Food Fetish: March 2014

Monday 31 March 2014

Fairview Wine Estate

One of my absolute most loved wine farms is Fairview. Situated in the beautiful Paarl area, Fairview also offers the most amazing cheeses, a gorgeous restaurant. ... for generous portions and true farm hospitality.

Fairview offers a range of locally and internationally awarded artisanal cheeses which you can taste together with their wines. The deli offers varieties of bottled goods, jams, preserves, pesto and freshly baked goods to take and enjoy in their gardens or at home.

Beautiful Custard Tartlet from Fairview

The tasting room comprises a number of tasting pods and is aimed at creating a more welcoming and less rigid environment. The pods offer a tasting selection of 6 different wines with dedicated hosts to guide and assist guests. The price for a cheese tasting is only R12.00 per person, the Cheese & Wine tasting including 6 wines is R25.00 and the Beryl Back tasting is R60.00 per person which includes 8 wines, cheeses and olive oils an absolute must to try.

There is a wide range of wines available to choose from, including a selection from the single vineyard range. Fairview wines are really extraordinary, my personal favorite being the Riesling.

Contact Detail:

Address: Suid-Agter-Paarl Rd, Suider-Paarl 7646

Phone:

021 863 2450

Web: www.fairview.co.za

Stellekaya Winery

Stellekaya

One of my most celebrated and ostentatious of wines is Stellekaya. Located in an old brandy cellar, within walking distance from the Stellenbosch town center lies a gem. The cellar was entirely renovated and has a capacity for about 20,000 cases (6 x 750ml) of premium red wine a year. Enough to keep me happy. Stellekaya still uses the traditional “pigeage”, punch down method in open fermentationbins. The fruit is cooled on arrival and a cold maceration process is applied to ensure that the fruit flavors are captured prior to fermentation taking place. All the wines are pressed using a wooden basket press followed by 100% maturation in French Oak Barrels.

Stellekaya winery Cape Town

When I think of food, I think of wine. I love to make canapes.. and my next favorite is a potato rosti, tomato & chili jam with rocket and shavings of rare roasted fillet of beef with a Horseradish Cream. The wine of choice is the Stellekaya Cabernet Sauvignon, inspired by the brightest star in Scorpius, Antares, a “giant red” which forms the heart of the scorpion. Not only is the wine smooth, silky and aromatic, each bottle has a story behind it. I guarantee that you will never find any other Cabernet Sauvignon that could steal your heart.. well it will never steal my heart.

Potato Rosti, tomato & chili jam, rocket, beef fillet & horseradish cream

Contact: and visit them on the web and shop at their online shop - www.stellekaya.com

Tel Fax		+27 (0)21 883 3873 +27 (0)21 883 2536
E-Mail		info@stellekaya.co.za

Nitida Wine Estate

In the heart of the Durbanville Wine Valley lies the Nitida wine farm just a mere 20 minute drive from Cape Town. Since 1996, Nitida has built an enviable reputation for its cellar door hospitality and award winning wines, a particular favourite of mine is their Sauvignon Blanc. Their story is a fairytale.. being a small little farm producing such amazing bottles mostly from their own love of drinking good wine is truly inspiring.. within 3 years they managed to create their first double gold Sauvignon Blanc. My favorite thing about visiting them is their restaurant, Cassia.

Cassia, in a beautiful country setting in the Cape Winelands is the most relaxing and picturesque place to visit.. Cassia is one of the restaurants situated on the Nitida wine farm in the heart of the Durbanville Wine Valley just 20 minutes from Cape Town. Dining at Cassia is a beautiful experience as you will find a mixture of elegance and charm offering an appetising seasonal menu. I especially enjoy their breakfasts... Eggs Florentine is the order of any day, perfectly poached eggs on an English muffin sautéed spinach and smoked salmon topped with hollandaise and it is never too early to enjoy a bottle of their Chardonnay.

