Franschhoek Visit - Sushi Lunch at GlenWood

It had rained heavily overnight and there was a mist above the valley when we set out on Wednesday for GlenWood, down Robertsvlei Road. We know their excellent wines and had been invited to come and sample their excellent Gourmet Sushi. Everyone in Franschhoek to whom we mentioned that we were going there said you will really enjoy it; the sushi is very good. And it was.. 

We stopped at the entrance of the farm and you can see how heavily the rain was coming down
as the farmhouse is almost wrapped in rain

We had a quick run to the entrance

The lovely gardens were sodden

So good for filling the dams and for the gardens, but not so good for any grapes that were still on the vine

We had been booked a table on the terrace. That was definitely off the menu today

Tipping it down, this is looking back at the parking area - and the rain!

In the entrance you can see the range of wines and this is where you are welcomed

We were given a good table next to the window
Glenwood did have another chef doing sushi several years ago, this chef is different
Interior glass windows show the wine cellar

We learned that the chef Lungani Ntuli has trained and then worked under a Japanese sushi master for many years

We knew then that the sushi would be good

He and his assistant at the sushi counter preparing out lunch

We were asked what we wanted from the very extensive menu

and we said please just bring us a selection of sushi that you want us to write about

We love sushi and we are adventurous

Chef doing his prep

On a nicer day you can sit out on the terrace through those doors and enjoy a wine tasting and some sushi

The table setting

There is lots of choice on the menu

We wondered if we would be given some of the Chef's signature rolls

Or some combos. Our only request was no cucumber please. We don’t like it in sushi and that was not a problem for them

Nice to see Tataki and Tempura, and a vegetarian choice

The wine list, some of the wines by the glass which suited us 

We did a brief wine tasting first. We started with the 2020 wooded Chardonnay. Citrus and caramel on the nose; perfume, salt and smoke. Some sweetness on the palate, cooked apple, apricot and light oak on the end

Unwooded 2019 Chardonnay. Bready with golden fruit notes on the nose. Lime, lemon and a little bitterness from the skin contact, served very cold

The Save Our Rhinos Rosé made from Shiraz grapes; it’s a project with an NPO which gets 80% of the profits. Good red berry fruit with raspberry, plum and strawberry with follows through on the palate, nice and dry, a good wine with food 

The details on the back

Then the 2019 Merlot, which was in 3rd fill barrels. Oak, concentrated mulberries, cherries

On the palate, cherries, nice fruit and length, grippy tannins; it is still very young
The 2019 Shiraz spent 18 months in 2nd and 3rd frill barrels

It has smoke, dark fruit, green leaves and white pepper on the nose

Dark fruit plums, mulberries, morello cherries with some umami flavours 

Wow, our platter of the sushi they selected for us to taste. Many of these are Chef's Signature items. The back row is the Crunch bomb, with crisp bits of prawn tempura, topping a roll with avo, (cucumber) and seared tuna topped with a sweet soy and mayo. Hot Night rolls on the 2nd row left - spicy tuna and avo inside with panko shrimp topped with a sweet chilli mayo and sesame seeds, Rainbow Roll reloaded with caviar, mayo, a very good sticky sweet soy sauce, sesame oil and seven spice and in front salmon roses and very, very fresh salmon sashimi. All were delicious and recommended

And then a very nice surprise, DP Burger, the GM and Cellarmaster and an old friend, popped in; he had been busy elsewhere and was not expected; great to see him. He told us that up until 8 that morning they had 72 mm of rain and it was still falling, so the prediction for that day was much higher. It certainly is filling the dams

And rain it raineth. Indeed it did continue very strong until exactly midnight

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