Any civilised being knows that brunch is by far the best meal of the day, since it’s like breakfast, but with alcohol added. 15/10 a grown-up affair, but not so much you can’t have all your favourite foods included!
Jordan Wine Estate always hosts the most splendid food and wine experiences. Since beginning June, they’ve served a 3-course Chardonnay brunch paired with three expressions of chardonnay. Available at 10:30am, Thursday through to Saturday, this experience has limited seating and is presented by the estate’s knowledgeable wine tasting staff. Bookings are essential.
A leisurely affair, the brunches let you discover the intricacies and varying expressions of this noble varietal, which flourishes on the Jordan estate. From the citrus and lime flavours that characterise the new Jordan Blanc de Blancs Méthode Cap Classique, to the aromas of freshly grated lemon zest and citrus orchard in the Jordan Unoaked Chardonnay, through to the bolder lemon, biscuit and citrus flavours evident in Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, these are winning wines!
This menu was developed over the course of a few months by The Bakery Head Chef Thys Esterhuysen along with Jordan General Manager and Cape Wine Master, Jacques Steyn. Together they worked tirelessly to ensure that each dish delivers a unique experience for the discerning palate, and for you to explore the delicate art of food and wine pairing.
Jordan’s food and wine pairing experience offers finesse and complexity, and all before mid-day!
Book your spot to experience this beautiful pairing menu.
Bashew’s salutes two decades of laughter with Joe Barber!
Bashew’s, the Cape’s iconic and cherished soft drink dating back to 1899, is paying tribute to one of South Africa’s most popular comedy shows, Joe Barber.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of this popular comedy series with three shows in Cape Town in November, Bashew’s is stepping into its party shoes with beloved characters Boeta Joe and Boeta Gammat. After a 5-year hiatus, Joe Barber is pulling out all the stops with a brand new show delving into barbershop antics and a special guest appearance by Shaleen Surtie-Richards. Fans can also look forward to performances by local rappers YoungstaCPT and Early B.
For most Capetonians, Bashew’s represents fun-filled childhood parties, picnics, weddings and special times with friends and family. There is no better way to honour the cultural heritage locked up in this much loved soft drink brand than with the Cape comedy phenomenon, Joe Barber. Guests can expect a Bashew’s welcome drink on arrival.
Ever since 1899, Bashew’s has aimed to make high quality soft drinks as affordable as possible for everyone to enjoy. In keeping with the original family recipe, Bashew’s winning formula has been tried and tested to give locals the authentic taste of eight fun filled flavours at a pocket friendly price.
Bring back a lifetime of good memories with Bashew’s and Joe Barber from Thursday, 21 to Saturday, 23 November 2019 at the Grand Arena, Grand West. Tickets are available at www.computicket.com.
More good news from the Elgin Valley: a winter festival! Elgin Grabouw Tourism sent me the following information:
‘There’s something quite magical and authentic about winter in Elgin. The chill brings with it a unique beauty of its own. Crisp mornings start the day with a heavy mist sunken within the dips of the rolling hills and a winter sun that shines starkly over the many vineyards and fruit orchards in their off-season slumber.
Locals greet the mornings with dragon breath and steaming cups of coffee, then wrap themselves up in the mandatory winter woollies. They are known to embrace the chill as they appreciate that the cold temperatures are good for next season’s fruit. As the last of the moody afternoon light filters through the tips of the Groenlandberg Mountain, muddy boots are hung up to dry, stoves get lit, the red wine is opened as wafts of wood burning fires and home-cooked meals fill the air.
For those not already tempted….Elgin Grabouw Tourism are inviting you to come and experience the very first Elgin Winter Festival – WINTER, WINE AND WORDS over the long weekend from 9-11th August 2019, It will be a festival to celebrate all that we love about winter, fireplaces, red wine, world-class entertainment, books and delicious comfort food!
There will also be a special focus on women in honour of National Woman’s Day on the 9th. A great excuse to escape your hibernation and come to experience Elgin’s warmth in the cold!
The Elgin Valley will be pulling out all the stops over the weekend to impress and entertain visitors, from a first of its kind, indoor Elgin Wine Festival at the Railway Market on the Friday evening, to wine master classes hosted at various wine estates throughout the weekend. Fitness enthusiasts of all levels are invited to take part in a Saturday morning Parkrun event and Sunday morning Mountain Bike Rides from Trails End Bike Hotel, which alongside South Hill Vineyards, we’ll be host to Elgin Valley’s very first Literary Book Festival for fans of crime writing.
