Evening rush hour on a rainy N1, returning to Cape Town
We write about
our experiences in MENU, not only to entertain you, but to encourage you to
visit the places and events that we do. We know you will enjoy them and we try
to make each write up as graphic as we can, so you get a good picture of what
is on offer at each place, restaurant, wine farm, festival we visit. To get the whole story with photographs, please click on “Read
on.....” at the end of each paragraph, which will lead you to the
related blog, with pictures and more words. At the end of each blog, click on RETURN TO MENU
to come back to the blog version of MENU.
How do we do it? A question
many people ask us. We wonder sometimes, especially in a week like this latest,
where almost every day has had a story for us to tell. Often, we come home from
an event with a huge number of notes to go through and photographs to edit.
Bedtime happens much later. Why do we do it? Because we love it, not because we
earn much from it. BUT, it does help if you click on the
advertisements down the side of our blogs. When you do, the advertisers pay us.
Please click!
A week of great wine and food, but some stumbles which
cost us quite dearly but were worth it. Always check your facts!
Tasting Du Toitskloof new releases On
a Quest... The week since our last MENU began with a visit to Du Toitskloof for
a tasting of their new releases, including their new premium Quest range,
followed by lunch at the new Melissa’s restaurant attached to the winery. Many
people don't know how much the quality of wine in this area is improving. They
have superb and varied terroir, an even climate and good winemakers at Du
Toitskloof. At a recent blind tasting of very good value wines at our wine
club, the Du Toitskloof Cabernet Shiraz scored top marks and that was for the
box wine, which had been decanted into a bottle to fool us. Read on.....
Tasting great CWG Auction wines Next
day, we enjoyed what is possibly the best tasting of the year, to which we
always feel privileged to be invited, the Cape Winemakers Guild guided tasting.
Held this year at the Taj hotel, we speed tasted through 40 of the auction
wines, with another 15 (hence all the auction wines) on a table afterwards. It
is going to be a superb auction, and sadly with the current dramatic fall of
the Rand, probably great for overseas buyers which will mean a lot of the wine
going overseas. We plan to be there, with a paddle. Read on.....
And more Auction wines and we continued with the evening Public tasting
of the CWG wines at the CTICC. We went to taste the other wines the winemakers
brought along: older auction wines, and some of their own treasures. We enjoyed
the evening very much and it is a very social occasion with a chance to discuss
the auction wines with their makers and meet lots of old friends.
A quick supper at Gibson’s Then came the first stumble. After so much
wine, we needed a quick and filling supper. John had a message on his cell
phone that the Greek Fisherman in the V&A Waterfront had a winter special
of all their Tapas at half price. We tasted these last year and vowed to go
back for more, so this seemed the perfect opportunity - and it was close both
to the CTICC and home. Sadly what the SMS didn't tell us was that the offer is
only served between 11 and 7 pm till 31st August and we got there at 8.30 pm.
Rather deterred by the menu prices, as we only wanted something simple, we left
and went around the corner to Gibson’s, where we enjoyed a good quick meal
before the Waterfront shops shut down for the night. John had a double burger
and Lynne the Pork Ribs. If you are Banting you might want to know that you now
can order crisp sweet potato chips with your burger or ribs. They are great.
An Alice in Wonderland moment And culminated with Lynne's birthday lunch on
Friday at La Colombe. And the second stumble. John had booked and we were so
excited to go to try out their winter special which is R295 for 3 courses (till
30 September) We figured we would include a bottle of wine or a couple of
glasses so budgeted on R400 pp. Their menu is normally beyond our budget and we
have heard such great reports of the food and service. It was a lovely, sunny
day and they gave us a great table with a view of the back of Table Mountain
and the valley below. Then we discovered that they don't do the special on
Fridays. Ooops. Oh well, the Barclaycard came out and we had a splendid meal
and a great experience, but it just cost about two and a half times more than
we had planned. Always check your facts! Read on.....
