At times I feel as though I am repeating myself, especially when it comes to this beautiful country of ours! Since mid-January I have managed to clock up a distance of over 8000km’s travelling through seven of our nine provinces.
What a pleasure it was to experience great wines and excellent food in different corners of our rainbow nation. I could spend a fortnight describing my experiences, but instead let me treat you to some of the food & wine combinations encountered on my travels:
Fugitives Drift KwaZulu Natal
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Vichyssoise soup served with a chilli sherry
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Rack of Lamb accompanied by vegetables and Roast potatoes
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Crème Brulee
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Wine: Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Estuary Hotel, Port Edward
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Butternut soup
Kingklip, grilled. Creamed spinach, carrots, potatoes
Sorbet ice-cream
Wine: Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2003 (BYO)
Gracia’s Restuarant, East London
No starter
Steenbras, grilled. Fresh vegetables and creamed potato
Dom Pedro
Wine: Haute Cabriere Brut
De Wetshof Finesse Cardonnay
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Grahamstown
- Green salad starter
- Warthog, Roast lamb, Moroccan chicken, Kudu ,vegetable platters
- Chocolate mousse
- Wine: Zandvliet Shiraz 2000
- Fresh green salad
- Thai-style Prawns
- Sorbet
- Wine: Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2003
  
  
Bushmanskloof, Cedarberg
- Fragrant Thai soup
- Springbok OR Grilled chicken breast
- Cheese Platter
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Wine:
Groote Poste Sauvignon Blanc 2003
Sands Restaurant, Plettenberg Hotel
- Tempura prawn and Avocado salad
- Sole served with potato bake and vegetables
- Trio of sorbet ice-cream
- Wine: Graham Beck Brut
Naries Guesthouse, Springbok
- Cream of Mushroom soup
- Grilled chicken breast served with vegetables, potato
- Malva pudding
- Wine: Nederberg Sauvignon Blanc
BAIA, V&A Waterfront
- Salmon salad
- Grilled Tiger Prawns served on a bed of rice
- Cheesecake
- Wine:
Buitenverwachting Buiten Blanc 2002
Jonkershuis Restaurant, Spier Estate
- Cape Malay Buffet
- Wine: Jordan Blanc Fume 2003
Catharina’s, Steenberg Estate
Food and wine combinations are fascinating and fun. Often we face a dilemma when having to match the food with wine. The basic rule to remember is balance. Important that the food does not dominate the wine and visa versa. A suggestion is to invite friends to dinner; get each couple or friend to prepare either a starter, main or dessert. A huge learning curve in terms of which combinations work and which clash!