{"id":27828,"date":"2011-12-04T07:22:42","date_gmt":"2011-12-04T05:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=27828"},"modified":"2011-12-04T07:22:42","modified_gmt":"2011-12-04T05:22:42","slug":"mcc-franschhoek-is-a-bubbly-new-showcase-of-mccs-of-franschhoek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/mcc-franschhoek-is-a-bubbly-new-showcase-of-mccs-of-franschhoek\/","title":{"rendered":"MCC Franschhoek is a bubbly new showcase of MCCs of Franschhoek!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>One of the cleverest ideas for a new restaurant and champagne bar is MCC Franschhoek, and it is appropriate that its opening co-incided with the Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival this weekend. \u00a0MCC Franschhoek is a showcase of 34 Franschhoek sparkling wines of 14 Franschhoek producers.<\/p>\n

The brainchild of Philip and Christy Harrison, previously managing De Huguenot Estate, MCC Franschhoek allowed the couple to work with a beverage they love best. Christy told me that Philip loves cooking, \u00a0having started to do so in Majorca, after studying accountancy. \"\"<\/a> Both Philip and Christie owned a Weatherspoons outlet in Heathrow, but moved back to Cape Town thirteen years ago, Philip managing The Galley in Fish Hoek. They moved to the design of wedding stationery, and it is Christy who designed the stylish logo for MCC Franschhoek. \u00a0Due to the closure of the De Huguenot restaurant and Harry Q Bar at De Huguenot Estate (to be run as a wedding and event venue only in future), Philip and Christie took part of their share of the venture in kind, and therefore they have the stylish silver-upholstered chairs, black bar chairs and tables, and couches from De Huguenot restaurant, which are spread out in the courtyard of the Village Square. Each table has the MCC range and price list, and a perspex salt and pepper grinder stand. \u00a0Quality material serviettes and Fortis cutlery are stylish.<\/p>\n

Alle\u00e9 Bleue (Brut Ros\u00e9), Boschendal (MCC Le Grande Pavillion Brut Ros\u00e9, MCC Grande Cuv\u00e9e Brut), Cape Chamonix (MCC Blanc de Blancs), Colmant (Brut Reserve, Brut Ros\u00e9, Brut Chardonnay), Dieu Donn\u00e9 (Maingard Brut, Rose MCC),\u00a0Franschhoek Pass Winery (Morena Brut, Brut Ros\u00e9, Cuv\u00e9e Catherine, Malabar Shiraz), Graham Beck (Brut, Brut Ros\u00e9 NV and 2008, Bliss Demi Sec, Brut Blanc de Blancs, Zero), GM & Ahrens (Cap Classique), Haut\u00e9 Cabriere (Pierre Jourdan Brut, Cuv\u00e9e Belle Rose, Brut Sauvage, Blanc de Blancs, Cuv\u00e9e Reserve), La Motte, M\u00f4reson (Miss Molly, Solitaire, Gala, Pink, One), My Wyn, Stony Brook (The Lyle), and Topiary (Blanc de Blancs Brut) sparkling wines are sold by the bottle, while a select number of bubbly brands can be bought by the glass, advertised on a blackboard. \u00a0Prices start at R110 for Miss Molly, peaking at R650 for the GM & Ahrens. \u00a0Surprisingly (given its name), a number of wines are offered too, and many are non-Franschhoek. Protea Sauvignon Blanc, Glenwood Sauvignon Blanc, Haute Cabri\u00e8re Chardonnay\/Pinot Noir, Beyerskloof Pinotage Ros\u00e9, Glenwood Shiraz Merlot blend, Graham Beck Game Reserve, and Guardian Peak Shiraz are all available by the glass, reasonably priced in a range from R20 – R35.<\/p>\n

