Friday, November 13, 2020

Wagyu Food Truck in Oranjezicht

If you haven’t yet had Wagyu beef, you do need to try to taste this extraordinary flavourful beef, with its distinct marbling of fat that melts while it is cooking, leaving the beef superbly tender and gives it that "melt in your mouth" experience. Yes, Wagyu is very expensive, but you will always remember it and want more. And the good news is that the fat is unsaturated fat, and is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making it one of the healthiest red meats. It is now farmed here and you can find it at good butchers and in fine dining restaurants

We were invited to see and taste some this week - but with a difference, and this might just be your chance to taste it without breaking the bank. Experienced Chef Allister Esau has an unusual source of Wagyu and he is cooking it in his food truck. And that is where you can taste it, in all sorts of guises. The Wagyu comes from the farm of J.A.K. Strydom in Aliwal North, who has been farming Wagyu for several years on the banks of the Orange River, a good beef farming area. Have a look at the website of the J.A.K Strydom Private Nature Reserve http://primewagyu.co.za/

The prime cuts go to the top butchers and restaurants, but there are lots of offcuts, which Chef Allister uses 

Last night we went to meet him and the food truck at the Mountain Manor Guest House and Executive Suites in Breda Street in Oranjezicht. Owned by Michelle Whitehead, we were warmly welcomed and then given samples of most of the dishes that the Wagyu food truck sells. If you need a good food truck, this is one for your event or outdoor party

Chef Allister with his Wagyu Food Truck

All his details are on the food truck
Chef Allister has worked internationally and is glad to be home
Michelle Whitehead, owner of Mountain Manor Guest House and Executive Suites
You can visit the Mountain Manor next Thursday to taste for yourself. Phone to confirm +27 21 461 7200
You can see the marbling on this small piece of Wagyu chuck steak
The menu
There is a good covered outside area at Mountain Manor and more seating inside


We took along a bottle of Glenelly 2006 Shiraz Cabernet Merlot blend from our cellar
and it went very, very well with all the Wagyu dishes
The first dish was small, thin slices of the 'naked' Wagyu beef. Cooked simply in just olive and canola oils,
seasoned just with salt and pepper, it was really tender, succulent, moist and perfectly flavoured.
Wow. Our absolute favourite. They serve this on a roll with salad. Try it, you will thank us
The logo on Chef Allister’s apron, Chefs' Hangout
The Prime Wagyu logo
Mountain Manor is at 17 Breda Street, Oranjezicht
The pool area
The entrance to some of the accommodation; it is an extensive property which dates from 1861
Dish number two was the classic Wagyu burger on a bun with tomato, gherkin, lettuce and the version we asked for
was with jalapeno slices in a cheese sauce. A huge, totally beef burger and a great spicy sauce
We shared the burger, knowing there were several more items to try. Very satisfying
You can see the good texture of the beef when sliced
Next were corndogs. John had never had these or learned what they were made from and Lynne, only once before
The perfect 'on a stick' wagyu sausage covered in a crisp chick pea batter and deep fried
Children love these, apparently. These were topped with Tzatziki
No.4 was the croquettes. A crisp deep fried outer casing, a lining of mashed potato and inside roughly chopped,
moist Wagyu beef with good umami flavours. Served with a mustard and parmesan sauce, coleslaw and pickled radish
We really enjoyed these, with all the different textures and flavours
Jannie Strydom, who farms the Wagyu with his father J.A.K. Strydom, had come for supper at the Truck with his family
We were beginning to flag, not being used to so much food. This is the Wagyu Wrap
A good flat bread wrap rather than a slimy tortilla - good move!
It contains long strips of Wagyu beef in aioli, chimichurri, red cabbage, and peppers
And it reminded us of a good Beef Stroganoff. Another essential to try
Half each!
An order for one of the other guests of the Wagyu Hot dogs
Chefs Earl Messiah and Edmos Zhou are in the truck doing the preparation and the cooking. Well done Chefs
We had a lovely evening eating well, chatting to Allister and Michelle and other guests; it was very friendly and gemütlich. Thank you all

The Platter Wine Guide 2021

The 2021 edition of the Platter wine guide has been launched. We have had the privilege, for a good number of years, of being invited to the gala presentation of the guide and giving you an illustrated story of the event. Sadly, this is another event which has had to be taken to the internet. There has been a dearth of media information, so we have had to use a back door to give you the list of the Five Star awards. Many of these have gone to some of our favourite wineries and some to interesting newcomers. There is a large number of wines which received the coveted Five Stars and it reflects the ongoing improvements in quality of South African wines, especially in such challenging times. It seems that the online launch was only for those who have paid for a subscription. The rest of us, media included, will have to wait for the book to appear in early December.

