It’s really mouth-watering watching a phenomenal (and thoroughly charming) chef cook something incredible up in front of you, whilst you get hungrier and hungrier.  So that when you eventually get to eat, you are so very ready to tuck in.

And the food, folks, is seriously good.  So, I have no doubt the winter wine evening will be equally fun (and delicious).  And, winter specials won’t be around for that much longer, so you might like to take advantage whilst you still can!

the foodbarn bakery & deli
in association with de noordhoek hotel and steenberg vineyards
presents our

august winter wine evening

join us and the winemakers for a tasting of steenberg vineyard wines
with a delicious meal consisting of …

tomato, aubergine and parmesan tart with basil sauce
xxx
lamb fore quarter ‘abbachio’ slow roasted with rosemary & garlic,
served with jus and potato gratin
or
lentil hummus in crispy spring rolls and polenta frittes served on mild
harrissa salsa with fresh coriander
xxx
vanilla panna cotta served with fresh strawberries & berry compote
xxx
coffee and truffles

and then retire to one of the hotel’s luxurious rooms for the night, followed by breakfast the next morning at the hotel

Date : Sat 29th August 2009
Time : 7:30pm
Cost : R450 per person, sharing (tasting and dinner only – R225)

To reserve your spot or find out more, please contact the Foodbarn on 021 789 1966 or email deli@thefoodbarn.co.za

Space is limited to 40 people.

Venue details:
The Foodbarn Bakery & Deli is located in Noordhoek Farm Village, Village Lane, Noordhoek. Telephone: +27 (0)21 789 1390. www.thefoodbarn.co.za

Via the Constantia Valley Newsletter:

The Greenhouse and Cape Malay Restaurants at the five star, Relais & Chateaux hotel, The Cellars-Hohenort have launched a winter special for the months of July and August 2009. Guests can experience an exceptional 5 Course dinner at The Greenhouse restaurant.

Peter Tempelhoff, award winning, Executive Chef for The Collection by Liz McGrath, has devised the perfect winter feast for only R200 per person.  ”In the Greenhouse we are focusing on richer flavours with simple yet elegant plating. This special menu changes weekly according to the availability of ingredients. Diners can expect the usual Greenhouse 5-star style of food and attention to detail, which I have labelled as ‘Progressive South African with Classic French Undertones’” says Peter.

The full a la carte and renowned tasting menus will also be available.

The ever popular Cape Malay Restaurant is also offering a unique 5 course menu, at R200 throughout the year, highlighting our diverse Malay cuisine and offering classic favourites created by the head chef, Martha Williams.

Please mention the Winter Warmer Special when making your booking . 021 794 2137

Obviously, July is well and truly done and dusted, but you’ve still got the rest of August to take advantage of this great deal!

Christmas in July celebration at Massimo’s Pizza Club Friday 24 July and Saturday 25 July at 8pm.

The festive menu includes: mulled wine antipasti, selection of fantastic pizzas, dessert, homemade liquors (Limoncello and Bicerin – Massimo’s chocolate liquor) and free entry to our Christmas draw. R140pp Warm and friendly atmosphere, fireplace, Christmas decorations and festive music!

Limited numbers, booking essential.

I went to Massimo’s a month or two ago, and ate the most unbelievable amount of the most delicious pizza I have had since I visited Rome back in 2006 and discovered what pizza is SUPPOSED to taste like.  None of this horrid fat doughy crust with a mishmash of toppings, these babies are on a paper -thin, crispy crust, with delicate flavours that are complementary instead of overpowering each other… Superb!

(Funnily enough, even though I’m wheat-intolerant, I didn’t have too much trouble with the pizza – perhaps because the flour is stone-ground, and there isn’t that much of it!)

And the atmosphere is, as they advertise, ‘warm and friendly’.   I imagine ‘Christmas’ there would be very good fun indeed.

Massimo’s Pizza Club is located at Scarecrows, Oakhurst Farm Park, Main Rd, Hout Bay.  Contact details: 073 3901373 – 021 7907906. www.pizzaclub.co.za

It’s winter specials time in Cape Town and, for the next few months, in addition to listing them on a summarised

Just in from the Foodbarn Bakery & Deli in Noordhoek – news of a once-off winter special happening later this month:

The Foodbarn Bakery & Deli, in association with Manuka Fine Wines and De Noordhoek Hotel presents a Winter Wine Evening.

Join the wine makers (and us) in the hotel for a tasting of wines from Groot Constantia, Joostenberg and Man Vintners followed by a delicious meal in the deli consisting of …

• mixed mushroom and thyme tart drizzled with garlic cream
• lamb shanks in red wine jus, with minty pea mash OR vegetarian lasagna served with baby herb salad
• malva pudding with vanilla ice cream and creme anglaise
• coffee or tea and florentines

… and then retire to one of the hotel’s luxurious rooms for the night, followed by breakfast the next morning at the hotel.

Date   : 27th June 2009
Time  : 6:00pm
Cost   : R450 per person, sharing (tasting and dinner only – R225)

To reserve your spot or find out any additional information, please contact Ashleigh on 021 789 1966 or ashleigh@thefoodbarn.co.za

Space limited to 40 people.

Venue details:
The Foodbarn Restaurant & Deli is located in Noordhoek Farm Village, Village Lane, Noordhoek. Telephone: +27 (0)21 789 1390. www.thefoodbarn.co.za

Today’s featured special:  Wharfside Grill Restaurant at Mariner’s Wharf, Hout Bay.

