Spring starts to decorate the garden at the
Vineyard Hotel, Newlands
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
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.
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Photo website for our rate card and samples
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Recommendations of products and outside events are not
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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
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