Tag Archives: tapas

Restaurant Review: Cru Cafe’ wine bar creates terroir in Cape Quarter

Cru Cafe’ is the first restaurant to have opened in the new extension to the Cape Quarter, and is a wine bar serving meals, rather than a restaurant that has a winelist!   With more than 120 wines and 20 wines-by-the-glass on its extensive winelist, handpicked by its director Elsie Pells, a Cape Wine Master, it makes a serious statement about its commitment to wine.  A wine shop forms part of the restaurant.   The restaurant space is their “terroir”, says Elsie.

Elsie Pells is charming, and a first meeting at the Portofino launch forms the foundation for a chat when she sits down at the table, and tells us about the wines and the restaurant.  She has a strong hand on the wine and food serving.   Previously with NMK Premium Global, she now works as a wine consultant, sourcing wines, designing wine lists, and is soon to jet off to Prague, where she will help a local importer select the best South African wines to import.   She explains that Cru Cafe’ has selected twelve wine partners, who will provide wines to Cru Cafe’ for the next year, in return for more than one variety of the estate being carried, and these include Delheim, Boekenhoutskloof, Meerlust, Laibach, Joubert Tradouw, Kaapzicht, Paul Cluver, Graham Beck, Klein Constantia and Cederberg.  She is proud to have selected a number of Platter 5-star wines on the winelist, before Platters announced its  2010 5-star list.

White wines range from R 80 for the Vergelegen Vin de Florence to R 460 for a Sterhuis Astra Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay.   The red wines range from R 90 for the Delheim Cabernet Shiraz to R 580 for the Kanonkop Paul Sauer.   Boekenhoutskloof’s 2006 Syrah costs R 480, and the Meerluct Rubicon 2004 costs R 490.

Elsie explains that in wine, “cru” is usually linked to “grand”, meaning ‘great growth’, and this is what Cru Cafe’ hopes to achieve: serving high quality food, wines and offering quality service.  

The chef Wesley Petterson is from the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Vineyard Hotel, and Elsie is clear that only lunches and dinners will be served, to match their wines.   Breakfasts are to be eaten at other restaurants in the Cape Quarter, she says.  The menu has a smallish selection of about 6 starters, salads, mains and desserts each, as well as about ten tasty-sounding tapas choices. 

The most more-ish homemade cheese sticks are served prior to the meal coming to the table.  The steak was good and the dried seaweed on the steak was a reminder of steaks enjoyed at Tank across the road many moons ago.   The Delheim Shiraz by the glass was excellent.   The waitron service still needs some help, especially on the wine side.

A most annoying discovery was an automatic addition of 10 % “commission” to the bill.   The manager graciously took it off the bill.   The service is not yet at the level to deserve a 10 % tip.  Tips should be a discretionary payment by the diner anyway.

Tom and Jacques Castelein are the owners of the restaurant, which has a name-sake in Chicago, and they previously owned Tasca de Belem in the V & A Waterfront.

Cru Cafe’ is in the Cape Quarter extension at 27 Somerset Road, De Waterkant, tel 021 418 6293, www.thecrucafe.com.  Parking is available in the building, and is currently free of charge.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio www.whalecottage.com

Value for money magic at La Boheme

La Boheme opened in Sea Point three months ago, and is receiving support from foodies and Sea Point locals for its exceptional value for money.

Faisal, the owner, was previously with Caveau Wine Bar, and has owned the restaurant next door on Main Road, opposite Marais Road, called La Bruixa, the witch, Faisal’s pet name for his Spanish girlfriend Anna, for the last four years, with Anna running it.

A bistro-style menu board lists seven starters, six main courses and six desserts.   A two-course meal costs R 85 and a three-course R 105.    Starters include a French onion soup, crumbed mushrooms, beef carpaccio, roast veal and pork roulade, ranging in price from R 20 – R 34;  the mains cost R 70, and include pork belly, ravioli and mushroom and black ham, stuffed chicken, beef bourguinon, and beef fillet.   Desserts cost R 20, and include Creme Brulee, chocolate pudding, crepes, tiramisu, and orange and carrot malva.

The pork belly was a generous portion, served with a mustard mash (the mustard dominated the dish too much), apple sauce and mixed vegetables.    The tiramisu had a section which was not as tasty as one would have liked it.

An extensive wine list offers a good selection of wines, by the glass too.  The Tokara Zondernaam costs R 25 per glass.  Glassware, crockery and cutlery are of a good quality, and material serviettes are used.

At La Bruixa a board of 15 tapas options in Spanish style is offered, at the cost of R 20 – R 30 each.   Patrons sitting outside may order from the La Boheme or the La Bruixa menus. 

It was noticeable that the waiters all looked happy and unstressed.   La Boheme is an unpretentious friendly bistro, offering exceptional value.  Faisal and Anna are hands-on, and one could mistake them for waiters, both wearing an apron. The two course meal, the glass of red wine and cappuccino cost R 126.

Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

One&Only to open Wine Library

A 5 000-bottle wine library is set to open in the One&Only Cape Town in the V&A Waterfront on 3 April, showcasing the largest wine collection in the South African hospitality industry, reports the Cape Times.

The Wine Loft will offer 100 wines by the glass, select older vintages, as well as wines from new wineries.   Tasting sessions will also be held, and will be complemented by tapas dishes from the next-door Gordon Ramsay maze restaurant. 

The wine list was compiled on the basis of terroir and regional wine styles, rather than on brand name, says One&Only Group  Sommelier Stephen Towler.    The Wine Loft will stock 450 local and 150 international wines, and “there will be wines for every budget”.