For the third year running, twenty of Franschhoek’s wine farmers are inviting wine and food lovers to visit their wine estates this coming Saturday and Sunday (4 and 5 September), to taste their new vintages, to eat specialities from the Gourmet capital of South Africa, and to enjoy French-style activities over a weekend of food, fun and wine.
Tickets for Franschhoek Uncorked cost R80 each, and can be bought at Computicket, or at any participating wine estate. The full programme offered by the 20 wine estates is as follows:
* Vrede & Lust will have a cigar lounge, Aston Martins will be on display, chocolate can be tasted and diamonds will sparkle
* Plaisir de Merle will serve more of their lovely pancakes, offer live music, and for the first time offer bread made from flour ground in a historic water mill on the wine estate.
* Allee Bleue will offer live jazz, and a tasting of their new Brut Rose’. Smoked salmon croissants, Flammkuchen, Chicken Tandoori wraps, and Shrimp Guacamole wraps will be available for sale.
* Solms-Delta will offer “Kaapse” music, food, and wine.
* L’Omarins has the Franschhoek Motor Museum on its property, will make its Antonij Rupert Protea and Terra del Capo wines available for tasting, boules can be played, and gourmet sandwiches can be bought
* Graham Beck will offer its Methode Cap Classique bubblies as well as wines to taste, and oysters, cheese and charcuterie platters will be available to eat. Winemakers Pieter Ferreira and Erika Obermeyer will host masterclasses at R 75 a head, on Saturday and Sunday, at 10h00 and 14h00
* Lynx Wines will have a Spanish Fiesta theme again, and live Spanish music will be played. Tapas served include serrano ham and calamari
* Topiary Wines will release their Rose 2009 and their Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. Visitors can blend their own wines. Live music is offered.
* La Chataigne offers boules and live entertainment
* Moreson offers live music, and a food market
* Maison is the newest Franschhoek wine estate, and belongs to Chris Weylandt of Weylandt’s, and is now also a winemaker. Food, jazz and wines will be offered.
* La Motte’s new and Franschhoek’s latest restaurant Pierneef a La Motte offers Cape Winelands cuisine, a Farm Shop sells wines, gifts and farm-baked bread. The new La Motte Art Gallery, one of the rooms dedicated to the priceless paintings by Pierneef, has opened, and a classical guitar recital will be hosted on Saturday evening.
* Glenwood will host a Boules Trophy, and is pairing its wines with gourmet food prepared by Camil and Ingrid Haas, previously of Bouillabaisse and Camil’s, serving Bouillabaisse, Chicken Curry and Crepe Suzette.
* Rickety Bridge offers tapas too, and its Top 10 Shirazes. Live music, boules, as well as farm rides in their Dodge truck are also available.
* Grande Provence offers live music, five vintages will be paired with five dishes, a Chef’s Table is offered, and the Grande Provence Pinot Noir will be launched. Cheese and charcuterie boards will be available.
* Franschhoek Cellars offer cheese and wine tastings, as well as cheese lunches
* Dieu Donne offers live music, Vineyard platters, “wine-infused casual food”, and micro-beer on tap
* Cabriere offers a wine tour and tasting, with a Sabrage, at 11h00 on Saturday and Sunday
* La Petite Ferme offers wine tours, and salmon and wine pairing at R120.
* Boekenhoutskloof will launch The Chocolate Block 2009, a band will provide the “gees” and Reuben Riffel will offer his famous Reuben’s Barbeque Experience.
Further details can be obtained from the Franschhoek Tourism Bureau, Tel (021) 876-3603.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com
Tags: "Kaapse" music food and wine, Allee Bleue, Antonij Rupert, Aston Martins, Boekenhoutskloof, Bouillabaisse, boules, Boules Trophy, bread, Brut Rose', Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Cabriere, Camil and Ingrid Haas, Camil's, Cape Winelands cuisine, charcuterie, Cheese, cheese and charcuterie, cheese and wine tastings, cheese lunches, Chef's Table, chocolate, Chris von Ulmenstein, Chris Weylandt, cigar lounge, Computicket, diamonds, Dieu Donne, Dodge truck, Erika Obermeyer, Farm Shop, farm-baked bread, Flammkuchen, flour, Food, food market, Franschhoek, Franschhoek Cellars, Franschhoek Motor Museum, Franschhoek Tourism Bureau, Franschhoek Uncorked Festival, French-style activities, Glenwood, Gourmet capital, gourmet sandwiches, Graham Beck, Grande Provence, L'Omarins, La Chataigne, La Motte, La Motte Art Gallery, La Petite Ferme, live jazz, Lynx Wines, Maison, masterclasses, Methode Cap Classique, micro-beer, Moreson, music, oysters, pancakes, Pierneef, Pierneef a la Motte, Pieter Ferreira, pinot noir, Plaisir de Merle, Protea, Reuben Riffel, Reuben's Barbeque Experience, Rickety Bridge, Rose 2009, Sabrage, salmon and wine pairing, Solms Delta, South Africa, Spanish fiesta, tapas, Terra del Capo, Top 10 Shirazes, Topiary Wines, vineyard platters, vintages, Vrede & Lust, water mill, Weylandt's, Whale Cottage Portfolio, Wine, wine estates, wine tour
The World Cup has always been said to have the benefit of showcasing South Africa, and the world’s media are descending on the country to prepare profiles of South Africa. Some of it is negative, but much so far has been positive, especially in showing off the beauty of Cape Town.
