Tuesday, April 02, 2024

Supper at Marietjie's Pub & Grill, Baardskeerdersbos

We have been to Marietjie's Pub and Grill in Baardskeerdersbos a few times
This time, it was just 7 kilometres from our accommodation, so that sorted out supper on our first night in the area
At weekends, you'll need to book; it's a popular place

The main restaurant has a bar; sadly, there were smokers
and the smell carries through into the restaurant area

They have a small shop with very interesting items as well as jams and preserves

We took a table in the bottom section

Translation: Our Food is as Hot as my "Little Bit on the Side"
Our Beer as Cold as my Husband

They do not charge corkage so we had brought some wines from our cellars
The award winning Tokara Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best bargains around
and so is the Strandveld Adamastor, a blend of Sauvignon blanc and Semillon
from near Cape Agulhas, Africa's southernmost winery

and a bottle of our favourite Raats Cabernet franc was so enjoyable with the food

Good meaty hamburgers and Chips with a little salad on the side

A 1 Kg rack of pork spareribs costs R250, this is the 500g at R120; it is delicious and falls off the bone

A burger with a pepper sauce. We could not finish all the food, the portions are huge

All our stories 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 11:53 am 0 comments

Lunch at Fick's Pool, Hermanus

Friends from the Netherlands have been visiting for several weeks
We wanted to take them to the Triangle Wine Festival in Elim,
so we planned a great weekend for them and another couple
We drove down on Friday and had a reasonably good trip to Hermanus
until a huge boat, called Shangri-La, slipped off its trailer in Somerset West, causing absolute traffic chaos
We planned to stop for lunch en route in Hermanus. A place, recommended by locals, which was totally new us,
despite our many visits to the area
It is a great find. Fick's Pool is tidal, and was apparently dynamited out of the rocks by a local farmer named Fick
It opens at 1pm and you have to get there promptly as they do not take bookings
The steep steps are not unconquerable for the elderly but there is an alternative winding path

The weather was great, if a bit cloudy ....

... and we were shown to a good table

The menu is mainly Tapas with some Flammkuchen (German style pizza)

with a good wine list, featuring many local and Hemel en Aarde goodies

Local kids were frolicking in the pool but we hear on hot days customers take a dip


There is an undercover area set into the rocks, in addition to the substantial deck

Good attentive staff. Service is not quick, but they were very busy and we were so relaxed in this venue

A group shot taken by another customer

Peter was loving the atmosphere and the bottle of Spier Chenin Blanc we ordered

Baby calamari in crisp batter with spicy aioli

John's Flammkuchen with bacon and tomato

Kevin's looked enticing with prosciutto ham, olives and rocket

A variation of Patatas Bravas done as very large crisp spicy chips and two dipping sauces

Bruschetta topped with aioli, hard boiled egg, very lightly smoked salmon and anchovies
The aioli needs more garlic and body!

Local boys drying off after a swim

then diving in for another swim

All our stories 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 11:02 am 0 comments

Supper in The Hyde Hotel's London Road Bistro

Hyperli https://hyperli.com/ is an on-line site selling vouchers for bargain meals for two people
They sell other things which might be contentious, but we stick to the meals and accommodation!
The deals are in and around the big cities in SA
We have tried a few meals and accommodation deals over the years and not been disappointed
Lynne had bought one to try as the Hyde Hotel is local (London Road, in Sea Point) and it sounded good
We were there recently for the launch of Bruce Jack's Jack@Skye wine bar on the roof
They have off-street parking in their underground garage, useful as parking in the street is limited

We decided to go up to the roof for a sundowner and admire the beautiful place where we live
The mountains are sun kissed in the early evening ....

and the sea sparkles

Sommelier Awonke Tyumse was there, but just about to go off duty
We discovered that they have a happy hour every evening between 5 and 7,
where you buy one glass of Bruce's delicious wine and get another free
He suggested that we order three glasses and then we could get this bottle of Chenin for a very reasonable R120

Enjoying the evening and the prospect of not having to cook supper

The sunset was magnificent and we watched the tourist boats from the Waterfront enjoying it 

