This
beautiful house, filled with treasures, is owned by the Labia family and has
been used as a museum for several years. It was returned to the family by the
state after several years in the shadows. They have now restored it perfectly
and on Thursday evening we rushed from the Klink Awards to the relaunch of the
house and the opening of the new restaurant and function venue, which will be
run by Andrea Foulkes of Dish Food and Catering. With a huge fire raging on the
mountain in Simonstown, we did not rate our chances of getting there on time,
but the trip down the M5 was fast and seamless at 6.30 pm. The good news is
that the road repairs outside Casa Labia have now been completed
Count
Natalia Labia (1877 – 1936) was the Italian Ambassador to South Africa in the last
century. He married Ida, daughter of the mining pioneer Sir J.B. Robinson and
this was the home that they built in Muizenberg
"It was also the Italian Legation, the
official residence of Italy’s diplomatic representative in South Africa. As
such it had to be essentially Italian in style and character. In particular it
was to reflect the spirit of 18th century Venice, it was to be a Cape version
of the Palazzo Labia"
Event organiser and PRO Ian Manley
welcoming a guest on the Portico
The views over False Bay are magnificent,
especially in the evening
And you can visit by train
Gardens are on the side of the house
Getting drinks on the back patio
A beautiful bougainvillea
Canapés were circulating
Tiny empanadas with a dip
Or you could graze from the Italian
inspired buffet
Count Luccio Labia (son of Count
Natale Labia) regained ownership of the property, and it was with assistance
from his daughter, Antonia Labia (seen here) that the house
was lovingly restored to its original glory
She told us that the house will now
function as a breakfast lunch and tea time restaurant and also as a multi
function venue for hire
Lovely evening light
Canapés topped with artichokes
Parma ham wrapped asparagus
The formal dining room dressed for a
banquet
The table had some sensational flower
arrangements and the house was also filled with flowers
Rare beef canapés
One of the many beautiful pieces of
art
Upstairs is the Print Gallery that
contains the eclectic and interesting print collection of Peter Clarke and his
friends
There was much interest in the
prints
There was a copious amount of food and it kept
coming
The magnificent Parma ham was sliced
and served on request
Dessert was two huge 5kg slabs of
dark and milk Callebaut chocolate, from which you could chip off chunks, with cherries and strawberries
and some tiramisu in glasses
Many people sat on the terraces to eat
their supper and enjoy the wine on offer
And on departure we were each allowed
a choice of chocolate to take home
The road at night. Time to go home
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor
& Bacchus 2015
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