A Five Star rating in Platter means that the wine has scored at least 95/100 points in a blind tasting
conducted by the Platter tasting panel

The Five Star Platter Wines, listed alphabetically by producer

AA Badenhorst Family

Kelder Steen 2019      
Red 2018            
Raaigras Grenache 2019

Alheit Vineyards

Cartology 2019
Magnetic North 2019
Hemelrand Vine Garden 2019
Lost & Found 2019
Nautical Dawn 2019

Anthonij Rupert Wyne        

Cabernet Franc 2014
Laing Groendruif Semillon 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Anwilka 

Anwilka 2017 

Aristea

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

ArtiSons

The Mothership Chenin Blanc 2019
JJ Handmade Eight Pillars 2017 

B Vintners

Vine Exploration Co  Harlem to Hope 2019

Bartho Eksteen

Vloekskoot 2019
Houtskool 2019

Beaumont Family Wines      

Hope Marguerite 2019 
Vitruvian 2017 

Bellevue

1953 Single Vineyard Pinotage 2018
Pinotage Reserve 2017 

Beyerskloof  

Diesel Pinotage 2018
Faith 2016

Boekenhoutskloof Winery

Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Noble Late Harvest 2017

Bon Courage Estate

Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2012

Boplaas Family Vineyards

Cape Vintage Reserve 2018

Boschkloof

Epilogue 2018

Botanica

Three Barrels Pinot Noir 2019

Bouchard Finlayson

Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019

Cape Point Vineyards

Isliedh 2019

Capensis

Fijnbosch Chardonnay 2015

Carinus Family Vineyards

Polkadraai Heuwels Chenin Blanc 2018  
Polkadraai Heuwels Chenin Blanc 2019

Catherine Marshall

Chenin Blanc Fermented in Clay 2019

Cederberg Private Cellar

Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Charles Fox Cap Classique

Prestige Cuvée Cipher 2015
Prestige Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2016

City on a Hill Wine Company

White 2019

Crystallum

Cuvée Cinéma 2019
Mabalel 2019

David & Nadia

Elpidios 2018
Hoë-Steen Chenin Blanc 2019
Skaliekop Chenin Blanc 2019
Plat’bos Chenin Blanc 2019

De Grendel   

Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2019
Elim Shiraz 2018
Sir David Graaff First Baronet 2016
Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2019

De Kleine Wijn Koöp

Debutant White 2019
Road to Santiago 2019

De Krans

Cape Vintage Reserve 2018

Delaire Graff Estate

Laurence Graff Reserve 2017

Delheim

Grand Reserve 2017
Vera Cruz Pinotage 2017
Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest 2019

DeMorgenzon

Chenin Blanc Reserve 2019
De Morgenzon Divas Chenin 2017

De Trafford Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Syrah 393 2018
Merlot 2016
Straw Wine 2017
Chenin Blanc Reserve 2018
Elevation 393 2014

Dewaldt Heyns

Family Shiraz 2017

Diemersdal

Pinotage The Journal 2018
Pinotage Reserve 2019 
Sauvignon Blanc The Journal 2019

Dorrance

Syrah Cuvée Ameena 2019   

Ellerman House Hotel & Villas

The Ellerman 2018

Fairview

Cyril Back 2016
La Beryl Blanc 2019

Glenelly

Lady May 2015

GlenWood

Noblesse 2017

Hartenberg

Gravel Hill Shiraz 2016

Illimis

Chenin Blanc 2019

JC Wickens

Swartland Red Blend 2019 

Jordan Wine Estate

Nine Yards Chardonnay 2019
Cabernet Franc 2018
Methode Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2015

Journey’s End

Cape Doctor 2015

JP Bredell

Cape Vintage Reserve 2017

Kanonkop Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Paul Sauer 2017               

Keet

First Verse 2017

Ken Forrester Wines

Roussanne 2018

Klein Constantia Estate

Vin de Constance 2016

Kleine Zalze Wines

Chenin Blanc (Vineyard Selection) 2019
Chenin Blanc Amphora 2018
Chenin Blanc (Family Reserve) 2019
Whole Bunch Shiraz 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon (Family Reserve) 2017
Sauvignon Blanc (Family Reserve) 2019
Grenache Amphora 2017

Kumusha

The Flame Lily 2019

KWV

The Mentors Canvas 2017
The Mentors Perold 2017
The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2018
Cape Tawny NV

