{"id":38850,"date":"2012-12-17T08:09:17","date_gmt":"2012-12-17T06:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=38850"},"modified":"2012-12-17T19:24:17","modified_gmt":"2012-12-17T17:24:17","slug":"restaurant-review-sacred-ground-artisan-bakers-and-deli-welcome-addition-to-franschhoek-gourmet-offering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/franschhoek\/restaurant-review-sacred-ground-artisan-bakers-and-deli-welcome-addition-to-franschhoek-gourmet-offering\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant Review: Sacred Ground Artisan Bakers and Deli welcome addition to Franschhoek gourmet offering!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The opening of Sacred Ground Artisan Bakers just over two weeks ago created big excitement in Franschhoek, it being the first artisanal bakery in the village that has been called the Gourmet Capital of South Africa. Sacred Ground is not just a bakery, but also is a deli, a coffee shop, a wine shop, and gourmet sandwichery.<\/p>\n

What makes Sacred Ground special is the spacious selection of Deli treats and the very friendly hands-on owners and staff. \u00a0Michelle Hewitt from next-door Surrey Homes and Sannette Koopman are partners in the venture and have both been in the shop when I have visited on two occasions, as has Sannette’s husband Heinrich. \u00a0Michelle is used to doing home interiors, so it was a natural that she guided the design of Sacred Ground, wooden counters,\"\"<\/a> wood top tables, and wooden chairs with green seating having been used to give the shop an earthy and warm feel. One places one’s order with the super-nice Michelle van Sittert, who is also Sacred Ground’s Tweeter. \u00a0Thomas is the head baker, and joined the Sacred Ground team\"\"<\/a> from Zimbali. \u00a0He was the Pastry Chef of the Year in 2008. \u00a0The staff wear black, with a branded hessian apron.<\/p>\n

There is so much to take in when one arrives at Sacred Ground, but the bread selection probably catches one’s attention first, displayed on shelves, and the names and prices are marked. \u00a0So, for example, there is olive ciabatta (R22,50), Panini (R7), Sacred Baguette (R10), Ciabatta (R17), French Baguette (R15), Stumpy (R10), Crusty Sourdough (R25), 10% Rye (R25), and Cheesy Baguette (R18). \u00a0Cakes and cupcakes are still bought in, but will be baked on the premises in future. \u00a0A slice of cake costs R35, and one can choose from Chocolate orange, Cheesecake, Carrot cake, and Red velvet cake. \u00a0The cupcake selection comes in different colours, at R15 each. Macaroons cost R8. \u00a0There is fudge, biscotti, nougat, panforte made in Betty’s Bay, and slabs of Honest Chocolate.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The shop has a couch seating section for coffees, wines or a beer and a chat, a counter at which one pays and which displays the cake selection, and a large charcuterie fridge. \u00a0Fresh food fridges are placed along the walls, alongside the bread selection, and the rest of the space is filled with tables and chairs. \u00a0The colourful red and yellow BOS umbrellas attract attention from the main road, and the owners have planted red and yellow plants outside their door to match these colours.<\/p>\n

Bread is the foundation of Sacred Ground and the Deli selection, and the food offered on the menu all relate to it. \u00a0Surrounding the bread selection is a fine selection of Truckles, Anura, and Dalewood cheeses, \u00a0as well as Bocconcini and Fior de Latte. There is a big range of All\u00e9e Bleue’s herbs; unbranded unsalted and salted butter; chicken liver pat\u00e9; duck eggs; Froggit thyme-infused balsamic vinegar; Kloovenberg and Olyfberg olives; Prince Albert and Olyfberg olive oil; Oryx salt and pepper; Bean There coffee; \u00a0Dilmah teas; \"\"<\/a>honeys; a selection of craft beers from &Union, including Steph Weiss and Berne; Whalehaven Idiom, as well as Mon R\u00eave boutique wines, of which the Merlot 2010 has already won a ‘Michael Angelo’ <\/em>(sic) Double Gold in its first year of launch; and\u00a0wooden boards, which are also used to bring the food to the tables. \u00a0The Charcuterie counter allows one to choose specific cuts of cold meats supplied by a variety of suppliers, including Raith and Gastro Foods, and includes various salamis, black forest ham, coppa ham, parma ham, as well as speciality cheeses, to take home.<\/p>\n

The menu is short and sweet, and a blackboard advertises the Daily Specials. \u00a0All food is served on paper placed\"\"<\/a> on wooden boards. \u00a0Commendable is that Breakfast is served all day. \u00a0I ordered The Artisan Egg Mayo (R35) on my first visit, sounding better on the menu than its execution, promising ‘free range egg, mayo and chives on bread of your choice’. <\/em>The scrambled egg was cold and was drizzled with\u00a0Froggit balsamic vinegar, which I was not warned about nor wanted. \u00a0An alternative ‘Breaking the Fast’ <\/em>option is ‘Oeufs Bicyclette’,<\/em> or Eggs on Wheels (R59), ciabatta layered with parma ham, two eggs and mozzarella, topped with hollandaise sauce. \u00a0One may choose the bread on which the eggs are served. \u00a0One can also order sandwiches throughout the day, with salami or mozzarella (R49), salmon or chicken (R59), or a ‘Sacred Dog’ <\/em>with a Frankfurter or a \"\"<\/a>Bratwurst (R40). \u00a0The Platters look super, a choice of two cold meats and two cheeses costing R 85, and three of each costing R120.<\/p>\n

The cappuccino (R14) is made in the flat white style with Bean There beans, but a second order and careful explanation of a dry cappuccino resulted in a perfect cup. The Fair Trade description of the coffee, in its own outlets too, is misleading, as it is not Fairtrade endorsed. \u00a0Sacred Ground is licensed, and it is a surprise to see that no Franschhoek wines are stocked. \u00a0Hermanus-sourced La Vierge Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sangiovese style are offered by the glass (R25 – R45) or bottle (R85 – R150) with\u00a0Whalehaven Idiom (Bordeaux blend) at R280, as well as Paarl-based Mon R\u00eave wines, at R25 – R45 per glass, and R75 – R250 per bottle for the Merlot. \u00a0 Pongracz is available by the glass (R45 – R55) or bottle R150 – R180. Pierre Jourdan Cuvee Belle Rose costs R190, \u00a0and Krone Borealis Cuvee Brut 2009 is \"\"<\/a>available at R150.<\/p>\n

Sacred Ground is a friendly village meeting place, with good service, reasonable prices, a good selection of deli items and excellent breads, as well as cakes and cupcakes, which have been in short supply in the village. \u00a0It has added life to The Square, which has not had much traffic since it opened about 18 months ago.<\/p>\n

Sacred Ground Artisan Bakers<\/strong>, The Square, Huguenot Street, Franschhoek. \u00a0Tel (021) 876-3948. \u00a0www.sacredground.co.za <\/a> Twitter: @SG_Bakery Monday – Sunday 7h00 – 19h00.<\/p>\n

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

The opening of Sacred Ground Artisan Bakers just over two weeks ago created big excitement in Franschhoek, it being the first artisanal bakery in the village that has been called the Gourmet Capital of South Africa. Sacred Ground is not just a bakery, but also is a deli, a coffee shop, a wine shop, and […]<\/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":[124,14,20,21,293],"tags":[5705,577,9808,17898,17899,13184,32378,269,253,2480,3242,32369,17897,233,11797,14345,227,2508,17894,10064,17903,17901,456,17849,228,229,17902,3625,17568,17893,17895,5493,17896,2711,10033,32373,17900,14329],"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