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

 

Eikehof

I love winefarms and I'm fortunate to live in an area that's spoilt with an unlimited number of choices. So much wine, so little time - my first world problem! Another one that has recently popped up on the list is, Eikehof.



Welcome to Eikehof

Situated in Franschoek, this family run farm has been handled with care, since 1903 by four generations. Winemaker Francois Malherbe and his wife Elize are very hands on and invested in their business. Francois will swing by the tasting room and tell you about their wines. Info straight from the horses mouth! They produce seven wines with the Rosé being their current new gem. Wine prices range between R50-R85. If you do the tasting it's only R30.

The beautiful Eikehof surroundings

They are also part of the awesome Franschoek Wine Tram that I've previously blogged about. They are situated on the red line. If you visit them through this you will receive a complimentary welcome drink and the tasting would be R30. You can also purchase delicious cheese and fruit platters to share for R140.



A large lawn for you to relax on!

 If you don't have plans for Valentines day yet, don't worry, I've got you sorted! If you are single, don't worry, they have wine! Eikehof is hosting their first ever Valentines Picnic! Come visit them as a couple, a group of friends or even alone. No discrimination! You will relax on their beautiful lawn underneath large Oak trees and will struggle to find a more relaxed environment.

For R160 pp you will receive the following

• A gourmet ciabatta filled with basil pesto, mozzarella and tomato
• Sweet chilli chicken kebab
• Fruit skewers
• Selection of meat and cheeses served with biscuits
• Strawberry red velvet cupcakes
• Bottle of wine shared between two (Rose or Sauvignon Blanc)



Some of the picnic selection

Engagements have been booming in my social circle. My bestie is also getting married so I am confronted with daily wedding to do's. Eikehof  is also an excellent venue to consider if you are looking! Contact them directly to enquire about their packages. What I've heard is that they are really affordable considering that they are situated in one of the coveted wedding areas.




Say 'I do'

Eikehof is definitely where you would have found me next weekend if I did not have to slave away behind the books to pass my psychiatry exam. Please drink a glass on me :) If you visit Eikehof you are ensured of a intimate and down to earth experience!

Bookings for the Valentine picnic are essential

Contact them eikehof@mweb.co.za or 021 876 2469
For more information visit their website
Like them on Facebook

Pictures have been supplied by Eikehof.

The Franschoek Wine Tram

One of my favourite Sundays this year was on the Franschoek Wine Tram. This awesome tour started in 2012 and brought new life to the old tram tracks of Franschoek. They provide you with a beautiful ride through the picturesque vineyards of Franschoek and allow you to enjoy a day of marathon wine tasting.
 
The adventure will cost you R200 per person and includes either a free wine tasting or discount on wine purchase at the different farms. I will tell you more about that when I tell you about the specific wine farms we visited.

The tour starts at the ticket office in the town centre (across from the Pick & Pay). You hop on a bus which will transport you to your first wine farm. The blue line starts at 10:00 and the red line at 10:15.

Transport is provided by either a wine bus or wine tram depending on which farms you are traveling in between. Let's be honest, wine tasting on a bus or tram is so much better than riding in a car :) You have a minimum of about a hour at each farm before the tram or bus comes to take you to your next stop. If you are having too much of a good time at a particular farm then just wait for the next one. They were punctual every single time and I mean that to the minute, except at our last stop, but that was okay as we were finished with the tour.

There's a blue and a red line that can be enjoyed. We chose the blue line as it was the one with the majority wine farms that were unknown to us.
 
 

Buy your tickets here!

On the blue line the farms are the following...

Mont Rochelle

We started at Mont Rochelle which was recently purchased and revamped by Sir Richard Branson. Mont Rochelle really was a pleasant surprise. It has a fresh and sleek white look with lovely seating outside. They also have a great restaurant, The Country Kitchen, that serves relaxed lunches that are mediterranean  inspired which I definitely want to try out in the future.

Beautiful view

Inside the restaurant

Here nothing is included in your wine tram ticket. Wine tasting will cost your R20 if you want to taste their two white wines and their rose or R20 for their 4 red wines.



First wine of the day!



You can taste inside or outside

We opted for the 'white' tasting as it was early in the tasting experience :) We tasted their Sauvignon Blanc reserve 2013(R65), barrel fermented Chardonnay 2011(R85) and Rose 2011(R40).

It was such a nice day so we enjoyed our wine and the view outside

Dining spot outside

My favourite was the Chardonnay as I loved its distinct lime and butterscotch flavour.

The bus arrived just in time so we rushed to purchase a few bottles and jumped on to head to the next one!

Our ride for the day

La Couronne

This wine farm was unfortunately closed due to an event that was hosted there. This is one of the wine farms where you receive a complimentary wine tasting.

Holden Manz

Our next stop dropped us off between the vineyards of Holden Manz. Here you can also sit and relax in the sun while you enjoy a complimentary wine tasting. Our wine tasting host was very entertaining and treated us with an extra 'wine'!

