I had not been to Stellenbosch since the beginning of Lockdown in March 2020. Last week I spent a day in the town, to walk through its centre, and updating my information of restaurants that have opened and closed in the town since my last visit.
I discovered multiple new coffee shops and informal eateries, and a growing number of wine bars. And the start of a challenge to Chef Bertus Basson’s dominance of the university town as far as fine-dining goes.
I was invited by Award-winning Rare Grill steak house owner Greg Bax to attend a Steak Master Class in a venue above his Kenilworth-based steak house on Monday evening. Not being sure of what to expect, other than excellent steaks which I had experienced after it was named the Best Steakhouse by Eat Out two years running, it turned out to be a fun, informal and educational evening, being taught how to buy the correct steak, how to age it, how to grill it, and which sauces to serve with it, paired with a selection of Quoin Rock wines.
In November I was privileged to experience the 16-course Tasting Menu of the then newly opened Gåte Restaurant at Quoin Rock wine estate. On Friday my Parisian friend and I returned to Gåte, to experience the lunchtime Food and Wine Experience, pairing the restaurant’s homemade charcuterie and cheese dishes with the excellent wines of Quoin Rock. Continue reading →