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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

A simple supper at Sunfish, St Helena Bay

John wanted to watch the Stormers vs Lions rugby match on Saturday evening and, sadly, our B&B didn’t have television - so we had to seek out a place where he could watch and then, later, we could have supper together. Sunfish turned out to be the place, just about 5 minutes drive from our B&B.

It’s very homey and simple, but has great prices. All the crayfish we saw in other restaurants was in the region of R245 each. The pub lunch price is unreal and takes us back to the 1980’s. As it says on the menu, the choice is up to the publican

We drank a bottle of Oak Valley Sauvignon Blanc in tribute to their winemaker Peter Visser who died of cancer this week. A toast to you Vissie; you made great wine

A page from the menu. We didn’t try the chocolate “mouse” but it sounds good

The mostly local crowd was extremely friendly and welcoming. They were having a snoek braai as the snoek are running well. This fish needs to be cooked super fresh and the tradition on the West Coast is to coat it with apricot jam and then put it on the braai.

We opened this bottle of Welbedacht Syrah from our cellar to go with the food. It was stunningly good. Soft and sweet with fresh and cooked berries and lots and lots of spice

It went perfectly with supper. No chips because we are on the Noakes diet. Lynne had a small steak with salad

John had a boerewors burger - yes, without the bun and also served with a salad. The bill for the meal was R208???

Try it when you are in the area, you might just like it a lot. The owner has been a policeman, a steel worker and is now living his dream by the sea, doing what he loves best, cooking
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Paternoster and lunch at Skatkis

On our way to a long Easter weekend at Britannia Bay we side-tracked to Paternoster to pick up some crayfish we had ordered and decided to have something for lunch while we were there. Lynne had done all the research for Britannia Bay, but not for Paternoster and where we ended up was surprisingly good

We started with a call to Oep ve Koep, but they only seem to have a couple of tables - we were told it was a set menu and it was fully booked

After collecting two crayfish from our contact and paying rather over the odds at R140 for two live kreef, we went to their recommendation for a simple fish or calamari lunch, Skatkis on St Augustine Road. There were lots of very young vendors on the street selling crayfish; were they undersized, were they legal, were they fresh, were they alive? Too risky for us. With prices as low as R10 each we wonder, but it was certainly fulfilling a demand

The outside could do with a revamp but it is easy to find

Skatkis (Treasure box) has a superb view, outside tables and a lawn

A fairly Greek theme of blue and white inside

And everyone, including us, chose a table on the terrace for the great view. With an exciting new chef and a little modernisation, this venue could become the best restaurant in Paternoster because of its location

And there is plenty of parking outside. Look at that view down the bay! Paternoster has kept its Cape seaside cottage style and all the buildings have to be painted white and fit into other design criteria which makes it so charming

Crisp calamari and a salad for Lynne with a glass of house Sauvignon Blanc from Groenekloof

Who wouldn't want to spend a lunch hour here?

John had fresh braaied snoek with a baked sweet potato (not his favourite but better for his waistline than chips) and a separate salad

People enjoying the lovely late summer weather on the beach

Something new. These jam jar drinks seemed very popular. We were not willing to go there, too sweet and not on the diet

The view from the car park and off we went to Britannia Bay, the quick way, over the 13 km dirt road rather than the long way round via Vredenburg which is about 54 km

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Chenin Blanc Winter Showcase at Delaire Graff

The gathering on the spacious deck of Delaire Graff

President of the Chenin Growers Association, Ken Forrester, opens proceedings

Ben Kruger, CEO of the Standard Bank, tells us about their new sponsorship. It is a very worthy prize. He announced the signing of a three-year sponsorship agreement between the Chenin Blanc Association of South Africa and Standard Bank, in support of a new competition to be known as the Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge. The competition will be open to all the ± 100 Chenin Blanc Association members. Entries open on 1st July 2014. An awards ceremony announcing the winners will take place at Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch on Wednesday 27th August. Winners will receive R20 000 each and the money must be used for the economic and social upliftment of the workforce

Past president Jeff Grier of Villiera

The hand that rocks the cradle. Ina Smith is the Manager of the Association and keeps it all together with marvellously quiet and gentle organisation

Line up of the first flight of Chenins

We get down to serious tasting

Johann Laubser, GM of Delaire Graff, wine maker Morne Vrey and Ken Forrester listen to Geoff Grier in the background as he takes us through a flight of Chenin

Many lunchers on the terrace with one of the best views in Stellenbosch, up at the top of the Helshoogte pass

As the vines shut down after harvest, the leaves turn all sorts of pretty autumnal colours

Delaire Graff’s winemaker Morne Vrey on his way to lunch at Indochine restaurant

Calm blues and hints of the orient make this a comfortable place to have lunch

Sean Griffiths of Mulderbosch, Wade Bales and Alan Mullins

We meet Ben Kruger, CEO of the sponsor, Standard Bank

Handsome restaurant manager Alex von Ulmenstein with two of the Chenins previously tasted and now on offer to go with lunch

The lunch menu

The wines on offer

Ken Forrester thanks Ina Smith for all the very excellent organisation

Johann Laubser, GM of Delaire Graff, who sponsored the Showcase

Willie du Plessis of Standard Bank Marketing

Ken Forrester signing the agreement with Standard Bank

Sponsors and heads of the Chenin Blanc Association. CEO Ben Kruger of the sponsor Standard Bank, President Ken Forrester, Willie du Plessis of Standard Bank and Jeff Grier

Ken Forrester with a bucket of wonderful chenin

The Amuse was a seared tuna slice with broccoli and black garlic puree

Our starter was a beautifully presented arrangement of lovely flavours, textures and aromas. Daikon radish wrapped beef tartar and pickled mushrooms, flavoured with chilli, black bean puree, and ponzu served in pickled onion ‘cups’ and topped with crisp deep fried noodles

Writer Johan Crafford also having a great day

The main course was small pieces of chicken and prawn covered in a tikka masala sauce on a cauliflower puree with a fresh chutney and topped with a mini bok choy We were very impressed with the food. The chef at Indochine, who works under Executive chef Christiaan Campbell, is indeed worthy of a mention - his name is Virgil Kahn

Ina Smith

Dessert looks deliciously simple and yet was full of very intense flavours. Coconut ice cream, lime curd ice cream and a pineapple sorbet. With intricate and delicate spicing one tasted echoes of melktert, and coconut lime pie, but it was so fresh and light. A masterstroke by the pastry chef.

Another autumn view of the Delaire Graff vineyards, hugging the hillside.

This impressive place is filled with great artworks

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