Winter waves, Sea Point
The waves are
a signal. The weather is rapidly getting cooler, extra blankets on the bed. Winter
is here. Much needed rain has been promised but has not arrived, just a few
grace notes from the sky; too little to measure in the rain gauge. We hope the
promise is not false, our water situation is dire. The temperature drops dramatically
when the sun goes down and we are lighting fires in our little cast iron stove
on some nights; not needed on others but the tinge of autumn is on the hills. John
is even thinking about wearing long trousers in the daytime, while Lynne is
wrapped up in polar fleece. The hibernation gene rears its head in some. The
city has woken up to the fact that we only have 20% left in the dams. As the
last 10% is sloppy mud, we are in trouble. Some prophesy a winter of such
abundant rain that we will have floods. Farmers are not so sure; they see signs
of another dry winter and the prospect of slim harvests next year. We live with
hope, but not for a deluge
Old Mutual Trophy Feedback-
The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show Judges
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Big Breakfast at Liquorice and Lime
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Lunch at The Vine Bistro, Glenelly
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Wade Bales Meet the Makers Constantia Festival
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MENU’s Wine of the week. Buitenverwachting Maximus 2014
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This week's MENU recipe is Guava Fool
Old Mutual Trophy Feedback
Held again at Grande Roche on Friday, this
valuable feedback session where the judges, local and international, give their
impressions of the wines they have tasted and have finished judging earlier
that morning. The Feedback session is open to all entrants and the wine
industry as a whole. We find this a very good barometer of where the industry
is at present. We hear where there have been improvements, what has impressed or
underperformed and if there are any new trends. More about the feedback......
The Old
Mutual Trophy Wine Show judging panel comprises three international and six
local judges covering a broad range of expertise and working with a 100-point
scoring system. The panel has been chaired by leading wine authority Michael
Fridjhon since the inception of the show in 2002. The participation of a team
of associate panelists, drawn from the pool of rising South African
wine-making, wine marketing and wine-writing talent, ensures that the next
generation of the country’s wine judges gains experience in this most rigorous
of environments. See the biographies.....
Big Breakfast at Liquorice and Lime
This small restaurant at the very top
of Kloof Street in Oranjezicht was our next destination on Sunday morning. John
could not accompany Lynne and our friends as he was guiding a wine tour for
some Americans in Stellenbosch and he missed something. Not only are there some
novel choices on the menu, the portions are some of the largest we have ever
been served. Read on....
Lunch at The Vine Bistro, Glenelly
John thought you might like to see pictures
of the lunch at Glenelly on Sunday where he took his tour clients. They have a
three course set menu on Sundays. You can do a wine tasting and see the famous
glass museum. What a lovely setting to have lunch
Wade Bales’ Meet the Makers Constantia Festival
Wade Bales thought that they would
sell 500 tickets to this local festival; they sold 750, making it a very
popular event. It was held in the grounds of his Wine Society premises in
Constantia. A marquee had been erected as the weather was looking a bit iffy,
but it was not needed. Five wine producers, one beer and four spirit producers
had stands. Wade also showed his own wines and there were a few food producers
to buy for lunch from: an Indian/Mexican food truck (curried quesadillas!), a
cheese stand, bread, a chocolatier and a charcuterie stand. More here......
MENU’s Wine of the week. Buitenverwachting Maximus 2014
Wooded Sauvignon Blanc - a category which
impressed the judges at the Old Mutual Trophy judging. A chameleon wine with
lots of complexity, depth and character. At first so rich and full that you do
not see the wood, then you notice vanilla and some smoke. Initially floral on
the palate with jasmine, melon, apricots then ripe figs and nuts, then crisp
limes and orange zest and right on the finish the Constantia green capsicum
appears. Such a good food wine. We had this with spicy goulash, which did not
occlude the wine at all. Even with a syrupy dessert it also shone. 15 months on
wood. R250 from Wade Bales. Wine Spectator scored the 2009 Maximus 93 Points.
Platter gave the 2013 4½ stars. We love the 2014
This week's MENU recipe is Guava Fool
It’s Guava season and this is so quick and easy to make. We hope you find it as delicious as we do
It’s Guava season and this is so quick and easy to make. We hope you find it as delicious as we do
1 Kg ripe guavas,
peeled and chopped - juice of half a lemon – 75g caster sugar - 300ml water -
250 ml thick Ayrshire
cream or real vanilla custard
Put everything into an enamel pan (don’t use metal - guavas
are too acidic) and poach until the guavas are soft, this only takes about 10
to 15 minutes. Taste and, if it is not sweet enough, add a little more sugar.
Mash and push through a sieve to remove all the pips; cool in the fridge, then
stir in the cream. (At this point you can freeze the mixture for guava ice
cream). Put into a pretty glass bowl and decorate the top with two amaretto
biscuits and a few pieces of glacé fruit or maraschino cherries
10th May 2017
10th May 2017
Phones: +27 21 439 3169 / 083 229 1172 / 083 656 4169
Postal address: 60 Arthurs Rd, Sea Point 8005
If you like the photographs you see in our publications, please look at our Adamastor Photo website for our rate card and samples from our portfolio
Recommendations of products and outside events are not solicited or charged for, and are made at the authors’ pleasure. All photographs, 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 are invited or go independently, we don’t feel bad if we say we didn’t like it. Honesty is indeed our best policy. While every effort is made to avoid mistakes, we are human and they do creep in occasionally, for which we apologise. This electronic journal has been sent to you because you have personally subscribed to it or because someone you know has asked us to send it to you or forwarded it to you themselves. Addresses given to us will not be divulged to any person or organisation. We collect them only for our own promotional purposes. If you wish to be added to our mailing list, please click here to send us a message and if you wish to be removed from our mailing list, please click here to send us a message.
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2017
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