La Bri

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Le Riche Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
Leeu Passant
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Radicales Libres 2015

Lomond

Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Longridge Wine

Organic Clos du Ciel 2017

Lourens Family Wines

Blouklip Steen 2019
Lua Ilse 2019

Marianne Wine Estate

Floreal 2017

Meerlust Estate

Rubicon 2017

Metzer & Holfeld Family

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Michaella Chenin Blanc 2019

Miles Mossop Wines

Saskia-Jo 2018
Minimalist Stars In The Dark 2019

Mischa Estate

Grenache 2018

Morgenster Estate

Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Mullineux

Granite Chenin Blanc 2019
Granite Syrah 2018
Schist Syrah 2018
Olerasay Straw Wine NV             

Muratie Wine Estate

Ansela van de Caab 2017

Naudé Wines

Oupa Willem 2018

Nederburg

Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Neil Ellis Wines

Jonkershoek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Whitehall Chardonnay 2019

Newstead Lund Family Vineyards

Méthode Cap Classique Brut 2015

Newton Johnson Vineyards

Pinot Noir 2019
Windansea Pinot Noir 2019
Chardonnay 2019

Oak Valley Estate

South Ridge CY548 Chardonnay 2017
Chardonnay Groenlandberg 2019
South Ridge CY95 Chardonnay 2017

Opstal Estate

Carl Everson Cape Blend 2018

Paserene

Marathon 2018

Patatsfontein

Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2019

Paulus Wine Co

Bosberaad 2019

Pieter Ferreira

Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2013

Porseleinberg

Porseleinberg 2018

Raats Family Wines

Cabernet Franc 2018
Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin 2019
The Fountain Terroir Specific Chenin 2019

Rall Wines

Ava Chenin Blanc 2019
White 2019
Grenache Blanc 2019

Ava Syrah 2019

Restless River

Main Road & Dignity 2017
Ava Marie 2018

Reyneke Wines

White 2018

Rickety Bridge Winery

The Pilgrimage 2018

Ridgeback

Viognier 2019

Rustenberg Wines

John X Merriman 2017

Rust en Vrede Wine Estate

1694 Classification 2017
Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Single Vineyard Syrah 2017

Rust en Vrede

Estate Wine 2017              

Sadie Family Wines

Mev. Kirsten 2019
Skerpioen 2019
Kokerboom 2019
Skurfberg 2019
Pofadder 2019 
Soldaat 2019

Saronsberg Cellar

Full Circle 2018

Savage Wines

Red 2018
Girl Next Door 2019
White 2019
Follow The Line 2019

Schultz Family Wines

Dungeons Cabernet Sauvignon  2017

Scions of Sinai

Swanesang 2019

Shannon Vineyards

Mount Bullet Merlot 2017                

Sijnn

Sijnn Red 2017

Silverthorn Wines

The Green Man 2017

Simonsig Wine Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon The Garland 2015  
Mediterraneo 2015

Spier 

Chenin Blanc 21 Gables 2019

Frans K. Smit Red 2015 
Frans K. Smit CWG Auction Selection 2017

Stark-Condé

Oude Nektar High Altitude 2017

Stellenrust

Old Bushvine Chenin Blanc 2019              
55 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2019

Storm Wines 

Vrede Pinot Noir 2019
Ignis Pinot Noir 2019

Strandveld Wines

Pofadderbos Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Super Single Vineyards

Verlatenkloof Merlot 2017
Terracura Trinity Syrah 2017

The Fledge & Co

Vagabond 2018

The Foundry

Grenache Blanc 2019

The High Road

Director’s Reserve 2017

Thelema Mountain Vineyards

Merlot Reserve 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Rabelais 2017
Reserve Petit Verdot Sutherland 2017
Thistle & Weed  Duwweltjie 2019

Thorne & Daughters

Rocking Horse 2019

Tokara

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
Director’s Reserve Red 2017
Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Noble Late Harvest 2019

Van Loggerenberg

Kameradarie 2019
Graft 2019

Vergelegen

Vergelegen GVB Red 2015

Villiera Wines

Drip Barrel Cabernet Franc 2018               
The Clan 2017

Vondeling

Babiana 2019

Wade Bales Wine Co

Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 
Breedekloof Chenin Blanc 2019

Warwick Wine Estate

The Blue Lady 2017
Cabernet Franc 2017
The White Lady 2017

Waterford Estate

The Jem 2015

Wildekrans Wine Estate

Cape Blend 2017

Woolworths

Ferricrete Riesling 2018

Platter's by Diners Club South African Wine Guide
Announces the Top Performing Winery of the Year 2021
Kleine Zalze Wines Achieves South Africa’s Highest Wine Accolade
JP Rossouw, Alastair Rimmer, Kobus Basson and RJ Botha (picture supplied)

Kleine Zalze Wines, the well-known and very popular landmark winery in Stellenbosch, have just been announced Platter’s Top Performing Winery of the Year for the 2021 guide. A remarkable seven wines achieving the top honours of Five Stars, saw them rise to the top against a very strong field of contenders.

