Old and new craft in the harbour on Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong
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VinExpo on Day One And then it was time to pack away the
holiday clothes and get to work. Vinexpo started on Tuesday 24th May and ran
for three days. We were there to find out what we could about the Chinese
market. It is still pretty inscrutable. The Chinese people, especially the
young upwardly mobile are interested but know very little about wine. The
fashion for buying trophy wines has passed they tell us, no longer are the
bottles of top international wines displayed on their mantle shelves, never to
be drunk. They fear fake wines, preferring to buy from people they know.
Importing is easy, selling is not. Did you know that China grows lots of grapes
but only 10% of them are wine grapes. And wine grapes are grown almost all over
this vast country. They even have their own varietals.
The Formal Tastings and Seminars we attended over the 3
days One of the main reasons for going to
VinExpo is to taste different wine, wines we cannot often taste in South
Africa. So we attend as many as we can squeeze into the short period, between
press conferences and visiting stands
The evenings in Hong Kong We confess, we are a little in love with
Hong Kong. And the evening light is so charming. And there is so much to do
MENU goes East continued - From Hong Kong to Hanoi
Up bright and early for our flight to
Hanoi on Jetstar - Qantas's budget airline, where the flight sounds cheap but
you pay for everything, including your luggage and any food or drink (including
water) on the plane
Constantia goes to Ellerman House When we had our wine and food shop Main
Ingredient at the bottom of Kloof Road we often had the chef and the sommeliers
from Ellerman House visit us. We were invited to come and see the fantastic
wine cellar but somehow never managed to get there. Finally last Monday we go
to see it when we attended Constantia's trade wine tasting there. What a
splendid place for a wine tasting and what great wines they produce in the
valley and on the hills of Constantia. Ellerman House is a ultra luxury
boutique Hotel on Kloof Road in Bantry Bay.
An Experience at Bouchard Finlayson in the
Hemel and Aarde Valley We don't often go to the winelands at
night, especially if it means driving in the home going traffic on the N1 or 2
and then driving home afterwards. But if one of our favourite and well respected
wine farms offers transport we will consider it very seriously. Which is why
last Wednesday saw us on the road to the Hemel and Aarde for a tasting of
Bouchard Finalyson's wines on the farm. Yes, it was a long trip, but yes it was
worth it.
A Taste of Grand Constance The history of the famous Constantia wines
goes back to the 18th century. Groot Constantia is 331 years old and they have
purchase order from Napoleon when the Cloete family owned the farm and from
customers as far back as the 1800's when this most sought after wine was sold
to enthusiasts like King Phillipe, and Jane Austen. We were invited to Groot
Constantia this week to taste their recreation called Grand Constance.
Tasting Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs at Wine Concepts Celebration
at the Vineyard Hotel What an opportunity to taste some of the
best the Cape has to offer at this well attended wine tasting last Friday
evening.
Wine of the week Edgebaston 2014 Chardonnay David Finlayson makes the sort of
Chardonnay we love to drink. We bought and drank lots and lots of his Honey
Shale Chardonnay last year and were sad when it ran out. Tasting his Chardonnay
at the Vineyard on Friday was, for Lynne, a treat. It was the best she tasted
all evening and so she bought a case. It is full of golden yellow fruit and
butter, with layers and layers of complexity, minerality, sunshine and good
citrus tongue tingling bite. It is lightly wooded but has a supporting role in
the background. 4.5 star in Platter. Do try it. R105 at Wine Concepts
This week’s recipe
Kale is all the rage We don't know why it has become so
fashionable. It is packed full of vitamins and minerals, but then so are many
green vegetables. Lynne decided we ought to give it another try as our previous
encounter was not good; the kale we ate was like eating glass. She was speaking
on the phone to our friend in Holland when it occurred to her that kale there
is one of their winter national dishes. So this is the recipe this week. It
does require a smoked sausage like Rookworst but, if you don’t eat pork, you could
try one of those kosher Garlic sausages. Recommendation: The flavour of kale is
much improved by frost, which is wont get here in South Africa. So put yours in
the freezer the night before you want to cook this. This is real winter rib
sticking food. Could you make this with sweet potato if you are Banting,
Perhaps try?
