Picnics and lunch at Holden Manz, Franschhoek

Just before Christmas, we were invited by Karl Lambour, 

 

the new Cellar master at Holden Manz in Franschhoek, to sample their picnic, which costs R145 per person for a basket for 2. Children have a special menu at R45 per head. He has moved there recently from Constantia Glen.

We started with a tour of the Guest House, whose decor has changed considerably since our first visit, when the farm had its original name, Klein Genot.

The basket comes with a tablecloth, napkins, cutlery & plates and a bottle of mineral water. 

If you wish, you can buy some of their wine and they will supply glasses. 

Our basket had humus, tzatziki, olives and chicken liver pate with bread and melba toast, two salads packed into jars, charcuterie, warm steak slices, chicken pieces and good local cheeses with fig preserve. 

There were even 2 desserts: cinnamon chorros and the best chocolate brownies we have ever tasted. 

What impressed us the most was the wonderful picnic spots along the riverside, all with marvellous views of the mountains and river and most with good shade. They have placed concrete benches and tables for you to use as well or you can sit on the grass. 

When we had taken lots of photos of the picnic and sampled a little of the food under a heavily overcast sky, we saw that rain was imminent, so we went to have lunch at the restaurant and to enjoy a glass or two of the very good Big G Bordeaux blend. 

John and Carl had venison with blueberries and pink grapefruit topped with parsnip crisps while Lynne had an enormous plate of delicious food, enough for two people! 

There was tempura squid with a chilli sauce, a very fresh and moist piece of cob on confit potatoes and a lovely piece of tuna on pesto. No desserts but very good coffee before we left.