A South Africa-based correspondent for SkyNEWS seems to be in the townships every day, negatively reporting about the poverty of these residents, while the ’rich’ sector of the country benefits from the World Cup, it is highlighted continuously.
Much more positive reporting is coming from ZDF, Germany’s largest TV station, which is pulling out all the stops to showcase South Africa. Yesterday, for example, the station did a 24 hour broadcast on its online channel, about our country, a conglomeration of various documentaries the station had produced on previous occasions. Unfortunately an on-line broadcast is not as powerful as a television broadcast, but it will have attracted a young audience. ZDF put a lot of advertising muscle behind the 24-hour broadcast, so it created strong awareness amongst ZDF viewers. The country brand ’Suedafrika’ is definitely top of mind.
However, 90 minutes of the on-line broadcast was broadcast on ZDF TV throughout the day, in three sets of 30 minutes each. The programme started with beautiful shots of Table Mountain, and then of Cape Town filmed from Table Mountain. It was said that a trip up the mountain by cable car is a must for every visitor. Then the documentary jumped in contrast to a school in Wuppertal, showing children in a boarding school having to brush their teeth in an irrigation canal, because there are not enough facilities in the hostel for all the children. Then it moved to showing burning tyres, set alight by taxi drivers protesting against the new BRT bus system to be introduced. A township resident was interviewed, who positively stated that he would never leave his township : ‘I do not want to change my life for anything’, despite the poor facilities in the township. Children receiving a swimming lesson in Khayelitsha were filmed, and a sangoma throwing the bones interviewed. Then the production team interviewed Pieter-Dirk Uys, who initially spoke in German, but switched to English when he spoke about how dangerous it was for him to have mocked the Government when he first started, and melodramatically stated that had he been black, he would have been imprisoned! (He did not tell the interviewer that he has declared Evita se Perron in Darling soccer-free during the World Cup!).
Then the action moved to Captain Crash, who chases after stolen cars and minibus taxis in his helicopter (I have seen this insert twice already), and then to a Soweto-based Event Manager Tshepiso Mohlala, who is involved in the organisation of the World Cup Concert on 10 June. A lot of airtime was given to a German wedding co-ordinator from Wedding Concepts, who was organising a wedding at Allee Bleue outside Franschhoek.
Capetonian and ex-Miss South Jo-Ann Strauss features regularly in a ZDF TV advert for the World Cup Concert, from which Strauss and revered ZDF talk-show host Thomas Gottschalk will be presenting for ZDF. She speaks near-perfect German, her partner being from Munich, saying: ‘Suedafrika begruesst die Fussballwelt’ (South Africa welcomes the football nations).
Other programmes, like ‘Traumstaedte’ (Dream Cities), start off positively, with beautiful views of Camps Bay beach, the Promenade, the Bay Hotel, the Waterfront, but soon move to the townships, and interviews are conducted with extremely negative residents, talking about the crime and drug situation in the townships. The ZDF reporters talk about Cape Town’s ‘Hell and Paradise’ not the lasting impression we would like to create marketing-wise amongst international viewers.
‘Traumflug durch Afrika: Von Kapstadt nach Kenia’ (Dream flight through Africa: from Cape Town to Kenya) was far more positive, documenting a Eurocopter pilot flying over beautiful Cape Town (Table Mountain and Cape Point), flying 3 meters above the sea, the Garden Route to George and Knysna for some golf and oysters at the Dry Dock restaurant, to the Addo Park for a safari, to St Francis, Coffee Bay, the Hole in the Wall, and then off to Lesotho, reaching his end destination of Kenya.
In a cooking program with some of Germany’s top chefs, the cooking stars all wore German soccer jerseys, to show their pride in and support for the German team, indirectly attracting attention to the World Cup.
Given that Cape Town Tourism has appointed PR companies in Germany and the U K, and in other European countries, we trust that the city’s tourism body will help influence the content of documentaries of our city, and that they show the tourist side of Cape Town, without having to focus so much on the townships.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com
Tags: Addo park, Allee Bleue, Bay Hotel, Cable car, Camps Bay, Cape Point, Cape Town, Cape Town Tourism, Captain Crash, Chris von Ulmenstein, Coffee Bay, Darling, documentaries, Dry Dock restaurant, Eurocopter, Evita se Perron, Franschhoek, Garden Toute, George, Germany, golf, Jo-Ann Strauss, Khayelitsha, Knysna, online, oysters, Pieter-Dirk Uys, PR companies, SkyNews, soccer-free, South Africa, Soweto, St Francis Bay, Suedafrika, table mountain, Thomas Gottschalk, tourism, townships, Tshepiso Mohlala, TV, Waterfront, Wedding Concepts, Whale Cottage Portfolio, World Cup, World Cup Concert, Wuppertal, ZDF
Cape Town’s restaurants are feeling the hospitality winter blues, with a large number of restaurants announcing their restaurant specials. The winter has claimed its casualties too, and there could be more in what has been a poor winter for many businesses.
