Treat Café @ Talloula

 

I've spent two lovely Sundays at Treat Café and can say that there is no better way to end off your weekend. Situated on the 1000 Hill road in Botha's Hill, its a short drive from Durban. It is adjacent to the wedding venue Talloula.

Welcome to Treat Café

If there is one thing I miss about Cape Town, it is the wine farms. Now this is not a wine farm but the fact that I can sit outside underneath the trees sipping on some excellent wine from the Cape, I call this my wine farm away from home :)

It is a popular place over weekends so a reservation is essential. We always sit outside, order a bottle of wine and enjoy a long lazy Sunday lunch. It also doubles as a gift shop so I warn you that after the first glass of wine your wallet may be more lenient than before! They stock beautiful ceramics and woven baskets.

Lovely outside spot

 

Terrible quality photo but just a peek into the inside of the restaurant.

Louis and his staff are always friendly and efficient. If you ever want to host a birthday party, kitchen tea or baby shower this is definitely a venue to consider!

Now lets get to the good part, the food. You can join them for breakfast or lunch. They also host specialty evenings which they advertise of their Facebook page.

 

The menu changes but the good old favourites are always there. For starters we have enjoyed grilled mushrooms topped with pesto, tomato and mozzarella. Our favourite so far however was the mezze platter. Pitas are served with humus, grilled peppers, olives ,tomato salsa and guacamole. There is also a spanakopita and potato samosa to share. This paired perfectly with our Tokara Chenin Blanc.



Grilled mushroom and the mezze platter

Talking about wine, I really love their wine list. Well priced, diverse with regards to cultivar and there are some winners from the Cape such as Haute Cabriere and Tokara. This is one place where you don't have to BYOB.

 



Haute Cabriere Tranquille

Tokara Chenin Blanc

 

For mains the dish to try is their pie. The husband enjoyed it the first time we were there and I had to put up a fight at our next visit so that he didn't order it again. I wanted to try the rest of the menu but yes the pie is so delicious that you can eat it at every visit. First of all the portion is big. Tender meat in a thick sauce is covered entirely with a puff pastry lid. It is served with chips on the side. The husband was tempted to lick out the bowl, luckily he remembered his table manners! He also enjoyed the homemade burger which he gave top marks to.

 

   

The must try dish!

I've tried the salmon pasta which I enjoyed but I would have rather have served it with cooked salmon than smoked salmon. My quiche I recently had was jampacked with butternut which I enjoyed but the crust was too thick and hard. The salad served with it however was very fresh!




Salmon pasta

Butternut quiche with salad

 

We've tried dessert once which was a saucy chocolate malva pudding. It was delicious and sweet but the berries and ice cream served with it neutralised it well. A recommended lemon meringue is also on the menu.

Chocolate malva pudding

Treat Café is worth the drive out to a 1000 Hills. You can always count them on serving great food in a comfortable environment. If you end off you weekend here I promise you, you will be okay for the coming week!

Cheers!

 




Visit them at 61 Old Main road, Botha's Hill
Open Tuesday-Sunday 08:30 - 16:00
Contact them at 031 777 1586
Like them on Facebook 
For more information check out their website

The Kitchen at Maison

Ok so I've not posted in a very long time because I just finished one of the toughest weeks of my life. This week I completed the medicine finals of my degree. Four subjects in 5 days where this food lover could not even stomach a cheese snackwich due to stress. If all goes well I now only have 6 months of surgery left before I  will be a qualified doctor.
 
Wining and dining therefore unfortunately have not been a priority these last few months BUT during one of my off weekends I did visit the fabulous Maison Estate located outside of Franschoek which is owned by the well known Chris Weylandt.

It was difficult to obtain a reservation from them. I phoned, the boyfriend phoned and I submitted a request via their website. When after a few days I still heard nothing I tweeted them and at last we had a spot for Sunday afternoon lunch!

Welcome!

 

The entrance

 
Thank goodness for our perseverance because The Kitchen at Maison is where you want to be on a Sunday afternoon. I loved the relaxing atmosphere. It was heaven sitting on their stoep with a glass of wine admiring all the big families and group of friends enjoying themselves  on the lush lawn of the estate.

The lawn

We started off our lunch with a bottle of their Maison Blanc Noir (R145). The wine was too dry for me but the boyfriend loved it. We were served a delicious bread basket with a mushroom and butternut spread. We finished this within 5 seconds. Hope no one watched us! The bread was perfectly baked and the spreads were creamy yet refreshing.

Look at that beautiful colour of the wine!

The delicious bread basket

For mains I enjoyed the pork belly(R155). The awesome aspect of this dish was the sour granny apples that paired perfectly with the pork. I loved the sour and salty combination! The pork belly was so succulent, it was a perfect Sunday lunch. The boyfriend had the line fish  of the day(R145) which I loved so much I almost traded my pork belly for it. The presentation of the dishes were beautiful and at Maison you truly eat with your eyes as well.

Mains range between R145-R850 so lunch won't come cheap but treating yourself every now and again is mandatory :) Chef Arno Janse Van Rensburg will impress you with seasonal, fresh and well seasoned food!



