Monday, January 02, 2012
New year new eats
After umpteen attempts to restart my food blog, I have come to the realization that I simply lack self discipline (now if only I could get a dollar for each of my friends who are rolling their eyes at what they have known all this while).
Not to mention I am slightly disheartened by the fact that I am not a good photographer. Heck, my Sony cybershot not only does not (outrageous!) have a food function (no doubt created for us Asians who love to take photos of not just everything we eat, but of ALL food served at the table), of late it has caught a cold, with the lens seemingly shuddering. Hence my companions not only have to contend with the embarrassment of the photo-taking (with their usual apologetic sighs to other patrons and the wait staff) but also with the nagging suspicion that they are friends with a somewhat deranged person as she then shakes her camera into submission (I'm not sure what is going on there, but it works after a few shakes).
Some weeks ago, I found myself in my hotel room at Four Rosmead (nice boutique hotel, for those of you who might be searching out a place to stay in Cape Town) at 8:30 pm looking at the frightful weather outside and being still full from lunch (having finished it at 5 pm) feeling somewhat inclined to restart this blog.
My intentions were admirable if I may say so, because I did manage to get to around five or six paragraphs before I fell asleep. By the time I woke up the next morning I found myself rushing to catch the ferry to Robben Island for what was a thoroughly interesting tour (if somewhat hampered by the ridiculous rain - getting wet to dry off only to be drenched again in the rain isn't really my idea of fun).
And hence it was that the update was not published then. Well, nonetheless it being a new year, it's time for a new beginning - so with a little editing I am determined to inflict my latest most impressive restaurant experience on anyone who cares to read this (or was googling for a review on La Colombe and found this).
It was my last day in the Winelands and at Cloof. I managed to have a quick stroll by the vines, before packing up and then hopping over with S and C to where they hold wine tastings to say bye to W. W was busy for a bit so we even got to taste some wines while waiting for him.
After finishing my three small tasting portions on a very empty stomach (shall be ordering some of that lovely Cab Cult and Lynchpin as soon as I remember to get that contact off S), saying bye to W's adorable dogs and thanking W for everything, we then made our way (after calling the restaurant to push back our booking :p) to the Constantia Winelands.
The restaurant is located in the Uitsig Estate and when we arrived we were immediately shown to our table on the patio by our server. The patio looks out into a pretty courtyard with a fountain and boy was I grateful for the outdoor heaters as it was pretty windy. Further away was a view over the vines themselves.
Our server then presented us with the blackboard menu and very confidently and knowledgeably explained our choices - certainly didn't take us long to decide given how hungry we were though notably S commented how there was probably nothing on the menu he wouldn't order so it was a tough choice and we already started getting a strong hunch that we would try and come back.
Given S had to drive and C was feeling a little under the weather, we decided to just have a carafe of white and red each and our server made some suggestions which we thought were pretty good. If I were a genuine food blogger I would have the names of the wines at my fingertips but sadly not only am I not, my comments on wine are much on "yummy", "no, don't like this", "too strong", "can I have more please?" so simply won't do for anyone who takes wine seriously.
For our amuse bouche, we were presented with a caremlised onion tart topped with goat's cheese, Thai style prawn veloute with crunchy water chestnuts and beef carpaccio-wrapped shitake - to me this sounded like too much "fusion" action going on but I was surprised how well this all came together. The water chestnuts in particular were a really nice touch, though I did then have a mental image of the chef at the local Chinese supermarket picking out water chestnuts.
Anyway, this whetted our appetites perfectly. I opted for the scallops and pork belly for my starter, which came pan seared perfecty with a salsa of tomato and beans and crispy crackling along with cubes of glazed pork belly on which a bean stalk was artfully arranged - along with the celeriac puree blobs it all looked pretty artistic. The flavours were lovely, the only thing I couldn't shake was what the spice was that was used for the pork belly, something that reminded me of Chinese cooking! Would be interested to find out if anyone knows? :)
S had the trout 'sous vide' while C had the Alaskan king crab both which appeared to impress them so much so that for a few minutes we just ate without talking (and for those of you who do not know me, that is hard, I assure you).
For our palate cleansers, S and I opted for the granny smith & calvados while C opted for the pineapple & malibu, both of which were so refreshing I'm just wishing I had some in my freezer now so I could get it now! (Thinking about it now, maybe I should start making sorbets. I know it's winter, but hmm.)