If you happen to be out that way for lunch, I suggest you try the Bobotie filled Ravioli served with apricot and raisin French toast, pear chutney and curry sauce with their Sauvignon Blanc. The Double baked camembert souffle parmesan crisp, blue cheese mousse and green fig preserve is sublime paired with their Cabernet Sauvignon. Whatever your mood or company brings, you will find a perfect piece of harmony at Cassia.. and the wine at Nitida.

At home, canape's & wine to me could actually replace a meal.. I love eating with my fingers, love being able to enjoy different tapas with my wine and I like lots of wine. One of my favorite canapes I make are tasting spoons.. very easy, just pan fry some cleaned prawns in butter, garlic, salt and pepper, chop up some luscious smoked trout or salmon, add to prawn but don't fry. Add a bit of freshly chopped capers and spoon on to spoons. Make a little Asian dipping sauce from a simple syrup, add chopped chili, fish sauce, dash of lime, soya sauce and sweet chili, ground black pepper, a hand full of coriander and salt and just drizzle or dip onto the spoons. Enjoy with a beautiful crisp white wine or Champagne...

These gorgeous little tasters will tempt your guests... let the wine flow...

Nitida is conducive to a happy place moment in a lime orchard or on a dusty highveld plain. Awesome balance. Intense minerality, sweetpea, lemon grass and citrus pith. Inspires Asian anything, essential with salad. Beautiful with seafood. Serve Chilled

Ocean fresh crab with prawns, chili, coriander and an Asian Ginger Dipping Sauce

Tokara Wine Estate

Smoked Salmon, Creamed Eggs, Prawns, Caviar on Potato Rosti with Creme Fraiche..and Tokara Director's Reserve

Tokara nestled in beautiful Stellenbosch is set in a picture perfect valley which offering visitors a unique combination of award-winning wines, brandy and olive oils, a gallery of fine art, a restaurant featuring one of South Africa’s leading chefs as well as a sublime delicatessen. Tokara Restaurant, is one of South Africa’s leading fine dining restaurants offering guests terroir focused contemporary cuisine by Chef Richard Carstens, award-winning wines and dramatic views over Stellenbosch and False Bay. The building itself has it's own unique splendour made from glass, steel and stone.

Inside the gorgeous restaurant

One of the entrees I love to offer most is this very simple and elegant dish that will leave your guests satisfied beyond reason and once you taste it you will see why.

All it is is a potato rosti cake, rocket, boiled eggs in home made mayo creamed with chives, layer of smoked salmon or trout, creme fraiche with a little fresh lemon, salt & pepper, luscious prawns, caviar and caper berry and of course paired with a beautiful wine, my wine of choice being Tokara Director's Reserve.

Tokara Director's Reserve blends 74% Sauvignon Blanc and 26% Semillon. Beautiful nose showing jasmine, lime, blackcurrant and subtle oak. Rich and full but wonderfully poised – layers of flavour, lovely integrated acidity and a pithy finish.

Contact Detail

Tel: +27 21 808 5900
Fax: +27 21 808 5911
e-mail:wine@tokara.com

Warwick Wine Estate

Commissioned by my talented mother, Linda van der Wath.

I have always had a desire to work and live on a wine farm and to make my own wine, which I know one day will be a reality. Till then I will travel and experience each farm's unique offerings and the culture that comes with it. It is very hard to say which are my favorite wine farms, because there is something unique about each and every one of them but there are some that I keep returning to because I just can't help myself.

Warwick Wine Estate

Nestled in the winding hills of Stellenbosch lies the magnificent Warwick Wine Estate. With rolling green lawns and a stunning lake, you will find Warwick Wine Estate awaits you in an idyllic picnic setting. The picnic offers locally-sourced produce including herbs from their own garden and umbrellas to keep you cool with a view that will put you in a trance. Nibbling on gourmet food and drinking one of their award-winning wines while lazing on a blanket and oversized cushions this is certainly the place to chill.

