HOT NEWS SWITCHING IT UP
Constant reinvention and rejuvenation of the food offering keeps things as fresh for the staff at Gabriëlskloof Restaurant in Bot River as it does for the host of regular patrons. Visitors to the restaurant that occupies a wing of the celebrated hilltop winery boasting views of the surrounding valley appreciate the large fireplace that’s ablaze on cold days as much as they do the switch from a la carte fare to more hearty winter delights. This is the perfect time to join the throng of diners-inthe-know who make a beeline for the winelands eatery that’s famous for generous country-style hospitality and all-round good fare. The new winter menu runs until the end of August, curated in the delectable style for which chef Frans Groenewald is renowned for. Dishes will change daily, ensuring the offer stays interesting no matter how regularly people visit. Groenewald’s inspiration for the seasonal blackboard menu came from a fresh perspective on the region. “To me, the Overberg is about community and collaboration, natural beauty and harmony. I love coming to work and driving through a landscape that gives me peace and makes me curious at the same time,” he said. “We’ll be punting plant-based dishes – not exclusively of course – but I’d like to show that vegetarian options can be wholesome and satisfying – even with the winter chill about.” Expect dishes such as crispy pork belly, roasts, chick pea-and-lentil salad or chick pea-and lentil-bolognese, big casseroles, soups, grilled trout, wheat risotto or curried wheat salad. On the sweeter side, diners can look forward to treats like chocolate fondant, chocolate mousse, the traditional decadence souskluitjies and milk tart tiramisu. The foodie spectacle steps up a notch on Sundays when, in addition to the Blackboard Menu, the Gabriëlskloof Restaurant presents a set five-course menu. Reservations are advised and can be made by calling 028 284 9865 or emailing restaurant@gabriëlskloof.co.za.
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BOT RIVER BIG BOTTLES July 14 is commemorated annually as the day in which the Bastille in Paris was stormed during the French Revolution. Two winemakers from the Overberg’s Bot River area will be taking Johannesburg by storm the same day, one a king of Shiraz and the other a Queen of Methóde Cap Classique (MCC). Both Luddite Wines’ Niels Verburg and Genevieve MCC’s maker Melissa Nelsen hail from Bot River in the Overberg, a region known by its credo “real wine made by real people”; the unspoilt, down-to-earth, sociable character of the farmers; and, wines for lovers of the road less travelled. For the small-town experience in the big city of Jozi, serving the Shiraz from 9-litre bottles and the MCC from 1.5-litre magnums makes the occasion unique. The aim is to give enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the difference in taste that a large-format bottle makes. Guests will be welcomed with canapes and the 2010 vintage Genevieve MCC. Then it’s onto a tapas-style lunch paired with five vintages of Luddite Shiraz out of 9-litre bottles – or Salmanazar – which is the equivalent of 12 standard 750 ml bottles. It’s the first time this has been done in
Johannesburg and is a wine event designed to show the varying effects that terroir, climate and crop size has on wine. “In big bottle format wine comes across fresher,” says Penny Verburg, who will co-host the event. It just seems to age better in big bottles.” As for the bubbly to be served, 2010 was the first year Melissa decided on magnums, setting aside just 120 bottles of her precious Genevieve MCC. She had always had a love for bubbly and when the opportunity arose to make it, she jumped. Genevieve is her second name and the patron saint of Paris, making Genevieve MCC the perfect link between great South African MCC made in the style of French Champagne. The venue is Urbanologi, famed for fine, eco-friendly food, and somewhere that has been described as the “clear standout of must-visit inner-city dining spots”. Located at the uber-cool 1 Fox Precinct of Ferreirasdorp in the heart of Jozi, chef Jack Coetzee sources all ingredients except spices, within 150km of the restaurant. Tickets are limited so early booking is advised. Contact Sharon at info@luddite.co.za, or call 028 284 9308.