A yacht motoring for the harbour and a tanker going up the East coast

A trawler and another sunset cruise boat

Time to use our voucher, which cost a very reasonable R169 for two 200g Gourmet Hamburgers
with crisp fries and onion rings

The Deals menu. We were surprised there was a choice of sauces for the burgers
The other deal for the steak also came with dessert and was about R300
They have continued both offers and its good value for couples

Two burgers on a brioche bun and lots of very crisp chips

Innovative lighting

The Bacon Cheese burger. The onion rings were very crisp and not at all oily
We were able to take our bottle from the roof down to the restaurant. It was very enjoyable

All our stories 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 10:22 am 0 comments

Monday, March 25, 2024

In MENU this issue. French trade tasting, RMB Starlight Classics, Italian breakfast at Osteria, Jordan Harvest lunch, Jack@Skye launch





Our year is returning to its normal pace. We have had some super wine experiences, with more in the pipeline, and the past few weeks have been capped by having a lot of fun at the 2024 RMB Starlight Concert at Vergelegen. Have a look at the stories and enjoy the experience with us. As always, click on the headlines and photographs to open the full stories

LAPD Distributors French Champagne, Wine and Spirits Trade Show at Grub & Vine, The Norval Foundation

Dane Raath is a wine and other beverages negociant. He and his mother Kathy Raath have a very successful business. He invited us to something different, the LAPD trade tasting of many different French wines, well known and respected French brands who want to enter the South African market. It was quite a tasting and extremely well attended by the trade so there was a very good buzz on the Norval Foundation terrace as we all compared notes and recommendations. We began with Laurent Perrier Champagnes and tasted and enjoyed the range. Read on….

RMB Starlight Concert 2024 at Vergelegen

Joyous celebration in the Ford family when we get an invitation to the RMB Starlight Concert at Vergelegen. We so enjoy this annual concert which showcases such great South African talent and spoils its invited guests so well. A glass of Vergelegen's Florence rosé MCC to get us on the way to a fantastic evening. Read on…

Italian brunch at Osteria, Somerset West

Our previous visit to this venue was in October 2012 for the launch of the 2013 Platter wine guide. It has changed a bit. We were overnighting with friends in Somerset West and wanted to take them out for breakfast/brunch. They suggested this restaurant, Puglia Cheese's Osteria Cheese Bar below Waterkloof Wines on the Old Sir Lowry's Pass Road. Read on…

Jordan 2024 Harvest Lunch

An invitation from Jordan Wine Estate to their annual Harvest Lunch, where we were welcomed with a glass of their newly released Rosé. Read on…

Jack@SkyeRooftop Bar and Restaurant launch at the Hyde Hotel, Sea Point

Bruce Jack is in town! We get many invitations to wine events but rarely do they happen in our area, which is Sea Point. So an invitation to come to the Hyde Hotel in London Road to taste Bruce Jack wines lifted our spirits. And the good news is, it is a permanent location where you too can go and taste Bruce's wines on the rooftop of the hotel. A great place to watch the sunset and enjoy the wines. Read on…

All our stories 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 2:07 pm 0 comments

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Italian breakfast at Osteria, Somerset West

Our previous visit to this venue was in October 2012 for the launch of the 2013 Platter wine guide. It has changed a bit
We were overnighting with friends in Somerset West and wanted to take them out for breakfast/brunch
They suggested this restaurant, Puglia Osteria Cheese Bar below Waterkloof Wines on Old Sir Lowry's Pass Road

Busy with breakfasts and bookings for lunch for unexpected customers
because a local festival had been cancelled due to high winds

The owner checking the booking

The menu

Two poached eggs with pancetta in a rich tomato sauce, with parmesan crisps was good and very filling

A Diavola pizza made with mozzarella, chili, tomato, onion, basil and gluten free flour



Frittata with ricotta, hollandaise, pesto, shaved pecorino and dashes of tapenade



Frittata with hollandaise, pesto, shaved pecorino and dashes of tapenade

All accompanied by orange juice and, for one of us, an excellent Americano

The bill

All our stories 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 11:59 am 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)