Warwicks Welcome

A place where we are deadly serious. Deadly serious about never being deadly serious. Sure, our wine has won awards and accolades all over the world, but we are here to show you a good time. Our winemaker and the entire staff take great pride in their knowledge of the wines on offer but we also enjoy presenting it in a n accessible way. We have a strong legacy in South African wine with a heritage drawn from Norma Ratcliffe, one of the first lady winemaker’s in the country. Today we continue to fly the Ratcliffe and the Warwick flag through educated tastings and cellar tours. We have adapted to the modern times too, with innovative things like horseback safaris, a big 5 vineyard tour and an interactive wineclub all making an appearance.

Warwicks Wine

At Warwick we have a pretty simple philosophy when it comes to making our wine. Basically, we don’t see the trick to producing amazing wine as being one single activity. Instead, it’s a series of events. It’s a combination of your surroundings, the materials you have and what you do with them. Good wine is about good grapes as well as good people. Every little aspect that goes into that beautiful glass of wine at the end of the journey needs to be perfect. Nothing less.

Join the Warwick wine club and get 20% discount on all Warwick wines. These are some of the wines on offer:

Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc

Chardonnay – wooded

The First Lady Chardonnay – unwooded

The First Lady Cabernet Sauvignon

The Blue Lady

Trilogy Magnum 1.5l

“Old Bush Vines” Pinotage

Three Cape Ladies – Cape blend

Trilogy – Bordeaux blend

Cabernet Frac

The Black Lay Syrah

Warwicks Highlights

Besides being the best picnic destination in probably the world, Warwick offers even more:

A Forest Courtyard

Inspired by the historic Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, this is their nod towards the classic. The courtyard provides a relaxed atmosphere and is set amongst some stunning mature trees.

Picnic Pods

Who says a picnic can’t be a bit posh? Created with privacy in mind, their eight custom-designed wooden shelters provide a rural country setting but with a proper table and seating. There’s enough shade for 12 of you and a full service bar to keep things ticking along merrily.

Big 5 Vineyard Safari

This is their truly unique offering where you get to hop on a Land Rover and cruise through the vineyards. Instead of their famous local wild life you get to “spot” our equally gorgeous 5 wine varietals. This is a perfect way to learn about wine in a fun environment and is a cool outing for all ages.

Warwick Penthouse

You may not think that they would be the type of place to have a penthouse. After all, those glass cages and steel beams belong on other farms. And you’d be right. Warwick’s “penthouse” is an open-air venue high up in the surrounding mountains vineyards. With a 360 degree view of Cape Town and the winelands, this area begs to be rented out for an unforgettable group picnic. If you’re looking for a corporate venue that doesn’t feel like… well… a corporate venue, look no further..

Functions

Warwick love kids … and encourage families to bring them along to be part of the fun. In fact, they are happy to host parties specifically for the little ones. Dressing up, balloons, jumping castles etc are standards items on offer that you probably won’t find at most wine farms. If you prefer something a bit more civilized ‘fancy’ can be organised …

My beautiful experience...

The Menu

GOURMET MENU

Ciabatta x 2
Pickled Beetroot, Pecan Nut, Goat’s Cheese, Quinoa & Wild Rocket Salad
Gazpacho Salad with a Chilli & Garlic Dressing
Grilled Beef Tagliata with Aioli & Truffle Oil
Mediteranean Pesto
Prosciutto, Melon, Bocconcini & Basil Skewer
Richard Bosman’s Coppa
Forest Hill Baby Grand Brie
Healey’s Mature Cheddar
Loved Ponies 3 Fruit Marmalade
Cheesecake with Berry Compote

An ultimate day out with family and friends and one of my most precious of memories.. can't wait to return..

Andrew Lind

As you know by now, I am in love with burgers of all shapes and forms, however large and messy they may be nothing will stop me from devouring one with my hands... no knife and fork please.

I am always on the hunt for my ultimate burger.. well, I think my search may be over for a while as I have found Andrew Lind, chef de cuisine of the Spaceneedle Seattle who has just made my mouth salivate and my stomach churn with anticipation as I delved through his creations.. leaving me craving a burger right now.

I am honored to share this incredible footage with you.. beware, what you are about to see will leave you in desperate need to satisfy a burger craving. If you are lucky, you might get to meet Andrew in person and enjoy his work for real..