Women’s Day bubbly specials will be running all weekend long for the ladies at the charming Rojaal Restaurant, as well as a unique and very exciting “The Wine, The Women and The Wardrobe” market at Galileo Farm. The highlight of the weekend is most definitely the live entertainment at the Elgin Railway Market on the Saturday night, where multi-instrumentalist folk-rock duo Bottomless Coffee Band will be joining us to add to the festivities. Elgin River Lodge will be offering River cruises on their open barge. There is plenty for the whole family to come and enjoy, including horseback outrides and kids’ pony rides at Long Shadows Farm. For more details on the events taking place, see weekend schedule on the website.
For further details on the schedule of events, as well as to book your accommodation for the weekend, visit the Elgin Grabouw Tourism website for more information and follow Elgin Grabouw Tourism on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Tickets for all events are limited so make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment!
‘At La Motte we are all about seasonality and in winter we celebrate the Cape tradition of well-matured red wine and venison. Join us for a four-course dinner of venison dishes by Chef Eric Bulpitt, beautifully paired with exclusive older vintages from the Rupert Vinoteque on the estate, presented by Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche.
Reserve a table with Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant for one of the highlights on the Franschhoek Winter Calendar and invite those passionate about food and wine as well as your hunter friends who might have a taste for red wine and venison!’
Date: Friday 23 August 2019
Time: 18:30
Cost: R795 per person
Reservations are essential. To book a table, please contact La Motte at +27 (0)21 876 8800 or pierneef@la-motte.co.za
Please note that reservations will be confirmed after full upfront payment.
I’ve been cheating on the Cape Winelands with Elgin Valley for a while now. It’s a big love affair and although I want to share the good news from Elgin with you, I also kinda want to keep it just to myself, so that it doesn’t become another overcrowded tourist trap. It ticks all the boxes for me: high in the mountains, simple country vibe, lushness, orchards, happy people making extraordinary food. Simplicity and sophistication, not an easy combination, but SALT gets it bang on.
On the Marque PR sent some news about SALT restaurant’s winter menu. So I’ll share, happily. Because SALT is a very good restaurant and the Elgin Valley is beautiful.
The food, service and views at Paul Cluver’s SALT are all exceptional.
Go there, if you can. You will be changed for the better. Take your time, linger, and make the most of it.
‘Keep the cold at bay this winter with a 3-course menu (a choice of dishes per course) from SALT @ Paul Cluver, with each course paired to perfection with a great glass of wine. Stunning value at R400pp.
The menu features a seasonal salad or game fish starter, pork belly or springbok rump for mains and sweet, delicious decadence for dessert. A seasonal vegetarian main of the day is also available. Add to all of this the breathtaking vistas of the fruit orchards, lush gardens, the Groenland Mountains as well as a cosy fireplace, and you have all the ingredients for magical day out.
This exceptional lunch-time special is available Tuesday to Sunday (SALT is closed on Mondays), and bookings are advisable. For more information or bookings contact the restaurant on salt@cluver.com’
My own experience of lunching at SALT was that it is sophisticated yet homey, a beautiful and relaxing space with amazing vineyard views and great service. The food is prepared with care, a lot of love, and passion. It’s a really personal, humanising experience to lunch at SALT.
SALT at Paul Cluver is on the award-winning Paul Cluver Wine Estate in the Elgin Wine Valley, approximately 60 minutes from Cape Town.
I’ve never been particularly partial to pasta, even when living in Italy. I could just never see the point and don’t ever order it in a restaurant, preferring my own concoctions at home, which generally ain’t too bad. (South African restaurants tend to maul pasta to a mush that’s most unpalatable.)
So that was my personal pasta philosophy, until I recently attended a Pasta Ripiena Master Class by Chef Giorgio Nava at one of his 95 Collection restaurants, 95 at Parks.
Well, clearly, I’d never had proper pasta before. Now, I’m a complete convert. Evangelical, even. Yes, I’ll shout it from the rooftops: Pasta reigns supreme, but only when made by a master.
Chef Giorgio was ably assisted by Maria Giovana Palumbo, the honourary Italian mama, and 95 at Parks’ Head Chef Jonas Munyaneza, from Rwanda. Each of the trio have their own preferred method for making pasta, and it’s all good.