MCC Franschhoek opens from 8h00, and serves well-priced breakfasts, one paying per item (e.g. 2 eggs, bacon and toast costs R47); muesli, yoghurt and berry coulis, and a croissant with cheese and preserves cost R20 each. \u00a0 There is no breakfast cut-off time. \u00a0The ‘Bites’ menu has a mix of salads (R45 – R65), sundowner platters \"\"<\/a>(R50 – R75, and includes oysters, cheese, cold meats, and biltong), main courses, and desserts (R35 – R45), which can be ordered throughout the day. \u00a0 I ordered a perfectly prepared Franschhoek salmon trout served with boiled potatoes, and a crispy fresh asparagus salad (R75). \u00a0Other main course options are sirloin steak and prawns in a beer batter, also costing R75. \u00a0One can also order beef lasagne, mussels, an open chicken Satay burger, and two tarts. \u00a0The menu will be updated and amended regularly.<\/p>\n

I was impressed with the scale of the Franschhoek Cap Classique\"\"<\/a> & Champagne Festival in showcasing the leading bubbly brands for sale in this country. \u00a0It is held at the Huguenot Monument, which attracted 2000 bubbly-lovers yesterday, and more are expected today between 12h00 – 17h00. \u00a0Eight champagne brands (Billecart Salmon, Champagne Guy Charbaut, Claude Beaufort, Follet-Ramillon Brut Tradition, Piper Heidsieck, Thierry Lesne, Tribaut Brut Tradition, and Veuve Clicquot) presented their precious bubbles, as did 37 local sparkling wine producers. Staff representing the local brands All\u00e9e Bleue, Avondale, Bon Courage (in beautiful Carrol Boyes coolers), Boschendal, Bramon, Chabivin, Colmant,\"\"<\/a> De Wetshof, Dieu Donn\u00e9, Domaine Des Dieux, Francois la Garde, Genevieve MCC, The House of GM & Ahrens, Graham Beck, Groote Post, JC le Roux, Krone, Laborie, La Motte, Nicolas Feuillate Champagne for Woolworths, Morena, M\u00f4reson, My Wyn, Namaqua Wines (Guinevere very deep pink, with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, all 3000 bottles exported), Pierre Jourdan, Pongracz, Quoin Rock, Rickety Bridge (new 2010 release, 50% each Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with only 3500 numbered bottles produced from Franschhoek grapes), Ross Gower, Saltare, Silverthorn, Simonsig, Steenberg, Sterhuis, Villiera, Weltevrede and Woolworths Wines all looked chic in their black and white outfits, the dress code of the Festival, \"\"<\/a>which most attendees honoured too. \u00a0There were surprisingly few Franschhoek restaurants represented (Le Quartier Fran\u00e7ais, Mont Rochelle Country Kitchen, Haute Cabri\u00e8re, Roca Restaurant, and the Salmon Bar), and the food was generally of a disappointing quality, given the theme of the Festival. \u00a0An exception was the sushi, salmon and other canap\u00e9\u00a0platters made by new Le Franschhoek Hotel chef Oliver Cattermole.<\/p>\n

MCC Franschhoek<\/strong>, 3 Village Square, 53 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek. \u00a0Tel 083 772 9449\/083 391 3869. No website. \u00a0Twitter: @MCCFranschhoek \u00a0Wednesday – Monday, 8h00 – until late, weather dependent.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a> Twitter:@WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the cleverest ideas for a new restaurant and champagne bar is MCC Franschhoek, and it is appropriate that its opening co-incided with the Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival this weekend. \u00a0MCC Franschhoek is a showcase of 34 Franschhoek sparkling wines of 14 Franschhoek producers. The brainchild of Philip and Christy Harrison, previously […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[577,2822,3236,220,223,182,2823,2824,32366,7902,12486,14229,32378,14230,224,11772,3212,250,2524,14231,10747,13075,32369,234,5328,3008,2317,14228,226,2311,2887,14236,12135,581,4611,2827,227,1540,385,549,14223,14052,13561,6579,2831,5291,8954,13070,14235,11012,14224,228,14232,229,6993,11385,252,583,14239,3011,1287,14237,2835,230,231,400,9658,14226,14234,14233,2836,8958,10216,14227,2837,14225,2838,13550,171],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t