Halfaampieskraal

The motto at Halfaampieskraal is "The perfect place to do nothing at all!" and that is exactly what we did this past weekend.

Welcome to Halfaampieskraal

If you want to break away from the city, your fast paced lifestyle or just want to hang out with your family and friends this is the spot to do it! Situated outside Napier this spot is where you can 'farm' in style. It is 250 years old and still a working farm but you don't have to do anything :) You can just enjoy the beauty and sounds of the surroundings!

The unique aspect of Halfaampieskraal is their décor. It had to be such fun to source and style this place. You will discover something new around every nook and corner. Look out for a stuffed duck on top of the closet, a mirror decorated with springbok horns or even a peacock in the living room! Let me show you around!!

There are accommodation available inside the main house as well as outside. We occupied three of the outside rooms where two people can sleep per room. Each room is different and spoiled with personal touches...




Lounging area




My favourite piece in this room was the map!





How pretty is this shower!




Loved the modern and antique pieces together




Big bed fit for a queen!




Fresh flowers




Saturday evening treat!



So what can you do at Halfaampieskraal? Nothing, that is the best. We went for a walk to visited the farm animals, drank wine, played board games, read and laughed! They have a beautiful bar stocked with all the wine, MCC and spirits that you need. It works on a honesty system so you just write down what you drink and settle the bill later. You can also bring your own wine at R20 per bottle corkage but their prices are really affordable and their selection is great so there is no need.




Farm chickens




Babe!




Happy duck family!




Fireplace where we spent most of our time!




One of my fave board games, Yunomi




Beautiful bar that runs on the 'honesty system'


We were celebrating two birthdays and was treated with this meringue and nut cake in the afternoon!

For dinner we dined at the beautiful candelit dining room table on deep friend feta for starter. For mains we were treated to fillet with a mushroom semi glaze sauce, deep fried potatoes, sweet potatoe bake and  a medley of broccoli and beetroot vegetables. The food was out of this world and that semi glaze sauce was a major hit!

Table set for a beautiful meal



Deep fried feta served with a radish salad




Sweet potato bake




Beetroot, broccoli and baby marrow medley



Beef filet with mushroom semi glaze sauce

Happy diners!



Deep fried potatoes


We then settled in front of the fire to indulge in "fluweel" pudding. This is baked custard topped with orange marmalade and a chewy meringue layer. I am not a custard fan but I finished this and almost licked the bowl! The tanginess of the marmalade and chewiness of the meringue was the best! You can find some of these recipes in their "Halfaampieskraal Celebrates" cookbook.



 Piece de résistance!


After this stunning dinner we slumbered into our large and comfortable beds! The next morning we were woken by the farm noises and the aroma of coffee...

 

 

After a great night of sleep we ventured over to the stoep to sit in the sun and enjoy a refreshing breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice and fruit salad served with honey and yougurt. Breakfast did not stop there :) Scrambled goose eggs from the farm served with salmon, spinach and tomatoes was our final treat at Halfaampies.



Outside pool area perfect for summer!

 

Enjoying coffee on the stoep

 


Look at the beautiful walls!

 

Breakfast set-up

 


Refreshing fruit salad! So happy watermelon is back!

 

Loved the gold teapot!

 


One of the best breakfasts I have ever had! Delish!


Feeling rested and rejuvenated we already contemplated our return. It really is "hemel op die platteland" at Halfaampieskraal!

Rate: R1000 per person per night for dinner, bed and breakfast.
For more information  visit their website
Like them on Facebook
Contact them at rooms@kraal.biz or 028 452 1744

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

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