Chef Henry Vigar’s

October Spring  Special Tasting Menu R120pp

A wine paring is available for an additional R160pp

We are very pleased to announce that due to popular demand, we will be offering our

Winter Special Menu until the end of October and will change the menu monthly.

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Onion bhaji and potato samoosa  yogurt and spiced tomato chutney

Villiera Brut N/V

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Butternut squash soup  coriander lavoche, pumpkin seed and cumin oil 

Mulderbosch ‘Steen op Hout’ Chenin Blanc  2009

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Roasted line fish Niçoise   confit potatoes, green beans, tomato and sauce verge

La Motte Sauvignon Blanc 2011

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Confit lamb shoulder  potato gnocchi, spiced yogurt, aubergine puree, mint and peas   

Boschendal Blanc de Noir 2011

or

Beef sirloin (R35 supplement)  smoked short ribs, mash, wilted kale and  red onion marmelade

Kleine Zalze Merlot 2010

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Sunny side up  guava, coconut espuma and chilli

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‘Strawberry cheese cake’  shortbread, marshmallow and crème fraiche sorbet    

Graham Beck Rhona Muscadel

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 This menu is offered for the entire table only

Vegetarian alternatives available on request

 

The Indian Supper Club is on the 7th of September and starts at 7pm

The menu for the evening

Popadoms  raita and mango chutney

Onion bhaji  tomato chutney and yogurt 

pea and potato samosa 

Crispy calamari  tandorri sauce 

Koliwada prawn  sweet red chilli chutney

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Moghul chicken korma

Chicken tikka masala

Southern Indian lamb curry  aubergine and coconut

Spiced dahl

House made naan bread

Basmati rice with curry leaves

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Coconut sorbet, mango and chilli

So Chef Henry and I have just returned from our 2 week culinary feast and family visits to the UK and all I can say is please hide the scales!

There is something about having friends in restaurants, especially if those friends live in London and know all the what’s what of what’s hot and what’s not in London and insist on taking you everywhere in a whirlwind food haze, read here ‘happiness is’.

Eating highlights of our trip most certainly were in no particular order:

Lets go obvious and based on our previous blog entry, yes we did go to Barrafina on night one (after a 14 hour flight, now that’s commitment) and the absolute highlight was their tapas style black pudding, roasted red peppers and quails eggs. I kid you not, this was like a beautiful salty, creamy, meaty delight all in one.

• Then there is the other huge favourite called Bussaba Eathai – for all you ex-Londonners, this is the modern Thai place in Bond Street, or there is one in Soho also, where you always queue to the smell of incense and the salt and pepper calamari is to die for. So much so that Henry had two portions.
• Then – lets bring out the big guns – there were two Michelin Starred visits – one was the very hip and happening (insert celebrity spotting Elijah Wood) Viajante in Bethnal Green – hold on to your Burberry macs – did she say Bethnal Green? Yes I did. The chef used to work at El Bulli and has opened a tiny dining room in what appears to be a library in a less than obvious choice of area. Does he pull it off? Absolutely. We had a 9 course blind tasting menu. You are not told what is coming next, only vaguely guided by wine choices, but what a journey. I ate things I have never eaten before and probably never again will. Of course Chef Henry and his best mate and senior sous chef of many years, Jon, eagerly tucked into fish gills and duck hearts and tongues, while I took deep breaths and jumped in with my eyes closed and my sense of adventure wide open. An array of culinary masterpieces make up this menu with many moments of brilliance and therefore come highly recommended – a well deserved Michelin star within months of opening and rumour has it star number 2 is on the way.
• Last but by no means least was my personal favourite and a restaurant a stone’s throw from our old house in Marylebone, L’autre Pied. One Michelin Star, beautiful food, clean flavours and stunning presentation. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough to all you travellers who might find yourself in London soon – they have an amazing lunch special on £20 for 3 courses – you do the math. Oh and did I mention the manager is an ex-Capetonian and amazing?

Of all the eating and travelling and endless analysing and choosing items off different menus – the Capetonian and her amazing manner in Marylebone stole our hearts. There is something about our South African sunny side up-type warmth in the service industry, the genuine smile and the firm handshake that goes a long way.

Turns out, there really is no place like home.