Beaumonts push the boat out Now
this is the way to do a trade tasting of wine. Hire a venue in the centre of
town with plenty of parking - The Union 110 Bree Street on Heritage Square. Put
up a sail in case of rain - it didn't. Have an inside venue "in case"
(not needed). Have lots of tables and seating. Pile them with lovely things to
nibble while you taste the wines. Food after all is what wine normally
accompanies. Invite lots of interesting people. All of which is what Beaumont
did on Monday night. The quality of their wines is never in question, we knew
they would be worth tasting and enjoyable. As Platter puts it, they produce
individual wines. Read on.....
MCC tasting at JC Le Roux, Devon Valley,
Stellenbosch We must confess that it has been many years
since we ventured down to the end of Devon Valley, to this winery which
concentrates on making wines filled with bubbles. They have recently spruced it
up and the tasting room is large and commodious, with private tasting rooms on
the side. The gardens are lovely. We were invited to visit, do a tasting and
sample some of their restaurant’s food, which we did on Tuesday. Read on.....
This week's recipe is Pulled Pork, Mexican
style This
is the dish in fashion at the moment, overseas and here; if you turn on the TV
food channels, it is everywhere. Lynne wanted to try making it and it was
rather successful. This is her adaptation of the recipe for you to try. You do
need Jalapeno peppers, preferably in the smoky adobo sauce. We stock Mexicorn
Chipotles in adobo, which cost R65 a jar. But you could also buy a jar of
pickled jalapenos from the supermarket and add some smoke with a teaspoon of Spanish
smoked paprika. If you like food extra spicy, add two chipotles or jalapenos.
You serve this with soft tortillas or with rice. We added a guacamole to cool
it down. You could also add a yoghurt and cucumber dip.
1 large, finely chopped onion - 1 piece of
shoulder of pork or neck weighing ±1.5Kg - 410g tin of chopped tomatoes - 400g
tomato passata - 3 bay leaves, fresh if possible - 1 T fresh finely chopped fresh
oregano or 1t dried - 2 crushed cloves of garlic - 1 T maple syrup - chopped
chipotle in adobo sauce or jalapeno chilli - salt and freshly ground black
pepper
If you are using a slow cooker, put everything in it,
turn on to its high setting, cover and leave to cook for 6 or 7 hours. Stir and
turn the piece of pork occasionally - about every hour. Check the seasoning and
adjust. If your tomatoes are sour, you may need more salt and a bit more maple
syrup. Eventually, the bones will come away completely. Cut off the rind and
fat and remove. You are then supposed to shred the pork. Lynne broke it into
rather large chunks instead and let our guests do the shredding on their plate.
Or not. This goes a long, long way and is rich, meaty and tender with a nice
kick of warmth from the chilli.
If you don’t have a slow cooker, you need to cook in a
covered casserole in the oven on slow until it is tender and the sauce has
broken down and amalgamated. Check and turn the meat every hour to see that it
is not drying out and sticking to the pot. Add a little water if it is.
Always better if made the day before. We served it
with the new Du Toitskloof Nebbiolo, which was a very good match
Coming Events:
AUGUST
Thursday, 20th August at 18h30 An Evening of Vintage Wine & Venison with Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche and Chef
Michelle Theron. Professor Johann Kirsten, mastermind behind the legal
protection and certification for Karoo Lamb as well as head of the Department
of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development at the University of
Pretoria, will present a talk, focusing on the importance and conservation of
regional food as part of our cultural and food heritage. Cost: R490 per person. Click here for the menu. Reservations are
essential. To book a table, please contact us at 021 876 8800 or pierneef@la-motte.co.za
Thursday, 20th August Caroline’s Fine Wines presents Johnathan Grieve of AVONDALE. Johnathan will continue the story, during which time, we will
taste seven of their outstanding wines. R120 p/p Book here
Thursday, 20th August at 18h30 Le
Bonheur Winemaker’s Dinner.
Winemaker, Lauren Behrens, will team up with foodie, Mari de Kock, from
Delicately Different, to create a fabulous six course dinner. Each dish to be
paired with a Le Bonheur wine. Exciting prizes will be included on the
evening. The evening will take place in the Manor House and costs R395 per
person. Advanced booking is advised. Call 021 875 5478 or email info@lebonheur.co.za to make your booking now.