Giorgio is an amusing raconteur, animated and sincere, and very, very passionate about his Italian food heritage. Nothing less than perfection will do. Extraordinary attention is paid to detail, the best ingredients sourced meticulously, using time-honoured methods. The proof is in the..well, not exactly pudding, but the pasta was certainly extraordinary. Feather-light and flavoursome, a rich yellow hue from the amount of eggs added to the dough, each different stuffed pasta shape was served with its complementary sauce. Ravioli, cappelletti, tortellini and, my personal favourite, faggottini or little bundles, that looked like tiny flowerbuds.
Snacks were served before the action began – melt-in-the-mouth zucchini fritti and slivers of Grana Padano. As with all things Italian, the proper method, precise temperature of flour, zucchini and oil are all crucial to ensure perfect crispness and texture. I could easily have slipped the whole wedge of Grana Padano into my handbag and was sorely tempted to do so – its mild, mellow sweetness making it the perfect appetiser.
After the demonstration, we were treated to a seemingly never-ending feast of different stuffed pastas and a little treat of deep-fried Montanara pizza, a street-food snack that originated in Naples. I’ve been obsessed ever since, and can’t wait to take my entire family back to relive the experience.
It takes time and patience to get the pizza pasta dough just so – Chef Giorgio uses a 150 year-old mother yeast from a panettone factory in Italy for the dough fermentation, a process that takes 48 hours. He explained that this long fermentation improves digestibility and texture of the famous house-made pizzas, grissini and foccaccia.
The pasta dough is put through a pasta roller (or hand-rolled) until it has reached the desired thinness to be cut and filled. A true labour of love; passion in action.
The Pasta Ripiena festival is served at both restaurants in the 95 Collection, i.e. 95 at Parks, and 95 Keerom.
I took the opportunity to ask Chef Giorgio 5 questions, which he answered in his inimitable, straightforward way.
EDCT: Giorgio, when did you first come to South Africa and what made you decide to live here and open a string of highly successful restaurants? Any regrets if you could do it all over?
GN: I arrived in Cape Town 20 years ago, saw a good opportunity in a beautiful city and country that keeps me here, yes, I have no regrets.
EDCT: Food is a story and also an expression of a country’s culture and soul. You tell the story of Italian food very well with great skill. What does your heritage of Italian food mean to you, what is it that you want people who eat at your restaurants to experience and understand of this heritage?
GN: In my plate beside the food, I add the idea that Italy it is a country with lots of history, culture, art, fashion, design and not only pasta and pizza.
EDCT: More than any other chef I’ve known, you take the customer’s experience and needs of restaurant dining very much to heart. You are very aware of market needs and constantly adapt, yet always stay true to your own vision. How do you manage to achieve this balance consistently? Some chefs become detached from the customer’s experience of their food, but to you it always genuinely seems to matter
GN: It is a simple formula, cooking and eating is a natural passion in any Italian family, bring food to any table and there must be a joy and feast, my customer are treated like family not like clients.
EDCT: You travel widely and stay in touch with colleagues and developments abroad. What are your thoughts about the South African culinary scene at present, especially fine dining?
GN: SA Fine dining has become extremely boring, everyone cooks and plates the same food in the same way with Asian influences that has nothing to do with this country. All the new young chefs have been working for a short time in the same 3 (famous) restaurants that are copy paste, they all use tweezers to plate invisible food and all love tattoos and beards.
EDCT: Being a professional chef is one of the most demanding careers imaginable – physically, emotionally, and financially. Great sacrifices are required on many levels. What continues to inspire you and keep you going?
GN: I am a workaholic and I love new challenges, I can’t live with the same routine.
One of my favourite sayings is: ‘Save earth, it’s the only planet with chocolate.’ In our house, the chocolate festival never really goes away, and I’ve devised all sorts of cunning ways to hide my favourite chocs from the other choc monsters in the family. I always lose but hey, one day I’ll find the perfect hiding place…On the other hand, sharing is caring, right?
So, it gives me great pleasure to share with you news from On the Marque PR about this year’s Chocolate Festival. But first, a little temptation:
Ready for the details? ‘Chocolate, chocolate and even more chocolate! That’s what you are guaranteed to find at this year’s Chocolate Festival. Heaven for any sweet tooth fanatics, this two-day chocolate extravaganza takes place over the weekend of 31 August and 1 September (10am to 4pm daily) at The Woodmill in Stellenbosch.