Holden Manz situated in between the vineyards

At Holden Manz you can also pair your wine with a cheese and chacuterie platter or dine and their restaurant "Franschoek Kitchen" which is beautifully decorated with an exceptional view over the vineyards.

Outside tasting area

Lovely couches to chill one

The restaurant is situated on the top level

The wines we tasted were the Rose 2014(R60), Vernissage 2012 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot-R60) and Shiraz 2010(R95). I loved the red blend Vernissage but the winner of the day was the extra treat we received. The Good Sport Cape Vintage 2010 (R195) was loved by everyone. It is the perfect night cap where you will be treated to flavours such as vanilla, coconut and raisins.

The Vernissage

I agree that wine saves lives :)

The wine bus was on time again and we ventured to the next stop. If you purchase wine you can leave it on the bus and collect it at the ticket office after your wine tramming. How convenient is that!

Happy tasters!

La Bourgogne

At La Bourgogne you sit and relax on the outstretched lawn shadowed by large trees. You can combine your wine tasting with a olive and olive oil tasting(R20). You can also enjoy a picnic here! You are allowed to bring your own picnic stuff!

This was another spot where your wine tasting is included in your wine tram ticket. We tasted their Rose(R60), unwooded Chardonnay (R55) and Semillon(R120). Here I enjoyed the Semillon the most. I had a quick chat with the lovely owners of La Bourgogne as well as their St Bernard! They were very welcoming and I will definitely return to do the olive oil tasting! La Bourgogne also offers affordable accommodation if you ever plan to do a weekend away to Franschoek.

Beautiful lawn to relax on

 

Our lovely wine tasting host

The wine 'experts'

La Bourgogne

La Bri

We also did not experience this wine-farm as they are closed on Sundays. So I would suggest that if you want to utilise every wine farm on the blue line visiting on a Saturday would be the most ideal time!

Rickety Bridge

To travel to Rickety Bridge you will eventually climb onto the wine tram! The wine tram is modelled after the open sided bill trams of 1890.

We were very excited to climb onto the wine tram

Enjoying the ride

We arrived at Rickety Bridge very hungry! Luckily a table was available for our large group at their restaurant Paulina's! Everyone feasted on different type of burgers. There was a bobotie, ostrich, chicken and beef burger available served with salad or fries. The burgers are +-R90 which would be considered pricey but they really were delicious. The patties were of exceptional quality, the bun was home-made and fluffy and the fries crisp. It really was a burger that was above standard and I would easily order it again!

We paired our burgers with Rickety Bridge Sauvignon Blanc(R85). I really enjoyed the wine and it actually had more fruity notes than expected. If you want to do lunch while you are 'tramming' then Paulina's is definitely a spot to consider. Service was spot on and our food arrived very quickly.

Very hungry tasters

Bobotie Burger topped with an egg

Plain beef burger

Ostrich burger

From the tram station you travel on this bad boy to get you to Rickety Bridge

As our time became limited and the day was almost over we quickly popped into the tasting venue and in record time (5 minutes) we worked our way through a few wines. I left with a bottle of their Rose. Here wine tasting is offered to you at R10pp for five wines. The fee is wavered if you purchase a bottle of wine!

Tasting room entrance

Lovely glass of Sauvignon Blanc

Inside the tasting room

Mmm what wine to buy...

Grande Provence
Grande Provence is the last stop on the blue line. Here your tram ticket will give you a complimentary glass of wine with dinner. We were unfortunately exhausted and on the quest for ice-cream so we did not visit them.


The red line covers the following farms...

• Maison
• Eikehof
• Leopard's Leap
• Dieu Donne
• Chamonix
• Rickety Bridge
• Grande Provence

... and I will organise a follow-up trip for the red line ASAP as it's just TOO MUCH FUN!

Visiting the Franschoek Wine Tram really is a 100% guaranteed enjoyable activity. I was exposed to wines farms and restaurants I was not aware of at all. It also equips you to visit a lot of places in a small amount of time. My 'to do list' for next year now is very extensive. All the wine farms are informed and equipped to host the customers of the wine tram and as I have mentioned the whole transport system literally works like a well oiled machine.

My tips...

• Eat a big breakfast. You're going to need a good lining :)
• Go as a big group and buy your tickets online to ensure that you all travel together
• Go on the earliest tram or bus that is scheduled for the blue or red line as you want to do and experience as much as possible
• Book a lunch spot at one of the restaurants
• Pack in some snacks for the road
• Have fun and do all the tastings!
• Buy a bottle of wine that really impressed you so that you can reminisce of the fabulous day you had at your next braai!

The golden ticket

For more information visit the official Franschoek Wine Tram website
Like them on Facebook
Tweet them @WineTram
Contact them at info@winetram.co.za or 021 300 0338

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