Autumn vines, apples and olives at Hannay, Elgin
In
this week’s MENU:
Off to Turkey and Greece Scotch broth Coming events Learn about wine and cooking
We write about
our experiences in MENU, not only to entertain you, but to encourage you to
visit the places and events that we do. We know you will enjoy them and we try
to make each write up as graphic as we can, so you get a good picture of what
is on offer at each place, restaurant, wine farm, festival we visit. To get the whole story with photographs, please click on “Read
on.....” at the end of each paragraph, which will lead you to the
related blog, with pictures and more words. At the end of each blog, click on RETURN TO MENU
to come back to the blog version of MENU.
MENU is late this week because last week was so full of extraordinary
and interesting tastings and meals that we simply did not have any time to
write it. Lynne was down with a bad head cold and wanted to keep it from
turning to bronchitis, as it so often does for her, so she was trying to take
it easy (!) and missed out on two evening events. She wants to be fit and well
for our next odyssey. To top that, her computer died as we were preparing to
send this. After a few hours in an efficient workshop, it is back in operation
and her contributions can be completed.
You will not receive another MENU until the second week of June. We are off to explore Istanbul and then
Greece – our first proper holiday in several years. We will be posting
photographs and blogs. Please follow us on Facebook
and Twitter (@MAININGMENU)
Yes, we are going to be tourists and visit all the
historic monuments, taste the food and the wine and experience the markets, but
we are also going to try to have a well earned holiday. The itinerary is
Istanbul, Athens, Santorini, Naxos, Athens, Corinth, Daikofto and the
Peloponnese, including Nemea and surrounding areas. Back on the 4th June and
straight back to PR appointments. Yassou!
So here is the last fortnight’s story, at last:
Elgin Cool wines The
day started cool, drizzly and misty in Cape Town on Saturday but by lunch time
in Elgin the sun was out and we had a lovely festive day. We met some lovely
people and tasted some very good wines. We began at Hannay Wines with Catherine
Marshall doing a tasting of both their wines followed by huge hamburgers. Read on....
Then it was off down the road to see the Wallaces at
Wallovale farm to taste their wines and some chocolate from Rococo. Read On....
Finally, we finished the day at Lothian in the most
amazing house we have seen for some time, tasting their wines and watching the
sun disappear over the mountains. It was a fine day. Read on....
De Krans at the Mount Nelson We
are sad to hear that there will be no Port Festival in Calitzdorp this year
(they will be holding special events during the month of June) but delighted
that De Krans brought their wines to Cape Town to show them to the media and
the trade. On Tuesday we met for a guided tasting, with Boets Nel in the Planet
restaurant, of both wines and port and tasted some really interesting and some
really delicious wines. This was followed by a tour de force matched tasting of
exceptional canapés by Executive Chef Rudi Liebenberg with some older De Krans
wines and port. You don’t realise how much you are eating when the canapés are
so deliciously matched to good wine. Read on....
Taillard Family Wines by Teddy Hall A
one hour bus drive into the country took us and several other journos and trade
to the Voor Paardeberg area to this farm nestled under the Kanonkop Mountain. Teddy
Hall has been making their wines for them since 2014 and this was our chance to
sample the wines with a pairing lunch laid on for us by chef Gustaaf
Boshoff of Stir Food Read on....
Old Mutual Trophy Feedback session This
is almost one of the most exciting events of the year for the media, and those
people who have entered wines. The judging has finished earlier that morning;
the judges usually still have very blue teeth! We won’t learn who the winners
are until the awards lunch on the 27th May. It is time to hear the opinions of
the local and international judges of the wines they have tasted blind since
Monday morning. They still do not know what they have tasted or what has been
entered. Has the Cabernet group improved; are Chardonnays showing well; what
about the Red blend class? The wines are tasted in grape variety or blend
groups by judges experienced in their category. And each year there are
surprises, growth in quality, disappointments and successes in the categories. Read on....
Wade Bales Wine and Malt Whisky Affair There was enough time after our excellent
lunch at the Grande Roche to deliver Lynne back to the house and drive into
town to this very good tasting at 15 on Orange
Read on....