Expect to find a chocolate line up of gastronomical proportion: the usual, plus a handful of artisanal gems and more. Oodles of chocolate, macaroons, decadent chocolate brownies, indulgent donuts, deliciously creamy (and dreamy) ice-cream, liquorice, marshmallows, candyfloss and so much more. There’s no end in sight for the sweetness overload at this not-be-missed event.
Balancing out the sweetness will be a selection of non-chocolate offerings. These range from charcuterie, hamburgers, pizzas, artisanal cheeses and breads and so much more. The young ones will be kept entertained with a movie lounge, face painting and popcorn . While the little ones are kept entertained in a supervised area mom and dad can relax and unwind with live music, gin, bubbly, wine and craft beer offerings.
A fun-filled family day to the winelands with something in store for young and old. Tickets cost R180 per person and includes entry and a goodie bag. Entry for children under 18 is R50 each and includes popcorn and a Slush Puppy. Pre-booking via www.webtickets.co.za is essential as tickets are limited to 2 500 per day and they sell out fast!
For information contact event organisers DnA Events & Festivals on info@dnaevents.co.za.
It’s the annual Franschhoek Bastille Festival this weekend, and the perfect excuse to dress up in your finest French attire as you join in the festivities of celebrating Franschhoek’s French heritage. The historic Franschhoek Huguenot Monument is the place to be for this two-day event, which takes place over this weekend of 13 and 14 July.
Taking it up a notch this year, festivalgoers visiting the Food & Wine Marquee are invited to dress according to the theme – your finest red, white and blue French inspired outfit – to stand the chance of winning the Franschhoek Bastille Festival Best Dressed title.
First, second and third prize winners will be drawn on both days! The marquee is guaranteed to keep out the cold, yet still offering exquisite views of the mountain. Ample parking on the grounds allow for comfortable walking distance to and from the village.
Sample the wide selection of Franschhoek wines on offer, or treat your taste buds to the variety of delicious gourmet fare available to purchase from some of the Valley’s well-known restaurants.
The quirky caricature artist who captures your Bastille experience to perfection, the popular Porcupine Ridge Barrel Rolling Competition and live music add to the elements for a fabulous day out. A beret and baguette add the extra pizzazz needed for a memorable Winelands French experience.
The village, which will also be ‘dressed’ in its finest French apparel, is a hive of activities and adds to the hype and excitement the weekend has become known for.
Tickets to the Food & Wine Marquee cost R395 per person, and include entry, a complimentary tasting glass, wine tasting coupons and a R20 voucher which is redeemable on the day. Additional coupons can be purchased on the day. As tickets are limited pre-booking via www.webtickets.co.za is strongly advised. Children under 18 enter for free. The festival times are 11am to 5pm on the Saturday, and 11am to 3pm on the Sunday. Sunday’s festivities are ideally suited for the whole family with ample fun kiddies’ entertainment for the young ones.
Grande Provence celebrating women this August with phenomenal events!
Grande Provence is embracing women throughout August with a host of unforgettable events and special offers in honour of all sisters, mothers, wives and daughters.
To get the celebrations rolling, round up your best friends for an afternoon of Bubbles & High Tea at this picturesque landmark Franschhoek heritage wine estate on Women’s Day, Thursday, 9 August.
With the theme of white, denim and a touch of bling, guests will receive bubbly on arrival at 12 noon and an assortment of indulgent treats for R395 per person.
The next Women’s Month event on Wednesday, 21 August takes you on an Italian adventure with a pasta making workshop guided by head chef Marvin Robyn. Learn how to make pasta from scratch followed by an Italian harvest lunch for R395 per person.
Women’s Month at Grande Provence will culminate with an insightful make-up workshop on Saturday, 31 August with special guest Minki van der Westhuizen and Marilize de Clerq who will give their best advice about fashion trends and personal styling. Bring your own make-up and brushes and learn how to use them in the best way possible. This afternoon workshop will cover topics such as beauty and skincare, hair tips and tricks, and share some valuable aesthetic advice by guest experts Show Hair Salon, The Lazer Lab and Dr Lehandri Maree. To book your seat at R650 per person please email: info@aliciabuckle.co.za
Grande Provence will be pulling out all the stops during the entire month with pop-up stalls from various fashion brands, beauty products and craft condiments. The Bistro is offering a daily cake buffet and a piping hot cup of tea or coffee at R125 per person. As an added treat, female guests will enjoy savings of 25% off all food and wine purchases on the estate during August.
