During these difficult and unchartered times, it's often very difficult to find positive stories in the media and in our immediate social circles. There are deaths, losses of livelihoods, sickness and sheer boredom from all this endless social distancing and isolation. This year has made itself feel very much like the lingering extension of 2020. I am very grateful to still have a roof over my head and enjoy wonderful food wine, company and a lot of love from those who care for me the most. That alone, keeps the spirits up.
So it was another welcome glimpse into the "old normal" and what indeed will be back after these dark days are behind us: warm South African hospitality in my beloved tourism industry.
Paarl has many historical attractions and is a little town well known to many of us. It's hot. It's full of culture and agriculture. It's a place of many old traditions. One of them is clearly hospitality.
It was thrilling to be able to find the perfect pair of establishments soldiering on with many a smile and hoping for yet better days in the tourism industry. Indeed you may find that in this month of romance and love, this might solve your problem of what to do for your loved one.
The glorious country house hotel that is Cascade Manor is a perfect little hideaway from all the hustle and bustle of city life. A mere 50 minutes from Cape Town. The warm and generous welcome you'll receive from the Goetze family that run and own the property is in itself well worth the visit. Added to which Volker, the chef-proprietor, has one of the most colorful senses of German humour this side of the equator.
The property itself has a long and interesting history. It once was the colonial seat of the Duke of Bedford. Then became much-loved family home to very close friends of mine and is now a delightful country hotel. All of this history is soaked into the very fabric of the building but if you're just looking for a great weekend escape, you'd be forgiven for not delving any further than the pool, the spa and your room. Or simply lazing amongst the beautiful olive trees that carpet the landscape leading to the majestic waterfall.
Situated just a fifteen minute drive for the hotel is the heart of the little town of Paarl. Boasting one of the longest high streets in the Southern Hemisphere - or so I am told. This little town is as picturesque as you'll find in South Africa. And the little restaurant that I've chosen to highlight in this article is at the centre of all this.
Noop is a charming, chef-owned restaurant with a heap of architectural character and an immediately homely feel. The warm welcome we received from one of the long serving team members, Elizabeth, was typical of what we've come to love about South African restaurants. She seemed genuinely pleased to see us and we felt at home immediately.
I got a glimpse of the chef at the pass and he had his eyes on all the action. A very good sign indeed. I gather he's an introvert and thus we didn't expect he'd be making an appearance amongst the guests, and indeed he lived up to this expectation! His presence though, was felt with each of the beautiful seafood courses we enjoyed. And what a welcome culinary presence it was.
The cooking is artful but not fussy. With finesse but absolutely no sign of overwork and clutter on the plate. Fresh flavours and careful use of just the right number of ingredients to create a well balanced and memorable plateful - time and again! Chef Zian is clearly in his happy place and it's no small feat in this industry that he has kept raising his game for the past 9 years at this very location. That in itself is worth celebrating.
All this culinary brilliance was washed down with a good bottle of South African wine. Yet again, not a Sauvignon Blanc (there appears to be a pattern emerging and I'm not sure I can explain it away very easily any more) but a Chenin. A Beaumont Chenin Blanc. A wine for all occasions in my opinion - fresh, shy enough to make you want to explore it further but also possessing a steady greenness that makes it a good food wine for long summer nights. It was unsurprisingly delicious - a true hallmark of our great South African wines!
"I encourage you to make a habit of continuing to support your local and praising hospitality excellence wherever it has been able to survive this battering of the past year. A shout-out goes a long way to keeping the names of these champions in the limelight and ensuring that there is an industry left when we reach the end of this tunnel. "
This Perfect Paarl Pairing is an ideal demonstration of the passion that is still out there and I highly recommend it to those who are looking and are able to make the journey into the Cape countryside. You won't regret it.
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