A Decathlon of decadent Rhône blends,
bands of Gypsies and Renegades with Ken Forrester And indeed
it was. How to describe Ken Forrester? A passionate, knowledgeable rebel wild
child who has the advantage of the wisdom of age – something we all aspire to -
and a great winemaker to boot. It was with great excitement that we joined
other media and trade people for this tasting on the farm last week, followed
by lunch at his restaurant, 96 Winery Road. Read On....
The Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon
Report 2015 was released at Burrata
Restaurant in The Old Biscuit Mill precinct in Woodstock this afternoon. Read on for the rest of the story The
full report can be seen here
This week’s recipe is a sustaining winter soup. It was rather
cold and damp over the weekend, Lynne had a cold and this brought on a soup
craving. We had people for supper, so this was our starter. We used the lamb
bone and left over lamb from our Sunday roast, but you could add some cut up
lamb or even another meat from a roast.
Scotch Broth
1 large onion – 2 t canola oil – 10g butter
- 3 leeks – 2 parsnips - 3 carrots – 1 turnip – 1 cup soup celery, finely
chopped – a large handful of chopped parsley – a bouquet garni of 2 bay leaves,
three sprigs each of rosemary and thyme, a sprig of basil tied up with some
string - about 2 cups of finely chopped lamb, plus any lamb bones from the
roast – 2.5 litres of good lamb or chicken stock – 100g barley – salt and
freshly ground black pepper
Before you start, finely chop all the vegetables. Do
the onion first and put it into a large pan with the oil and butter and a
little salt and cook until soft and beginning to colour. Add the leeks and fry
gently for a couple of minutes, then add all the rest of the vegetables and
stir. Let them sweat for about four to five minutes, then pour in the stock,
add the bouquet garni, the celery, parsley and the lamb, with any bones you
have. Simmer on a low heat for at least an hour or two. Remove the bones and
the bouquet garni. Add the barley and simmer again until it is soft, adding
more water or stock if the soup has reduced a lot. Season to taste and the soup
will be ready to serve. Lovely with a mature Sauvignon Blanc and garlic bread
COMING EVENTS
Friday, 15th May Burgundy Festival We hope to see lots of you at this superb
festival, organised by Wine Concepts, being held on Friday 15th at the Vineyard Hotel. They will have a
great selection of some of the best Chardonnays and Pinots Noir to taste. Now
in its fifth year, it kicks off this Friday in Cape Town at The Vineyard Hotel
in Newlands and in Johannesburg on the 28th May at The Wanderers Club in
Illovo. Please visit their website www.wineconcepts.co.za
for details
4th and 5th June Fine Brandy Fusion 2015 will take place at the Sandton Convention
Centre in Johannesburg from 5.30pm to 9.30pm (no new entries after 9pm). Ticket
price is R195 for entry, which includes a crystal brandy balloon, a booklet
with 15 brandy taster coupons, three cocktail coupons, and two coffee coupons.
Tickets are available from Computicket or at the door
29 and 30 May Franschhoek Mystery Weekend. Each Mystery Weekend will be structured
around something uniquely Franschhoek. With wine and food being the
inspiration, the May Mystery Weekend is perfect for all the Wine Fundis and
Gastronauts out there who seek a weekend of relaxation, delectable food and
world-class wines. For just R3 500 per couple (self-drive), for the whole
weekend, you'll experience the best the village has to offer. Bookings close on
Monday, 18 May. For bookings or queries please contact Carmen Arendse on office@franschhoek.org.za.