La Mouette has opened at 78 Regent Road in Sea Point. Brio is a new jazz restaurant, in half of the ex-Riboville in town (on the Adderley Street side), while Liquorice and Lime has taken over the other half of Riboville (on the St George’s Mall side). Van Hunks has opened at 1 Union Street, off Kloof Street in Gardens. Cafe Nood has opened in Wilderness Road, Claremont. shu has opened next to Doppio Zero on Main Road, Green Point. Ryan’s Kitchen has opened at Rusthof guest house in Franschhoek - the chef Ryan Smith is ex-Mont Rochelle. On Broadway has moved to the New Space Theatre building at 44 Long Street, with a new restaurant where Anytime was. Buena Vista Social Club has moved to the top end of Portswood Road in the Waterfront. Madame Zingara has re-opened at Century City, after a two-year absence. The House of Meat has opened in the Pepper Club Hotel, corner Long and Bloem Streets, offering a full braai for R 295, from 3 pm every day. Amazink, ex-Roots, in Khayamandi in Stellenbosch, has opened, with Bertus Basson from Overture an advisor. Spiros has opened in Hout Bay. Mason’s Cafe & Grill has opened in the ex-Cafe Gainsbourg. La Cantina has opened in the Alliance Francaise. The De Leuwen Jagt restaurant on the Seidelberg wine estate outside Paarl has opened The Fabulous Bakery. Gesellig has opened on the corner of Church and Regent Roads in Sea Point, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Chez d’Or has opened in Franschhoek, with Richard Carstens as consultant Chef, scheduled to stay until September, but he left on 28/7. It has been confirmed that Carstens will take over the running of Tokara in October, given that Etienne Bonthuys is set to open a new restaurant on Dorp Street in Stellenbosch. Gesellig is a cosy and friendly new eatery in Sea Point. The Restaurant at One&Only Cape Town has taken over from maze. Indochine has opened at the Delaire Graff wine estate in Stellenbosch. The Long Table Restaurant and Cafe has opened at Haskell Vineyards in Stellenbosch. The Wild Peacock Food Emporium has opened in Stellenbosch. Knife Restaurant has opened in the Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa, a sister restaurant to Fork. De Oude Bank Bakkerij has opened in Stellenbosch. Cafe Le Chocolatier has taken over from Cafe Vendome in Place Vendome in Franschhoek. Leaf Restaurant and Bar has opened where Portofino/The Showroom were located. Epicerie Fine is the new name of the L’Ermitage Deli in Franschhoek, and has a new owner. Sommelier Restaurant at the Sante Hotel and Wellness Centre has re-opened. Illyria coffee shop has opened in the Eikestad Mall in Stellenbosch. Babylonstoren is to open a restaurant in October, next door to Backsberg. The Fish Shack has opened at The Paddocks in Milnerton. Reubens at One&Only Cape Town opens on 1 October. Luigi’s from Hout Bay is said to be opening where Vista Mare was in The Promenade in Camps Bay. Satay Bar has taken over from Zucca in Kloof Street.
Portofino, which opened where The Showroom was, has closed its doors. The first review of Portofino appeared on this blog. Cafe Gainsbourg on Kloof Street, Anytime on Long Street, Josephine’s Patisserie, Ginja, maze at the One&Only Cape Town, La Table de France in Sea Point, Panarotti’s and Shimmi’s Bar in Hermanus, Miguel’s in Plettenberg Bay, and Bouillabaisse and La Brasserie in Franschhoek have also closed down. Camil Haas, the co-owner of Camil’s in the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel, has left the restaurant, but is doing food and wine pairing evenings in Franschhoek. Yum in Vredehoek has closed down. In Camps Bay the Cape Town Fish Market and Terra Mare have closed down. Luke Dale-Roberts is no longer the Executive Chef at La Colombe, but will consult to the restaurant. Tank in the old Cape Quarter is to get a new name. Cafe des Arts has taken over from Topsi’s in Franschhoek. Satay Bar has taken over from Zucca in Kloof Street.
Some restaurants are closing to have a winter break after the World Cup. The Mount Nelson’s Cape Colony re-opens with a new interior and new menu on 1 November. Vaudeville is closing between August and October. Marianna’s in Stanford is re-opening on 14 October. The Salmon Bar in Franschhoek re-opens on 1 November, undergoing renovations in a new location (parts of ex-Bouillabaisse and Pam Golding venue). Massimo’s Pizza Club in Hout Bay has gone into winter hibernation, and is likely to reopen in November, in a new yet-to-be-announced venue in Hout Bay. Bistro 1682 re-opens from its break on 5 September. Rust en Vrede is closed from 3 - 28 September. The Sandbar in Camps Bay is closed until 16 September.
The following restaurant specials have been announced (NOTE: This Specials list is updated continuously). We have seen our list used without acknowledgement on other bloggers’ blogs - please acknowledge Whale Cottage Portfolio Blog as your source:
CAPE TOWN
* The Cru Cafe in the Cape Quarter: breakfast for 2 for R 85, 2 pasta dishes + 2 glasses of wine for R 119, all days of week, lunch and dinner, until 30 September
* Wang Thai: half-price sushi and cocktails, Mondays - Thursdays 12h00 - 18h00, at V&A Waterfront, Constantia, Somerset West, and Lagoon Beach branches
* Five Flies: Pay for one main course and get the other free, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, until September.
