Woolworths_Taste_July_2017

3.
LA COLOMBE
FOR PIONEERING
GOURMET WINE-
ESTATE DINING
The Western Cape winelands
today are renowned for
their high-end destination
restaurants. But it was muchloved
French-born chef and
cookbook author Franck
Dangereux who led the way
in wine-estate fine-dining
when he joined legendary
Constantia Uitsig chef Frank
Swainston at the estate in
1996 to start La Colombe.
A gastronomic revolution
was underway in SA and
La Colombe won multiple
awards in recognition of
Franck’s cooking, which he
described as dishes “simplified
to the perfect combinations”.
Luke Dale-Roberts (see #1),
took the reins as executive
chef in late 2006 when Franck
left to open the more informal
Foodbarn in Noordhoek. And
today under Scot Kirton –
at the restaurant’s new
location on the picture-perfect
Silvermist organic wine
estate – La Colombe holds
73rd position on 2017’s San
Pellegrino Best Restaurants of
the World list. Scot was also
the Eat Out S. Pellegrino Chef
of the Year in 2015, recognised
for his food integrating classic
and modern French cuisine
with Asian influences (a
favourite is the “tinned tuna”:
seared tuna tataki with avo
purée, ginger and a poached
quail’s egg). And now, with
his position in the Constantia
Valley secure (Scot’s also
making waves at Foxcroft
at High Constantia), the
La Colombe team has taken
over the space at Le Quartier
Français in Franschhoek (see
#5) to open La Petite Colombe
in August. lacolombe.co.za
RESTAURANTS
Above, from left: Springbok loin, roast fig, potato fondant, smoked onion and truffle at La Colombe; La Colombe’s new location
at Constantia's Silvermist Estate. Below: Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse.
4.
CLEOPATRA MOUNTAIN FARMHOUSE
FOR AWARD-WINNING GOURMET COUNTRY CUISINE
Country-chic doesn’t get more spectacular than this KwaZulu-Natal gem, where Richard and Mouse
Poynton have created an award-winning gourmet escape in the Drakensberg. Widely regarded as being
among the originators of the country house movement in the 1980s with their much-loved Granny
Mouse Country House, they left for a stint overseas and returned from their food-and-wine escapades
in Europe and the UK inspired to start a gourmet destination hotel amid the peace and magnificent beauty
of their family farm. Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse has since earned an international reputation for its fine
country fare, including a seven-course dinner and a three-course breakfast like none you’ve ever eaten. The
underground wine cellar specialises in South African gins, brandies and wines (including Cleopatra’s very
own hand-crafted Copper Pot wines made under the Thorne & Daughters label by Richard’s son-in-law,
John Seccombe). Book for dinner, or stay over to enjoy the incredible breakfast, too. cleopatramountain.com