How
many of you remember the original Gatrile, Son and Co restaurant in
Johannesburg in the mid 70s. (It has now moved from the city centre to Sandton,
like much of the business which started in central Jhb). John was an advertising photographer in Jhb then and it was the “in” place to eat and entertain clients if you were
in the advertising industry. Ken Forrester was the manager and, later, part owner
Twenty
years ago, in 1996, after twenty years at Gatrile, Ken came to Cape Town and
opened 96 Winery Road across the road from his farm, Scholtzenhof, in the Helderberg
valley. His brother Allan joined him as manager and partner. Chef Natasha
Harris has also been with them since the start. She took over as head chef from
Kathy Romer-Lee. It has very much the same concept, local and fresh and now
often organic, and one very important beloved recipe, Duck and Cherry Pie,
which goes so well with Ken’s Syrah Grenache, is still on the menu. Ken went on
to start Ken Forrester wines and with winemaker Martin Meinert has produced
some very special Chenin Blancs and other excellent wines. But, last Saturday,
it was time for 96 Winery Road to celebrate its success with a party for
special customers, suppliers, and friends. Everyone was invited to bring the
family. It was a great fun day
The weather was kind enough for everyone to sit
out in the garden
Allan Forester with Gareth Robertson; Sparkle Horse
MCC being poured in the background
It was a very friendly crowd, many people knew
each other
Caroline van Schalkwyk, Marketing manager at
Steenberg, with her husband Anthony, who is Marketing manager at Kleine Zalze
winery, with Leigh Anne Barry Meinert (the La Barry of Martin Meinert's wines)
Sterhuis winemaker Johan Kruger and Sofie Gielen
and their gorgeous new addition
It was very much a family day
Look at me Mummy! On the jungle gym
The slide was very popular
There was a good selection of Ken Forrester and
Martin Meinert’s wines to drink
and a singer who sang Amy Winehouse and other jazz,
soul and R&B numbers
Pete and Elize Goffe-Wood catching up with Tamsin
Snyman who was there with her daughter Trinity. Pete has recently had an
operation on his leg and is still on crutches
First course for lunch was two soups, butternut
vegetable or lamb, which was the one we chose
Allan Forrester telling us some of the history of
the restaurant
to a rapt audience
enjoying the day
Lunch was platters of tasty bits and self service
Three kinds of crisp samoosas, chicken, veg and
beef
Beef tartare on spoons
Brie on caramelised onion
Mushroom risotto topped with pesto and cheese on
spoons
Horseradish sauce on the beef
Tamsin Snyman with Teresa Forrester
A killer crème brulée. We hear some people had
several! They told us they could not resist. It really was one of the best
ever, properly made
The 20th Anniversary cake
Martin Meinert with Anthony van Schalkwyk
Tamsin with Pete and Elize, finally sitting down
©
John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus
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