Makaron at Majeka House

Makaron is just as stylish as all the other facilities at Majeka House. You can read all about it here in my previous post. They won the Boschendal Style award in 2011 and was an Eat Out finalist in 2012.

It was a short walk from the M Lounge to Makaron where we were greeted friendly by the staff of the restaurant and seated near the fireplace which made our dinner very cosy.

Makaron has one of my favourite design elements, ghost chairs, so décor wise they already received a thumbs up in my book. Unfortunately my photos of the décor came out too blurry so hop on over to their website to see how pretty it is! 

They have a fantastic sommelier, Esme, who is knowledgeable and also very nice. We had a long conversation with her about her job. I must say that having a job where you can taste wine at 10:00 in the morning, without being judged, doesn't sound bad! If you are into food and wine pairing she will definitely help you to find the perfect combination.

We had a glass of Villeria Brut MCC instead of wine with our dinner. They give Haute Cabriere's Brut, one of my favorites, a run for it's money.

Makaron has a food and wine pairing option but we decided to enjoy the a la carte route. The food and wine pairing is R395 for four course.

To start of the evening we were served a delicious selection of breads paired with olives and a range of butters. A creamy bread soup was also served with this. We loved the mosbolletjie bread! Tim Noakes would not have approved :)

I love carbs!

Then we were treated to a complimentary starter of deep fried quail, croquettes, mushroom biltong and two dipping sauces.

Loved how they served this dish!

For mains I enjoyed the Mauritian sea bass served with laska foam, carrots, cashew and coconut. I loved this dish. It can also be described as a deconstructed thai curry. The balance between the fresh fish and rich sauce was perfect. I also really enjoyed the crispy skin of the fish and it's definitely a dish I would order again.

Mauritian sea bass

My mom enjoyed pork belly fillet served with jewl sweet potato, apple and meenos. Unfortunately she enjoyed it so much that I could not taste it, but she gave it a thumbs up and she knows her pork!

Pork belly

For dessert the 50 shades of chocolate immediately caught my eye. It was a dark chocolate log served with milk chocolate sauce and citrus fruit cubes. Unfortunately the dark chocolate was too strong for me. The citrus fruit did help to cut through the dark chocolate flavour but I am more of a milk chocolate kind of girl. If you are into strong dark chocolate this would be a delight for you.

50 shades of chocolate

Mom had the best dessert. It consisted of meringue, lemon curd, lime ice cream and sherbert so essentially it was a deconstructed lemon meringue. The sour sweetness of the lemon curd and lime ice cream was a delight!

Lemon delight

The sweetness did not end with our dessert as the sous chef brought us some mini ice cream sandwiches. They were the perfect ending to a delicious meal. I was very impressed with how all the dishes were served! Makaron distinguishes  itself  from other restaurants by creating a feast for the eye too. 

Little chocolate ice cream gems

If you book early enough you can snacth up the chef's table. Two people per evening can dine inside the kitchen and watch Chef Tanya Kruger and her team make magic! Guys this would be a wow factor if you ever plan a date!

The Chefs table inside the kitchen

When you visit Makaron you will be treated with five star service. The food, wine and service are of extraordinary quality but they still manage to create a homey and comfortable atmosphere!

For more information visit their website
Contact them at 021 880 1549
Like them on Facebook
Tweet them @MajekaHouse

Cavalli Estate

One of my favourite places I have dined at this year is hosting a fabulous event filled with fashion, food and wine. For R380 you will receive a 3 course lunch with wine pairing and live music. Cavalli estate is beautiful and they produce quality wine and delicious food. Read all about the last time I visited here. This event is the perfect introduction to this establishment.


Enjoy!

Contact details

• 021 855 3218 or restauarant@cavalliestate.com
• Website
• Facebook

All copyrights reserved to Cavalli Estate

How pretty is this advertisement! If this is anything to go by the event will be flamboyant and stylish!

Majeka House

Nestled in the quite neighbourhood of Paradyskloof, on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, you will find the hidden gem that is Majeka House. They've  been on my radar since their restaurant, Makaron, made an appearance on the Eat Out Top 20 list in 2012.

It was my last week of holiday before my final year and a half of medicine start, so myself and my awesome mom went for a overnight date at Majeka House.



