But as usual I digress...We left on the Saturday morning for our sortie into the hinterland, which is in actual fact a mere 40 minutes from Cape Town, but seems worlds away. As we so seldom go out Stellenbosch way, we decided to visit a few places of interest along the way. Waterford Winery has been a place I've heard so much about, so it seemed like a good first port of call. It was, as promised, impressive from the outset, with it's avenue up to the cellar, and Provencal inspired lavender lined entrance. We were greeted and welcomed on the steps by Ben, a very pleasant and knowledgable Maties student, and given time to look around the beautiful courtyard. I would have loved to have done our wine tasting under the trees, but for a few floozies smoking and drinking next to the only available table. Peeps who are serious in any way about their food and wine, should NEVER allow smoking anywhere within a 100 mile radius.
We took a table on the stoep, and were offered a deluxe wine and chocolate pairing for R65 a head. (Three wee mouthfuls of wine and three pieces of chocolate. Yegods, I've been known to have lunch and a decent glass of wine for that amount of money!) I'm no doubt spoilt coming from the Constantia wine valley, where tastings are generous and complimentary, so it rankles a little to pay for a tasting when we go with the good intention of purchasing wine, but if that's the way it works out here, then go with the flow. However, the wine taster in me worries a little when red wine is set off against chocolate, as neither does the other any good, but for the fun and the spirit of the day, we enjoyed the experience, but not really the flavours on offer. I have since written to Kevin Arnold, the winemaker, to compliment him on the calibre of the staff (say nice things when you can and leave the bad stuff out, like the quality of the wines, is Suzy Q's motto) but I haven't had any response to thank me for the visit/interest/patronage/commentary. It doesn't take much to get one's secretary to send an email, but maybe he's busy working (hopefully) on the current vintage.www.waterfordwines.com
Starving with the hunger, we were advised to go next door to Dornier Bodega Restaurant for lunch. It has a beautiful view over the valley, and we surveyed both that and the menu with great intent. I am always a bit suspicious of well placed restaurants with magnificent views, as they tend to trade on position neglecting the epicurean side of things, and in this case I wasn't wrong sad to say. We were offered a compulsory two course lunch for R130. Being a gal who loves to lunch, but is a light eater, that seemed like being bullied, but as were hungry and far from home, we made our choices and each ordered a glass of the house wine, while we waited, and waited, and waited...
We asked for bread and nibbled and reread the menu. Dornier offers "Farm Cuisine" (whatever that might mean?) that is "honest and transparent" (!?) Not sure what kind of wind farm they are referring to but here are two examples on their menu. Trust me, I had enough time to peruse it!
Norwegian Salmon miso zuke @ R70 for a starter.
Micro leaf, shiitake, "vegetable cuts" cucumber ribbon, candied tomoato, soy, chilli, garlic and ginger, white miso.
Not exactly mealie bread and bobotie from the farm as I know it, but then, perhaps this is their way of saying that boerekos has come of age...?
Fresh Line fish with Liquorice Ghoo @ R130 for a main course.
Cauliflower puree, "liquorice" oven dried tomatoes, blanched broccoli, Pea shoots, Butternut skordalia.
Not quite clear what that lots all about and I can't imagine that melange of mismatched, pretentious sounding flavours? Frankly I prefer my waffle on my plate, not on the menu.
Our choices were pass remarkable, there was way too much food for our needs and I really hate to waste. The starter of roasted butternut ravioli with a tomato sauce (not that the two flavours complement each other in my book) would have been ample for me. Mr Suzy Q would also have been happy with a pleasant flammkuchen, without being obliged to overindulge in a second course. Perhaps we were misinformed, as a blackboard we spied afterwards offered a few other options. The service, whilst friendly, was always just a beat behind, and please remind me to ask next time I go to lunch whether there is a jungle gym. All the rug rats were on the whiny loose when they should have been having their afternoon nap, whilst their yummy mummies and ubercool daddies wined and dined the day away. A far cry from my day, when it was all I could do to get to the supermarket with two little ones in tow, let alone roar off to a wine farm for the afternoon in a 4x4 for a languorous, vinous lunch. And even further back in my youth (yes, aged as she is now and starting to sound like an old timer, Suzy Q had a youth too) it was a high day indeed if one got the Wimpy Bar on a birthday. What's changed in a generation or two? Well generations do change, Suzy Q is old and wise enough to acknowledge and recognize that, but is it for the better? How are the little ones raised in sushi bars going to turn out? www.dornier.co.za
But hey, whilst we had fun being footloose and fancy free for the day, give me the Constantia winelands and restaurants any day for quality of food, wines and service, not to mention our own spectacular settings. And if you're really good and keep getting in touch with me, I'll let you in on my best kept secrets...
Lotsa love,
Suzy Q
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