More detail at www.franschhoek.org.za
Friday, 29th May Join Lanzerac
Wine Estate winemaker, Wynand Lategan for an exclusive collaborative wine and food pairing dinner
at The Demo Kitchen for an
indulgent evening of superb Lanzerac Pinotage. The cost is R400 per person
which includes four Lanzerac Wine Estate pairings, coffee and a goodie bag
filled with gifts from Lanzerac and The Demo Kitchen. For bookings and info
contact Ilse van der Merwe on 021 882 9895 or info@thedemokitchen.co.za
Saturday, 30th May Feast of Shiraz & Charcuterie hosted by Hartenberg Wine Estate at
Joostenberg Deli (12pm to 5pm). Sample some of SA’s finest Syrahs paired with
delectable artisanal fare. Tickets are available directly from
www.webtickets.co.za at a cost of R180 per person, and include your entrance
fee as well as wine tastings. Joostenberg Deli is situated on the R304 just off
the N1 in the direction of Paarl. For more information contact DnA Event
Management on info@dnaevents.co.za
or 021 874 9010
30th & 31st May Delheim’s Wild Mushroom Hunts in the forest on the farm and on 3rd &
4th July. There are only 40 spots available per day. This exploration of the
hidden world of the fungi starts at 10am and tickets cost R595 per person. A
ticket includes an exclusive mushroom foraging basket or a Delheim bottle of
wine and two glasses to take home, a lecture on mushroom identification, the
forest forage, as well as the mushroom-themed three course lunch and a glass of
Delheim wine. Pre-booking is essential and given the intimate nature of these
events, no group bookings are allowed. For more information or to secure your
spot contact 021 888 4607 or 079 7353 257 or send an email to restaurant@delheim.com
Thursday, 4th to Sunday, 7th June Wacky Wine Weekend being held in the Robertson Wine Valley. Visit the
Wacky Wine Weekend website. www.wackywineweekend.com
Friday 5th and Saturday 6th June Karoo Lamb and Venison
Experience at Muratie Estate
in Stellenbosch. This is going to be a seriously good way to spend a winter’s
day. We always rave about Muratie’s lamb shanks, the best we have ever tasted
in the Cape. Now you can also sample some of their super cooking at this
Experience. And of course it will be accompanied by Muratie’s showcase of great
wines that match the food so well. Learn how to cut and prepare fresh organic
Karoo lamb and venison, and how to cook the various cuts in order to bring out
the very best flavours and textures. The workshop will be followed by a
wine-tasting and a three-course lunch served with Muratie wines. From 10h00
until 14h00. Cost: R500 per person all inclusive. Bookings: by phone 021 865
2330 or Email: info@muratie.co.za
We are going to be there.
Thursday, 11th June Taste the Helderberg 2015. Limited tickets for Taste the Helderberg
2015 are available at the cost of R80 per person. The ticket includes an
elegantly branded wine glass and access to tasting some of the best wines in
the country. Numerous restaurants will tempt the taste buds with mouth-watering
portions of their signature delights which will be on sale throughout the
evening. Tickets will also be available at the door. For more information visit
www.wineroute.co.za
or call 021 886 4310
11th & 12th
July Franschhoek Bastille Festival
13th August Nedbank CWG Auction Showcase, Cape Town
26th August Nedbank CWG Auction Showcase, Sandton
30th
September Nedbank CWG Winemaker Dinners
1st October CWG Sports Day, De Zalze Golf Course, Stellenbosch
2nd October CWG Final Pre-Auction Tasting, Spier
Conference Centre
3rd October
Nedbank CWG Auction, Spier Conference Centre, Stellenbosch
Learn about wine and cooking We receive a lot of enquiries from
people who want to learn more about wine. Cathy
Marston and The Cape
Wine Academy both run wine education courses, some very
serious and others more geared to fun. You can see details of Cathy’s WSET and other courses here and here and the CWA courses here. Karen Glanfield has taken
over the UnWined
wine appreciation courses from Cathy. See the details here
The Hurst Campus, an accredited school for people who want to become
professional chefs, has a variety of courses. See the details here
In addition to his
Sense
of Taste Culinary Arts School, Chef Peter Ayub runs a
four module course for keen home cooks at his Maitland complex. Details
here
Nadège Lepoittevin-Dasse has French cooking classes in Noordhoek
and conducts cooking tours to Normandy. You can see
more details here
Emma Freddi runs
the Enrica Rocca cooking courses at her
home in Constantia
Nicolette van
Niekerk runs baking courses at La Petite Patisserie in Montague
Gardens
George Jardine
will be running a series of winter cooking courses and other activities at
Jordan. Details here
13th May 2015
Remember - if you can’t find something, we’ll do our best
to get it for you, and, if you’re in Cape Town or elsewhere in the country, we
can send it to you! Check our online shop for details and prices.
PS If a word or name is in bold type and underlined,
click on it for more information
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.
We apologise if MENU caused
your phone to bleep in the early hours. To send to our huge list of subscribers
takes a long time and many of them receive it in the middle of the night. Might
we suggest that your phone should not be activated to receive messages from us
or from other sources in the witching hours? If your boss needs to contact you
at that time, (s)he’s intruding on your valuable personal time.
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
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