Tuesday, August 23, 2016

This Week's MENU. Saronsberg at La Colombe, John Collins showcase, Waterford Estate safari, Baked tomatoes, Saronsberg Grenache

Spring starts to decorate the garden at the Vineyard Hotel, Newlands
 New Chef at Newton Johnson
MENU is late again; our techno woes continue. At least we have our internet connection back, but our car is still in the workshop with its transmission being rebuilt. It takes a challenge like this to make us appreciate the things we normally take for granted. But it has also given us an opportunity to appreciate the benefit of an excellent public transport service in our area – it still has to be extended into the southern suburbs – and easily accessible taxis. Also, to give thanks to generous friends who have given us lifts and lent us their cars. Another busy week...
Saronsberg wines at La Colombe     You may think we are jaded with all of the many meals we have at good restaurants. But who cannot fail to be excited by an invitation to a restaurant that has featured as one of the top 100 restaurants in the world for the last few years. This was to celebrate Saronsberg's annual release of their six new season wines, which takes place at this time of the year. This year, they decided to treat members of the wine trade and some members of the media to lunch at La Colombe with the wines, paired with several courses. It was a wonderful showcase for their lovely wines. Saronsberg was rated the Red Wine Producer of the Year by the South African Wine Index Awards 2015 and 2016
John Collins wine showcase at the Cape Town Club     Another annual event that we look forward to. John Collins represents some excellent wine estates and many of them are releasing their new wines at this time of the year. This tasting was to showcase these wines and to remind the trade of the excellent quality that these farms produce
Breaking News - New Chef at Newton Johnson     We don't often have a scoop, but this week we do. Who is going to be the new Chef at the restaurant at Newton Johnson wine farm in the Hemel and Aarde valley when Eric Bulpitt ends his stint there at the end of September? It will be chef Nick Oosthuizen, who was at Roosje van de Kaap in Swellendam for 12 years. He has been recommended by George Jardine and will take up his post in the 2nd week in October
A safari tour of Waterford wine estate with Kevin Arnold     Once a year we are invited by the management of the Vineyard Hotel to join them and other guests, pruning the vines in the small vineyard on the bank of the Liesbeek river in the gardens of the hotel. They have kindly made us custodians of one vine
This year, we were also invited to Waterford wine estate in Stellenbosch for a tasting of the last four years of the wines that have been made. Waterford, one of the five wine estates which sponsors a row of vines, vinified the 2015 vintage. We were to bottle the current vintage, taste the wines and have lunch together
First we went on a Wine Drive Safari in their game viewing Land Rover, guided by Kevin Arnold, Cellarmaster of Waterford and part owner with Jeremy Ord. You, too, can do this when visiting the farm. Click here for details
An easy starter is always welcome and you can have this as a simple main course. Also good for the end of the month when the budget is a bit tight.
4 large tomatoes - salt and freshly ground black pepper - 4 fresh eggs - 40 g butter
Turn your oven to 160⁰C. Slice the tops off the tomatoes and scrape out the seeds, the juice and the cores. Season the inside of the tomatoes well. Put the tomatoes into a buttered oven proof dish so they stand up together. Break each egg individually into a cup and slide them carefully into the tomatoes. place a knob of butter on top of each egg and season again. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the whites of the eggs are cooked but the yolks are still runny. Serve with a dab of pesto or tapenade or a green chilli/coriander sauce and good crisp garlic bread
Wine of the week. Saronsberg Grenache 2014      There was no doubt about this wine when we tasted it on the farm last week and our opinion was only confirmed when we tasted it again on Monday at La Colombe
It is spicy and savoury with fennel and violets - a robust nose. But on the palate at first it has delicate fruit almost pinot Noir like in character but then it steps ups to a different level, with full red and black fruit warmth and good gentle wooding from 2nd fill barrels. Such a special food wine
MENU has a new Facebook page 








23rd August 2016
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