Friday & Saturday, 21st &
22nd August, 15h00 to 20h00 5th Annual Big Bottle Festival. Friday evening with a one of a kind Champagne tasting
presented by Champagne and MCC specialist Paul Gerber of Le Lude in Franschhoek followed
by a 4 course dinner accompanied by some of Italy’s finest wines. Tickets to the Big Bottle Festival Walkabout on
Saturday, 22nd August can be bought online from www.quicket.co.za at R450 which includes wine, food, music,
glass and a fun-filled time. Master classes need to be booked separately in
addition to a walk-about-ticket. For costs and full details on the
Champagne Tasting and Gourmand Dinner please refer to the website www.bigbottle.co.za
Monday, 24th August, 18h00 to 19h00 Sip and Sample at The Vineyard Hotel with wines from Allée Bleue. Surrounded by
the breath-taking scenery of the Franschhoek valley, this estate seamlessly
combines world-class wines with warm hospitality and historic charm. A
representative from the estate will host the hour-long tasting from 18h00. The
tasting is free of charge. For more information, please call 021 657 4500
or alternatively visit www.vineyard.co.za.
Wednesday, 26th August Around the World with Ingredients at Durbanville Hills. Beat the winter
chill with an interactive food- and wine-pairing evening with ingredients from
around the world, led by chef, Louisa Greeff, and Durbanville Hills winemakers.
Lovers of pasta can join in for the not-so-Banting menu that will include a
demonstration of how to make the perfect ravioli and, in true Italian style, a
feast of mezze-style snacks, ravioli, arroz tapado, gnocchi and chocolate pasta
for dinner paired with a selection of wines from Durbanville Hills’ three wine
ranges. The cost is R395 per person for the interactive demonstration, snacks,
three course meal, wine and coffee. Booking is essential as seats are limited.
To book or for more information, contact Simone Brown on 021 558 1300 or send
an email to sibrown@durbanvillehills.co.za.
Wednesday, 26th August, 18h00 to 21h00 Johannesburg Nedbank
Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase. The Atrium, Nedbank Head office, 135 Rivonia Road, Sandton. R190
per person including tasting glass. Tickets can be purchased via www.webtickets.co.za. To find out more,
visit: www.capewinemakersguild.com,
email info@capewinemakersguild.com or call +27 +21 852 0408
Thursday, 27th August Caroline’s Fine Wines presents SADIE
FAMILY's entire 'Ou Wingerd Reeks' 2014, plus Palladius and Columella 2013. R300 p/p - space limited
as we only have one bottle of each to spare of these coveted wines. Book here
Thursday, 27th August Blu Bird Exclusive Winemaker dinner at Bistro Michel, Blubird Shopping Centre, Cor
Atholl-Oaklands Road & Fort Street, Johannesburg.
James Downes from Shannon Vineyards in Elgin will lead guests through
all the wines produced by Shannon Vineyards, while chef patron Thomas Maxwell
will create a delicious 3 course dinner. Seats are limited to 30 only to ensure
a social evening centered around good food and wine. To book, please
contact Corlien on corlien@wineconcepts.co.za or 011 440
5498. Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first reply basis.
Friday, 28th August The Vineyard Hotel Tastes of 2015 continues
with their series of fine Wine Dinners. This dinner will focus on a selection
of the 2015 SA Shiraz Challenge Winners. This experience includes a five course
dinner paired with a selection of fine wines from these premium Shiraz
producers. The cost is R370.00 per person, which includes all wines and dinner.
For bookings and more information please call reservations on 021 657 4500 or email eat@vineyard.co.za
Friday, 28th & Saturday, 30th August Franschhoek
Wine & Dine (Johannesburg) For more information and accommodation bookings, please
call 021 876 2861 or visit www.franschhoek.org.za
Saturday, 29th August Pinotage On Tap (Jhb) will take place at Val Bonne Estate, Modderfontein. For those of
you who already have your tickets - we look forward to having an awesome
festival with you! And for those who have not yet got their tickets.... What
are you waiting for?! For more information, and details on Cape Town and Durban
events, please visit our website at www.diemersfontein.co.za. Tickets available at Computicket
Sunday, 30th August from 10h00 to
15h00 Groote Post’s Country Market.
