In the not-too-distant past, the words “South African cuisine” conjured images of a boerewors roll, a bag of biltong and a packet of rusks. However, in the last few years, South Africa – more specifically, the Cape Peninsula – has been in the grip of a culinary revolution that’s forcing the rest of the world to bin its tired stereotypes. Down in the Cape, we’re seeing the potent mix of world-class chefs using ripe local produce to create menus that reflect the country’s multicultural past. And because the majority of them are based around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, they also complement the ever-growing range of wines on offer.
If a journey to the Cape is in the cards, here are four restaurants you should definitely consider adding to your agenda:
Set on the peak of the spectacular Helshoogte Pass, Delaire Graff was bought in 2003 by the diamond billionaire Laurence Graff; over the past 10 years, it has been transformed into a wine estate and a five-star hotel. Most importantly, it’s home to Indochine, where you’ll find South African ingredients used in Asian dishes with serious aplomb.
The Werf Restaurant is fast becoming the most-talked about eatery in the region. Set in a magnificent Cape Dutch house, it’s run by chef Christiaan Campbell, who insists on only using local seasonal ingredients to create his eclectic menu. Highlights include slow-roasted Boschendal Angus beef and glazed lamb ribs. Or, if you’re keen to make the most of the summer sunshine, opt for an outdoor picnic where a range of bread, meat, cheese and salad is brought to you under the dappled oak trees.
Set in a modern glass restaurant high above the rolling vine-covered hills of Somerset West, Waterkloof needed a seriously good menu to ensure guests weren’t distracted by the view. Luckily dishes such as kob with chestnut gnocchi and broccoli couscous, quail with sticky spare-rib dim sum and camembert crème brulée are weird and wonderful enough to keep everyone’s attention.
Overture at Hidden Valley is another spot that combines soaring views with epic food. Bertus Basson has created a fine-dining restaurant that somehow manages to feel relaxed and luxurious at the same time. The five-course chef’s menu changes weekly, much to the delight of the regular customers who come back every Saturday to loudly praise the new dishes.
Taking a bottle or two home? Consider investing in Vinvautz’s Wine Cellar via Gilman Home Appliances, and receive the Spiegelau German-made Signature Crystal Wine Glass Collection by Jeannie Cho Lee for free if you purchase before September 15.
