Friday, March 24, 2023

In MENU This Week. RMB Starlight Classics, Vergelegen; Rigel Retreat BnB; Klein Constantia book launch, Meerendal La Romantica, Mykonos meze

This week’s MENU is a little later than we would like. The scribe went down with a nasty dose of Lurgy which meant that the words for the stories had to be delayed. But here it is with a good selection of stories for the weekend. The year rushes on and suddenly we are at the season when three of the world’s religions celebrate major events. We send all our readers our best wishes for Easter, Passover and Ramadan

2023 RMB Starlight Classics Concert at Vergelegen - Singing in the Rain

We were delighted when we were invited to the RMB Starlight Classics Concert this year, held again at Vergelegen; one of our favourite events to cover each year. Multi-talented performers at a great venue and some good food and wine to accompany it. We were welcomed by Joandra Griesel, Communications Manager at Rand Merchant Bank, and her team. Read on…

The Rigel Retreat AirBnb in Schapenberg, Somerset West

When we are invited to a prestigious evening event in the country, we try to find affordable accommodation for the night. Our budget on our pensions is small, so we are always delighted to find something good. We were invited by RMB to the Starlight Concert at Vergelegen and found a small but perfectly formed apartment on the Schapenberg, only 12 minutes' drive away. It was also a very easy drive on major roads. Read on…

A brief look at the Vergelegen estate

Vergelegen is one of the Cape's and South Africa's most historic properties. After Willem Adriaan van der Stel succeeded his father, Simon van der Stel, as Governor of the Cape in 1700, he claimed a 30,000 hectare piece of land for himself, just as his father had done in his time at Constantia. It was registered on 1st February 1700 and he used the resources of his employer, the Dutch East India Company, to improve the estate and build the famous manor house. Read on…

High Tea book launch at Klein Constantia

On Thursday 9th March 2023, Klein Constantia launched a new book about the history of this historic wine estate and we attended. Established in 1824, the Klein Constantia 146 hectare estate originally formed part of “Constantia”, a vast property established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the first governor of the Cape. Famous for its world renowned wines, and the revival of the famous 18th century sweet Constantia wine, known as Vin de Constance. The book is available for sale on the farm. Read on…

Meerendal's new La Romantica Restaurant

We were invited by Meerendal Wine Estate owner Herman Coertze to the opening of La Romantica, a new Italian themed restaurant at Meerendal. Durbanville is a great food and wine area; they believe in generous piled-high plates for reasonable money and they produce excellent wines. It took us only half an hour to get to Meerendal on the farming outskirts of Durbanville, driving down one of the most spectacular roads through the wheat lands and vineyards, the Vissershok Road off the N7. Read on…

Meze platters at Mykonos, Sea Point

Sunday evening was chilly and a bit wet, but our spirits were up as we had a reunion with a friend whom we have not seen for two months. We decided to go to Mykonos Taverna, a local Greek restaurant, and found other friends eating there too. NB - We were told that the Sea Point Mykonos is due to move soon to a new location in Sea Point, but we were not told where it will be. Read on…



All the stories we have published can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

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Posted by MENU at 5:45 pm 0 comments

Meerendal's new La Romantica Restaurant

We were invited by Meerendal Wine Estate owner Herman Coertze
to the opening of La Romantica, a new Italian themed restaurant at Meerendal
Durbanville is a great food and wine area; they believe in generous piled-high plates for reasonable money
and they produce excellent wines
It took us only half an hour to get to Meerendal on the farming outskirts of Durbanville,
driving down one of the most spectacular roads through the wheat lands and vineyards, the Vissershok Road off the N7

The old restaurant area has been opened up and has such good space, both here and in other areas, and outdoors
It also looks to be a good space for special functions
The farm produces excellent award-winning wines, has a boutique hotel
and also focuses on events, weddings and conferences
For the energetic and athletic, they offer 5 km, 7 km or 9 km running, cycling and BTB trails
through the Meerendal vineyards,
offering spectacular views along the way. Now you can enjoy a reviving meal after your exercise

Chef Adrian Cook is in charge in the large kitchen

The restaurant has three different menus, all available on their website https://laromantica.co.za/menu/
One for Breakfast, Mains and one for Bambinos! - as well as a very comprehensive wine and drinks menu
All the dishes we were served were mini taster versions of the full-size dishes on the menu
and they do have a date night special

Plenty of friendly waiting staff, who helped us find a table as more and more guests arrived

and the mini bites of the food began to arrive almost immediately
This was a tender, moist and flavourful lamb kofta on a stick, dipped in Tzatziki

A Margarita pizza topped with slices of fresh avocado was superb
The crust is thin and very crisp and the topping was the classic that one expects
One to order and share, definitely. They also have a vegan option with vegan cheese

Tiny Caprese salads on a stick, mozzarella, tomato and basil with basil pesto dressing, were also much enjoyed

and this dish of Penne pasta in a Creamy Brandy Flambéed Bacon, Mushroom & Parmesan Sauce

was one of the best dishes we tried. Definitely one to return for, to enjoy a larger portion, with good crisp bacon,
creamy sauce and lots of good parmesan cheese. The pasta is your choice: Linguine, penne or tagliatelle