* Andiamo in the old Cape Quarter: R 49 breakfast special (juice, cooked breakfast, cappuccino), until 11h30 daily; 2 pizzas or 2 pastas with 2 glasses of wine R 125; Basil, chilli chicken/salmon salad with bottle of water or colddrink R 59, until 31 October. Tel (021) 421-3687
* Pure at Hout Bay Manor: 3 course dinner for R 220, and R 280 with a glass of wine added
* Catharina’s at Steenberg Hotel in Tokai: 2 course lunch at R 135, 3 course lunch R175/3 course dinner R195, May - September
* Vanilla in the Cape Quarter: 50% off the second person’s main course, and 1/2 price sushi 12 - 6 pm
* Tuscany Beach in Camps Bay - 50 % off second person’s main course, and 1/2 price sushi 12 - 6 pm, until August
* Pepenero in Mouille Point : sirloin and chips R 79, seafood platter R 129, prawn platter R 99, oysters R 9 each, half-price sushi
* Sinn’s Restaurant at Wembley Square: lunch (6 options) at R 50, including a glass of fruit juice. Dinner (5 options) at R 95, including a glass of wine.
* La Colombe : 3-course lunch at R 280 and 5-course dinner at R 380, with a carafe of wine, Mondays - Saturdays, May - September.
* Hussar Grill, in Camps Bay and Green Point: 1 kg ribs or kingklip plus chocolate mousse for R 99.
* Pepper Club on the Beach in Camps Bay: “Nip and Tuck promotion” - Prawn platter R98; Potjies R79,95; Sirloin and Prawn combo R89,50; Seafood platter R139,95; half-price sushi - until end September
* Kuzina in the new Cape Quarter: Meze platter for two plus bottle of wine R 189, Mondays - Fridays 12h00 - 18h00 and Sunday evenings from 18h00. Tel (021) 418-8000
* Saul’s Sushi@Vegas, 118 Main Road, Sea Point: “Eat as much as you like” sushi R 120 Mondays and Tuesdays, “two for the price of one” sushi Fridays and Saturdays
* Cape Town Fish Market: Salmon special, 1 course R 54,95, 2 courses R 69,95, 3 courses R 89,95. V&A Waterfront Cape Town, Parkview Pretoria. Eastgate Johannesburg, Hemingways East London.
* Cassis in Garden Centre: Lunch Box special - coffee/juice/colddrink + savoury tart (quiche/tomato tart/sandwich) + sweet tart = R 40, Mondays to Sundays
* Theo’s on Beach Road, Mouille Point: oysters R 6 each, 1 kg prawns R 99, line fish R79, for lunch and dinner. 300 gram sirloin steak, spatchcock chicken peri peri and 500 gram spare ribs all R 79 for lunch only. Tel (021) 439-3494.
* Salushi Intaba, 25 Protea Road, Claremont: 50 % off sushi on Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays, from 12h00 - 17h00 (until end May), and other days of the week. Springroll + noodle dish R 70 on Wednesdays.
* Sevruga in the V&A Waterfront: Sole special, between R89 - R180, half price sushi 12h00 - 18h00 Mondays - Saturdays
* 1800 in the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel, Main Road, Green Point: Sparkling wine + 200 gram “Beef Wellington” + parking for R 99 (be warned - this is not a classic Beef Wellington - just a small fillet with a few chopped mushrooms and wrapped in pastry, no pate de foie gras). Until August.
* Myoga at Vineyard Hotel, Newlands: lunch: 2-courses R 95, 3-courses R 125, or salad or soup with bread at R 55, Mondays - Saturdays
* Myoga at Vineyard Hotel, Newlands: 6 course dinner for R 150, Mondays - Saturdays
* Tank in old Cape Quarter: 2 courses R R140, 3 courses for R 165, both with a glass of wine, until end September. Tel (021) 419-0007
* Beluga, The Foundry, Green Point: Prawn & Kingklip R 99, 24 sushi pieces for R 89. Tel (021) 418-2948.
* Butler’s Pizza, Newlands, Rondebosch, Wynberg, City Bowl, N1City, Bellville, Tableview: 3 pizzas for the price of 2; 2 medium pizzas + 4 toppings each at R 89.95; 2 large pizzas + 3 toppings each at R 109.95, Sundays - Thursdays.
* The Kove, Victoria Road, Camps Bay: 2-course meal with glass of wine R120; Fish and chips R 79, 400g ribs R75, Oysters R 9, Seafood Platter R129, Rump 250gm R 79, Rump 500gm R 109, 1kg of prawns R 99, Lamb chops R99. Tel (021) 438-0004
* St Elmo’s: 2 large regular pizzas cost R 105. 2 Dipping Strip pizzas and 3 dunking sauces R 99,90. On Tuesdays 2 large pizzas out of a choice of five cost R79,90. At lunch buy one pizza with Coke for R 29,90 Monday - Friday, until 16h00. Belgravia, Brackenfell, Claremont, Durbanville, Fishhoek, Gardens, Hout Bay, Kuilsriver, N1 Value, Paarl, Parow, Plumstead, Rondebosch, Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Strand, Tableview, Three Anchor Bay, Tokai, Tygervalley, Woodstock and Worcester.