Majeka House

We were greeted warmly by the staff of Majeka House and given a tour of the grounds. It is such as stylish place and every area of Majeka House was impressive. They have a thing for 'pigs' so see how many you can spot during your visit :)


Majeka House Courtyard

 
We stayed in one of the Premier Rooms. The room is equipped with a flat-screen tv that can be enjoyed while you soak in a long warm bath. The room also has it's own Lavazza coffee machine where you can brew your own cup of coffee. If you really want to relax you can order a DVD from their very extensive DVD selection. You just phone the reception with the DVD code from the catalogue and they will deliver it to your room. While you watch your movie you can indulge in the mini-bar which is stocked with delicious treats such as crisps and fudge. You are also treated to complimentary still and sparkling water as well as  baked goods. We had a delicious tin of fresh biscotti. Needless to say that tin was empty way sooner than we wanted it to be. There also is free Wi-Fi available throughout Majeka House. It did cut out now and then but work relatively well.


Let me give you a tour!




Lovely chairs to relax on



Premier Room

Loved the Lavazza coffee machine

Freshly baked biscotti

Our view

Beautifull ceiling

Luxurious bathroom

His and Her bathroom

The shower

We went to the Majeka spa for an afternoon treat. We were greeted with nice soft robes and white crocs! I had the Hot Stone Massage(my fave) and my mom enjoyed the Deep Tissue Massage. The therapist were professional and I left feeling very relaxed.

We then spent the rest of the afternoon in and out of their heated pool and jacuzzi. It was so much fun to swim in the Winter!


Jacuzzi

Heated pool



Spa slippers



Loved those chandeliers

After freshening up we went for drinks at Majeka House bar, M Lounge. This was the prettiest room at Majeka House! My favourite feature was the 'light balls'. We sat next to cosy fire and sipped on delicious cocktails. This is also a room where you can sit and read while enjoying glass of red wine!



On our way to the M lounge

Cosy fireplace

Love the lights!



Beautiful bar and piano



How interesting is the bookshelf wallpaper

Awesome décor items



Loved our Penicillin and Pimm's cocktail

We had dinner at their restaurant, Makaron, but that is a whole blogpost on its own that will follow soon. The next morning we had to say goodbye. Lying in the large comfortable bed we contemplated how we can extend our stay. We were having such a nice time. 

We packed our bags and went to breakfast. This was the best breakfast I have had at any hotel or guesthouse. The variety you can choose from alone is impressive. It was difficult to choose between all the fresh fruit, homemade yogurt, freshly baked bread and pastries as well as chacuterie and cheese. I wanted it all! You can enjoy the above continental and order something hot from the breakfast menu. I indulged with blueberry pancakes. Oh and did I mention you can add a glass of Villeria bubbly to your breakfast? That definitely is a breakfast for champions! To end of your indulgent breakfast you can cleanse yourself with one of their 'juices'. 



Continental breakfast




Spoilt for choice



Fresh fruit, cereal and loads more



Best way to start the day, bubbly and pancakes!



Juicing!

Another treat when you stay at Majeka House is that you receive a complimentary wine and chocolate tasting at Waterford. I actually visited Waterford two months ago and did this tasting! It's awesome. you can read about it here.

Thank you to  every member of staff at Majeka House that treated us with kindness! You contributed to our lovely stay!

 If you can't come for a sleep over do treat yourself to a spa treatment or a drink in the M Lounge. This is the place to come relax in style!

For more information about Majeka House, including specials, check out their website
Contact them at 021 880  1512 or reservations@majekahouse.co.za
Located at 28-32 Houtkapper street, Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch
Tweet them @MajekaHouse
Like them on Facebook


The Test Kitchen

I've been waiting three years to visit The Test Kitchen and then four months ago I got a reservation for this past Saturday! I was extremely excited yet cautious as I really did not want to be disappointed! They are rated as the BEST in South-Africa and number 48 in the world so how can you not expect perfection?

I actually don't have to write too much as my experience can be summarised in one word: Perfection.


What they say about The Test Kitchen is 100% true. The space is inviting, the service is impeccable and the food is delicious. A lot of people wanted feedback about how my experience was and I could not say that one dish was better than the other as I enjoyed every single one.

Loved the lighting!

The service runs like a well oiled machine. Everything happens without effort. Our main waiter Mike was very charming, informed and accommodating. I think there were fourteen waiters and chefs in total at our table. Each one was professional, nice and contributed to an excellent experience.


So lets get to the food. There are two dining options

• The discovery menu
• 5 course with wine pairing R880
• 5 course without wine  pairing R590
• The gourmand menu
• 9 course without wine pairing R800
• 9 course with wine pairing R1250
• 9 course with tea pairing R1000

Let me take you through our discovery culinary journey!
 

