A hot landscape
in the Nuy Valley
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The news this week has been dominated for us by the
dreadful mountain fires in, first, the Elgin and Bot Rivier areas, then on the
Simonsberg and now, once more, in Noordhoek and Glencairn. It is believed in
authoritative quarters that arsonists are responsible. We are very worried
indeed about our many friends in the wine industry. Harvest has begun in some
areas and this is not what they need at the busiest time of their year. The
damage is catastrophic to some of the
affected farms. Our thoughts and hopes for a quick end to this tragedy are with
them. The hills of the south peninsula suffered similar fires last summer and
they have been documented in a wonderful book, The Cape Aflame, which you can
see advertised on our blog site. Please buy it. Profits go to the dedicated
people who fight the fires.
The heat has continued all week but we hear it may
dissipate soon. It is exhausting, especially at night when the mosquitoes vie
for landing space as we throw off all clothes and bedding. We are doing our
best for the economy this year and already have lots of friends visiting from
other parts of the world, which means trips to the countryside, wineries,
restaurants and the coast to cool off.
Durbanville Delights in the heat We
started, on Tuesday, with a wine tour to four Durbanville farms with our
friends from Greece and Johannesburg. We began at De Grendel, always rewarding
with its great wines and that superb view of the City, Table Bay and Table Mountain.
Then to Durbanville Hills for some Sauvignon Blancs and onward to lunch at
Meerendal which, sadly, was a bit disappointing. We ended with a great tasting
at Nitida, before heading home for an late afternoon nap and/or dip in a pool
as the heat had sapped us all. Read on.....
Constantia for the heights Time
for another wine tour, this time to Constantia. High Constantia has great wines
and also great bird watching facilities on its deck and in the garden. Our
friend Terry is a Twitcher, so it was the obvious place to start. Then we were
off to Steenberg for a long lunch at Bistro 1682 and an extensive tasting in
their tasting room. Read on.....
Fish and ships for Sunday lunch If
you haven't yet been to Kalkies on the harbour-side in Kalk Bay, you must
visit. It's simple, humble, the tables can be a bit sticky, but Oh, that fresh
fish. It has very cheeky, funny staff and it is where most of real SA goes for
a seafood treat. We try to take all our visitors there for a visit and they all
love it. We finished off the afternoon sipping wine in the lovely gardens of Eagles
Nest in Constantia. Read on.....
This week's recipe is something Lynne had at La Boheme
restaurant this week, such a suitable end to a meal in hot weather. It was rich
and cream but light and full of those seductive tropical flavours with a nice
zing on the end. Granadillas are in season but, if you can't find them, you can
buy tins of granadilla pulp; just strain out most of the pips please
This is much easier if you have an ice cream maker,
but you can make it in the freezer. There will be a lot of seeds in the 2 cups
of granadilla pulp. A tip is to put the pulp into a food processor and pulse
for just 10 seconds to separate the pips from the juice. Strain to remove the
pips and then add back just a teaspoon of pips, so that it is identifiably a
granadilla sorbet, or leave them out altogether according to your taste.
250 ml orange juice - 1 cup sugar - 2 cups
granadilla pulp - a good squeeze of lime or lemon juice - whites of 2 large
eggs, stiffly beaten
Put the orange juice and the sugar in a small pot and
heat until all the sugar has dissolved. Do not boil. Cool this syrup.
With an ice cream machine Add the granadilla pulp to the syrup and
the squeeze of lime juice and put into your ice cream machine and churn until
you have a good thick smooth sorbet texture. Add the stiffly beaten egg whites and churn for another 20 seconds until
they are incorporated. Remove from the machine and freeze until you want to
serve this. It will make about a litre and serve 6 to 8 people.
Without a machine, mix the syrup with the granadilla and
lime and freeze in a wide shallow lidded container for an hour. Remove from the
freezer and beat well with a hand beater and then incorporate the beaten egg
whites. Freeze again for about an hour or until you see a ring of crystals
forming around the edge. Beat again. Freeze and beat again every hour until you
get a smooth thick sorbet.
Here is a list of coming events up to and including Valentine’s Day
Saturday,
23rd January Riesling & Rarities
Rock at Hartenberg Estate. Celebrate the start of
2016 in relaxed sophistication at the annual Riesling & Rarities Rock
Festival, Saturday, 23 January 2016. Hartenberg Wine Estate, world-renowned for
their superb range of Rieslings, hosts this intimate event, which gives
visitors the opportunity to taste the finest Rieslings and other niche
varietals South Africa has to offer. Celebrated Hartenberg winemaker, Carl Schultz,
regarded as one of the country’s finest Riesling masters, has invited the crème
de la crème of cellars to showcase their premium Weisser/Rhine Rieslings at
this social calendar highlight. Not only do visitors get a chance to taste this
underrated varietal, but they will also be treated to a line up of other rare
varietals too. These include Semillon, Viognier and Gewürztraminer, amongst
others. The festival is the perfect platform to showcase these rare varieties
produced from South Africa’s diverse wine regions. A niche yet premium
varietal, Riesling is probably one of the most versatile of all wines, and
works perfectly with just about any type of food. Ranging from sushi to oysters
and antipasti, Riesling creates the perfect balance between food and wine. A
culinary match made in heaven! And that is exactly what the day is about.
Superb wines, delicious deli fare and live entertainment. The perfect day out
in the Winelands for young and old. Hartenberg’s indulgent picnic baskets,
which can be pre-booked at R175 per person, create for the ultimate relaxed
food and wine experience. Without a doubt the finest summer event perfectly
suited to the long summer days in January, festival goers will be able to
sample these fine wines between 12pm and 5pm on the day. Tickets cost R150 per
person, which can be pre-booked via www.webtickets.co.za. Your ticket includes
all tastings as well as a complementary tasting glass.
Sunday, 31st
January CONCERT IN A CONVENT GARDEN, Springfield
Convent, Wynberg. Regulars may notice the subtle name change from “Opera” to
”Concert” in a Convent Garden. This updated programme will now include a more
balanced selection of both classical and lighter music to appeal to a wider
audience, while not disappointing our many loyal friends. This will be the 12th performance and the
event has now been firmly established on the Cape Town Music Calendar as a
“must go to” for all music lovers. Bring your picnic and enjoy the evening on
the lawns in the magnificent surrounds of the Springfield Convent Garden, to
relax and be enchanted by the beautiful music and voices accompanied by the
Stellenbosch Camerata, directed by the well-known Albert Combrink. True Magic
and a wonderful way to start off the New Year! Food and drinks will be
available from the “The Concert Café”. Adults
R150, Scholars R30, Children under 10 Free
Bookings (Office hours): 021 797 9637
ext. 210 or 082 781 1708 Email:
concertinaconventgarden@gmaiI.com
Friday, 5th to
Sunday, 7th February STELLENBOSCH WINE FESTIVAL – A FEAST FOR THE SENSES. Celebrate
the harvest season in style at the 2016 Stellenbosch Wine Festival, presented
by Pick n Pay. Taking place at the Coetzenburg Sports Grounds in Stellenbosch,
visitors can look forward to sampling even more delicious wines than before,
with an incredible 77 wine farms and 10 boutique wineries participating in the
festival. If you’re keen on sampling some of the “rarer gems” from smaller
producers, then make sure you visit the festival on Sunday 7 February, when
boutique wineries are scheduled to make a special appearance. This year the
line-up includes: Audacia Wines, Bartinney Private Cellar, Deux Frères Wines,
Keermont Vineyards, Kings Kloof Vineyards, Mostertsdrift Noble Wines, Post
House Vineyards, Rudera Wines, The High
Road and Usana Wines. The Gourmet Lane will once again offer signature treats
from wineries and restaurants responsible for the region’s culinary reputation,
including Beyerskloof, Eaglevlei Wines, Vagabond Kitchen, Big Steve
Charcuterie, Wild Peacock Food Emporium and Bistro 13. And no South African
festival would be complete without biltong – fresh and delicious, it will be
available from Pick n Pay’s biltong stand. Celebrity chef Tiaan Langenegger
will team up with winemakers to explore the magic of food-and-wine pairing
during daily sessions in The Tasting Room. Langenegger will pair delicious
canapés with wines from Blaauwklippen, Ernie Els Wines, Kaapzicht, Kleine
Zalze, L'Avenir, Mooiplaas, Spier, Villiera, Waterford Estate and Waterkloof.
