The most romantic season in the Cape is upon us. Spring always manages to arrive with a flourish of new energy. Nature’s sentiment on revival is revealed in the wildflowers that carpet the hills. The vines that shake off their winter slumber. The birds’ song that seems to be sweeter and ever so emphatic! The restaurants across the region and their menus, take a distinctly green turn. The Western Cape’s burgeoning food scene is particularly on point as we embrace the days that lead towards summer. A thriving farm-to-fork scene, where seasonal produce is deeply rooted in our cuisine’s cultivated philosophy.
The Mother City, and her surrounding countryside villages, are revered for the creativity that comes out of the kitchens. The culture that’s served up on earthy platters of wholesome goodness. There’s something special about gathering around a long table with a bevy of best friends, indulging in a fine spread of seasonal dishes. Especially when those ingredients sing from the soil you’re occupying, and satiate your appetite splendidly.
With spring in our steps, we’ve collated a little list of places that you and your chosen feasting companions can venture to. Where the landscape is shifting in its vibrant colours, the air is pungent with September’s blossoms, and the tables are set. Everything freshly picked and lightly plated. All a swift, scenic drive away from Labotessa’s doors.
- Babylonstoren, near Franschhoek, is an obvious choice. But for good reason. The gardens are an edible Eden, and the restaurant, Babel, serves its harvest with both elegance and restraint. Expect ingredients plucked just moments before arriving on your plate.
- Further inland, The Table at De Meye in Stellenbosch remains refreshingly unbothered by trends. Long lunches unfold under trees, where conversations meander as slowly as the courses. The set menu changes weekly, dictated by what the garden and neighbouring farms offer. Sometimes gloriously unpredictable, yet always sincere.
- A Saturday or Sunday soirée in Stellenbosch, Good to Gather is a tiny farm-to-table restaurant on Rozendal Farm. Serving seasonally inspired lunches that somehow connect you back to the earth. Just as the chef intended. You will need to reserve a table well in advance.
- For those partial to sea air and wild fynbos, The Conservatory at Cellars-Hohenort in Constantia marries historical charm with seasonal flair. The menu is a genteel nod to local provenance, with herbs from their garden and wines from just over the hedge.
- A little off the radar ~ but all the better for it ~ is Overture at Hidden Valley. Chef Bertus Basson crafts a menu that sings of Stellenbosch soil, served with sweeping vineyard views that do their own PR.
- And if you like your ethics with a dash of edge, picnics at Boschendal strikes a fine balance. Everything ~ from the sourdough to the pasture-raised beef ~ is a declaration of intent. There’s romance in the rustle of oak leaves overhead, but also in the quiet confidence of a kitchen that knows where every ingredient has slept.
In truth, ‘farm-to-table’ or farm-to-fork in the Cape isn’t a trend. It’s how things have always been done. This spring, we implore you to trade the city’s clatter for a clinking of cutlery and chilled glasses under trees. With the scent of lemon and lavender blossoms, and a menu that’s truly in season.
Labotessa…A Marvel in the Mother City
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