* Cafe Sofia in Camps Bay, Green Point, etc: All pasta dishes R 49, 250 ml soup + ciabatta toast R 19.
* 221 Waterfront: two drinks for price of one, Mondays - Fridays, 16h30 - 18h30, two dishes on “Lite” and Sushi sections of menu for the price of one
* River Cafe, Constantia: four courses lunch + a carafe of wine R 195, 4 courses dinner + wine R 225. On Mondays to Thursday 1 child eats free, Mondays - Saturdays, May - September
* Diva Pizza, 81 Buitenkant Street: 2 pizzas + 2 toppings each take-away special price R 75
* Pastis in High Constantia Centre, Constantia: free glass of wine with meal.
* Trattoria Luigi in Hout Bay: margherita pizza plus Savanna for R 45 on Wednesdays. Mondays - Fridays pizza and pasta half price, until 31 August
* Constantia Uitsig: 3 courses and wine R 260 for lunch, and R 290 for dinner, until end September*
* Jakes in the Village/on Summerley, in Steenberg and Kenilworth, respectively: 25 % off all dishes, 5 - 7 pm only, Mondays - Saturdays, until end September
* Buitenverwachting in Constantia: 2 courses R 149, 3 courses R 169, 4 courses R 199, until 31 August
* Duchess of Wisbeach, corner Main and Wisbeach Roads, Sea Point - free bottle of wine for a table of four
* Salt, Ambassador Hotel, Bantry Bay : 2 courses R 140, 3 courses R 170, Mondays - Sundays, lunch and dinner
* Le Restau Paradiso, Kloof Street: Marie’s Menu 3 courses R 110; Capetonian Menu 3 courses R 130; French Classics Menu 3 courses R 150, until December.
* A Tavola in Claremont: 50 % off all pasta dishes on Mondays, prices reduced by R 4 - R14 per dish on menu (except for desserts)
* The Lookout Deck, Hout Bay: 1 kg tiger prawns R 125 (lunch and dinner), 6 oysters R 36 (5 - 7 pm only)
* La Mouette, Regent Road, Sea Point: 6 courses for R 175. Express Lunch - 2 courses (with 2 choices each) at R 99. Monday - Saturday dinner, Tuesday - Sunday lunch, September
* Blonde restaurant, Hatfield Street: “two …blondes are better than one” promotion of 33% off the bill, until September
* Lagoon Beach, Milnerton - 2 course meal from R 75, “all-you-can-eat” Sunday buffet R 99
* Jardine, Bree Street: 3-course dinner at R 150, Tuesdays - Saturdays
* The Round House in Camps Bay : 7 course menu for R 245, until 30 September
* Berthas in Simonstown: 1 kg mussels, 1 kg Queen prawns or 1 kg mini seafood platter cost R 99 each
* Ricks Cafe Americain, lunch special for R 39, Mondays - Saturdays, until 31 October
* The Square Restaurant, Vineyard Hotel, Newlands: 5-course dinner costs R 165. 2-course lunch R116, 3-course lunch R145. Tel (021) 657-4500
* Adega Sea Point, corner Main and Glengariff Roads:1 kg Tiger Medium prawns, R99. 300g Mozambican Pepper Fillet R79. Oysters R4,90. 21-piece Sushi Platter R 99. Lunch and dinner, until 31 August.
* Pepperclub Luxury Hotel & Spa: 6 oysters and a glass of bubbly R60, Fridays from 16h00, with jazz
* Aubergine: 2-course lunch R184, 3-course lunch R235, Wednesdays - Fridays
* Balducci’s: All pizzas (except Flaming Prawns) R49, 26-piece Platinum Sushi Plate for R99, Burgers from R55. Monday - Sunday, 12h00 - 18h00, until September.
* Ferrymans, V&A Waterfront: 3-course pairing meal, with wines matching starter and main course, at R200, until September.
* Bukhara : 2 course lunch or dinner plus glass of wine R125, Monday - Saturday, Sunday lunch
* Haiku: 2 course lunch or dinner plus glass of wine R125, Monday - Saturday, Sunday lunch
* Cafe Caprice, Victoria Road, Camps Bay: two burgers for the price of one, Mondays - Thursdays, 12h30 - 22h00
* Saul’s Taverna: for every meal ordered from main menu, the second person get’s a free main course from chef’s special menu
* Caviar Deli in the V&A Waterfront is offering 2 ready-made meals for R40 (one costs R25)
* Societi Bistro: “Tour of France” - 3-course French menu R 150, until October
* Chapman’s Peak Hotel, Hout Bay: 1kg Tiger Prawns R99; order 2 steaks, and get a bottle of wine and 2 Amarula creme brulees for free. Tel (021) 790-1036
* Quay 4: Snoek and chips R59, until October
* Black Marlin: Snoek on braai R55, half crayfish on braai R75, Saturdays and Sundays; 3 course meal plus glass of sherry R125, until October
* Hildebrand: 2 courses R 89, 3 courses R 120; 2 pastas for the price of one with a glass of wine, until September
* Chenin Restaurant and Bar: Sirloin steak R60, until September. Tel 021 425-2200
* Leaf Restaurant and Bar : 51 % off sushi from 11h00 - 16h00, and all day on Sunday.