The beginning



Selection Hors d'oeuvre. Beetroot crisps and cream cheese, Mushroom millionaire bites



 



 The bread

 

Selection of breads served with butter and salt

 

Served warm, the bread tasted as interesting as they looked. Usually I try not to eat too much bread before dinner as I don't want to spoil my appetite but I overindulged when they served these gems! Delicious!

 

Another treat before the discovery starts

 

Snoek served two ways



 The snoek was cooked perfectly and served in a very creamy sauce. An awesome element was the grated snoek that garnished the dish. The dad loved this dish!

 

Course 1

 

Pickled Fish – ceviche, lightly curried dressing, bbq
carrots, ras el hanout honeycomb

 

All the elements of this dish were a delicious marriage of flavours. Initially when I saw 'pickled' fish I thought that we would be served that orange curried fish you usually eat over Easter which I don't enjoy at all. Luckily with this dish it was not the case! The sweet honeycomb paired perfectly with the spicy fish! It can almost be described as a marriage of 'opposites' that work :)

 

Course 2 

 

Foie gras – poached quince,
braaied meringue and pistachio

 or

 



Grilled scallop, fine bean, tofu miso suke, braised scallop
dressing, miso on toast, braised shitake, raw shitake



 

 

I 've always wanted to try a scallop. The chefs on the television cooking competitions often uses scallops. I  loved it as well as the sauce it was served with! It has the same consistency of squid but a more subtle taste.

 

Course 3

Pork Belly, parsley pressed apples, wild rosemary
infused honey, blue cheese cream, crackling
 

 

The parsley pressed apples were such a refreshing element served with the rich yet perfectly cooked pork belly.

or

 

“Ajo Blanco” – veal sweetbreads, almond milk, grapes,
almond falafel, chicken and sherry glacage ( The one dish we did not try)

 

Palate cleanser

 

This sorbet tasted exactly like a G&T. So nice! I could devour and entire bowl of this!  This was a great element to reset the palate before the next treat!

 

Course 4



Pan fried line fish, herbed nicola potato and mussel
salad, scallop and english cucumber medley,
champagne veloute

It was very interesting that the sauce that was served over the fish contained pancetta but it worked so well. The boyfriend had to surrender numerous bites of his dish! It was so good!

 

or

 

Pan seared lamb loin, slow roasted lamb shanks,
lamb sweetbreads, BBQ broccoli purée,
courgette and caper emulsion, lamb jus

 
The lamb was so  succulent and the BBQ broccoli puree was a highlight for me!

 

Course 5



Roasted banana butter, meringue, rum foam, coffee and tanariva cremoux

 

This was the dessert of the evening. Every bite was a surprise! I hate bananas but The Test Kitchen made me love them, even if it was for only one evening :)

 

or



Apple crumble, elderflower jelly, sour cream, stinging nettle granite and streusel

 

Another wow dessert! My favourite part was the stinging nettle granite!



 

The last treat



Chocolate covered crunchies, millionaires shortbread and marshmallows



 

We thought we were finished and then these treats arrived. The millionaires shortbread was the best I have ever had! I wish I can enjoy one now! 

 

The Test Kitchen delivered 100%.  They delivered in presentation, taste and with innovation. As you can see from above you receive way more than you expect. It's an expensive treat but so worth it. Watching the chefs perform in the kitchen you see the intense amount of work that goes into each dish. All the portions and presentation of the dishes were exactly the same. Once again solidifying their aim for perfection.

 

We actually had a scenario where my mom queried the one dessert we were served because she thought it was the wrong one. The waiters eyes almost popped out of his sockets as he thought that he made the one fault of the evening. We were in the wrong and had a great laugh with him. The Test Kitchen really strives for perfection.

 

If you are a big foodie book a table where you sit at the counter that overlooks the kitchen. You will be in for a treat!
 

Watching the chefs in action!

 

 The reservations for next year March, April and May are now open. So make a booking and start saving!

 

I would recommend that you do the food and wine pairing. We took the discovery menu option without wine and  ordered two bottles of wine. In the end our cost per person was the same or even a bit more than the food and wine pairing. They have a fantastic sommelier on site so I am sure the food and wine paring would be exceptional!

 

As you have read the word I used the most was perfection, because The Test Kitchen simply is.



 

Happy and satisfied diners! We will be back soon!

 

For more information visit their website

Contact them at 021 447 2337 or reservations@thetestkitchen.co.za

Tweet them @TestKitchenCT

Located at The Old Biscuit Mill

Open Tuesday-Saturday

• Lunch 12:30-14:00
• Dinner 19:00-21:00