Boerenkool
Met Worst (Kale with sausage)
500
g fresh kale - 4 large peeled potatoes - 50g fatty bacon or pancetta - oil -
butter salt - freshly ground black pepper - 1t white wine vinegar - 1 t Dijon
or sweet honey mustard - 1 Rookworst
Make
sure the kale is well washed. Drain well than chop very finely with a sharp
knife, removing any thick centre cores. Put into some salted boiling water,
preferably in a pressure cooker and boil. It will take about 10 minutes in the
pressure cooker, 20 minutes in a covered pot. Chop the bacon very small and fry
in some oil and butter till crisp. Drain but reserve some of the liquid. At the
same time boil the potatoes until soft. Peel and mash with the butter. Stir in
the kale, the vinegar, the mustard and the bacon It is said that this is much
better the following day. You cook the sausage in boiling water then slice and
serve on top of the warm Kale and potato mix. Optional extras are fried onion
and garlic.
Events for you to enjoy in June
Friday, 17th
to Sunday, 19th June. Grootvadersbosch Conservancy and
Gondwana Alive present Silver Mountain Music. Inspired by the
silvery glow of the Langeberg, Silver Mountain Music is a celebration of music
and nature in the Grootvadersbosch Valley. The natural beauty of the area is coupled with a
rich cultural heritage and genuine rural hospitality. In addition to multiple
concerts, the weekend will include activities that showcase local cuisine and
natural attractions including, a guided dairy tour, milk tasting, guided forest
walks, mountain biking and trail running. The weekend is a perfect long weekend
winter break and the event should not be missed. Tickets are limited so book here to enjoy this unique musical celebration.
Saturday,
18th and Sunday, 19th June. Father’s Day Gourmet Treats at The Twelve Apostles
Hotel and Spa. This year, dads celebrating their special day have the option of
a delectable ‘Gents’ Tea by the Sea’ Buffet fit for a king on Saturday 18 or
Sunday 19 June, or the perfect Father’s Day Buffet Lunch with live music on
Sunday 19 June- both served with our trademark hospitality! Gents’ ‘Tea by the
Sea’ Buffet R 275 per person. Father’s Day Lunch R 425 per adult, R 215 per
child u/12 yrs. Book here
Sunday, 19th June. Dornier Bodega
Father’s Day Lunch Menu.
A 3 course set lunch menu with each dish
optionally paired with Dornier wines. R
350 for food & R 125 for wine pairing. Click here to see
the menu.
Seating for Father's Day Lunch is limited. Contact
Bodega Restaurant at 021 880 0557 or bodega@dornier.co.za to ensure your reservation.
Sunday, 19th June, 12h00 to 14h00. Escape to Grande Provence this Father’s Day. Grande
Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek. Surprise your dad with a culinary
escape to Grande Provence for a Father’s Day luncheon in the heart of the
Franschhoek winelands or make a weekend of it if you really want to spoil him.
With the Grande Provence Winter Heartland Offer, the whole family can enjoy a
stay at the Owner’s Cottage or hideaway in the secluded La Provençale Villa in
the Vineyards at special winter rates. The cost of the Father’s Day lunch is
R395 per person. Booking is essential, e-mail restaurant@grandeprovence.co.za or call 021 876 8600. For more information on
the Heartland Offer visit www.grandeprovence.co.za or e-mail ownerscottage@grandeprovence.co.za
Sunday, 19th June, 12h00 to 15h00. Add some sparkle
to Father’s Day at The House of J.C. Le Roux, Stellenbosch. Treat your dad to an uplifting taste experience and
Father’s Day lunch at the world-class sparkling wine destination in the
Stellenbosch Winelands. With its welcoming al fresco deck and stylish
interiors, Le Venue offers a relaxing atmosphere with a Father’s Day luncheon
buffet that is sure to delight all the senses. Be sure to book for one of the
famous J.C. Le Roux tastings when making your Father’s Day lunch reservation.
From the classic Méthode Cap Classique offerings to the popular Vivante
bubblies, your dad is sure to find his favourite. Booking for the Father’s Day
lunch and tasting is essential. Call the LeVenue restaurant on 021 865 8200.
