{"id":54419,"date":"2014-02-20T10:53:26","date_gmt":"2014-02-20T08:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=54419"},"modified":"2014-02-21T08:16:03","modified_gmt":"2014-02-21T06:16:03","slug":"restaurant-review-dorf-krug-in-hermanus-is-boldly-bavarian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wine-news\/restaurant-review-dorf-krug-in-hermanus-is-boldly-bavarian\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant Review: Dorf Krug in Hermanus is boldly Bavarian!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dorf<\/a>Still in shock about the rude treatment I received from the owners of Just Pure The Bistro<\/strong><\/span><\/a> in Hermanus two days ago I went to the very Bavarian-looking Dorf Krug and found a haven of friendliness and good wholesome Bavarian food.<\/p>\n

Outside on the terrace they have placed Bavarian-coloured barrels, which attract attention to the cottage building. The interior is not German at all, other than the Deukom German TV channel broadcasting the Winter Olympics, and the tables and riempie chairs do not suit the theme. \u00a0The odd Bavarian and German flag can be seen. \u00a0Very large paintings fill the walls, but do not link to the Bavarian theme. \u00a0 The name was puzzling me, being the ‘Village Jug’ directly translated. \u00a0I was told that the owner, Dr Brigitte Riedelsheimer, is a Bavarian swallow living in D\u00fcsseldorf and at Arabella. \u00a0She has owned the property for some time, having leased it to a second hand furniture shop previously.<\/p>\n

The outside seating area behind the building was a complete contrast, with long tables and benches with cushions covered in the Bavarian blue and white, and plants softening the edges. \u00a0A massive mural of a Southern Right whale is in the parking area, painted by a Bot River artist. \u00a0The delightful Manager and Chef Wilna Rautenbach made all the difference, being welcoming \"Dorf<\/a>immediately, sitting down to chat, and providing all the information that I needed. \u00a0She remembered that she had last seen me about 18 years ago when she was a waitress at St Tropez, the best restaurant Hermanus had at the time. \u00a0She worked at Heaven at Newton Johnson and at Mosaic Farm in Stanford subsequently.<\/p>\n

\"Dorf<\/a>The restaurant is popular amongst Afrikaans and German locals especially, and German tourists too, enjoying the Bavarian beer and food. \u00a0The cutlery is presented in a beer mug, with a blue and white material serviette with a heavy duty cutlery set, more suited to steak. \u00a0A two page menu on a clipboard is brought to the table and a board with specials has additional items. \u00a0The specials included an interesting sounding Spinach Strudel (R65), Bockwurst and chips (R49), a Ladies Schnitzel (R79), a Sausage platter served with Sauerkraut and chips (R150), and a croissant and coffee (R35). \u00a0The main menu includes mainly sausage dishes, mostly served with mash and sauerkraut, including a Berlin style Currywurst served with chips and a curry sauce (R49); M\u00fcnchner Weisswurst which is normally served with a pretzel and \"Dorf<\/a>sweet mustard, but which Wilna prepared with potato mash and sauerkraut with cumin for me. \u00a0The sausages were served in a big Weisswursttopf with hot water, to keep them warm, and a matching Zenft\u00f6pferl for the mustard (R72); N\u00fcrnberger Rostbratwurst (R72); \u00a0Eisbein (R145), grilled Haxe (R165), Wiener Schnitzel (R110), Strammer Franz, rye bread topped with panfried meatloaf and two fried eggs (R65); and Allg\u00e4uer K\u00e4sesp\u00e4tzle, an egg noodle\/dumpling (R69). \u00a0For starters one can enjoy a Leberkn\u00f6del, Lentil, or Gulasch soup (R39 – R55),\u00a0\u00a0or Herring salad (R61). \u00a0Nathan the waiter brought a wooden board with excellent rye bread, \u00a0butter, and schmalz, a chicken or goose fat spread, topped with fresh chives. \u00a0For dessert one can order\u00a0Kaiserschmarren, described as ‘torn pancakes<\/em>‘, in two portion sizes (R49\/R75); cherry ice cream and cherry compote, which Wilna had cooked herself (R35); and Apfelstrudel (R35).<\/p>\n

Wilna sources special organic potatoes from Stellenbosch, her breads from The Eatery in Hermanus, and the sausages from Raith. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The beverages are posted on boards, the wines being proudly-Hermanus (Newton Johnson Felicit\u00e9 range, and La Vierge),\u00a0with the exception of Porcupine Ridge. \u00a0 The wine vintages are not indicated. Only the house wine is available by the glass (R30). \u00a0 Imported beers offered are Erdinger (but to be discontinued shortly), Paulaner, Maissel’s, Franziskaner, Warsteiner, and Krombacher, in a price range of R40 – R58. \u00a0Local craft beers sold are Blond Trippel, Amber, and Krystal.<\/p>\n

Nathan told me that he is learning German, but took exception to me telling him that ‘Apfelstrudel’ does not have an umlaut, as he had written it on the bill. \u00a0The food quality, service, and friendliness was very good, especially relative to what I have experienced in Hermanus at a number of other restaurants in the past month, and the back seating \"Dorf<\/a>area is an oasis from the bustle outside. \u00a0Some good German oompah music would have rounded off the restaurant perfectly!<\/p>\n

Dorf Krug<\/strong>, 19 Long Street, Hermanus. \u00a0 Tel (028) 312-1073. www.dedorfkrug.com<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0Facebook. \u00a0Tuesday – Thursday 11h00 until 17h00, Friday and Saturday until 20h30.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: \u00a0www.whalecottage.com<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Still in shock about the rude treatment I received from the owners of Just Pure The Bistro in Hermanus two days ago I went to the very Bavarian-looking Dorf Krug and found a haven of friendliness and good wholesome Bavarian food. Outside on the terrace they have placed Bavarian-coloured barrels, which attract attention to the […]<\/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":[20517,124,266,75,20,21,19],"tags":[11166,5961,14941,24026,32378,861,24015,24016,11825,24024,14029,32377,23983,24025,2508,24023,24018,2510,24022,24028,2554,24021,3625,457,16759,24020,24027,24019,32373,24017,23211],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\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\n\t\t