R100 winter menu:  2-course meal (choose from selected starters and mains) plus a filter coffee or tot of vintage port.  For an extra “tenner”, they’ll add in dessert. Starters: Clam chowder Seafood soup with amarula Calamari tempura with sweet chilli sauce West coast mussels in garlic butter sauce Mains: Choose a main course combo of any two of: prawns, mussels, calamari, linefish, steak. Plus rice or chips and veggies of the day. Special valid until 30 September 2009. Mariner’s Wharf is located at the Hout Bay harbour.  Phone 021 790 1100 to find out more.

ADD YOUR WINTER SPECIAL!
If your establishment has winter specials on the go, please contact Mother City Living and let us know! Or, if you know of one you’re willing to share, please drop me a line.

This week’s special comes from Monkey Valley Beach Nature Resort in Noordhoek.

Monkey Valley overlooks the beautiful Noordhoek Beach, and is far enough from town to make a weekend there a very relaxing experience…

The resort offers a blend of old world log and thatched cottages and bedrooms. Each is hidden in private alcoves within the rare milkwood forest, ensuring complete seclusion. The range of units have a peaceful ambience with uninterrupted vistas across the Atlantic ocean or the mountainous magic of Chapman’s Peak.

They’re currently running a 2-for-1 accommodation special on en suite rooms and cottages.

En Suite Rooms: Book for 2 nights – and get one of those nights free.  Rates range from R880 (forest-facing) to R1,100 (sea-facing)  per room per night.  This is bed only, and excludes breakfast.

That’s R880/R1,100 for two nights, which works out to R220pppn/R275pppn (assuming there are two of you).

Cottages: Book 2 nights – get one night free.  Rate is R295 per adult / R195 per child (if more than 4 persons per unit) Maximum of 8 persons per unit – including children.  Excludes breakfast.

For both specials, guests are required to book dinner for one of the nights.  Their restaurant, Thorfynns, has a spectacular sunset view and, if I recall correctly, a roaring fire in the winter time.  Thorfynns also, I gather, serves free range and organic food wherever possible and is running a special winter menu of R135 for a 3-course meal.

This offer runs until the end of August 2009.

Visit www.monkeyvalleyresort.com to find out more.

Today’s featured winter special is the 2-for-1 deal from Cafe Caprice in Camps Bay:

CAFE CAPRICE, 37 Victoria Rd, Camps Bay   2-for-1 Burger special – Get 2 burgers for the price of one at Cafe Caprice for lunch or dinner from Monday to Thursday, starts 1 May until the end of winter (whenever that is!). Book a table by contacting Caprice on 021 4388315 or info@cafecaprice.co.za

ADD YOUR WINTER SPECIAL!
If your establishment has winter specials on the go, please contact Mother City Living and let us know! Or, if you know of one you’re willing to share, please drop me a line.

Today’s featured special is the Jonkershuis Cape Malay Winter Buffet:

Jonkershuis Restaurant in Groot Constantia has reintroduced their Cape Malay Winter Buffet.  From the 1st of May until the 31st of August ’09 (weekdays, 6pm-9m), you’ll be able to take advantage of the special winter menu.

There are two options available:

• R98pp – 2 courses from the buffet (starter and main)
• R110pp – 2 courses from the buffet and a plated dessert!

Booking is strongly advised.   Call 021 794 6255 to find out more, or to book.

The Menu:

STARTERS
Roasted Butternut Soup
Chefs Soup of the Day

MAINS
Oven Baked Beef Bobotie
Cape Malay Chicken Curry
Snoek and KingKlip Frikkadels
Three Bean Lentil and Tomato Bredie
Roast Sweet Potato and Pumpkin
Savoury Yellow Rice

DESSERT
Malva Pudding
MilkTart

(Source:  ConstantiaValley.com)

As I discover them, I’ll be adding them to this page, but in trying to keep it simple, often the delicious detail is lost (particularly with restaurant specials).

So, for the next few months, in addition to listing them on a summarised winter specials page, I’ll be posting short articles with the details of these awesome specials that allow us ordinary folk to indulge in some fine dining for a much lower price.

Today’s featured special is the Winter Warmer at Catharina’s (Steenberg Hotel)

Winter Warmer
Available as of 5 May 2009

Potato and Celeriac Soup
Crispy celery, white truffle oil

Braised Lamb Shoulder
Chive potato cake, mange tout and baby carrots,
balsamic onions, parsley oil

Medley of Brulée
Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, mulberry

Glass of Klein Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc
OR Klein Steenberg Bordeaux Blend

Please note that the Menus will change Weekly.

Choice of Two Course Set Menu
R125 per person

Choice Three Course Set Menu
R165 per person

Dinner

Three Course Set Menu
R195 per person

Bookings
Telephone: 021 713 2222
E-mail: info@steenberghotel.com

Steenberg Hotel is situated on the Steenberg Golf & Wine state, only 20 minutes from Cape Town City Centre and the V&A Waterfront. Access from Cape Town is via the M3 highway or directly from the airport via the N2.

Steenberg Hotel 10802 Steenberg Estate, Tokai Road, Constantia 7945 Cape Town South Africa. 

Tel: +27 21 713 2222 Fax: +27 21 713 2251

(Source: ConstantiaValley.com)