The Juice: Get off to a chirpy start at Starlings

Though it may feel as though you've stumbled upon the wardrobe that leads to Narnia, the neatly tucked away gem in Cape Town's southern suburbs, Starlings Café, is not as much of a secret as you might think.

Having been in operation for about six years, this daytime eatery is popular and once you've sampled the fare, it's easy to see why.

The menu is simple, offering a variety of classic breakfasts and lunches. It changes regularly, depending on availability and seasonality of certain ingredients, but there are a few staples almost always on offer, including eggs Benedict in its many guises, a beef burger, tart of the day and so on.

And there is always a bevy of delicious baked treats, displayed under glass cloches.

Sounds like your average local café, but the difference between what's on offer at Starlings versus the others, lies in the effort that owner Trish Krutz goes to know the provenance of the food.

She makes sure the ingredients she uses are as ethically produced as possible.

The biodynamic eggs, for example, are from chickens that are free range and reared on feed that is free from preservatives, colourants and animal by-products.

The beef is grass-fed, the pork is pasture-reared, and the chicken is hormone-, growth- stimulant-, and antibiotic free.

Not only does that make for peace of mind, but the food is delicious, too.

They are not licensed, so there's no alcohol, but they squeeze their own juice daily .

In winter, when you can sit next to a crackling fire inside the converted Victorian house, there will be Thai green curry or a hearty soup on the menu.

In warmer weather, opt for a seat in the dappled light under the quince trees and enjoy a goat's cheese soufflé with salad.

The wheat-free chocolate friands are an absolute triumph and go well with the good Origins coffee or Nigiro tea.

• 94 Belvedere Road, Claremont, Monday to Friday 7am-5pm, Saturday 8am-4pm, Sunday 8am-2pm, 021-671-6875, www.starlings.co.za