Franschhoek launched a Cap Classique Route a number of years ago. On Thursday this week the Route will be relaunched, coinciding with Cap Classique Day on 1 September.
The relaunched Cap Classique Route will be celebrated with a four day festival, from 1 – 4 September. Each of 19 Cap Classique producing wine estates are inviting bubbly lovers to their cellars, to taste their excellent bubblies and to experience special events. Continue reading →
Time magazine has named Franschhoek one of the 2022 World’s Greatest Places, out of a total of 50 Places.
The village was included in the list for its wine farms, unique scenery, high-class food options, and range of activities it offers, reports BusinessTech.
Time sought nominations from its correspondents and contributors, highlighting places ‘offering new and exciting experiences’.
On Youth Day my friend Justin Miller and I took a road trip to Franschhoek, packing in a shopping stop at Dalewood Fromage and at Babylonstoren, a stop at Country Grand, and walking the main road of the village from bottom to top and back, to record all the restaurant changes that have taken place since I last visited in 2020.
I did some additional research to find details of any other restaurants that have opened or closed since I last visited the village.
New restaurants are still opening, or planning to open in Cape Town and the Winelands, despite it being on the eve of Winter.
The biggest planned opening is that by Chef Liam Tomlin, who will open The Bailey, a three storey Brasserie, Bakery, and two Bars across the road from Heritage Square. His opening is running late. He has closed down his Chefs Warehouse on Bree Street. Restaurant Artizian will open on Bree Street in July. Chef Peter Tempelhoff is said to open a Japanese Street Food restaurant on the ground floor of Speakers Corner, the building in which FYN operates. Misfits by Ideas Cartel has opened in the former Beluga in Green Point. TANG will create a big stir when it Continue reading →
Sunday 22 August 2021, Full Moon, Day 27 of Level 3 😷
Corona Gratitude 🙏
#grateful for a second spectacular weekend day; for a Roadtrip with Gary Peterson, to Hazendal which wowed us, to Epice and Protégé at Le Quartier Francais, to Orangerie Restaurant at Le Lude, and to Dieu Donné in Franschhoek, an amazing trip with the fabulous fun company of Gary; for seeing my #Bestie Llewellyn Lambert for the first time in two years, without telling him I was popping in; for a safe trip back home; for Kelly Szabo actively canvassing her friends and their friends to vote for Utopia in the Kfm Best of the Cape Awards (Best Date Night Restaurant); for an amazing sunset to end off this fabulous day; and for being happy, healthy and free. 🙏💙 Continue reading →
Wednesday 23 September, Day 3 of Level 1, Day 181 of Lockdown 😷
Corona Gratitude 🙏
#Grateful for a hot summer day, at 26C, loving the sun, even braving getting into the pool at Maison Montagne this afternoon; for a special sunrise at 6h00 this morning; lovely breakfast served out on the terrace; for a busy day, checking out all the changes on the main road of Franschhoek, especially the restaurants; for a meeting with Chefs Darren Badenhorst and Ryan Shell to hear about their new restaurant projects in Franschhoek, very exciting news; for being spared buying a dress when I was very willing and keen, but not finding the perfect one 😱; for a fantastic lunch at Orangerie at Le Lude, the most professional dining venue which I have experienced in Franschhoek, fully booked today with the gorgeous weather, most customers sitting outside; for being able to congratulate Orangerie Chef Nicolene Barrow on her engagement, and to present her with a bottle of ADHARA extra virgin olive oil, given the calibre of her restaurant and cooking; for the Masquerade owner Martie helping me with little gift bags for the purchase of 💙 soaps from her shop; for bumping into Vanie Padayachee and Eleanor Kerwan, hearing their news; for a lovely snack cheese and wine dinner with Llewellyn on the terrace, tasting two lovely Dieu Donne wines, a Henriette Viognier and a Rosé, the former having a lovely Heritage story in honour of Dieu Donné owner Robert Maingard’s late mother; for winning 350 Miles in two Discovery Gameboard plays; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙 Continue reading →
Tuesday 22 September 2020, Day 2 of Level 1, Day 180 of Lockdown 😷
Corona Gratitude 🙏
#Grateful for a change of scenery, my first visit to Franschhoek in almost two years; for a number of stops in Stellenbosch, dropping off a bottle of ADHARA extra virgin olive oil to Avontuur Restaurant co-owner Zunia Boucher-Myerson, and for tea at Java with sisters Lisel Fourie Burger and Janine at Java, bringing Lisel my SwitchBitch Book 3; for reconnecting with Jade pearl shop on Church Street, so happy to see them open again; for a fabulous relaxed lunch at Boschendal Deli with Linda-Louise Roosenschoon, having struggled to find a restaurant open on a Tuesday on a wine estate; for a first introduction to Franschhoek in visiting Grande Provence, also having set up a Deli; for a quick shop at Woolies; and for finding my home at Maison Montagne, a brand new boutique guest house on Dieu Donne wine estate, seeing my Bestie Llewellyn Lambert for the first time in 18 months 🍎; for a beautiful sunny 23C day; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙 Venishree Mayer Continue reading →
When I visit Franschhoek, I love to revisit the shops in the village, and am always on the lookout to see what is new. A surprise discovery was the new Café Roca in the village, a hidden gem tucked away behind an art gallery, formerly the home of the now defunct Melissa’s. I loved it so much, that I went back on three consecutive days, Continue reading →
Franschhoek is celebrating the best of its white wines, Rosés, and MCCs at Franschhoek Summer Wines, to be held at Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards tomorrow (Saturday 6 February) from 12h00 – 17h00. Continue reading →
Today is a day of announcements of property sales in Franschhoek, it would appear. This morning we announced that we have sold our Whale Cottage Franschhoek. Now it has been announced that Mr Aniljit Singh of The Leeu Collection has added Le Quartier Français to his property portfolio in Franschhoek, taking over from 1 September. It is a surprise for many that the hotel and restaurant property has been sold, if not a relief for many Franschhoekers!
Mr Singh fell in love with Franschhoek in 2010, when he visited Cape Town to attend the World Cup soccer. Last year he bought the Dieu Donné, Von Ortloff, and Dassenberg properties, creating a 21-bedroom 5-star luxury Boutique Continue reading →