Thursday, February 22, 2024

In MENU This Issue. Michael Olivier RIP, Simonsig, Buitenverwachting, Melting Pot, Creation, Newton Johnson, Bientang's Cave, Bouchard Finlayson

We're back! There has been a long gap between stories. Like many people in the Western Cape, we have been inundated with visitors since late last year, so we have been generating stories with too little time to publish them. So here, if a little belatedly, is a selection. They are all on Facebook and LinkedIn, so you can see them there or here on our blog site. Click on the titles and pictures to open them

Michael Olivier RIP

Michael Olivier was responsible for many memorable meals enjoyed at important times in John's life. He has special memories of meals at Lanzerac when visiting the Cape from the big dusty city in the North, on family holidays and on his honeymoon with Pam in 1974. Michael re-introduced him to classic Cape food. Read on…

Wine tasting at Simonsig

A Sunday trip to Stellenbosch for our friend from the UK nearly proved abortive. The first wine farm we went to no longer sells wine, just beer! The second and third were closed (seems to be a growing thing in that area) so we headed for one we knew would produce the goods and be open – Simonsig. Warmly welcomed by Paulina Pietersen. She introduced us to the many varied tasting options on their menu. Read on…

Wine tasting at Buitenverwachting

A friend visiting from the UK wanted to visit Constantia and we decided that a tasting at Buitenverwachting would be a good start. Sarah, a recent ID graduate, now at Discovery in Johannesburg, was our wine server and very good at it too! Read on…

The Melting Pot at Oak Valley revisited

Another overseas visitor, so another visit to The Melting Pot in Elgin for lunch, this time by the pool as it was a gloriously warm day. The Hydrangeas were in full bloom. Our excellent Sommelier, Kwanele Mhlobo, brought us a tasting of two Oak Valley Wines. Read on…

A visit to Creation

while we are in the Hemel and Aarde valley is almost a given and, because one of the farms we had planned to visit was surprisingly closed, we ventured back to what is one of our favourite wine farms. Although it was quite late in the Sunday afternoon, we found that Carolyn Martin was still there and she was kind enough to come and sit with us and chat...

Tasting and lunch at Newton Johnson

Staying in the Hemel and Aarde in Summer is such a great place to be. All the roads are accessible now, so the valley is there for you to explore. We were there for four days so we relaxed, slept well, did some major bird watching. from the stoep of the cottage we stay at and, of course, made appointments to visit some of our favourite wine farms and the one with some of the best views and, in our estimation, some of the best wines is Newton Johnson. Read on…

Lunch at Bientang's Cave, Hermanus

Another visit to Hermanus and a beautiful morning meant a walk on one of the loveliest beaches in the region. No wind and the perfect temperature had this Monday morning off to a good start. Sea birds on the estuary at Prawn Flats and, after the walk, lunch at Bientang's Cave, to introduce yet another of our British friends to this gem. Read on…

Tasting the wines of Bouchard Finlayson

Before we left the Hemel en Aarde valley, we visited Bouchard Finlayson where John had organised a tasting for us and our English guest. The winery was fast preparing for harvest which began later that month. A taste of the Blanc de Mer 2023, a  blend of 65% Weisser Reisling, with Viognier and Chardonnay that goes so well with sea food dishes and is a lovely quaffing wine as well, good on picnics. Perfumed, with sea minerality and richness of the fruit. It defies expectations on the palate, crisp, zesty and long Read on…

All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

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