The pork belly



The line fish



The mushroom crumble side dish



 I was difficult for me to fault anything except the side dish(R65) which was a mixture of mushrooms and crumble. It was bland,overpriced and I don't think it is necessary to order this with your main meal.

All that aside we were then then served this delicious creamy chocolate cake. I had to fight with the boyfriend to eat the last bite. It was the perfect ending to the meal.

Chocolate heaven

After our delicious meal we ventured on to the lawn with our glasses of wine to take a well deserved nap :)

One word: Bliss!

Maison Estate is also part of the red line of  "The Franschoek wine tram". All the wine tasting are hosted at the front of the restaurant where there's also a few lovely spots to relax with your friends. Order a bottle of wine and a platter and you will be set for the afternoon.You can also shop for some chacuterie and preserves at their deli.

The Kitchen at Maison really transported us to a place of tranquillity. We stayed for as long as possible trying to delay the return to reality. This is one spot where in the future I know I can come and regroup. Great food, good wine, kind service and a peaceful atmosphere!

 

 

 

 

Visit them at ....

 

For more information visit their website

Open Wednesday-Sunday for Lunch 12:00-17:00 and the winetasting&deli open 7days a week 10:00-17:00

Contact them at 021 876 2116

Like them on Facebook or Instagram

 

Picnic at Hartenberg Estate

I was first exposed to Hartenberg wine estate when I enjoyed a bottle of their Shiraz while dining at The Test Kitchen. It really was an exquisite wine so I was very excited to go to its place of origin.
 

Perfect weather for a picnic

 

Relaxing Saturday on Hartenbergs' lawn

 
It was a very hot day. One of those where a picnic outside could end in an exhausted puddle of sweat. Luckily at Hartenberg you wine and dine underneath large oak trees. What I loved was that you have the option to either sit at a table or lounge on picnic blankets and cushions. We initially sat at the table but after a few sips of our refreshing Hartenberg Sauvignon Blanc we parked ourselves on the cushions for the entire afternoon. Hartenberg was very busy which contributed to an awesome vibe but they space you on the lawn so that no one intrudes your company.
 

In the beginning ...

 

After 5 minutes ... comfort!

 
The picnic will cost you R175 pp and the basket is shared between two people. It includes a bottle of wine and you can choose from the following
 

• Riesling
• Chardonnay
• Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz
• Doorkeeper shiraz
• Sauvignon Blanc

We chose the Sauvignon Blanc so it was a proper afternoon of Sauvignon showers! At the end of the picnic we wanted to enjoy the delicious Shiraz we had at The Test Kitchen and by mistake we ordered the Doorkeeper Shiraz and not the Hartenberg Shiraz. Well it wasn't a mistake as the "cheaper" version also delivered 100% and I will keep him in mind during tough months :)
 

The wine!

 
Now lets get to the good stuff, the food. The picnic basket was packed with goodies. The boyfriend and I only managed to finish half of it. They really spoil you with quantity and variety and I can confirm that they offer one of the more affordable picnics in the wine-lands. Usually you will pay between R300-R400 for picnic basket without wine so that culinary trip can become very expensive.
 
Our basket contained the following

• 2 x baguettes
• Snoek pate
• Pesto Hummus
• A selection of cheeses
• A selection of chacuterie
• Bocconcinis( which are small balls of mozzarella cheese), tomatoes and basil salad
• Baby potatoes, fine beans and wholegrain mustard salad
• Caramelised onion and goats cheese tartlets
• Meaty terrine
• Preserved figs and meringue

Everything was delicious but my favourites were the snoek pate and cheese tartlets. The selection of chacuterie was also really impressive. The one thing that did not impress me was the preserved figs and meringue. The meringues were soft and squashed and not my ideal dessert option. They should rather stick to something like a chocolate brownie.
 


The yummy basket



Some of the delicious goodies!

 
While you are wining and dining you can make room for some more by playing some of the garden games. You can choose between croquet, boules and jenga!
 

The boys playing some boules



Fancy a game of croquet?



Hartenberg also offers wine-tasting, wine and canapé pairings as well as lazy bistro lunches underneath their veranda. I will pop in again to try all of that!

 

The lawn bustling with people

A tucked away corner for couples..

They have vegetarian and halaal options available. All picnics should  be booked  at least 24 hours in advance. They also cater for children under 12 at R65 per child.
 
Hartenberg provides you with a delicious picnic, in a very relaxed atmosphere, that is affordable. You can enjoy it as a couple, family or a group of friends and you will leave as happy customers. They are definitely on top of my picnic recommendation list.
 
Book your spot now! You can't say you've enjoyed summer without at least going to one picnic!
 
Contact them at 021 865 2541 or info@hartenbergestate.com
For more information visit their website
Like them on Facebook
Tweet them @HartenbergWine
Located :  33° 52' 44.94" S | 18° 47' 32.73" E

Directions to Hartenberg

 

Leopard's Leap

Do you love long tasty lazy weekend lunches??? If your answer is YES then Leopard's Leap is the place for you.