* Cafe Chic: half-price off all dishes except Tapas, until 31 August.
* Gesellig, Regent Road, Sea Point: 2 courses plus soup or dessert = R 90 for dinner; lunch costs R40 for dishes usually costing R65 - R77 12h00 - 14h00
* The Fish Shack Restaurant and Wine Bar, Paddocks, Milnerton: Shack Platter and glass of wine R 90
* Blowfish in Blouberg: Seafood platter R 179, 20-piece sushi platter R99, 500g rump steak R 95, Lamb shank R95, Fish & chips R59, Prawn curry R69, Seafood Paella R79, until September. Tel 021 556-5464
* Ocean Basket: Starter, seafood platter, and bottle of Two Oceans wine for 2 for R 235 (only at Hout Bay, Plumstead, Tygervalley and V&A branches), until 31 October.
THE WINELANDS
* Reubens in Franschhoek : 3 course meal for R 150, or R 220 for a glass of wine per course. Mondays - Fridays, May until August. Tel (021) 876-3772
* D’Vine Restaurant at Willowbrook Lodge, Somerset West: 1 course R100, 2 courses R145, 3 courses R170, includes a glass of wine. Dinners only
* 96 Winery Road between Stellenbosch and Somerset West: 3-course meal plus a glass of wine for R 165, Mondays - Saturdays, lunch and dinner
* Terroir at Kleine Zalze, Stellenbosch: two-course meal at R 165, and 3-course meal at R 195, until the end of September
* Allee Bleue, outside Franschhoek: choice of four 250 gram steaks at R 99, including a glass of estate wine, May - September
* Allee Bleue, outside Franschhoek: 3 course meal plus a glass of wine, at R 130.
* Mont Rochelle Hotel in Franschhoek: 2006-priced 3-course dinner, each course accompanied with a glass of wine, as well as water, costs R 2006 for a party of six persons (R 334,33 per head).
* Olivello, Klapmuts, outside Stellenbosch: 2-course meal R 99, 3-course meal R 119.
* Mon Plaisir @ Chamonix in Franschhoek: 2 courses at R 170
* Le Bon Vivant in Franschhoek: 2-course meal for R 115, 3 courses for R 150
* iCi at Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek: 2 courses cost R 120 and 3 courses R 150, Monday - Friday, until August
* Grand Provence in Franschhoek: Chef’s Table for 8 or more persons, 4 courses R 200 per person, June - August, lunch and dinner
* Warwick Winter Bistro, Warwick wine estate, Stellenbosch: Butternut soup R 30, Bobotie R 57, Steak and Mushroom pie R 70, Mushroom Risotto R 75. Mondays - Sundays.
* Jordan Restaurant with George Jardine, Jordan wine estate, Stellenbosch: 3 course Menu de Jour lunch R 180, R220 with 2 wines. 2-course a la carte lunch R 200, 3 courses R225. Wednesday - Saturday lunch, May - August
* Cuvee, Simonsig wine estate, outside Stellenbosch: 2 course lunch or dinner + glass of wine R 170, 3 courses R 200, August - October
* Clos Malverne wine estate outside Stellenbosch: autumn special - 2 course meal + quarter bottle of wine R 125, 3 course + half bottle of wine R 155, Tuesday - Saturday lunch and Wednesday and Friday dinner
* Bosman’s, Grand Roche Hotel, Paarl: 3-course lunch and 2 glassses of wine for R 260, Sundays
* Lanzerac Hotel in Stellenbosch : 2-course lunch R 145, 3 course lunch R 175, includes a glass of red wine. Chef’s soup of the day with rolls and house wine R 55. June - September
* French Connection, Franschhoek: 2 courses R 95 and three courses R 125
* Le Petite Ferme, Franschhoek: 2 courses R 100, 3 courses R 150, plus carafe of wine, every Friday evening
* Fyndraai at Solms-Delta wine estate: 2 course lunch R 135, 3 courses R 155.
* Ryan’s Kitchen at Rusthof, Franschhoek : 3 course meal and glass of wine at R 195, until August.
* Boschendal in Franschhoek: Buffet reduced cost R 145 (R 50 extra cost for dessert and cheeses)
* Noble Hill, Klapmuts: Farmer’s Lunch costs R 62, Mondays - Fridays
* Restaurant Christophe, Stellenbosch: business lunch - 2 courses R130, 3 courses R 150, Tuesday - Friday, served within one hour, all year
* Rickety Bridge Restaurant in the Vines in Franschhoek: 3 course lunch for R 150, and R25 extra for three Rickety bridge wines, paired per course. Monday - Sunday, until end September
* Allora in Franschhoek: 3 course winter menu at R89. Main course lunch plus live music plus ”drink” for R100 Saturday lunches. Tel (021) 876-4375.
* Epicerie Fine Deli/Coffee Shop, L’Ermitage, Franschhoek - bowl of pasta plus salad plus homemade bread plus glass of wine = R 45. Tel (021) 876-9200
OTHER AREAS
* Season in Hermanus: 2 course meal R 75, bredie of the day R 48, Sunday roast R 65, 3-course Sunday lunch R 110. Tel (028) 316-2854
* Mediterrea in Hermanus: 2-course R 105 and 3 course meal R 135, Monday - Thursday dinners and Sunday lunches, April - August
* Nguni in Plettenberg Bay: main course R 50, different every week, Wednesdays.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com
Copyright: Whale Cottage Portfolio
Tags: 1800, 221 waterfront, 96 Winery Road, A Tavola, Add new tag, Adega Sea Point, Allee Bleue, Allora, Amazink, Andiamo, Anytime, Aubergine, Backsberg, Balducci's, Beef Wellington, Beluga, Bertha's, Bertus Basson, Bistro 1682, Black Marlin, Blonde restaurant, Blowfish, Boschendal, Bosmans, Bouillabaisse, Brio, Buena Vista Social Club, Buitenverwachting, Bukhara, Butler's Pizza, Cafe Caprice, Cafe Chic, Cafe Gainsbourg, Cafe Le Chocolatier, Cafe Nood, Cafe' Sofia, Camil's, Camps Bay, Cape Colony, Cape Quarter, Cape Royale Luxury Hotel, Cape Town, Cape Town Fish Market, Cape Town Restaurant specials winter 2010, Cassis, Catharina's, Caviar deli, Chapman's Peak Hotel, Charly's Bakery, Chef's Table, Chenin Restaurant and Bar, Chez d'Or, Chris von Ulmenstein, Ci Casa at camil's, city center, Clos Malverne, Constantia Uitsig, Cormac Keane, Crystal Towers & Spa, De Oude Bank Bakkerij, De Waterkant, Delaire Graff, Delheim, Dutch East restaurant, Eikestad Mall, Epicerie Fine, Ferrymans, Five Flies, Fork, Franschhoek, Freedom Hill, French Connection, Fyndraai, Garden Centre, Gesellig, Ginja, Grand Provence, Grande Roche, Green Point, Haiku, Harbour House, Haute cabriere, Hermanus, Hidden Valley, Hildebrand, hospitality, House of Meat, Hout Bay, Hout Bay Manor, ici, Illyria, Indochine, Intimate Theatre, Jakes in the Village, Jakes on Summerley, Jardine, Jordan, Jordan restaurant, Josephine's Patisserie, Karoo lamb, Khayamandi, Klein Steenberg, Knife Restaurant, Kuzina, L'ermitage, La Brasserie, La Cantina, La Colombe, La Mouette, La Petite Tarte, La Table de France, Lagoon Beach, Le Bon Vivant, Le Petite Ferme, Le Quartier Francais, Le Restau Paradiso, Leaf Restaurant and Bar, Liquorice and Lime, Long Table Restaurant and Cafe, Luigi's, Luke Dale-Roberts, Madame Zingara, Mariana's, Marika's, Massimo's Pizza Club, Maze, Mediterrea, Miguels, Mon Plaisir, Mont Rochelle, Mount Nelson Hotel, Myoga, Newlands, Nguni, Noble Hill, noby, Ocean Basket, Olivello, On Broadway, One&Only Hotel, Overture, Paarl, Pam Golding, Panarotti's, Pastis, Pepper Club Hotel, Pepperclub on the Beach, Plettenberg Bay, Portofino, Pumphouse Shiraz, Pure, Quay 4, Restaurant Christophe, restaurant specials, Restaurant winter specials, restaurants, Reuben's at One&Only Cape Town, Reubens, Riboville, Richard Carstens, Rickety Bridge Restaurant in the Vines, Ricks Cafe Americain, Rumpsteak, Rusthof, Ryan's Kitchen, Salmon Bar, Sante Hotel and Wellness Centre, Satay Bar, Saul's Sushi@Vegas, Saul's Taverna, seafood platter, Season, Sevruga, Shimmi's Bar, shu, Sinns, Societi Bistro, sole, Solms Delta, Somerset West, Sommelier Restaurant, Spiros, St Elmo's, Steenberg, Stellenbosch, sushi, Terra Mare, terroir, The Cru Cafe, The Fish Shack, The Goose, The Grand, The Grand on the Beach, The House of Meat, The KOve, The Lookout Deck, The Restaurant at One&Only Cape Town, The Round House, The Roundhouse, The Showroom, The Square Restaurant, Tokara, Trattoria Luigi, Tuscany Beach, V&A Waterfront, Van Hunks, Vanilla, Vaudeville, Vineyard Hotel, Wang Thai, Warwick Winter Bistro, Waterkloof, Wembley Square, Whale Cottage Portfolio, Wild Peacock Food Emporium, winter restaurant specials, winter specials, World Cup, Yum, Zucca
Christophe Dehosse is a passionate owner of his new Restaurant Christophe in the ‘Skuinshuis’ on Van Reyneveld Street in Stellenbosch, adding further weight to the prediction that Stellenbosch will soon wear the crown of the gourmet centre of South Africa His restaurant joins an illustrious collection of restaurants in this Winelands town, which includes Rust en Vrede, Overture, and Delaire Graff. The restaurant opened a month ago.
