The Franschhoek Food Emporium was a favourite stop in Franschhoek, until it closed down a year ago. Fortunately it has just re-opened as Good Food & Co, with a new owner Johanita Henning and Chef Kim Cox, and does not look very different to its past interior. It was a delight to see Michelle van Sittert again, who was at Sacred Ground when it opened, and was a fantastic asset for the bakery/coffee shop.
Kim is the chef, whom I have met twice already, and she prepares the cooked foods, and orders the stock from the best suppliers. Her meat comes from Ryan Boon, for example, who distributes Spier’s Farmer Angus’ beef. Her lamb comes from Fairview. In her display cabinet one can buy pre-packed lamb leg (R120 per kg), lamb chops (R160/kg), boerewors (R95 per kg), and 28 days matured rib eye steak (R175/kg). Charcuterie comes from Twelve Pigs, and includes Parma Ham (R315/kg), Coppa ham (R315/kg), Pinotage Brizola (R325/kg), salami (R250 per kg), and pastrami (R310/kg). Cheeses sold are Asiago, Cheddar, Emmenthaler, 12 month matured cheddar, and Dalewood Languedoc.
Two daily salads are sold per container for R34, ready-made sandwiches cost R38 for vegetables and for roast chicken, and R42 for roast beef. Pork rillettes, pies (vegetables R32, chicken R42, and beef R48), and rotisserie chicken (R90 per kg) are available too.
The shelves are filled with largely unknown brands, the Faldella Williams spices beautifully presented and having lovely aromas. They sell Oryx smoked salt and pepper grinders; Eat-Art exotic spices; African spices kits; wine barrel sawdust for smoking; Chocolates by Tomes; biltong (R220 per kg) and droë wors (R250 per kg) from Paarl butcher Ryan Boon; Homemade branded range of muesli, granola, wheat free choc chip crunch, and almond butter; Old Orchard cordials; Chrisna’s Olives’ oil-free lavender and raspberry dressings, as well as smoked olives; Foxenburg olive oil; Grissini sticks in the following flavours: pizza, extra virgin olive oil, toasted sesame seed, onion, and rosemary; dried fruits; nuts; and Rootstock vegetable crisps.
Busy Franschhoek moms will be happy to hear that Good Food & Co makes a different daily prepared meat and a vegetarian dish, which one can order a day ahead, and collect from the deli, including bobotie, pork belly, sosatie lamb chops, roast chicken and mushroom pie, roast of the day, while vegetarian alternatives include a vegetarian lasagne, quiche of the day, and Thai butternut and lentil pie. Catering services for after-hours functions are also offered.
Good Food & Co, Place Vendôme, Huguenot Road, Franschhoek. Tel (021) 876-3556. No website yet. Twitter: @GoodFoodandCo Monday – Sunday 9h00 – 18h00.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage