Tag Archives: Maison Montaigne

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 4 of Level 1, 24 September 2020.

 

Thursday 24 September 2020, Heritage Day 🇿🇦, Day 4 of Level 1, Day 182 of Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a lovely day to celebrate our country’s Heritage; for a smooth drive to Cape Town, after stops at Good Food & Co to drop off a bottle of ADHARA extra virgin olive oil to Joey Stiglingh, one of two sisters owning the Franschhoek Deli, and buying cheeses, eggs, and yoghurt at the Dalewood Fromage Farm Shop; for the fabulous restringing of my pearl bracelets and repair of a favorite brooch by Caroline Smith in Claremont; for the collection of my Heritage Day treat of Duck Spring Rolls at Pilcrow & Cleaver; for receiving the scoop from Chef Darren Badenhorst about all his restaurant ventures coming up, a story I wrote this morning before leaving Franschhoek; for the lovely breakfast spoil at Maison Montagne; for the love connection with my babies on my return, having missed each other 😻😻; for the Jerusalema Dance Challenge we did on the Tidal Pool Beach, and later on the Tidal Pool wall, guided in doing the dance by Brazilian Eloah who lives in Camps Bay too, whose idea it was, it being hard to dance in the sand; for a wonderful sun relax on my terrace on this third great weather day,at 24C, in a row; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙 Venishree Mayer Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 3 of Level 1, 23 September 2020.

 

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 →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 2 of Level 1, 22 September 2020.

 

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 →