Celebrate The Change Of Season with 1st September around the corner and the
spring flowers beginning to bloom. Head out to the Darling Hills, for their
first monthly market of the new season. Guests can expect artisan foods, arts
and crafts, home-ware and décor, and Groote Post wines. Look out for their 2015
wines as this harvest is reputed to be one of the best ever. Must-haves will be
the Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2015 and the Groote Post Rosé 2015, made
exclusively for the monthly markets. An exciting line-up of entertainment will
be on offer. Local band Klassik will be performing live, delighting all with
their Swartland Shuffle. “Augustus”, a highly-acclaimed short play by a
visiting Dutch theatre group at 11h30. Tickets cost R30 per person and booking
is essential as seats are limited. To book, call 022 451 2202 or email eldre@iloveyzer.co.za. Entry is free of
charge. For further information contact Eldré Strydom 082 877 6677
or eldre@iloveyzer.co.za www.grootepostcountrymarket.co.za · Facebook.com/GrootePostCountryMarket · @GPCountryMarket.
Directions: Follow the R27 West Coast Road towards Langebaan. Turn right onto
the Darling Hills Road opposite Grotto Bay turnoff. After 10 km, turn right to
the Groote Post cellar. Or take the R307 out of Darling towards Cape Town and
turn off at the Darling Hills Road. After 7km turn left to the Groote Post
Cellar. GPS Coordinates: S 33° 29’ 0.5” E 018° 24’ 35.0
Monday, 31st August, 18h00 to 19h00 Sip and Sample at The
Vineyard Hotel with Oneiric Wines. Bordered by the iconic
Kogelberg Biosphere, a world heritage site and home to the greatest variety of
plant species in the world, ‘oneiric’ translates into “what dreams are
made of”. This farm produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and their
‘Cousin Jack’. A representative from the estate will host the hour-long tasting
from 18h00. The tasting is free of charge. For more information, please call
021 657 4500 or alternatively visit www.vineyard.co.za.
Learn about wine and cooking We receive a lot of enquiries from
people who want to learn more about wine. Cathy
Marston and The Cape
Wine Academy both run wine education courses, some very
serious and others more geared to fun. You can see details of Cathy’s WSET and other courses here and here and the CWA courses here. Karen Glanfield has taken
over the UnWined
wine appreciation courses from Cathy. See the details here
The Hurst Campus, an accredited school for people who want to become
professional chefs, has a variety of courses. See the details here
In addition to his
Sense
of Taste Culinary Arts School, Chef Peter Ayub runs a
four module course for keen home cooks at his Maitland complex. Details
here
Nadège Lepoittevin-Dasse has French cooking classes in Noordhoek
and conducts cooking tours to Normandy. You can see
more details here
Emma Freddi runs
the Enrica Rocca cooking courses at her
home in Constantia
Nicolette van
Niekerk runs baking courses at La Petite Patisserie in Montague
Gardens
George Jardine
will be running a series of winter cooking courses and other activities at
Jordan. Details here
19th August 2015
PS If a word or name is in bold type and underlined, click on it for more information
Phones: +27 21 439 3169 / 083 229 1172 / 083 656 4169
Postal address: 60 Arthurs Rd, Sea Point 8005
Our Adamastor & Bacchus© tailor-made Wine, Food and Photo tours take small groups (up to 6) to specialist wine producers who make the best of South Africa’s wines. Have fun while you learn more about wine and how it is made! Tours can be conducted in English, German, Norwegian and standard or Dutch-flavoured Afrikaans.
If you like the photographs you see in our publications, please look at our Adamastor Photo website for our rate card and samples from our portfolio
Recommendations of products and outside events are not solicited or charged for, and are made at the authors’ pleasure. All photographs, recipes and text used in these newsletters and our blogs are © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus. Our restaurant reviews are usually unsolicited. We prefer to pay for our meals and not be paid in any way by anyone. Whether we are invited or go independently, we don’t feel bad if we say we didn’t like it. Honesty is indeed our best policy. While every effort is made to avoid mistakes, we are human and they do creep in occasionally, for which we apologise. Our Avast! ® Anti-Virus software is updated at least daily and our system is scanned continually for viruses
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