Welcome

The entrance

 

The lovely veranda

The view is amazing and this lawn is a great spot for kids to play while you are enjoying lunch!

We were a large group of people who were very thirsty and hungry. Luckily Leopard's Leap not only delivers in the food department but their wine is also great and very affordable. They are a family-orientated establishment with a relaxing atmosphere. If you use some of your imagination it can almost feel as if you are in your own home for Sunday lunch.

The estate and the building has a modern feel. I loved their light fixtures in the shape of whisks. The sunny veranda surrounded by glass windows is heaven on perfect summers day. You can sit here without a care in the world and just relax. I think they are the perfect venue if you want to dine as a large group. I am definitely taking a group of friends here in the future!



The veranda



The inside



My favourite whisks!



Perfect summers day

Lunch is served 'rotisserie style'. The food is fresh, seasonal and versatile so you cant pick whatever your heart desires.

Every table has a number which you use to log your order. You pick your own selection from the harvest table and then it's weighed. After that head to the protein department to choose one of the succulent meats on offer. This self-service set up contributes to the relax feel of Leopard's Leap and also eliminates any waiting time if you are ready to dish up seconds :)

 

The harvest table features a variety of salads and vegetable dishes. It will cost you R21/100 grams. Some of the dishes on offer when I visited was the following

• Tomato and mozzarella salad
• Watermelon, strawberry and feta salad
• Roasted baby marrow and baby carrot salad
• Asian style cauliflower and cabbage salad with sesame and peanuts
• Beetroot, butternut and couscous salad
• Whole grain mustard and Chinese mayo roasted potatoes
• Tomato and chili baked beans

The harvest table

Fresh and seasonal produce

Pick whatever your heart desires

There are some carbs as well :)

How fresh and delicious does all of that sound?? Protein wise you could pair your side dishes with

• 1/4 chicken (R45)
• Pork belly (R59)
• Lamb neck (R80)

Warning vegetarians...look away!

This is what I chose...

Yummy!

... and I devoured every single element. Everything was fresh and tasted home-made. It's not your typical buffet style lunch where you fear that our friend Mr Salmonella will make his appearance!

If you think it can't get any better let me introduce you to the dessert buffet table? They ensure that you won't be bikini ready by December! You could choose from the following

• Crispy rice crispy treats, brownies or short bread at R10 each.
• Polenta cake, white chocolate ganache, coffee ganache, tiramisu, panna cotta, cherry pudding, rose ganache, peppermint crisp and lemon curd cups for R20 each
• Baked cheesecake or cupcakes for R25 each

Buffet of sweet treats

The cheesecake was delish !

That brownie was amazing! Very dense and chocolaty!

I of course ensured that our table picked almost each of everything as this sugar-hollic had to taste it all! The brownie, peppermint crisp and cheesecake were to die for! The polenta cake and different ganaches were underwhelming. I also had an issue that they charged R25 per cupcake. That really is absurd as they were the size of those mini Woolworths cupcakes. Luckily the brownies were so good I did not have to much time to think about that!

At Leopard's Leap you can also enjoy wine-tasting and cooking classes. The cooking classes is under die guidance of chef Pieter de Jager. They can accommodate 22 students per class. You have your own cooking station and utensils. A television screen will give you crystal clear views of everything you must do. The classes are in the morning and evening. Here are some of the upcoming classes

• 11 November at 09:30 - Versatile vegetarian
• 19 November at 18:00 - Versatile vegetarian
• 9 December at 09:30 - Festive fun
• 17 December at 18:00 - Festive fun
• 6 January at 09:30 - Seamless sushi
• 21 January at 19:00 - Seamless sushi
• 3 February at 09:30 - Meat Magic
• 18 February at 18:00 - Meat Magic

All the classes are R650 pp and you can make a booking at cooking@leopardsleap.co.za

Leopard's Leap should also be on your wine touring list. You can taste five wines for R25 from their Lookout or Classic range. I walked away with a few bottles of their Lookout Chenic Blanc for only R35 each. It's a very tropical tasting wine and perfect for this summer. I will have to stop by soon to stock up for December! The Lookout Rose, Red, Semi sweet are all also R35 each. The Classic range is between R40-R45 which also is very reasonably price!

Perfect wine for summer!

 

One of my highlights of our lunch was this delicious wine cocktail made with the above shown chenin blanc chardonnay! It was so refreshing! It transported me to a tropical island! You have to try one. The wine flavoured cocktail changes regularly.

 

This drink guaranteed my return to Leopard's Leap!

I would say that lunch, dessert and wine will be around R150 pp which I think is very reasonably priced!

 

So it's the end of the year and it's time to spoil yourself! Book a spot at Leopard's Leap and start to unwind! Vacation is around the corner! Whoo hooo!

 

 

Lunch is served Wednesday-Sunday from 11:30 to 15:00

Contact them at 021 876 8002 or reservations@leopardsleap.co.za

For more information visit their website

Click here to see the Menu

Tweet them @LeopardLeapWine

Like them on Facebook