Unbelievable! We’ve been in Cape Town for almost eight
months and are still happy with the move.
During this period we did a lot of the touristy things – went
up Table Mountain, took the ferry to Robben Island, toured the Winelands around
Stellenbosch, had Fish and Chips at Mitchell’s at the Waterfront, visited the
Hout Bay Craft Market (and had Fish and Chips), did the Saturday morning market
at the Biscuit Mill…
And that is just a few.
Cape Town, however, has the way of making it very easy to
just stay at home and have a glass of wine… Fearing that we may fall into this
bad habit, decided to visit at least one new place every week and guess that
this will keep us busy for the next couple of years – there is just so much to
do in and around Cape Town. Every Cape Tonian has his or her own list of
favourite places and things to do.
I am going to try and write about all the interesting
experiences and places and, hopefully add some photos now and then.
The first one is about the most recent event, a reunion on
more than one level - dinner at La Pentola Hermanus. We’ve known Chef Shane
Sauvage for around eighteen years and were regulars at the original La Pentola
in Pretoria where we enjoyed many a memorable meal and attended a number of
Gourmet Evenings where Shane pairs food with wines from wine farms.
He has an incredible talent for picking flavours and smells
from wines and coming up with dishes complimenting the wine!
Shane moved to the Cape more than three years ago and then
opened a La Pentola in Hermanus.
Yesterday (Saturday 14 June 2014) we popped in unannounced
just to say hello and it was like we’d last seen each other weeks ago, as it
goes with true friends. We then heard that he was going to have the second
Hermanus Gourmet Evening last night and we realised that we could not miss
this!
If you have never been to one of these Shane dinners, put it
very high up on your bucket list – right now!
Iona wines, Sophie Terreblance Sauvignon Blanc, Iona
Sauvignon Blanc, Iona Mr. P Pinot Noir and One Man Band were the wines served
with what Shane described as “comfort food” to go with the weather. We were
comforted, filled and left with an incredible sense of well being – we had
forgotten what Shane’s food does to not only the palate, but the soul!
As I said, a true reunion of friends and tastes!
A bit more on the menu:
The Iona Sophie Te’blanche was served as an arrival drink
and was followed by the Iona Sauvignon Blanc served with Shane’s take on the
classical shrimp cocktail – a hollowed out bun filled with shrimps, mushrooms a
beautiful sauce and fresh avocado on the side.
Next up was a parma ham parcel with a port reduction
perfectly complimented by the Mr P Pinot Noir.
With the One Man Band we had lamb shank – falling off the
bone soft, tender, succulent, certainly the best lamb shank I’ve ever had!
The finale was an old favourite, the Triple Choc Terrine –
three layers of chocolate ice cream, dark, white and milk that is so smooth it
has to be a sin!
I know that Hermanus is not strictly speaking part of Cape
Town, but it is only ninety minutes away and a visit to La Pentola Hermanus is
a must. Plan to visit during whale season, the restaurant on Beach Road has the
best view of the bay and what could make a day better than excellent food, good
wine and watching the whales at play?