The Gallery at Grande Provence will be celebrating Women in Art with an exhibition of paintings, sculpture, ceramics and photographs by amongst others Krisjan Rossouw, Lori Schappe-Youens, Talitha Deetlefs and Charmaine Haines.
With such a fabulous pick of activities, why not round up your friends and take advantage of the exclusive Girl’s Night Out accommodation offer at Grande Provence. The luxuriously appointed Owner’s Cottage can accommodate up to 10 guests at an exclusive Women’s Month rate of R15 000 per night for the entire cottage. For a more intimate girl’s night out, the more secluded La Provençale, accommodates a maximum of 4 guests at R7 500 per night. This special offer is tailor-made and includes breakfast, a complimentary wine tasting, dinner and tickets for the famous Franschhoek Wine Tram.
Do you remember when you were a child, waking up after you’d been to the circus the night before and pinching yourself the morning after to remind yourself that you’re back in reality after the most wondrous experience?
Well. Today I felt like that, except that a visit to La Colombe is no circus. Magical and enchanting, it most certainly is.
I’ve eaten in many, many Michelin-starred restaurants in my life, spoilt brat that I am, and not a single one has ever brought me even close to tears. La Colombe did, with each and every single course. Superlatives escape me. It was FUN. And delicious. An other-worldly experience.
Can’t remember when I last experienced so much happiness, and joy.
I took my daughter for her celebratory 18th birthday lunch (thanks to Luxury Brands, who kindly hosted us) and my child and I were both enchanted, bewitched and thoroughly well-fed from start to finish.
The venue is exquisite, perched high on the hill at Silvermist, with views that will make your jaw drop in awe.
I had no expectations whatsoever. I knew that the restaurant was good, but I had NO idea just how good it would turn out to be. A good restaurant, in my experience, makes you feel more human and better about life than before you entered it and experienced it.
The atmosphere and decor, for a fine-dining restaurant, is relaxed and easy-going. The service (our waiter was Jean) is friendly, warm, easy-going, expertly trained and a good guide for newbie visitors like us. They made us feel completely at home.
The presentation of each single dish was a delightful surprise. I was so busy taking photos as our ‘Enchanted Forest’ Garden Snacks were brought to the table, it took me a minute to realise that the goddess at our table was none other than Head Chef Jess van Dyk. How special is that?
La Colombe has just extended their Winter Lunch Menu at R495 for 4 courses (with many special treats inbetween) from weekdays to weekends as well and I urge you to drop everything you are doing right now, and book a table while it lasts. (Winter is probably the best time to experience the very best of Cape Town’s finest restaurants!)
Some highlights of our meal:
The bread course, prepared at table:
This was the incredible La Colombe Tuna.
And there was the palate cleanser, simply named ‘Naartjie’
La Colombe has also just been appointed 114th position on the World’s 50 Top Restaurants by whomsoever deign themselves qualified to make such judgements. I don’t really care about restaurant beauty competitions, though, because for me personally, La Colombe is #1. I like having fun when I eat out, and I also like to eat a lot.
La Colombe delivers on all counts, and then some.
It’s among the very finest dining experiences Cape Town has to offer, in my opinion. Because it’s personal, friendly and relaxed; a little piece of heaven high up in the mountains. And the food is sublime.
What truly astonished me was that the staff were all so young: chefs, waiters, receptionists, everyone. In my own experience of a long, long lifetime of eating out, this quality of food and service is generally only delivered by staff who have been in the industry for a very long time; most of them fairly jaded.
La Colombe is fresh, energetic, dynamic and super-accomplished on every level. I was truly astounded.
Fine dining can be super-intimidating, sometimes belaboured, boring and downright dull, and that is precisely what La Colombe is not. It’s just fun. And delicious. Beautiful. And refreshing.
I’m not going to spoil your experience of La Colombe by describing what exactly awaits you – just go with an open mind, go with the flow, and savour every second.
It will change your mind about food, service and pleasure, for ever.