The Hamburger fans amongst us were very impressed by the texture, flavour, sauce and layers of these mini hamburgers
There are several choices on the menu


This dish, "Steak a la Romantica", of rare sirloin on a bed of linguine was very much enjoyed,
the good quality of the meat being remarked on

Tiny arancini rice balls 

We were able to try the organic Meerendal wines with the food and also could enjoy two cocktails
This is the one Lynne chose, a favourite Tanqueray Seville Orange gin
The other was made with Red Bull and vodka. They have an extensive bar

Small spinach and feta lasagnes much appreciated by the vegetarians

Tara looked after our needs very well

Lynne and Esme Erasmus of TygerBurger chatting to Chef about the food and the plans he has

Many people were arriving; all the tables filled up quickly

A treat was to see General Manager and Cellarmaster Wade Roger-Lund
Wade won the Young Winemaker of the year award in 2017 (we were there to help him celebrate!)
and has gone on to have a stellar career in wine. He was previously at Jordan wine estate
Wade is converting all the vineyards to organic status

Deep fried hake in batter with matchstick chips

Esme having a laugh with restaurant owner Benjamin Lazarus
He told us that they do hope to franchise La Romantica to other venues in the Cape

The crew we spent the afternoon chatting to:
La Romantic restaurant owner, Benjamin Lazarus, Meerendal owner Herman Coertze, Chef Adrian Cook,
Meerendal Marketing manager Benny Howard and Cellarmaster/GM Wade Roger-Lund

Another round of that marvellous Penne. We also had samples of the delicious pork belly

We sampled two of the desserts, a very creamy unset 'crème brulée' topped with shards of caramel
and a killer chocolate ganache, another definite to return for

Another area of the restaurant, one with views across the vines and valley

and outside on the terrace

Everyone was enjoying the evening, despite a bit of a breeze

Autumn vines on Meerendal with the Stellenbosch mountains in the far distance

The restaurant from the lawn
Thank you all at Meerendal and La Romantica restaurant for a great experience

We drove back on the Contermanskloof road, which winds its way through the wheat lands,
now all fallow after the summer, past the cement factory and had a terrific view of Table Mountain,
which we had never seen from this angle with so much  swirling cloud cover 

The city and mountain covered in the roiling cloud, suggesting we might have some welcome rain. And we did
Meerendal is only half an hour from the centre of Cape Town
The cattle were grazing on the shorn wheat fields

All the stories we have published can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email

Posted by MENU at 2:42 pm 0 comments

Thursday, March 23, 2023

A brief look at the Vergelegen estate

Vergelegen is one of the Cape's and South Africa's most historic properties. After Willem Adriaan van der Stel succeeded his father, Simon van der Stel, as Governor of the Cape in 1700, he claimed a 30,000 hectare piece of land for himself, just as his father had done in his time at Constantia. It was registered on 1st February 1700 and he used the resources of his employer, the Dutch East India Company, to improve the estate and build the famous manor house

In 1706 a number of free burghers at the Cape drew up a formal memorandum
complaining about van der Stel's illegal activities which resulted in his being sent back to the Netherlands in disgrace

In 1798 the estate was sold to the Theunissen family, who planted vineyards
and produced grapes and wine until the phylloxera infestation,
which ruined much of the world’s wine industry in the late nineteenth century,
wiped out most of Vergelegen's grape production

In 1917 Vergelegen was purchased by the millionaire mine magnate Sir Lionel Phillips as a present for his wife Florence
She remodelled aspects of the house and planted the magnificent gardens,
but removed the few remaining acres dedicated to grapes

Following the death of Lady Phillips, the estate was purchased by the Barlow family,
and Charles "Punch" Barlow oversaw the reintroduction of a limited planting of grapes

However, by the time Anglo American bought the property from the Barlows, in 1987, no grapes were being cultivated
Anglo American drew up a detailed master plan for the development of the vineyards and,
after intensive terroir analysis conducted over two years, the first new vines were planted in 1989
A new underground wine cellar was built in the early 1990s 

On our way into the estate to attend this year’s RMB Starlight Classic concert, we paused to take a few photographs

Rain clouds on their way over the mountains as we drove down Lourensford Road toward Vergelegen

The estate is a large property, famous of course for its wines
but it also has a breeding programme for fynbos, Nguni Cattle, eland and bontebok antelope and quagga
in the nature reserve, proclaimed in 2018

some of the Nguni cattle
Environmental tours can be booked on the website

A view across the estate toward the Hottentots Holland mountain range

The estate has many areas of forest, with open glades

and denser areas

Part of the gardens planted by Lady Phillips - with lawns,

a herb garden, next to the Café Fleur restaurant

restful areas with ponds,

seasonally planted flowers

and the famous rose garden

The camphor trees, planted by van der Stel

A last pear of summer, outside the manor house

All the stories we have published can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email


Posted by MENU at 3:13 pm 0 comments
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