But I digest. Coming on to the mains... I have never really ever needed anyone to push me to order suckling pig. There's just something about suckling pig (whether at the Kowloon City place I love, around Lu Gu Lake near Lijiang, in southern Spain, or anywhere really) that just inspires devotion (it's like bacon).
So suckling pig it was for me (and C too), and the variety reminded me of Heston's Fairytale Feast where he serves that hog's head, and it was the cheek, the tongue, the snout etc. This was pork shoulder ballotine which was slow cooked and super tender like dong po rou (东坡肉), pork loin sous vide with crackling, red cabbage and caramelised onions hiding under the pork loin. baby potato dauphinoise and honey jus. The result was an interesting comparison of cuts and tastes and textures (without being too experimental) that left me a very contented little piggy. S decided to have the veal and langoustine which he did say was very good and which I recall trying a little of but unfortunately was shadowed by my memory of that pig.
It had started raining while we were eating and it was certainly getting more chilly - we therefore decided to adjourn inside for our desserts, coffee and tea. By this time, we were feeling pretty full but at a restaurant this good, we certainly weren't going to give up dessert, not especially since it was some chocolate torte which La Colombe's pastry chef had just won a Hennessy competition for! So for once the three of us were in agreement and all ordered the same dessert. And what a dessert it was! Served with meringue tuiles, caramel, cherries and to me, what really won the day - cognac marshmallows (I think they must just dip them quickly in cognac before toasting them ever so slightly). Made me feel like a little kid at the candy store... something to look forward to like a birthday treat!
So it was by the end of dessert and tea, that we had reached a unanimous decision, that this was certainly one of the best meals of this little getaway. This, and Le Quartier Francais, but that was a tasting menu that we felt was maybe a once-a-year affair rather than this, which we could gladly do monthly.
The meal came to around R620 per person (including two glasses of wine each but not including service), which for this standard of food and level of service is just amazing. The estate itself looks lovely and the perfect weekend getaway, if only an hour away from Cape Town (admittedly, just a little further from HK).
So if you are headed that way.. I urge you to go try La Colombe, for me, this was one of the best meals of 2011!
_______________________________________________________
La Colombe
Constantia Uitsig, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia, Cape Town
T: + 27 (0) 21 794 2390
W: http://www.constantia-uitsig.com/pages/directions.php
_______________________________________________________
PS Am still looking for the right cable to upload my photos (sigh) so apologies for the lack of photos a this moment! ¶ 8:42 AM
Not to mention I am slightly disheartened by the fact that I am not a good photographer. Heck, my Sony cybershot not only does not (outrageous!) have a food function (no doubt created for us Asians who love to take photos of not just everything we eat, but of ALL food served at the table), of late it has caught a cold, with the lens seemingly shuddering. Hence my companions not only have to contend with the embarrassment of the photo-taking (with their usual apologetic sighs to other patrons and the wait staff) but also with the nagging suspicion that they are friends with a somewhat deranged person as she then shakes her camera into submission (I'm not sure what is going on there, but it works after a few shakes).
Some weeks ago, I found myself in my hotel room at Four Rosmead (nice boutique hotel, for those of you who might be searching out a place to stay in Cape Town) at 8:30 pm looking at the frightful weather outside and being still full from lunch (having finished it at 5 pm) feeling somewhat inclined to restart this blog.
My intentions were admirable if I may say so, because I did manage to get to around five or six paragraphs before I fell asleep. By the time I woke up the next morning I found myself rushing to catch the ferry to Robben Island for what was a thoroughly interesting tour (if somewhat hampered by the ridiculous rain - getting wet to dry off only to be drenched again in the rain isn't really my idea of fun).
And hence it was that the update was not published then. Well, nonetheless it being a new year, it's time for a new beginning - so with a little editing I am determined to inflict my latest most impressive restaurant experience on anyone who cares to read this (or was googling for a review on La Colombe and found this).
It was my last day in the Winelands and at Cloof. I managed to have a quick stroll by the vines, before packing up and then hopping over with S and C to where they hold wine tastings to say bye to W. W was busy for a bit so we even got to taste some wines while waiting for him.
After finishing my three small tasting portions on a very empty stomach (shall be ordering some of that lovely Cab Cult and Lynchpin as soon as I remember to get that contact off S), saying bye to W's adorable dogs and thanking W for everything, we then made our way (after calling the restaurant to push back our booking :p) to the Constantia Winelands.
The restaurant is located in the Uitsig Estate and when we arrived we were immediately shown to our table on the patio by our server. The patio looks out into a pretty courtyard with a fountain and boy was I grateful for the outdoor heaters as it was pretty windy. Further away was a view over the vines themselves.