The lunch costs R235 served from 12h00 to 15h00. For more information, visit www.jcleroux.co.za, www.facebook.com/HouseofJCLeRoux, @HouseofJCLeRoux on Instagram and join the
conversation on Twitter @JCLeRoux
Sunday, 19th June, A special day for Fathers at Lakeside Lodge & Spa. Every year
we get the opportunity to honour our fathers and this year is no exception at
Lakeside Lodge & Spa, a short drive out from Sedgefield on the Garden
Route. A hearty winter set menu is planned at the lodge’s on-site restaurant,
Benguela Brasserie & Restaurant, on Sunday, 19 June 2016. The restaurant
encompasses panoramic views of the Swartvlei Lagoon, which are simply
breath-taking, even in winter. Guests have the option of a two course lunch for
R350.00 per person or the three courses for R395.00 per person. Benguela Cove
wine from the Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate in Walker Bay, Hermanus is also available
to pair and complement your meal. Bookings are essential. To secure your
Father’s Day reservations, please contact 044 343 1844 or book online. Bookings
are subject to availability. For more information, please email info@lakesidelodge.co.za or visit
their website. Also visit
their Facebook page, follow
them on Twitter and Instagram.
Sunday, 19th June. Father's
Day at The Pool Room, Oak Valley Estate, Elgin. 2 Course Meal
R280, 3 Course Meal R360. Bookings are essential. 021 859 4111, Send an email
to: poolroom@oak-valley.co.za
Sunday, 19th June. A winter warmer Father’s
Day at Webersburg. Historic
Cape Dutch homestead and boutique winery in Stellenbosch, Webersburg, has a great
lunch menu lined up for dads this Father’s Day - a
three course set menu for lunch consisting of excellent cuts of meat
accompanied by warming winter dishes. Take your dad and the family out for
lunch and experience the 1693 elegant homestead submerged in history. The
Webersburg SugarBosch Bistro log fire will also be blazing to keep guests warm
and comfortable. The three course set menu costs R380 per person. Lunch is
served from 12h00 to 15h00 on Sunday. To reserve your Father’s Day lunch or
accommodation contact 021 881 3636
or email Webersburg at admin@webersburg.co.za. For more
information on exciting specials and upcoming events please visit their website, Facebook page, or
follow them on Twitter and Instagram @Webersburg.
Tuesday, 21st June. Cellar tour at 18h30, Tasting Starts
19h00. 3
Course Food & Wine Pairing with
Cellar Master Charles Hopkins at De Grendel Restaurant, Plattekloof
Road, Panorama, Cape Town. All bookings must be sent to Christelle@degrendel.co.za or call 082
325 1304. Cost R550.00 per person
Thursday, 23rd June, 18h00 – 20h00 Bubbly, tea and tapas with Saltare &
Dandelion at Palma. A unique
combination of flavours: Saltare MCC and wines paired with the handmade,
loose-leaf teas of Dandelion and served with Palma’s signature tapas at Palma,
213 Bree Street, Cape Town. Cost: R200 per person (includes wine and tea
servings and tapas; welcome to stay afterwards for a meal from Palma’s menu). Bookings:
Send an email to carla@saltare.co.za or call 083 280 2557
Thursday, 23rd June. Tasting Time
at Caroline's Fine Wine Cellar, Cape Town. BOEKENHOUTSKLOOF.
Hear all about this amazingly successful brand directly from MARC
KENT, partner, cellarmaster and inspiration behind it all.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet Marc in person! Taste Semillon, two
vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah 2005, the rare Journeyman 2005,
Noble Late Harvest plus the new Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon and
Callie Louw’s Porseleinberg Syrah from the company’s Swartland holding. R300
p/p. For
bookings: please click here or mail Lyzette on carowine@mweb.co.za. To
buy wine online, visit www.carolineswine.com
Saturday 25th June. Beaumont Barrel Lunch. A celebration of new
vineyards in old soils. Weather permitting, we will meet at 11:30 with a glass
of our freshest Chenin to help get the day rolling. We will then take a walk to
our newest Chenin vineyard where Sebastian will do a short demonstration on how
we develop and shape these young vines. Following this we will wander up to the
cellar for a long lazy lunch amongst our barrels. Menu @ R410 per person. To book contact info@beaumont.co.za. Beaumont
Wines, Compagnes Drift Farm, Bot River, Western Cape
Wednesday, 29th June. A relaxed tasting event to showcase
some of the fantastic (and fantastic value) wines that Raka has on offer at Southey’s
Bistro & Wine Boutique, 196 Main Road, Somerset West. The meal will take
the form of 8 tasting dishes – certainly enough to constitute a hearty meal!! Please
note that there is limited space available, so please book ASAP. For bookings
email: info@southeysbistro.co.za or call: 021 851 6060
16th June 2016
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.
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. Our Avast! ® Anti-Virus software is updated at least daily and our system is scanned continually for viruses.
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