Last weekend I visited The Red Table Restaurant, where I was treated to the most mouth-wateringly delicious meal of my entire year. (I know it’s only January, but it was that good that I’m predicting it to be uncontested for 2013.) So if there’s one recommendation I can make when you’re touring the Cape Winelands this summer, it is that you plan your excursion around having lunch at The Red Table Restaurant at Nederburg in Paarl.
About the restaurant
The pop-up style restaurant is the newest addition at Nederburg this summer season and, until the end of April 2013, is showcasing the rich 200-year history of the farm. With enticing tables sprawling from the Manor House onto the veranda and lush green lawn, the whole family can enjoy a leisurely bistro meal and award-winning wine under the age-old oak trees, with views of the vineyards and Paarl Mountain.
I was pleased to meet well-known Cape Town foodie, Andrea Foulkes, who has worked closely with the winery to create a menu based on the availability of fresh ingredients that showcases Nederburg’s extensive range of food-friendly wines. Foulkes explains, “Our emphasis is on great ingredients…expect fresh-flavoured and light dishes in a happy, relaxed and gesellige atmosphere as people break bread together.” Foulke’s down-to-earth nature and exquisite culinary skills are clearly evident in her food!
Ingenious!
One of the ingenious things about The Red Table Restaurant is that each course offers only 4 or 5 items (great for indecisive beings like me) and the menu changes regularly so foodies can keep coming back for a new selection of gastronomic delights. And yes, the wine list is extensive! It would have proved excruciatingly difficult to select a wine on my own, but thanks to some vino-savvy people behind the scenes who so courteously listed food pairings for each wine; it turned out to be easy. And the option of enjoying wine by the glass meant I could still appreciate wine tasting afterwards (without the hiccups).
My taste experience
Since I can’t find enough words to describe how incredible the food was, I’ll settle on “perfect”, because I wouldn’t change a single thing about the entire experience. Our friendly waitron, Margot, was very well trained and provided excellent service throughout lunch. As an appetiser, we received soft pita breads with a herby cream cheese dip. What a sneak preview to the delights in store! We opted for a biltong, strawberry, and goat’s cheese salad as a starter, which arrived with the most delicious dressing lovingly drizzled over. It was perfectly complemented with Nederburg’s Sauvignon Blanc 2012, which I had selected on the recommendation that it pairs deliciously with goat’s cheese, summer salads, and light meals.
For mains, we thoroughly enjoyed a free range sirloin steak with fries, béarnaise sauce, and a side salad; and a Venison, avocado, and caramelised onion burger with crispy sweet potato batons. Our dessert entailed an upside down honey cheesecake with berries, and a trio of homemade ice-cream. All of the ingredients were as fresh as advertised and we sat oohing and aahing, and licking our fingers like little kids who had just discovered sugary treats for the very first time. A relaxing swing on the cocoon-like chairs dangling from the colossal trees completed the dream-like experience.
More info
From Wednesday to Saturday, diners can enjoy an à la carte menu with daily specials between 11am and 4pm, while a gourmet barbeque buffet is available on Sundays, from 12 – 4pm. Vegetarians and guests with special dietary needs are accommodated. There is also a kids’ menu that offers pies, steak rolls, chicken skewers, and pizzas. Prices start at R45, with most mains priced at R65 – R95. The Sunday buffet is R195 and the children’s picnic pack is R75. Don’t forget to look out for flash sales on selected wines!
UPDATE!
For the 2013/14 season, the Summer Menu at the Red Table Restaurant comprises 5 delicious courses for R240 or choose any 4 for R195, paired with Nederburg Heritage Heroes wines!
For bookings or queries, call 021 862 3104, or e-mail [email protected]. Click here for the wine list and menu (which is likely to change).
Need accommodation?
If you need a place to stay in Paarl, I’d recommend De Leeuwenhof, conveniently situated on the same road as Nederburg. This exquisite Cape Dutch style hotel, B&B, and guest house lies on a secluded estate surrounded by fruit trees and vineyards and offers all of the luxuries that you would expect. Click here to find out more.
We all know that red means “stop”, so when you see The Red Table Restaurant, trust your instincts and stop! It may be the best decision you make this summer. And I sincerely hope (beg and plead) that the restaurant makes an appearance for us to enjoy next summer too.