Owner Kobus Basson is justly proud of his team, or what all on the property refer to as “the family”. “This is a ‘wow’ – being the Winery of the Year in Platter’s is huge for us. We have the highest respect for the Platter’s Guide and this is why we cherish the moment and the achievement. Platter’s is the best guide for South African wine by far and this is why we are extremely proud to be the Winery of the Year.”

Alastair Rimmer, the cellarmaster, is very proud to see their drive to evolution of the brand pay dividends: “It’s awesome! We’re super chuffed, this is as good as it gets! We are on a strong journey to evolve – we want to stay relevant and you need to go forward.” Referring to the new “Project Z” range of wines, three of which achieved Five Stars, he said: “This new group of wines are born out of this desire to evolve… and to improve all our ranges.” He adds that “we are Brand SA and we need the whole industry to focus on more premium wines and good price points for sustainability in the industry

Head winemaker RJ Botha could not contain his excitement: “This is probably one of those things that will happen once in my life… most wineries dream of becoming Winery of the Year! For us it’s been an amazing year, who would have thought 2020 would have a silver lining! What an amazing privilege to work for a family-owned business in Stellenbosch – we love this place. There is a massive team here, everybody plays a key role, so my big thanks to everybody, to the whole Kleine Zalze team. We are all super proud!

Editor of Platter’s South African Wine Guide, Philip van Zyl, made the important point in describing Platter’s Winery of the Year 2021: “It’s remarkable that this Stellenbosch estate was a neglected corporate-owned cellar and vineyard only 25 years ago... now the wines are superlative and rather brilliantly taking on the avant-garde at its own game. Their strong commitment to sustainability, including the creation of local community opportunities and sound ecological management here, is highly commendable.

All Platter’s 2021 ratings and results are now available for subscribers at wineonaplatter.com
Platter’s 2021, the printed guide, will be available in retail around mid-December 2020
 
Please watch our video clip on our Facebook page where we interview the Kleine Zalze team and explain the Platter’s tasting method: https://fb.watch/1IzsM6duPK/
 
Contact office@wineonaplatter.com for any further information

Thursday, November 12, 2020

The Beautiful Cape

On our way home from the Black Sheep restaurant we went via Kloof Nek, which is a quick route home for us. It was such a beautiful hot and clear day so we stopped in the Glen and John took some photographs of the views. We often drive this way but, every now and then, it is good to stop and pay attention to the beautiful view of the mountains and the sea from here

As we left the Black Sheep, we saw this Pied Crow's nest in a building next door in Kloof Street

From the top of the pass at Kloof Nek, you get a very good aspect of the corner of Table Mountain and the Cable car, which is working well. The views from the top of the mountain are absolutely stunning. If you visit Cape Town, you must go up to see the different views of Cape Town and some of the Peninsula. The summit is 3563 feet, 1086 metres, above sea level, so you can see some of the curvature of the earth from there. You can get to the top by Cable car or do a slightly challenging walk up. But you need a clear day, a map, a cellphone, a partner, water, good shoes and warm jackets; the weather can change rapidly, especially as you go higher
A view of the blue, blue sea and Camps Bay beachfront, a very popular venue, on an early November day


Camps Bay and the coast road to Llandudno and Hout Bay, looking over The Glen
which has walks and picnic sites and is where you can find the Youth Hostel


The winding road round Lion’s Head leading down to Camps Bay, Clifton and back to town past Sea Point
The flat-topped stone pines are not indigenous, but are part of the view
From here you can take the walk up the Lion’s Head mountain
It is one of the few places where our indigenous silver trees (members of the protea family) grow
You can see some branches on the left of the picture


And how our mountain recovers from fire. This was the site of a small bush fire at the end of last summer, in February, on the slopes of Lion’s Head, just above Camps Bay and Clifton. And the fynbos is quick to recover, the bulbs of the Watsonia plants are not affected and this year there is a superb show where the fire was. Our good wet winter helped too, so you can see other plants reviving. And our Cape Proteas need fire to break open their seeds so more can grow
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All content © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus