Hearty winter fare at Stables

Stables restaurant at Vergelegen has launched its hearty winter menu, and Bolander had the opportunity to visit for a quintessential Winelands experience at this venerable, historic estate.

Arriving early for a walk around the gorgeous gardens is a must (or do so after your meal, to aid digestion after a feast of note), and if the weather is good, sitting outside on the veranda area gives a wonderful sense of being part of nature, as the mountains feel close enough to touch.

Starters include Peri-peri chicken, calamari tubes and tentacles, deep fried Camembert with Cumberland sauce, and restorative farm soups.

There are many delicious salads and vegetable dishes, like the Danish feta, coriander, red onion, chilli and toasted pumpkin seeds, topped with pomegranate rubies, served with warm flatbread & mint harissa dressing.

For lovers of oxtail, look no further... served with creamed mash potato and garnished with baby onions, butter beans, and farm baby carrots. I opted for the free range roasted baby chicken, served with French fries and lemon herb sauce.

Vergelegen's famous bobotie, with turmeric scented basmati rice and sambals, is one of the traditional Cape dishes on the menu, and there are meat and seafood items, burgers and wood-fired pizzas for heartier or lighter fare.

When I encounter apple crumble on the menu, I generally look no further, and their version, served with French vanilla ice cream, is as good as it gets. Alternatively, try their malva pudding with crème brûlée ice cream, or baked citrus cheesecake, served with homemade lemon curd, or citrus bread and butter pudding.

Vergelegen has always been one of my favourite destinations, and recently I took a friend who was visiting from Boulder, Colorado, for a wine tasting followed by a peaceful meander around the extensive gardens and historic buildings, and she was smitten, as I knew she would be. 

Visit www.vergelegen.co.za for more information.