Dehosse first started cooking at Chamonix in Franschhoek, then was the chef at Au Jardin in the Vineyard Hotel, and moved to Joostenberg Deli nine years ago to join the Myburgh family he has married into, running a good value for money lunchtime restaurant there. While he was very low key at Joostenberg, JP Rossouw of Rossouws’ Restaurants awarded the restaurant his highest rating of 3 stars, awarded to such greats as Reubens, La Colombe, and Rust en Vrede. Le Quartier Francais did not even make his 3-star grade. Christophe speaks with a delightful French accent, and epitomises the French chef. What reflected his passion was that he spent more time with the patrons, after having done all the main courses, chatting at length at their tables, something rarely seen in restaurants these days. He even takes the bookings during the day. Chef Dane Newton of Allee Bleue also understands the art of connecting with his clients.
While his wife continues at Joostenberg, Christophe has set up in the building which also houses a coffee shop, and a décor shop. The transformation of the part of the building that he uses is almost unbelievable. It is a two-room restaurant, the entrance section having three tables and the other section almost three times in size, giving the restaurant the choice of where to seat the guests. Christophe proudly compliments interior designer Liesel Rossouw for the understated yet chic interior. The subtle green walls, tastefully decorated with beautiful works of art which can be bought, and shocking pink and orange chairs (with 5 colour variations) made from wine barrels especially made for the restaurant to give patrons a comfortable seat during the meal. The lamps are unusual too – they are made from woven laminated ads, creating an unusual effect. A simple metal structure serves as the desk at the entrance – slick and simply designed.
It having been a 42C day, and still hot at mid-30C in the evening, all patrons chose to sit outside. The tables were beautifully laid with white tablecloths, silverware, and glassware, and each table had a fresh rose on it. A lovely flower arrangement, in white and pink flowers, was the first statement the restaurant made on arrival. A single palm tree towers above the courtyard, and an almost wild bougainvilla hedge in shocking pink complements the pink and orange chairs.
Darren is the Manager, and he was very friendly in welcoming us, and patiently answered all the questions. He is from Birmingham, and last worked at Umami in Stellenbosch. He served all the tables.
The menu is very simply typed on a piece of paper, and looks unpretentious, and almost contradicts the lovely interior and special food served. It is short, offering four starter choices: quail salad (R 65), seafood salad (R 65), foie gras with Noble Late aspic (R130), and marinated vegetables and goat’s cheese (R 50). The foie gras was outstanding, and a surprise was the complimentary glass of Joostenberg Nobel Late Harvest, served well-chilled with it.
Five main courses were Cape Salmon (R 95), yellowtail (R 95), Bouillabaisse (R 110), beef fillet (R 135), and roast duck jambonette (R 110). The steak was pronounced to be excellent, while the duck was disappointing, probably due to a duck lover’s experience of ‘roasted’ being different to that served. The dessert choice costs R 45, and was apricot and almond tart, chocolate biscuit, and chilled fresh fruit soup, which would have been ideal for such a hot evening, but space did not allow it. A cheese selection is available at R 60. The fruit soup was a berry berry nice lunch the following day. The menu changes every two weeks.
The winelist is equally printed on white paper, and is unlikely to win a mention in the Diner’s Club winelist awards as far as presentation is concerned. It is very understated, yet offers a good selection of South African and even some French wines. A full page is devoted to sparkling wines, Graham Beck supplying the least and most expensive bottles, at R 150 – R 290. It can also be ordered by the glass, in a price range of R 22 – R 35. The Joostenberg wines appear in almost every category, as does a brand not commonly known, called MAN, named after three Myburgh ladies: Marie, Annette and Nicky. Jose Conde’s wines also feature on the wine list, as do Thelema (R 600 for Cabernet Sauvignon) , Klein Constantia, Kanonkop (Pinotage at R 480), Veenwouden (Merlot at R 420), Hartenberg (Shiraz at R 490), Hamilton Russell (Chardonnay at R 350), Paul Cluver, Simonsig and Villiera.
Restaurant Christophe, Skuinshuis side entrance, Van Reyneveld Street, between Nook Eatery and the synagogue, Stellenbosch, tel 021 886-8763.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com
Tags: Allee Bleue, Au Jardin, Chamonix, Christophe Dehosse, Conde, Dane Newton, Delaire Graff, Diner's Club winelist awards, Franschhoek, Gourmet, Graham Beck, Hamilton-Russell, Hartenberg, Joostenberg Deli, Joostenberg wines, Jose Conde, JP Rossouw, Kanonkop, Klein Constantia, La Colombe, Le Quartier Francais, Liesel Rossouw, MAN, Myburgh, Nook Eatery, Overture, Paul Cluver, Restaurant Christophe, restaurants, Reubens, Rossouw's Restaurants, Rust & Vrede, Simonsig, Skuinshuis, Stellenbosch, Thelema, Umami, Veenwouden, Villiera, Winelands
