycling facilities on site, and Green Home Products, leader in biodegradable food packaging, which will supply the eating utensils and bowls - all made from natural and renewable materials. Water suppliers San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna preserve their sources and look for solutions for controlling and reducing the environmental impact from conserving water.

Culinary currency

Restaurants and special feature areas operate on the Festival Crown, the event's official currency. Festival visitors use these Crowns to purchase dishes and drinks from exhibitors and bars. Each Taste of Cape Town Crown is worth R5 and prices range from 4 to 8 Crowns per dish.

Standard R80 tickets include entrance to the festival and tasting glass. Premium R180 tickets include entrance to the festival, a tasting glass and R100 Festival Crowns .Taste Clubhouse Experience by DStv R685 includes fast-track entrance to the festival, tasting glass, R150 Festival Crowns and complimentary bar service (malt, wine and soft drinks) in a private clubhouse and a Taste of Cape Town gift.

All tickets can be bought online from www.itickets.co.za or by calling ITickets on 0861 000 291.

For updates on the festival line-up, news on chefs and their dishes, stay in touch on Facebook or Twitter: @tasteofCT or visit www.tasteofcapetown.com.

Dates and times:

• Thursday, 11: 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
  
• Friday, 12: 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
  
• Saturday, 13: 1st session 1pm to 5pm. 2nd sessio6.30pm to 10.30pm.
  
• Sunday, 14: 12pm to 5pm