Sessions last half an hour and are limited to 40 guests. Booking is essential
and tickets can be bought on the day at the festival for R25. Those in possession
of a Smart Shopper card can enter free of charge. Daily festival tickets cost
R180 for adults and include a tasting glass. Tickets are now available online
from www.webtickets.co.za. Children
under 18 enter free. Festival opening times:
Friday from 15h00-21h00, Saturday from 10h00-18h00 and Sunday from
10h00-18h00. Tastings finish an hour before closing time. Visit the festival
website www.stellenboschwinefestival.co.za
for a full event schedule. Follow the Stellenbosch Wine Festival on Twitter
@StellWineFest, Instagram @Stellenboschwinefest or sign up for regular updates
on Facebook at StellenboschWineFestival.
Saturday, 6th
February Franschhoek Summer Wines at Leopard’s Leap Family
Vineyards. Come and taste the Franschhoek Vigneron’s choice for
summer. White, rosé or Méthode Cap Classique – all will be revealed on the day!
Tickets are available from www.webtickets.co.za
at R150 per person. This includes a wine
glass and a tasting of all the wines on show between 12pm and 5pm.
Saturday, 13th
February Nederburg welcomes The Galileo Open Air Cinema.
Begin the afternoon with a relaxed stroll through Nederburg’s manor house and
the winery’s lush gardens. Then share an evening underneath the stars with a
loved one, or a friend, to a screening of Shakespeare in Love. Pre-order a
picnic basket for R500 per couple from The Red Table. It includes delicious
fresh salads, cured meats, artisanal cheeses, crackers and bread, grilled tiger
prawns, asparagus spears wrapped with Parma ham, tartlets, and finally,
decadent chocolate brownies with strawberries, a bottle of Nederburg Première
Cuvée Brut as well as still mineral water. Pre-ordered picnic baskets must be
pre-paid in full. On the night there will also be stalls offering food, mineral
water, soft drinks as well as coffee and tea. Booking is essential. To book
tickets for the screening of Shakespeare in Love, starting just after dark on
Saturday, 13th February, please contact The Galileo on 071 471 8728 or hello@thegalileo.co.za.
Go to www.thegalileo.co.za
for more information, or to view ticket options and pricing. Visit www.nederburg.co.za
for more on the brand.
Saturday, 13th
February at 18h30 for
19h00 Plaisir de Merle Winemaker’s Table.
A culinary feast prepared by well-known chef and restaurateur, Dawid Kriel,
paired with wines selected by Cellar Master, Niel Bester, will be served in the
cellar. Tickets are available at R595 per person, five course dinner and wine
included. Limited spaces are available so call 021 874 1071 or email info@plaisirdemerle.co.za to be
part of this exclusive event.
Saturday 13th
February from 10am until
6pm ROSÉ FESTIVAL AT RICKETY BRIDGE ESTATE. FLOW
OF THE DAY: 8.30 until 10am: The day
will start at 8.30am with The Rosé Run (5km, 10km or 20km) and The Rosé MTB
Ride (20km, 40km or 60km). Entry to these events will include a Festival
ticket. Showers will be provided as well as a Rosé Breakfast of Salmon and Egg
Bagels. 10am until 4pm: Wine
tasting, Rosé-friendly food stalls, pre-booked picnics, Paulina’s Restaurant
will be open 4pm until 6pm: Wine
tasting closes, wine sales continue, cocktail bar and Paulina’s Restaurant stay
open. Guests will be able to enjoy tapas and live music and watch the sunset.
Entry costs R120 per ticket for a glass and tastings. From www.webtickets.co.za and at the
door. Food will be available from Rosé-friendly food stalls. R150 per person
for a pre-booked picnic. Paulina’s Restaurant will be open all day. Wine sales:
By the glass and by the bottle. Music: There will be live music
throughout the day. For more information please visit www.ricketybridge.com and www.dnaevents.co.za.
To enter please visit www.webtickets.co.za or get your
tickets on arrival
Saturday, 13th February Celebrate the
Weekend of Love in style at the Lanzerac Hotel & Spa with an
intimate and romantic dinner for two at R420 per person. Included in your
special evening is a complimentary welcome drink. Gorgeous views, gourmet food
and superb estate wines. The perfect gift for that someone special. Adding
extra romance to your evening the Lady Anne Courtyard, reminiscent of a Spanish
sidewalk, will be transformed into a Tango Fiesta for the evening, as the
sensual Dance of Love captivates you. This passionate walking-embrace
symbolizes a close and sensuous connection between partners, and promises to be
the highlight of what can only be described as the ultimate romantic evening.
Let us treat you to an enchanting evening of delicious Spanish inspired food
paired with superb wine, amidst an elegant and relaxing setting. For bookings
contact Denise Bezuidenhoudt on banqueting@lanzerac.co.za
Sunday, 14th February Valentine’s Day
inspired picnic and movie night or brunch at the Anthonij Rupert
Wyne Estate. Whether it’s a candlelight dinner or a sunset picnic, Valentine’s
Day is known for these two things. It’s about spending time with that someone
special whilst enjoying a glass of chilled MCC. With the dominant colour being
red, the L‘Ormarins Brut Rosé 2013 is perfect with its delicate salmon colour.
Completing the picture would be spoiling your loved one to a Valentine’s Day
inspired picnic and movie night or brunch at the Anthonij Rupert Wyne Estate.
What better way to enjoy this superb MCC from one of SA’s leading producers.
For details contact 021 874 9041 or tasting@rupertwines.com.
Sunday, 14th
February The Backsberg Centenary Picnic Concert
Series kicks-off on with a performance by The Plastics. Come and enjoy your
Sunday afternoon by relaxing on the lawns with a glass of wine whilst listening
to some great SA music. Tickets are R120 from www.webtickets.co.za and R150 at
the gate. Students pay R60 and there is no charge for children under the age of
12. Delicious food and snack boxes will be available on the day. Snack boxes
can be pre-ordered at restaurant@backsberg.co.za at a
cost of R160 for two persons. Gates to Backsberg Estate Cellars open at 15h00.
Sunday, 14th February Celebrate the
day of love at Boschendal with live music by romantic duo Palm
Strings, who will entertain picnic visitors at the serviced Rhone Classic
Picnic area from 12h00 - 15h00. Executive Chef, Christiaan Campbell and his
team will add a romantic twist to the picnic baskets, while the full range of
Boschendal MCC bubbly will be available to add that extra bit of “l’amour” to
your day. Cost: R520 per basket to share. Includes 10% service fee, but
excludes beverages. Enjoy a Valentine’s celebration with a difference by
joining Food Garden Manager, Megan McCarthy for a Valentine’s themed Food
Garden Tour from 10h00-11h30 and stock up on our bio-friendly veggies and herbs
for a romantic dining occasion. Cost: R150 per person (Includes water, tour,
veggie gift pack and glass of Boschendal MCC). Alternatively you can book a
leisurely afternoon at our Werf picnics, The Werf Restaurant for an innovative
farm-to-table menu, The Deli and Farm stall for a casual meal or Rhone
Homestead for a lavish Cape Buffet. Bookings for the Picnic and Food Garden
Tour are essential at reservations@boschendal.co.za or +27 21 870 4274. The restaurants’
bookings can be made on-line at www.boschendal.co.za.
Sunday, 14th February Valentine's Day
Lunch at Dornier Bodega Restaurant. Head Chef Lee-Anne du Plessis
has created a beautiful four course menu for Valentine's Day lunch this
February. Three of the dishes featured on the Valentine's Day menu include an
array of Oysters served with Lime Salsa, Bloody Mary and Pesto Parmesan,
Watermelon Beetroot and Goat’s Cheese salad, and Crusted Yellow Fin Tuna served
on a bed of Marinated Angel Hair and Julienne Vegetables. Seating is limited,
please ensure to make your booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Bookings can be made by contacting Bodega Restaurant at 021 880 0557 or bodega@dornier.co.za
Sunday, 14th February Valentine’s Day
at Lanzerac. The Governor’s Hall Restaurant will be clad with a
touch of extra romantic finery on the day. Well-known for its Sunday lunches,
the restaurant will be serving a Valentine’s inspired menu in celebration of
the occasion. Pre-bookings are essential as seating is limited. For bookings
contact Denise Bezuidenhoudt on banqueting@lanzerac.co.za.
Sunday, 14th
February The Red Table at Nederburg offers the ideal
Valentine’s four-course menu, priced at R650 per couple and offered for lunch
and dinner. Start with delicious salmon ceviche, watercress, radish and red
onion salsa, followed by bacon-rolled chicken, goat’s cheese, roasted cherry
tomatoes, wilted spinach and toasted pine nuts.
Then enjoy the main dish of grilled beef fillet, baked parmesan baby potatoes,
fine beans, young carrots and bone marrow jus. Seal the deal with caramel, dark
and white chocolate tart, pistachio Turkish delight and fruit compote. A
deposit of R150 per person is required to confirm your booking for lunch or
dinner at The Red Table on 14 February. To book, please call 021 877 5155 or send an email to theredtable@nederburg.co.za.
21st January 2016
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
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