Cheese platter
Nederburg has opened its first restaurant in the more than 200-year history of the farm. While the tasting centre of the popular Paarl winery has long offered a range of themed food and wine pairings, the stylish new bistro-style restaurant, called The Red Table, is the first à la carte offering. It opens on Wednesday, November 28, 2012.
Dishes will change regularly to reflect the availability of fresh ingredients and to showcase Nederburg wines in the news, such as the Private Bin 2007 Eminence, which earned Nederburg's cellar master Razvan Macici, the coveted Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Award, earlier this month (November). The Red Table will also be running flash sales on selected wines.
Located in the lovely old Cape Dutch manor house, it will run from midday until late afternoon for the 2012/3 summer season right up to the end of April 2013. It has taken over most of the house, spilling over onto the verandah and also the surrounding gardens, when the weather permits.
For many, this will be their first experience of the historic manor house, built in 1800 by Nederburg’s founder, Philippus Wolvaart. Until now, entry into this national monument has been exclusively by appointment.
The restaurant has been created with well-known Cape Town foodie, Andrea Foulkes, who has worked closely with the winery and knows its extensive wine range extremely well. “Nederburg has the great advantage of an exciting and very varied range of food-friendly wines. To create dishes to showcase these is a wonderful opportunity.
"Our emphasis is on great ingredients; we are establishing relationships with growers and producers in the vicinity to make the link between diner and the food source as close as possible. Expect fresh-flavoured and light dishes in a happy, relaxed and gesellige atmosphere as people break bread together.”
The Red Table is open daily from Wednesdays to Sundays. While Sundays are devoted to a bounteous table buffet, every other day there is an à la carte menu with daily specials. Pre-bookings and payments for the Sunday table buffet will secure a special price of R195 per person.
Vegetarians and those with special dietary needs will also be accommodated.
Says Nederburg cellar master Razvan Macici: “We are the home of MasterChef SA for the second season. We have such a close association with delicious dining that it makes sense for us to have a restaurant where winelovers can enjoy their favourites paired with great tasting food.
“The approach is one of simplicity where food and wine flavours meet on equal terms. We are offering appetising and generous portions of superbly made items such as gazpacho, salads made with flavourful baby leaves and hot-smoked fish or duck confit, brie and caramelised onion tart, cheese soufflé, top-grade steaks, venison burgers, artisanal cheeses, lemon tart, panacotta, various brûlées and more.”
A kids’ menu offers pies, steak rolls, chicken skewers and pizzas.
Prices start at R45 with most mains priced at around R65. The Sunday table that includes a fantasy sundae bar is priced at R195. For children, a picnic pack is offered at R75.
Visitors will still be able to enjoy the wine and food pairings offered in the tasting centre.
For bookings or queries, please call 021 862 3104, send an e-mail to theredtable@nederburg.co.za, go to www.nederburg.com/theredtable or follow Nederburg on twitter.com/nederburg (hashtag #Redtable) or http://www.facebook.com/Nederburg
