Tuesday, May 03, 2016

Food Fanatics launches their new home at The Homestead, Wynberg

Caterers have always been our friends. We are happy to recommend those whose food we have enjoyed at functions and relationships have grown over the years. So it was with delight that we attended the opening of Food Fanatics’ new function venue in an 1820 farmhouse in Constantia Main Road this week. For many years Elaine Rousseau and her crew have been rushing all over the Cape to cater for functions, sometimes two or three on one day; now she and the crew can do it all from their great venue. Check out their web site http://foodfanatics.co.za/ if you are interested in using them at the Homestead
It used to be a vegetarian restaurant and the gated entrance is in the road behind with plenty of fenced parking and a security guard
It was a bit of a rainy evening, so they had put up a marquee on the lawn where they can hold the larger functions. The lawn is perfect for weddings, launches or parties. There are other spaces around and inside the house for smaller groups.
They had a great Braai station at the back of the kitchen with lovely things cooking for the supper spread
and a Meze Table too, inside
We sat in the Library, which is a central room with a nice fireplace. Very suitable for a ladies who lunch table of 6 perhaps? Or a tea party
Mini Fig tart tatins topped with blue cheese cream. Food Fanatics has always been so good a creating great canapés
Tiny deep fried crumbed suppli, a.k.a arancini or rice balls with mushrooms
Huge, sweet & tender tempura prawns with a good savoury Thai chilli dipping sauce
A humus dip, topped with honey and crushed nut
Wonderful hot haloumi cheese and filo pies with dill and lemon
The very organised kitchen, with each of the chefs getting on with their appointed tasks of making us delicious food
Searing broccoli and leeks
It was quietly industrious
The braai station with tiny brochettes of chicken sosaties. They also make killer Karoo lamb ribbetjies

Getting ready to eat
Lynne in the library with Elaine. She was wonderful to us after our car accident, when she lent us a van so that we could get to market. We will never forget the kindness
The bar kept everyone well oiled too. They served Klein Steenberg red and sauvignon blanc
The long table in the room for sit down dinners, buffets or cocktail events
Caroline van Schalkwyk from Steenberg relaxing in the Library
And the buffet is ready: Parma ham, seared artichokes and broccoli with leeks
Beautiful seared pink tuna, herb encrusted
Tomato tapenade with asparagus and grated parmesan
A fantastic selection of different breads. The olive sticks were perfection
More of those artichokes and, in the background, boquerones - soused fresh white anchovies, a very popular Spanish tapas
The humus dip we saw in the kitchen
Chorizo and chick peas with humus
A beetroot, pomegranate and pistachio dip
More of those warm arancini with mushrooms
Elaine's cookbook collection.
Time to serve oneself from the groaning boards
Listening to Elaine talking about The Homestead and their future plans for it
She feels that she has come home
Chilly evening; warm and friendly event
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus

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