Our server then presented us with the blackboard menu and very confidently and knowledgeably explained our choices - certainly didn't take us long to decide given how hungry we were though notably S commented how there was probably nothing on the menu he wouldn't order so it was a tough choice and we already started getting a strong hunch that we would try and come back.
Given S had to drive and C was feeling a little under the weather, we decided to just have a carafe of white and red each and our server made some suggestions which we thought were pretty good. If I were a genuine food blogger I would have the names of the wines at my fingertips but sadly not only am I not, my comments on wine are much on "yummy", "no, don't like this", "too strong", "can I have more please?" so simply won't do for anyone who takes wine seriously.
For our amuse bouche, we were presented with a caremlised onion tart topped with goat's cheese, Thai style prawn veloute with crunchy water chestnuts and beef carpaccio-wrapped shitake - to me this sounded like too much "fusion" action going on but I was surprised how well this all came together. The water chestnuts in particular were a really nice touch, though I did then have a mental image of the chef at the local Chinese supermarket picking out water chestnuts.
Anyway, this whetted our appetites perfectly. I opted for the scallops and pork belly for my starter, which came pan seared perfecty with a salsa of tomato and beans and crispy crackling along with cubes of glazed pork belly on which a bean stalk was artfully arranged - along with the celeriac puree blobs it all looked pretty artistic. The flavours were lovely, the only thing I couldn't shake was what the spice was that was used for the pork belly, something that reminded me of Chinese cooking! Would be interested to find out if anyone knows? :)
S had the trout 'sous vide' while C had the Alaskan king crab both which appeared to impress them so much so that for a few minutes we just ate without talking (and for those of you who do not know me, that is hard, I assure you).
For our palate cleansers, S and I opted for the granny smith & calvados while C opted for the pineapple & malibu, both of which were so refreshing I'm just wishing I had some in my freezer now so I could get it now! (Thinking about it now, maybe I should start making sorbets. I know it's winter, but hmm.)
But I digest. Coming on to the mains... I have never really ever needed anyone to push me to order suckling pig. There's just something about suckling pig (whether at the Kowloon City place I love, around Lu Gu Lake near Lijiang, in southern Spain, or anywhere really) that just inspires devotion (it's like bacon).
So suckling pig it was for me (and C too), and the variety reminded me of Heston's Fairytale Feast where he serves that hog's head, and it was the cheek, the tongue, the snout etc. This was pork shoulder ballotine which was slow cooked and super tender like dong po rou (东坡肉), pork loin sous vide with crackling, red cabbage and caramelised onions hiding under the pork loin. baby potato dauphinoise and honey jus. The result was an interesting comparison of cuts and tastes and textures (without being too experimental) that left me a very contented little piggy. S decided to have the veal and langoustine which he did say was very good and which I recall trying a little of but unfortunately was shadowed by my memory of that pig.
It had started raining while we were eating and it was certainly getting more chilly - we therefore decided to adjourn inside for our desserts, coffee and tea. By this time, we were feeling pretty full but at a restaurant this good, we certainly weren't going to give up dessert, not especially since it was some chocolate torte which La Colombe's pastry chef had just won a Hennessy competition for! So for once the three of us were in agreement and all ordered the same dessert. And what a dessert it was! Served with meringue tuiles, caramel, cherries and to me, what really won the day - cognac marshmallows (I think they must just dip them quickly in cognac before toasting them ever so slightly). Made me feel like a little kid at the candy store... something to look forward to like a birthday treat!
So it was by the end of dessert and tea, that we had reached a unanimous decision, that this was certainly one of the best meals of this little getaway. This, and Le Quartier Francais, but that was a tasting menu that we felt was maybe a once-a-year affair rather than this, which we could gladly do monthly.
The meal came to around R620 per person (including two glasses of wine each but not including service), which for this standard of food and level of service is just amazing. The estate itself looks lovely and the perfect weekend getaway, if only an hour away from Cape Town (admittedly, just a little further from HK).
So if you are headed that way.. I urge you to go try La Colombe, for me, this was one of the best meals of 2011!
_______________________________________________________
La Colombe
Constantia Uitsig, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia, Cape Town
T: + 27 (0) 21 794 2390
W: http://www.constantia-uitsig.com/pages/directions.php
_______________________________________________________
PS Am still looking for the right cable to upload my photos (sigh) so apologies for the lack of photos a this moment! ¶ 8:42 AM
